Organic NZ

GE Kia ora, I write with respect to the letter from Nicola Moon which was chosen as the winning letter in the Nov/Dec OrganicNZ issue. I was active in the GE campaign in the 1990s to prevent the release of GE organisms outdoors and remain committed t

Originally part of a whole-food co-Operative, Maureen Ward and Peter Alexander opened the Chantal Organics shop in Napier in 1983. Forty-five years later, they have bought out their partners, established and sold a wholesale division (Chantal Organic

Organic, permaculture, regenerative, wholistic, biological horticulture, syntropic (love how this word rolls in the mouth), nutrient dense, agroecological, sustainable… I deliberate on the term that describes my growing philosophy and, in defeat, rev

In late November, Soil & Health NZ launched Aotearoa's cheekiest garden-celebrating calendar. This unique calendar captures organic gardening au naturel, celebrating authenticity, connection to nature, and regenerative practices. With all proceeds su

When so many garden edibles come on stream in early to midsummer, it can feel overwhelming, especially when you want to do your best to avoid food waste. But there are ways to slow down the rate at which you need to harvest. Peas and beans don’t have

It’s primarily vested interests who are pushing for deregulation or weaker laws around GE – the biotech and agrichemical industries who want to patent and sell GE technologies, and those who would get research and development funding. They are well r

Kickstart your breadmaking with one of ten prizes of three bread mixes from Organic Flour Mills. All current members automatically entered. Members can win three of these popular bread mixes for the easy road to bread making. Simply add water, oil an

Most people have heard of the water cycle, in which water evaporates into the air, returns to Earth, and then evaporates again. Many other substances, including methane, cycle this way too. Methane is the main component of natural gas – a highly expl

Among the world's biggest consumers of fuel, militaries account for 5.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2022 estimate by international experts. But defence forces are not bound by international climate agreements to cut or

Maintaining an ecological balance in our gardens involves understanding and respecting the interconnectedness of all living organisms. Insects play a crucial role in our ecosystems, with positive or adverse effects. Not all insects are harmful, excep

These are the bane of gardeners and are challenging to control. In 1949, a parasitoid wasp, Trissolcus basalis, was released in New Zealand to control crop damage caused by this pest in sweet corn and green beans. It only parasitises their eggs and h

Water is the weirdest substance there is! Nothing has physical and chemical properties like it. It is totally bizarre even though it is one of the most common chemical compounds on Earth. It is the only common material that exists as solid, liquid, a

My science teacher dad used to talk about ‘kiddy science’ - the ‘science’ we learned as kids. It made amusing cartoons (character when landing on a trampoline will always bounce back higher than when they started) and a simplistic understanding of th

Plant an elderberry in your garden and you’ll receive delicate ornamental foliage, a multitude of fragrant flower clusters in spring, shade and shelter in summer, and a plentiful harvest of antioxidant-rich berries by early autumn, if not before. The

One of the many original species of wheat, spelt (Triticum spelta) is a cross between emmer wheat and goat grass. It’s grown today in precisely the same form in which it was cultivated 9000 years ago in the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia. By 2000 BC

Preparing your own healthy foods takes time, but it is summer – a season for enjoying the garden, not sweltering over the stove. We’ve selected the following quick-to-prepare recipes from Kelsi Boocock's new cookbook: Healthy Kelsi Travel Kitchen. Th

Hydration in the body is made up of the water within the cells (intracellularly) and between our cells (extracellularly). But being truly hydrated is not simply about drinking lots of water and hoping for the best, it’s also about consuming and retai

We are fortunate in New Zealand, as the sea is never more than a 130km away. From where I live, I can be there in an hour. As I draw near, I am taken in by the scent of the salty sea mist. Already I am breathing deeper, for the air by the sea is high

What: Garden of National Significance Where: Dunedin, Otago Peninsula Website: hereweka.co.nz. The major input into organic food production is hard work. But there is a special place on the Otago Peninsula where you can relax, sample, and be inspired

What: Retreat Centre Where: Manaia, Coromandel Website: manaretreat.com Winding up the Thames-Coromandel coastline and turning inland to climb steeply upwards, the first thing you notice about Mana Retreat is its incredible setting. Perched on a moun

What: Accommodation, camping, and gourmet meals from home-grown produce Where: Tuatapere, Southland Website: lastlightlodge.com It is a surprise to find a gourmet experience at the bottom of the world, even more so to find one set amongst flourishing

What: Nature bathing Where: Medland Beach, Great Barrier Island Website: waiorabeachretreat.nz I have always considered myself extremely lucky to have been raised on the wild and beautiful Aotea (Great Barrier Island). The geographical features are s

What: Creative Sanctuary Where: Pahiatua, Wairarapa Website: mistymountainretreat.nz If you turn up a side road near the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka, you’ll come across the extraordinary retreat of award-winning artist Belinda Paton. Fashioned from f

What: Wellness retreat Where: Raglan, Waikato Website: wakeupandthrive.co.nz At the end of a side road off a side road, just short of Raglan, is the rammed-earth home of Dave Ward-Smith. With his children grown and gone, Dave rents the self-contained

What is the definition of a heritage (or heirloom if you are in the UK) plant? It is an undefined term that means different things to different people. To most, it indicates varieties from before the industrialisation of agriculture (prior to WWII).

In the picturesque landscape of Matakana, north of Auckland, Rebecka Bjelfvenstam Keeling has sown the seeds of a quiet floral revolution. The founder of pick-your-own flower farm, Slow Blooms, Rebecka was recently elected to the National Council of

An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth Steve Mushin Allen & Unwin NZ Hardcover 80pgs RRP$37.99 It is not a book like any I have seen before. It is not a comic, or a novel. It is so implausible as to be ridiculous, and so logical it’s sli

Grass-grub beetles eat the young leaves of a wide range of plants, and their larvae decimate the roots of grassland and other plants. They have few insect predators, but birds will eat the adult and larval stages. There are few recordings of parasito