Welcome to Sage Hearth:

Welcome to Sage Hearth

A journey of revitalisation, craft, and slow, intentional living.

Sage Hearth is more than four hectares of land—it’s our slow work toward self-sufficiency, peace, and the kind of life shaped by hands and seasons. Here we are learning to blend nature-focused wellness, practical craft, and the steady, honest labour of making things ourselves.

The Hearth Story

Our mission began with a 100-year-old cottage that has already lived many lives. Once part of the local Bushman’s Camp and later the Mess Hall for the Totara Timber Co., this house has long been a place of community, work, and shelter.

Today we are pouring patient energy into a DIY revitalisation—slow, cost-conscious, and deeply rewarding. Every thoughtful repair and gentle upgrade is done with respect for the cottage’s character and with an eye toward the life we want to build here.

The cottage on the day we first saw it.
The cottage, on the day we first saw it.
Timber floors and morning light.
Timber floors and morning light that felt like home.

Why Sage Hearth

We were drawn not only to the land, but to the soul and history held in the cottage. Walking through the door felt like the beginning of something real.

For Ben, the age and charm of the house echoed his childhood home—built in the same era—bringing a rush of comfortable, familiar memories. For Casey, the wooden floors underfoot, sunlight spilling across the rooms, and the cool, fresh country air felt exactly like the old farmhouse she grew up in. Different memories, same knowing: it felt like home.

The Sage Mission

The name Sage Hearth holds our two guiding ideas: hearth—the home, the labour, the hospitality—and sage—the simple wisdom of plants, natural remedies, and intentional making. Those ideas shape every project we take on.

Our Focus Now

Right now, we’re working project by project: restoring the cottage with thoughtful, cost-effective DIY, growing gardens for food and traditional remedies, and building craft-based skills that help us live more self-sufficiently.

Over time, we hope Sage Hearth will become a small destination for farm experiences, workshops, and intimate gatherings—a place to learn, create, and reconnect.

Artisan Craft at Sage Hearth

Alongside the renovation, two creative branches are taking shape: Care by KC—our nature-focused herbal remedies and thoughtful handmade gifts—and The Forge at Sage Hearth, where metalwork and traditional craft come alive. Both expressions reflect our commitment to craft, intention, and connection.

About the Homesteaders

We’re Ben and Casey — two makers, growers, and dreamers building a life rooted in craft, connection, and slow, intentional living.

Ben brings his love of traditional metalwork to The Forge at Sage Hearth, designing handcrafted tools and creative pieces shaped by skill and heritage.

Casey is the herbalist and creator behind Care by KC, crafting botanical remedies and natural skincare inspired by the land around us.

Together, we’re restoring our century-old cottage, learning new trades, and growing a homestead that honours community, creativity, and nature-guided living.

Location: Taupō, New Zealand

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