Soil & Health Patrons

The Soil & Health Association is proud to have two Patrons; Jeanette Fitzsimons and Bob Crowder

Bob Crowder
Bob is also a Life Member of the Association, he established the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln College in 1977 – the first of its kind in NZ – and was the driving force behind Project GRO, which enabled students to complete their diplomas. Bob helped to establish the New Zealand Biological Producers Council, and was President for three years. Appointed to the Board of Directors of IFOAM in 1989.

Jeanette Fitzsimons, CNZM
Jeannette was co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (1995–2009) and a member of parliament (1996–2010).
She was instrumental in the campaign against genetic engineering in New Zealand, having started a petition calling for a moratorium on growing organic crops and for a Royal Commission on GE.
Jeanette has been contributing to the energy debate in New Zealand since the nuclear power controversy of the seventies, and has published on energy efficiency, sustainable energy and climate change. Her Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, passed in May 2000, forms the framework for current policy on sustainable energy.
Jeanette lives with her husband Harry on an organic off-the-grid farm in the Coromandel.