Localising Food Tour - Part 1: 2012 (the South Island)
The 1st part of the tour has been a huge success - Dunedin, Southland, Canterbury, Oamaru, Wanaka, Alexandra and Geraldine. We've held workshops and given evening presentations on building resilient local food systems. Have a look at our Tour Schedule page for an idea of the things we covered in the workshops and presentations.
We've also been busy documenting inspirational initiatives of local food resilience. You can get a bit of a taste of our footage so far in this video...
We've also been busy documenting inspirational initiatives of local food resilience. You can get a bit of a taste of our footage so far in this video...
We hope to collate footage of the full tour on a dvd when we're done (around June) and make it available as educational material for New Zealand and the world.
Localising Food Tour - Part 2: 2013 (mainly the North Island)
Documenting of existing local food resilience - Suzie's diary (part 1)
Here's a bit of a catch up on what we've been up to so
far since we started the 2nd part, ie. the North Island part of the Localising Food Tour (starting Monday 18 March)...
The week of Monday 18 March
Taranaki - the magnificent mountain sprinkled with snow - greeted us on our first day here. We visited and filmed John Earney at Avonstour Rare Breeds Farm, inland from Taranaki. As president of the Rare Breeds Society ([email protected]) he has numerous breeds of chickens, pigs - yes, the ones in the photo :) - and sheep as well as goats, horses and donkeys. Together with his family he works the farm, selling stock, hatching eggs and produces meat, eggs and fruit which are sold at the Sunday Farmers market in New Plymouth.
His smoked venison bacon, mince and lamb, all of which I was lucky enough to eat, are delicious. He runs courses on his farm varying from wheelwrighting skills, and building smokehouses to killing and preparing chickens. This year he has grown a crop of hemp for seed with the aim of future large scale crops to provide seed for oil and fibre for buildings, two of which are now in construction in New Plymouth. Check out the website www.hemp-technologies.com.
far since we started the 2nd part, ie. the North Island part of the Localising Food Tour (starting Monday 18 March)...
The week of Monday 18 March
Taranaki - the magnificent mountain sprinkled with snow - greeted us on our first day here. We visited and filmed John Earney at Avonstour Rare Breeds Farm, inland from Taranaki. As president of the Rare Breeds Society ([email protected]) he has numerous breeds of chickens, pigs - yes, the ones in the photo :) - and sheep as well as goats, horses and donkeys. Together with his family he works the farm, selling stock, hatching eggs and produces meat, eggs and fruit which are sold at the Sunday Farmers market in New Plymouth.
His smoked venison bacon, mince and lamb, all of which I was lucky enough to eat, are delicious. He runs courses on his farm varying from wheelwrighting skills, and building smokehouses to killing and preparing chickens. This year he has grown a crop of hemp for seed with the aim of future large scale crops to provide seed for oil and fibre for buildings, two of which are now in construction in New Plymouth. Check out the website www.hemp-technologies.com.
Afterwards, we visited a school garden nearby where a heritage orchard has recently been planted. The children told us how they went about planting it. They were really pleased how it has developed and are so looking forward to the fruit.
They then showed us their veggie plot which was growing beans, potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes and courgettes. They delighted in describing how they had made chocolate zucchini cake which the whole school had eaten. And they had cooked potatoes with mint on another occasion telling us how much better the potatoes tasted than the supermarket ones.
We finished up the day on top of the world at a super productive home garden where Sue Rine grows seeds to save for the local group; her favourite beans were drying out in the house ready for storage. Growing their own veg, meat (cattle, chicken and ducks) and fruit - the food forest is still in the early stages of development. They also teach free courses run through council to enable interested folk to learn more about growing eg. composting, seedling growing, vegetable production and seed saving. On the way home we noticed Taranaki had lost its snow mantle.
They then showed us their veggie plot which was growing beans, potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes and courgettes. They delighted in describing how they had made chocolate zucchini cake which the whole school had eaten. And they had cooked potatoes with mint on another occasion telling us how much better the potatoes tasted than the supermarket ones.
We finished up the day on top of the world at a super productive home garden where Sue Rine grows seeds to save for the local group; her favourite beans were drying out in the house ready for storage. Growing their own veg, meat (cattle, chicken and ducks) and fruit - the food forest is still in the early stages of development. They also teach free courses run through council to enable interested folk to learn more about growing eg. composting, seedling growing, vegetable production and seed saving. On the way home we noticed Taranaki had lost its snow mantle.
Another glorious day saw us head out to the farm of Jodi Roebuck - found him on facebook. Taranaki born Jodi is a part of his local community earning the respect of cow cockies and growers alike with his passion for farming and seed saving. Having been mentored at the outset by a local veteran farmer who chose to divulge his many skills to an avid apprentice, Jodi has skills in fencing, animal husbandry, pasture management and more that many would envy. His love of farming has taken him to courses run by Kay Baxter, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms and John Jevens of Bio-Intensive gardening fame, whose wisdom he has espoused in local radio programmes. He takes interns to assist with the garden implementation and routine management, who appear to quickly learn and appreciate his meticulous ways of working and enjoy the experience of being in such inspiring surroundings.
His intention to set up seed saving facilities is well on its way to fruition after 6 years on his land. The health of his animals and crops and his ways of growing are evidence that his methods are really working. His intention is to run courses for small scale farmers and growers on the property and develop his seed business which is likely to be up and running before the spring growing season.
Whilst this documentation was happening, Robina ran two days of workshops for locals in the suburbs of New
Plymouth - one on designing and maintaining a food forest and the other on seed saving, imparting practical skills to leave behind.
His intention to set up seed saving facilities is well on its way to fruition after 6 years on his land. The health of his animals and crops and his ways of growing are evidence that his methods are really working. His intention is to run courses for small scale farmers and growers on the property and develop his seed business which is likely to be up and running before the spring growing season.
Whilst this documentation was happening, Robina ran two days of workshops for locals in the suburbs of New
Plymouth - one on designing and maintaining a food forest and the other on seed saving, imparting practical skills to leave behind.
Friday.... We started at Inglewood The Food bank and community garden which supports it are on the same site at Forrestal Lodge where Chris Brown and Jeanette Wilson run a healing centre and have also built an organic garden to supply the food bank with fresh vegetables (which are often the more expensive component of the donations). With some funding from COGS, TET and ASB they involve locals of all ages including children and older people - one 80+ year old man growing a plot of potatoes and groups like the Scouts and Brownies. Growing, seeding, weeding ,watering, composting and harvesting are done by all with Chris keeping overview on the garden. 450 parcels go out every year.
We then went through to Stratford to the home of Daniel Hales and his family. Daniel has had a lifelong fascination with tracking and hunting in the bush, has an intimate knowledge of birdcalls and hunting tools making atlatls, blowpipes and bows, arrowheads and shafts from various native trees. With his skills he provides meat (and garden vegetables) for the family and takes others bush to experience hunting first hand. He intends to set up a website referencing his journey to collect information in the near future.
Sue and Brian at Te Kahuri plant nursery (http://www.tekahurinurseries.co.nz) have been growing trees at Maungatoki for thirty years. Despite the incredible downpour their place exudes a quiet peace and the health of their young saplings is plain to see. They have gathered heritage graftwood from around the bio-region so had plenty of tasty delights for us to sample. They have provided trees to many school gardens and although some have suffered due to poor treatment they hope to remedy this with printed laminated care sheets to remain on site. They also grow many native species for riparian plantings in the locality.
Saturday... Robina's workshop on localising food resilience took attendees for a walk round local permaculture style gardens and community orchards in Glenpark Avenue. Gardens and food were shared and a lot of knowledge gained on the variety or lack of availability in the region and visions for building community were
discussed.
Sunday... We visited and documented New Plymouths popular farmers market with Kama and Peter our hosts and their boys; we were very sorry to say goodbye and continue on our way to Rotorua.
We then went through to Stratford to the home of Daniel Hales and his family. Daniel has had a lifelong fascination with tracking and hunting in the bush, has an intimate knowledge of birdcalls and hunting tools making atlatls, blowpipes and bows, arrowheads and shafts from various native trees. With his skills he provides meat (and garden vegetables) for the family and takes others bush to experience hunting first hand. He intends to set up a website referencing his journey to collect information in the near future.
Sue and Brian at Te Kahuri plant nursery (http://www.tekahurinurseries.co.nz) have been growing trees at Maungatoki for thirty years. Despite the incredible downpour their place exudes a quiet peace and the health of their young saplings is plain to see. They have gathered heritage graftwood from around the bio-region so had plenty of tasty delights for us to sample. They have provided trees to many school gardens and although some have suffered due to poor treatment they hope to remedy this with printed laminated care sheets to remain on site. They also grow many native species for riparian plantings in the locality.
Saturday... Robina's workshop on localising food resilience took attendees for a walk round local permaculture style gardens and community orchards in Glenpark Avenue. Gardens and food were shared and a lot of knowledge gained on the variety or lack of availability in the region and visions for building community were
discussed.
Sunday... We visited and documented New Plymouths popular farmers market with Kama and Peter our hosts and their boys; we were very sorry to say goodbye and continue on our way to Rotorua.
In Rotorua we were welcomed by Denise whose an inspiration to all with her longterm commitment and involvement in the local community garden and other environmental actions. The Rotorua ecofestival was culminating in workshops and talks by our team. We filmed Mike Daly of Nature Farming at RAVE his presentation of bokashi (www.zingbokashi.co.nz) and EM (www.emnz.co.nz) recorded on film will hopefully
help many to improve their gardens. His product is now gaining in popularity and being used by farmers and home gardeners.
help many to improve their gardens. His product is now gaining in popularity and being used by farmers and home gardeners.
In the afternoon we went to the Rotorua School for young parents to talk to Terry who organises the gardens there. His easy style of gardening involves no dig methods and self seeding with students taking on spaces in the gardens for their own production, they often also have gardens at home too. There was also a small kitchen den where students are encouraged to pick fresh greens for lunch. The children also come over after school from the kindergarten adjoining where they are cared for while their mums are learning. The students were happy to show us their initiatives and the gardens were healthy and vibrant, surely giving health to the next generation. During the day Robina gave an advanced seed saving course and in the evening the Politics of Food Security talk took place at RAVE.
Tuesday saw us accompanying Bernie Hornfeck to marae gardens where we were shown vegetables grown with people in the area. Using a rotation of the beds, a great composting system and black plastic to heat the
ground and keep down weeds; some good crops of corn, kumara and pumpkins (as well as potatoes which were harvested already) are mainly grown with other fruit trees recently planted around the edges and rhubarb and a lesser amount of other green veg.
ground and keep down weeds; some good crops of corn, kumara and pumpkins (as well as potatoes which were harvested already) are mainly grown with other fruit trees recently planted around the edges and rhubarb and a lesser amount of other green veg.
From there Bernie took us across town to an initiative at Linton Park Community Centre where the local bowling greens have been turned into allotment gardens having become no longer financially viable after drinking laws changed reducing members from around 650 to 50. There are many small gardens for local people there and seedlings are grown by Bernie to assist their development. After only 2 years the gardens are thriving and with the addition of more compost the soil will continue to improve. Rick Mansell is the centre coordinator and many groups use the area for workshops and other educational and recreational pursuits and one bowling green has been left for the bowling fans.
We then went to visit Mike Davies at Castle Corps. A sector of the Rotorua District Council they are involved in looking after recreational facilities, parks and gardens etc around the city. Situated in an industrial area, the dust was beginning to be a problem. As a step towards solving the problem they decided to turn some of their compound into gardens. All the staff have a good knowledge of landscaping and growing and they were able to use materials from the site to help create the gardens. All the produce goes to the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families in the area. Compost is made on site with woodchip and green waste from the parks. The aim is to put in more gardens on the site. Staff are very happy to be involved in the enterprise.
We then went down to the Ohinemutu marae where the children from the school there were having a seed saving workshop with Rachel, Denise and Robina.
There is an aim to put in gardens there too as more children return to the area it is important for them to have somewhere to learn about nature and the nurture of themselves and their environment. Tuhipo Koreopahas initiated this and with the help of others hopes to recreate what has been lost in the past.
We completed the day by visiting Wilhelmina Zandvoort’s delightful garden where quirky ornaments and sculptures meet floral abandon and vegetable and fruit abundance. The whole becomes a smorgasbord of colour, biodiversity and edibles. Her open door policy and bubbly enthusiasm make the whole initiative attractive to passers by and visitors alike.
The next day saw us arriving early at the Brown Owl food cooperative run by Janine at her home in Central Road on the outskirts of Rotorua. Open only on Weds mornings there are already many members who have the advantage of whole foods at a reduced cost. A steady stream of customers purchased fresh and dry goods and passed the time of day in a pleasureable manner before continuing with their day. Several local growers and enterprises are supported by the coop purchases. We were told of an elderly couple who provided salad greens
and other perishable vegetables. The packing is done by the members and Jeanine is employed by the coop to organise orders from organic suppliers of dry goods, oil and other basics.
We were invited by a customer to discuss their product Bio Brew (see their website www.biobrew.co.nz). We were told that it was very effective in promoting health in lactating cattle and other animals and hope to talk more with them in Hamilton.
Zara then went to help kids at Ohinemutu marae with a filming initiative and followed this by filming the Hannah’s Bay community restoration Trust gardens with Denise who has been the constant inspiration behind these gardens where people gather every Friday in the summer to share pizzas from the cobb pizza oven built there recently which has given new life to the gardens making it a focus for the community.
The next day saw us arriving early at the Brown Owl food cooperative run by Janine at her home in Central Road on the outskirts of Rotorua. Open only on Weds mornings there are already many members who have the advantage of whole foods at a reduced cost. A steady stream of customers purchased fresh and dry goods and passed the time of day in a pleasureable manner before continuing with their day. Several local growers and enterprises are supported by the coop purchases. We were told of an elderly couple who provided salad greens
and other perishable vegetables. The packing is done by the members and Jeanine is employed by the coop to organise orders from organic suppliers of dry goods, oil and other basics.
We were invited by a customer to discuss their product Bio Brew (see their website www.biobrew.co.nz). We were told that it was very effective in promoting health in lactating cattle and other animals and hope to talk more with them in Hamilton.
Zara then went to help kids at Ohinemutu marae with a filming initiative and followed this by filming the Hannah’s Bay community restoration Trust gardens with Denise who has been the constant inspiration behind these gardens where people gather every Friday in the summer to share pizzas from the cobb pizza oven built there recently which has given new life to the gardens making it a focus for the community.