Finding the best fit – from sustainable farming to zero-waste knitwear
B en Ensor has woven generations of farmers and an innovative approach to high- quality knitwear together, crafting an evolving textiles business. From helping to manage the family’s 2,800ha Marlborough property, Tyntesfield, which produces meat, wool, and wine, to overseeing several of the country’s leading knitwear brands, the Flower’s House Old Boy is dedicated to business diversification and sustainability. He is equally committed to nurturing the family’s zero-waste McDonald Textiles business, which includes high-end labels Royal Merino and Standard Issue. The Ensor family has been working the land for nearly 160 years, seeking out sustainable practices to protect the soil while
exploring new income streams. Situated in Waihopai Valley, the present property features myriad landscapes – from high country suitable for merino to rolling hills for grazing Corriedale sheep and cattle, and a stony flat section alongside the Omaka River that is now flourishing as a vineyard. Having attended College from 1992–1996, the fourth-generation of the Marlborough farming family, and a school family stretching back to 1905, Ben gained a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) before spending more than six years in rural banking with ASB.
Ben’s father, Edward, was also a member of Flower’s House from 1962–1965, while his grandfather, Harold (1929–1930), belonged to the same House. His great- grandfather, Edward, attended College from 1905–1908. “The boarding environment was very important, with Brian Le Vaillant expecting everyone to front up, no matter what,” Ben says. “If you said you were going to do something, you did it. Those work ethics were quite influential as a teenager, aligning with daily farming values. At College, I was involved in everything – from choir to sport – in an effort to keep homesickness at bay but I also enjoyed the opportunities.” He also believes his stint in banking has been beneficial to the family business, valuing the
He recalls that the ethics of boarding life under his
Housemaster, Brian Le Vaillant, have always matched the family’s farming values.
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SUSTAINABILITY
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