September - October 2020

Organic NZ

New Zealand’s organics and sustainable living magazine

Organic NZ2 min read
Kia Ora E Hoa Mā!
This is the year for new experiences – some good, some bad. One of the best so far was the online AGM, which included voting online and breakout discussions online. This state-of-the-art event was organised meticulously by Pete Huggins, our general m
Organic NZ1 min read
Organic NZ
Chair of Soil & Health Marion Wood National Councillors Jodie Bruning, Barbara Collis, Ella Lawton, Jenny Lux, Bernie Mabbs, Peter Wells General manager Pete Huggins: [email protected] Enquiries and membership support Florence Lundon-Moor
Organic NZ3 min readGardening
Back To Basics
Life is uncertain and ever changing, and this is being brought home to us in a major way with the resurgence of Covid-19 cases. Now more than ever we need to be resilient, able to bend with the wind, able to flow around obstacles like water does. Dur
Organic NZ4 min read
Your Letters
As always, I thoroughly enjoy reading your magazine and look forward to the next issue. As a member, I would like to know if you have reference material available regarding beneficial companion plants. We have an organic kiwifruit orchard and we are
Organic NZ3 min read
Competitions
Kill your weeds fast, the natural way! Kiwicare is giving away six packs of Weed Weapon Natural Power in a convenient ready to use one-litre pack, and a 500 ml concentrate. Weed Weapon Natural Power is a fast-acting, natural herbicide, certified orga
Organic NZ2 min read
Organic Week Aotearoa 2020
5–13 September Organic people and businesses around the country have been organising events for this year’s Organic Week – a celebration of all things organic. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer. You can still register your event via the Organic Week
Organic NZ1 min readSocial Science
AGM Held By Videoconference For The First Time
Soil & Health enjoyed a lively annual general meeting in July by videoconference. Formal business including remits and election results was followed by focus groups on glyphosate, Organic Week and the Organic Products Bill. Our AGM approved the finan
Organic NZ2 min readAmerican Government
Glyphosate Campaign Ready To Go
Soil & Health’s glyphosate campaign is underway with a push to gather supporters online, build local networks and develop a petition to persuade our politicians to take action. Many thanks to the members who have donated and supported this campaign s
Organic NZ1 min read
To Bee Or Not To Bee?
Members of Extinction Rebellion Ōtautahi donned bee suits to oppose Christchurch City Council’s proposal to return to spraying more glyphosate. The ‘bees’ opposed the use of all harmful sprays because of ‘insectageddon’ – the alarming rates of insect
Organic NZ1 min readPolitics
Changes In The Wind: Small-scale Producers Respond
With major changes in the wind for the organic sector, OrganicFarmNZ (OFNZ) members had much to discuss at their AGM on 8 August, held online. Chairperson Jim Bennett highlighted the progress made in the past year, such as members gaining Food Act re
Organic NZ1 min readPolitics
GE-free Win For Northland
Soil & Health welcomes Northland Regional Council’s action to place strong precautionary and prohibitive wording for the outdoor use of genetically engineered organisms into its new Regional Plan. In response, court action has now been dropped. “Nort
Organic NZ5 min read
Vote & Act For Organics
It’s election time again! The polls close on 17 October, and the new government will have three years to put in place policies to improve the wellbeing of food producers and consumers, increase food and climate security, and regenerate nature. Or not
Organic NZ6 min readAgriculture
Organic dairying: A LABOUR OF LOVE
Energy, passion and hard work have enabled Waikato farmers Jesiah and Ellen Alexander to convert 50 hectares of formerly conventional dairy land near Cambridge into a productive organic dairy unit. As Alexander Organics, they now supply organic milk
Organic NZ5 min read
The new STEAM AGE
A global change of attitude towards environmental and human health has been challenging our councils to relook at how weeds are controlled in Aotearoa New Zealand. Some of our more progressive councils have been expanding their practices to include i
Organic NZ5 min read
Conscious Coffee
How did your past contribute to Kōkako? When I was seventeen, I got my first job as a pizza delivery boy. I had an amazing boss and over time worked my way up through the ranks to managing the stores. I was with this company right through university
Organic NZ5 min readCooking, Food & Wine
Plan for PLENTY
There’s a standing joke in my family, and it re-emerges every time we’re eating coleslaw. It harks back to a long-ago summer when I grew so many cabbages I had to take a wheelbarrow of them to the local camping ground and give them away before they w
Organic NZ8 min read
Crazy About Heirloom Tomatoes
In the summer of 2013, newly arrived in New Zealand, I was determined to grow as much food as I could, including tomatoes, at our small rental in Auckland. I was pleased with my first harvest of Patio tomatoes, a cultivar with small round fruit so ty
Organic NZ4 min read
Multiply the INDOOR JUNGLE
There’s something special about sharing and swapping houseplants with friends and family. Over the years I’ve amassed a huge indoor jungle from plants grown from cuttings given to me, and renewed aging stock. I’ve gifted several, and my plants have f
Organic NZ2 min read
Maramataka for Mahuru/Whiringa-a-nuku
Pāōnanga (Clematis) and tahumate (Nothopanax arboreum) foretell the approach of the warmer months. Rūaumoko will shake again to herald the changing seasons. The three bright stars in Orion’s belt are the companions of Puanga. Rona, daughter of Tangar
Organic NZ5 min read
Light And Fresh Recipes For Spring
These compact little packages are fresh, light, delicious and nutritious. Make up only what you’ll eat – keep extra filling for up to 4 days in the fridge and make up rolls as needed for a quick lunch or snack. Vegan, gluten-free, makes 15 rolls You
Organic NZ4 min read
The Power Of Healing With Plants
When I woke that morning, I had the strangest feeling. I was stuck to my bed and couldn’t move. I felt like my blood wasn’t moving and I was in so much pain. I felt panic start to rise, but I calmed myself down and eventually managed to sit up. That
Organic NZ4 min read
Reduced Tillage For Organic Matter
We till the soil to manage weeds, and prepare a seedbed for the next crop. But when we till the soil, we are exposing organic matter, breaking some of the soil organic matter down. Soil organisms and soil structure can also suffer from this disturban
Organic NZ7 min read
LAVENDER With Altitude
In February 2009 businessman Allan Tibby approached longtime friend Blake Foster with a suggestion of establishing an alpine lavender farm. He had seen that tourists overseas flocked to lavender farms and thought an alpine lavender experience easily
Organic NZ5 min read
HOUSE OF Earth And Wood
It’s a cold, wet and blustery morning on the cusp of an Auckland winter. It gets wilder as we drive up South Head to Shelly Beach and to the house of Muni and Mylene, finished in 2018 after fours years of effort. The rain clears up when we get there
Organic NZ2 min readGardening
Events And Contacts
The Soil & Health Association – publisher of Organic NZ – has groups that meet in different parts of the country. These meetings and field days are wonderful ways in which to meet fellow gardeners and growers, and other people interested in healthy s
Organic NZ5 min read
Goods And Services Directory
This directory is your guide to a range of goods and services that are either certified organic, or supply organic products. • Certified organic goods, services or businesses are marked: ✓• Non-certified producers are included on the implicit expecta
Organic NZ2 min readArchitecture
What’s On
NOTE: Events may change depending on the Covid-19 situation. 5 – 13 September Nationwide See more on page 9 and at www.organicweek.co.nz. 28 August, 10.30 am Wellington Morning AGM, followed by a panel of speakers from 12 noon – 1.30 pm. Speaker pane
Organic NZ1 min read
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