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Get-well-soon soup
This super flavourful and nourishing soup is the hearty winter pick-me-up of choice for Philippa Jamieson.

Join the No-Mow movement!
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.

Neem: Nature’s healing gift to humanity
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.
Members-only Articles

Behind the scenes of the Organic Act
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.

Healing the earth through biodynamics
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.

Vote organics this 2023 election
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.

The weird and wonderful Japanese raisin tree
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.

Get ready for spring: seasonal gardening tips and tasks
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

The soil improver: transforming forestry slash with biochar
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.

Accounting for the future
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.

Silt to soil: Rejuvenating silt organically
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.

Happiness Begins With Good Food
The hormones that support us to feel calm, content, and happy
are produced in our gut from the food we eat. Laura Hett
explains how our diet affects our state of mind.

Funding the future with biodynamics
Practitioners are convinced biodynamics is the way of the future – and are financing the research to prove it.

An Aunty to all: supporting those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle
When disaster strikes, the basics of food and shelter become challenging. Meghan Read hears from Arohanui Lawrence about how her spray-free community garden demonstrates the strength of local food resilience.

Conquer the cold: seasonal gardening tips and tasks for late autumn
With autumn settling into winter, what better advice than turning to the sun and letting the shadows fall behind you could gardeners take? Especially those who have lost so much in recent weather events. Wherever you are in the country, make the most of the little heat that still lingers, by trapping it in cunning ways

Making soil: turning food scraps into food production
A climate action enterprise uses bokashi and no-turn composting methods to create carbon-rich, nutrient-dense soil. Theresa Sjoquist talks to those who are diverting landfill to profitable crops.

The farm-to-kitchen model bringing food sovereignty to India
Food sovereignty is an important issue in a world of increasing centralisation, and in our documentary ‘The Worm is Turning’ it’s one of many subjects we address.

Bringing seaweed back into the food chain
Nutrients and minerals from the earth’s crust flow into the sea and are absorbed by seaweed. Duncan Smith outlines the benefits of closing the loop and bringing seaweed back into your food chain.

Beauty and business on borrowed land
You don’t need land to have a garden. Nor capital to start a business. Diana Noonan finds out from an innovative artist how she turned her life around to create a satisfying organic lifestyle and income - without land or start-up capital.

What we know about chronic and post-COVID fatigue
Chronic fatigue has been around for a while, and there is renewed interest due to one of the main triggers being viral infection. It might be too soon to tell, but the recent outbreak of COVID-19 could be a trigger. Holistic nutritionist Laura Hett looks at what we know about chronic fatigue.

Medicinal fungi at Ora’s Farm
Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Piopinno, Enoki, Shiitake. Intriguing names for delicious mushrooms that science is revealing are beneficial to our health. Crispin Calidicott talks to two growers who are excited about their therapeutic potential.

Azolla: a simple and sustainable biofertiliser
It is the ultimate fertiliser for your garden. It is free, only needs a bucket of water, removes greenhouse gases, fixes nitrogen, and enriches your soil. Sheryn Dean describes a simple and sustainable biofertiliser.

Growing organic hazels
Hardy hazels are well suited to organic growing in New Zealand, and the nuts are nutritious and versatile. Philippa Jamieson profiles Otama Hazels in Southland as an example of a successful small block and looks at the opportunities for more growers to enter the market.

