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Get-well-soon soup

19 May 25
This super flavourful and nourishing soup is the hearty winter pick-me-up of choice for Philippa Jamieson.
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Join the No-Mow movement!

16 Apr 25
Dr John Flux’s neighbour once called to see if he had died – because the grass had grown so long! The Lower Hutt ecologist is an advocate of the no-mow movement because of its many environmental benefits, and describes here how he has implemented it for the past four years in his garden and on the footpath verge.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Monarch-butterflies-ragwort-John-Flux-no-mow-garden.jpg 992 955 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2025-04-16 14:23:052025-04-17 13:18:52Join the No-Mow movement!
Azadirachta indica - the neem tree

Neem: Nature’s healing gift to humanity

15 Apr 25
The neem tree has many benefits, including as a natural pesticide, fertiliser and it's a plant with various healing qualities. Katherine Smith reviews this book by Klaus Ferlow of Neem Research.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Azadirachta_indica-Neem_tree.jpg 640 960 membership https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png membership2025-04-15 14:14:582025-04-15 15:24:52Neem: Nature’s healing gift to humanity

Hot cross buns

14 Apr 25
This spicy, fruity and delicious hot cross bun recipe is by Isabel Pasch, who ran Bread and Butter Bakery in Auckland.
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Members-only Articles

So let’s talk about GE

18 Jan 24
Pro-GE lobbyists are saying we need to have a ‘mature’ conversation about genetic engineering. Originally they claimed it would solve world hunger, now they are claiming it will mitigate climate change. Philippa Jamieson logically and ‘maturely’ refutes their greenwashing.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:202025-04-03 18:34:53So let’s talk about GE

Dispersing the myths of methane

18 Jan 24
Are burping cows really to blame for global warming? Dee Pignéguy delves into the source and cycle of methane to reveal that it is not so simplistic – and there are other culprits that should concern us more.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:182025-04-03 18:39:46Dispersing the myths of methane

Insects in your garden: Beneficial or bad?

18 Jan 24
Insects are a vital component of a spray-free garden. But which ones? Duncan Smith describes what various insects do, why you need them, and how to get them.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:172025-04-03 18:47:03Insects in your garden: Beneficial or bad?
water

The wonders of water

18 Jan 24
It’s prolific, peculiar, fundamental, and all too often, unappreciated. Dr Charles Merfield marvels over the properties of banged-up stardust and explains why it is essential to life on Earth.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/stock1227501152-flovie-merf-water.jpg 1000 1500 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:152025-08-20 23:17:02The wonders of water
root drawing

Going underground to the root of it all

18 Jan 24
Roots, the essential ‘engine room’ of a plant, is the determining factor of health and growth. But roots may not be where you expect. David Whyte delves down into how our trees behave underground.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Malus-Sylvestris-root-drawing.jpg 1104 1500 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:132025-08-20 23:05:52Going underground to the root of it all
water

Contaminated ground water in New Zealand: The causes of and solutions for nitrate leaching

18 Jan 24
Tests are showing a high percentage of New Zealand’s ground water is contaminated at levels that pose a serious health risk. Rebecca Reider outlines the cause and potential solutions.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/Stock1426055537-panchro-gelatin-water.jpg 750 1500 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:122025-08-20 23:12:30Contaminated ground water in New Zealand: The causes of and solutions for nitrate leaching

Elderberry: where and how to grow, maintenance, and uses

18 Jan 24
If a plant should have multiple uses to justify itself, the elder is overqualified. Anna-Marie Barnes describes the uses of this hardy and robust plant that is easy to tuck into every hedgerow or shelterbelt – even if just for the insects and birds.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2024-01-18 13:04:102024-01-18 13:04:10Elderberry: where and how to grow, maintenance, and uses
Spelt grain

Spelt: the benefits and challenges of an ancient grain

18 Jan 24
An ancient grain that’s enjoying a modern revival is being grown organically near Bulls in Manawatū. Theresa Sjöquist talked to Harry Russell-Bowen of Ratahi Farm about the benefits and challenges of growing spelt.
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Summer is here! The trick to getting abundant berry crops and other organic garden tips

01 Nov 23
Summer is such a waiting and watching period. All the hard work of spring is about to come to fruition – if we protect and nurture our precious plants and their ground crew. Diana Noonan shares her experience of growing food organically and reminds us, as we tinker in the garden, to enjoy the riot of colour all around and to marvel at how the earth, the essence of life, really can bring forth food in abundance.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-11-01 12:42:252023-11-01 12:42:25Summer is here! The trick to getting abundant berry crops and other organic garden tips

Studying the benefits

01 Nov 23
An ambitious new study looks at nutrient-dense food production in New Zealand. Many growers and their customers believe biodynamic and organically-grown food has specific health benefits. Kete Ora Trust is undertaking research here in Aotearoa New Zealand that compares the nutrient density of food produced...
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-11-01 08:37:002023-11-01 08:37:00Studying the benefits

Summer is here! Berry crops and other organic garden tips

26 Oct 23
Summer is such a waiting and watching period. All the hard work of spring is about to come to fruition – if we protect and nurture our precious plants and their ground crew. Diana Noonan shares her experience of growing food organically and reminds us, as we tinker in the garden, to enjoy the riot of colour all around and to marvel at how the earth, the essence of life, really can bring forth food in abundance.
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png 0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-10-26 12:18:272025-07-04 16:49:05Summer is here! Berry crops and other organic garden tips

How-to: urban composting with bokashi, worm farming, and more!

26 Oct 23
Recycling plant matter into plant food is half of the cycle of life. Kaitlyn Lamb describes how this can be done on any scale, in any place – even the most urban situation.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-10-26 11:56:532025-04-03 18:48:49How-to: urban composting with bokashi, worm farming, and more!

Behind the scenes of the Organic Act

12 Sep 23
Over four decades, thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of voluntary hours have been committed to establishing a solid foundation for organics in New Zealand. Brendan Hoare recounts the journey, the challenges, and the lessons learnt in the creation of the Organic Product and Production Act 2023.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-09-12 10:30:162025-04-03 18:54:00Behind the scenes of the Organic Act

Healing the earth through biodynamics

25 Aug 23
A philosophy that transcends all cultures, religions, or science has been practised in Aotearoa for nearly a century. It’s a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition that is gaining recognition worldwide.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-08-25 11:10:002023-08-25 11:10:00Healing the earth through biodynamics

Vote organics this 2023 election

25 Aug 23
At this critical point of organic development in Aotearoa, government support is going to be crucial for organic and sustainable practices to evolve. Jenny Lux asks our political parties what they intend to do about it.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-08-25 10:52:002023-08-25 10:52:00Vote organics this 2023 election

The weird and wonderful Japanese raisin tree

27 Jul 23
It looks like a fruit from another world, brown and knobbly and forked like a twig. The Chinese have long known of its restorative power on the liver and used it as an antidote for alcohol. But best of all it belies its looks and tastes just like it sounds – sweet and tasty with the slightly chewy consistency of a raisin.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-07-27 11:47:182024-08-15 10:54:27The weird and wonderful Japanese raisin tree

Get ready for spring: seasonal gardening tips and tasks

27 Jul 23
Winter reserves and preserves are still holding up for many, but Diana Noonan says if we are to eat through the lean months of spring and into summer, now is the time to prepare
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https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Header-option-scaled-e1687388246965.jpg 1921 2560 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-07-27 11:09:162023-07-27 11:09:16Get ready for spring: seasonal gardening tips and tasks

The soil improver: transforming forestry slash with biochar

27 Jul 23
Kev Dowman tells Paula Sharp why we should be producing biochar on a commercial scale. He says it is an investment for our future, specifically the future of New Zealand’s land quality and how we can contain carbon.
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-07-27 10:34:512025-04-15 18:04:42The soil improver: transforming forestry slash with biochar

Accounting for the future

05 May 23
A recent article in a farming magazine, bemoaned that an estimated $55 million has been spent comparing organic/regenerative to industrial (named conventional) farming – with the conclusion that regenerative farming produced less profit and more GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.  
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0 0 Staff Writer https://organicnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/OrganicNZ-2024-Masthead.png Staff Writer2023-05-05 14:39:192023-05-05 14:39:19Accounting for the future

Silt to soil: Rejuvenating silt organically

03 May 23
The silts from recent floods are devoid of the all-important pore spaces, organic matter and microbes that make up a living soil. Charles Merfield gives practical recommendations on how to use organic processes to re-establish these and revitalise mineral-rich silt.
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