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Japanese wineberry: where and how to grow

01 Mar 24

Japanese Wineberry thrives in forest margins and produces tasty morsels of delicious flavour. Anna-Marie Barnes introduces a hardy bramble suitable for those who like plants that look after themselves.

The battle for the future of food

01 Mar 24

Jon Carapiet outlines why the push for automatic acceptance of unproven technologies that have the potential to irreversibly contaminate our food and environment (aka GE) is the wrong direction.

Preparing for winter: organic gardening tips and tasks for autumn

01 Mar 24

Autumn is traditionally viewed as a time for winding down the food garden, but it doesn’t need to be that way. With a cost-of-living crisis on our doorstep, Diana Noonan gives practical advice on adopting a waste-free approach to harvesting and preparing a garden that will provide fresh produce throughout the chilliest (and priciest) periods of the year.

The benefits of Vitamin Sea

18 Jan 24

As we chase modern life, do we forget the powerful and potent benefits of nature? Simply going to the beach can have profound effects. Zara Adcock explains how the surf, sand, and sun affects our spiritual, mental, and physical health.

Visit the luxury hut heated by mulch

21 Jun 22

Louise Perzigian visits a luxury hut in Nelson with a low-impact price tag and a heating system powered by a giant pile of mulch.

Forever farming in Southland

21 Jun 22

Philippa Jamieson visits an organic sheep and beef farm where crop rotation, diverse pasture species and natural fertilisers contribute to the production of a premium product that prioritises soil and climate.

Hormone balance, naturally

21 Jun 22

Holistic nutritionist Laura Hett explores the roller coaster world of hormones and provides practical advice on lifestyle changes that can make a difference.

Kūmara recipes from Hapī

20 Jun 22

Kūmara is something we need in our community. It’s an abundance crop, says Gretta Carney, owner of Hapī Ora organic café and māra in Ahuriri–Napier. She shares some of her favourite kūmara recipes.

Kai as medicine with Hapī Ora café

20 Jun 22

Gretta Carney, owner of Hapī Ora organic café and māra in Ahuriri–Napier, talks about kai as medicine, the quantum science behind biodynamics, homeopathy and Hua Parakore – and shares some favourite kūmara recipes.

Meet the locals: Weathersfield Organics

20 Jun 22

Bridgit Gibellini lives in Nelson and owns herb and vege seedling company Weathersfield Organics.

Kids’ activities for Matariki

20 Jun 22

Get the kids outside and into the garden with these fun activities.

Winter gardening: fruit trees, new beds, and other tips

15 Jun 22

Your winter māra may be resting, but that doesn’t mean you can do the same! July and August are preparation months, and the mahi you put in now is essential if you are to reap rewards down the track. Act without delay because spring is just around the corner.

The history of GE in New Zealand

14 Jun 22

Bonnie Flaws investigates New Zealand's ongoing debate on the regulation of genetic modification

Matariki: a new year commences

14 Jun 22

As Puanga and the Matariki star cluster reappear in our midwinter sky, heralding the start of a new year in Aotearoa, we talk to a healer, a politician, a biodynamic farmer and two organic growers about what Matariki means to them and how they’re choosing to celebrate it.

Pouwera, the circular community garden in Ōrākei

14 Jun 22

Rob Small takes us on a tour of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei's productive māra and talks organics, mātauranga Māori and the challenges of pesky pūkeko

Talking food and wahine with Sophie Merkens

04 May 22

What do you do when your passions are photography, food and the environment? If you’re Sophie Merkens you quit your job, buy a van and set off on a road trip around Aotearoa to interview and photograph 35 inspiring wāhine growers and gatherers. Then you turn it into a beautiful book.

Banana blossom, leek and kūmara crustless pie

04 May 22

Here is my finger-licking, creamy crustless pie, which also features caramelised leek, fresh rosemary, light spices and chunks of sweet kūmara, all immersed in a rich sunflower, miso sauce and finished with a layer of the parmesan-like cheesy rosemary crumble. Do not put this gloriously cosy winter’s pie in the too-hard basket, it truly is very simple to put together and so delicious.

Autumn gardening

26 Apr 22

As autumn rolls on into winter, it’s so easy rest on our laurels and leave the edible beds and orchard to their own devices. But I find that activity now, brings the reward of fresh produce right through the coldest months, and healthy food-bearing trees in spring.

Horopito: how to use our hottest native herb

26 Apr 22

Herbalist Sara Mertens celebrates our hottest native herb and peppers us with ideas on how to use it in the kitchen and medicine cabinet.

Where do regen and organics stand on soil?

26 Apr 22

Diverging focuses on soil health and chemical inputs is illuminating a gap between regenerative and organic practices. But adherents say it’s an opportunity to come together and find a way forward, says Desmond Finlay.

Cider house rules with CoralTree Organics

26 Apr 22

Rebecca Reider visits a family-owned apple cider vinegar company on the Kāpiti Coast that has been perfecting the art of fermenting for more than 25 years. The secret? Letting nature do her thing.

Pricing up organics

20 Apr 22

When it comes to groceries, many of us want to shop organic, but can’t afford the higher price tag. So why is organic food more expensive, and when you add up environmental and health factors, does it really cost us more? We investigate the economics and ethics of eating organic and shares tips on how to get more of it into your weekly shop.

Meet the locals: Donna Evans of Commonsense Organics

19 Apr 22

Donna Evans is the store manager at organic grocer Commonsense’s newest store in Milford. We talked shop with her.

To GE or not to GE: Organic growers consider Pfizer

19 Apr 22

Organic NZ asked four organic growers to share their stories of how they navigated ethical considerations regarding the Pfizer vaccine.

Free Articles

Japanese wineberry: where and how to grow

The battle for the future of food

Preparing for winter: organic gardening tips and tasks for autumn

The benefits of Vitamin Sea

Members-only Articles

Visit the luxury hut heated by mulch

Forever farming in Southland

Hormone balance, naturally

Kūmara recipes from Hapī

Kai as medicine with Hapī Ora café

Meet the locals: Weathersfield Organics

Kids’ activities for Matariki

Winter gardening: fruit trees, new beds, and other tips

The history of GE in New Zealand

Matariki: a new year commences

Pouwera, the circular community garden in Ōrākei

Talking food and wahine with Sophie Merkens

Banana blossom, leek and kūmara crustless pie

Autumn gardening

Horopito: how to use our hottest native herb

Where do regen and organics stand on soil?

Cider house rules with CoralTree Organics

Pricing up organics

Meet the locals: Donna Evans of Commonsense Organics

To GE or not to GE: Organic growers consider Pfizer

Proudly published by the Soil & Health Association NZ