Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
New Zealand's leading source of information on Organics & Sustainable Living
Tilth - July 0613-07-2006Newsletter of the Canterbury / Waitaha Branch. Matariki 2006. Volume 2, Issue 1.Welcome to the first issue of Tilth’s second volume. It has been a while since the Canterbury/ Waitaha branch of Soil & Health put out an issue of Tilth, but at our well-attended AGM this year it was generally agreed that we get it going again. Our AGM was on 27 June, which turned out to be the first new moon after the pre-dawn rise of the Pleiades star cluster, otherwise known as Matariki. In other words, it was the beginning of our New Year. It was a good time to consider reactivating the branch. The revival taking place in our branch at the moment is great to see, and our committee are dedicated to making a real difference. There was a strong call to action at our AGM, and some excellent suggestions about where our energy should be put (see over for details). Development of an ‘Integrity’ organic certification system for gardeners, perhaps linking in with an existing market, regular informal advice sessions with experts and the establishment of an extensive library were all suggested by Bob Crowder and enthusiastically received by attendees. With this issue of Tilth you will find a membership form. If you are not a current member, please consider becoming one! On behalf of the new committee, I want to welcome you to our new branch, and look forward to communicating with you about what you want to see us achieve. Best wishes Matt Morris, Branch President Snippets from Annual General Meeting on the 26th of June. This meeting was attended by 26 members, a very pleasing turn out on a cold winter’s night. Membership Fees It was decided unanimously on a new membership fee schedule for 2006, which is as follows: $ 5.00 for internet only $10.00 for mail subscribers $45.00 for National Membership which now includes automatically the Canterbury Branch (for free). The Canterbury Committee
Integrity Certification for Home Gardeners At the AGM Bob Crowder offered several suggestions about specific and tangible actions the branch could undertake, which were met with enthusiasm by those present. One involved the development of an ‘Integrity’ organic certification programme, first mooted by Bob at the development of the OrganicFarmNZ scheme in 2001. ‘Integrity’ certification would enable home gardeners growing organically to have their efforts recognised, and has excellent potentials also for community gardens. Surplus produce could therefore be sold, potentially at a Gardeners’ Market. Library Another suggestion was the housing of his extensive library (and potentially the Soil & Health library) at a friendly venue. Linked with this could be a regular session where interested persons could speak with an organic expert such as himself. These would ideally be held in an organically-minded café or some other friendly setting. Obviously this is a generous offer. We are looking into how we can make these exciting ideas realities. If you have any suggestions about these or other possibilities for the branch, please let us know. Project Port Lyttleton (PPL) At the recent Soil and Health AGM Melanie Morris and I had the opportunity to speak about what is happening in Lyttelton and what we are involved with as part of Project Port Lyttelton (PPL). PPL is an open community group that works towards creating the world of its vision statement…Lyttelton – portal to Canterbury’s historic past, a vibrant sustainable community creating a living future. Recently CCC granted PPL $10,000 towards a waste minimisation programme. We are currently fine tuning the details of how it will be organised. There is a variety of projects that we are engaged in:
The compost grown obviously can be used on private gardens, sold via the Farmers Market, using a form of certification stating its quality, or used to help grow the soil in the community garden and its extensions in the community. We will offer education around composting skills, with someone available to give advice on any ailing heaps! We will also be using bokashi and worm farming techniques. If you want to know more, be involved, offer suggestions or help, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you. Margaret Jefferies - Email or phone 03 328 9260. Food – Do you care where it comes from? If you care about what you eat you might like to read the article in Organic N.Z. May/June 2006, vol.65 No.3 P.27. There is a private member’s bill, drafter by Green Party MP, Sue Kedgley, which is due for its first reading in Parliament shortly. More information about this bill can be found on the Green Party website. If you like to support the Food Information Bill, you can write, email or telephone MPs to tell them that you would like them to support it going to Select Committee. Write to the Minister of Food Safety Annette King, and tell her how you feel about having or NOT having the information of Country of Origin Label CoOL on ALL food products so you can make an informed purchasing decision. Vote with your purse
CPIT have plants for sale Some of which are organic: Herbs, conifers and ornamentals. If you would like to find out more, please contact Suzanne on ph. 940 8863. |
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Soil & Health
Association of New Zealand Inc (est 1941) Healthy
Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People |
