Project Gro

The Soil & Health Association is pleased to announce the re-launch of Project Gro in December 2009.

Project Gro was first launched in 1984 by then patron, Sir Dove-Myer Robinson who said “If mankind is to achieve optimum health he must consume healthy food grown in a healthy environment.”

Many members and readers will remember that at the time Project Gro’s emphasis was on ‘Giving to Research in Organics’ (GRO). Members and the public gave generously during the 80’s and 90’s to the Project Gro fund to support the growth of the Biological Husbandry Unit at Lincoln College, which was established with the support of Soil & Health in 1977. Project Gro also enabled Soil & Health to set up an Advisory Service in Canterbury, Hawkes Bay and Auckland, to employ an Education Officer and assist other organic programmes, such as the work at the Bay of Plenty Polytech growing organic vegetables and kiwifruit.

Project Gro has more recently been dormant, but is now being given a new lease of life to assist with the growth of organic gardening and education, which reflects the resurgence of gardening and the need for better health in our communities.

The fund will be used to support community groups, environment centres and schools starting-up and maintaining organic gardens, to create organic gardening resources and teach organic principles for health of people and planet.

Soil & Health wants Project Gro to be a living example of the Association’s motto: Healthy Soil - Healthy Food - Healthy People. This work will also help fulfill the Association’s vision of an organic nation by 2020.

To receive a Project Gro Application Form - email manager@organicnz.org

or phone 09 4194536