Sweet spice: Vanilla from Tonga
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Sweet spice: Vanilla from Tonga

On 31 December 2001 the island of Vava’u in Tonga was struck by Cyclone Waka. In winds of 190 km per hour, tree trunks snapped, houses were reduced to matchsticks, and crops destroyed. From that destruction however grew something sweet. Theresa Sjöquist tells the story of Heilala Vanilla.  The content below is available with a print or online reader subscription The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Good mood food
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Good mood food

We are currently overwhelmed by a mental health crisis, grappling with stress, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, OCD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and more. But rather than reaching for a pharmaceutical fix, our food should be our medicine in the first instance, says Professor Julia Rucklidge. Jodie Bruning interviews New Zealand’s most popular professor you may never have heard of.  We hope you enjoy this free article from Organic…

Empowering beginner gardeners
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Empowering beginner gardeners

For many years Lily White and Ami Kennedy of the Germinate Collective have worked with adults and children, teaching gardening skills and empowering people to become successful organic food growers.   Here they tell their story to Philippa Jamieson, and share an extract from their new resource, The Germinate Workbook, designed for learner gardeners, teachers and facilitators.   We hope you enjoy this free article from Organic NZ. Sign up now…

Homemade compost
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Homemade compost

Good compost grows healthy plants, and you can never have too much of it! Homemade compost is ideal if you can make it – here are a few tips from Wellington blogger, baker and gardener Elien Lewis, selected from her new book Homegrown Happiness.  Photography: Elien Lewis Homemade compost is the best thing for your garden. That sounds like a bold statement, but it’s true. Whether it’s…

50 years of fertile ground
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50 years of fertile ground

From corn, compost and comfrey, to a brief encounter with synthetic fertiliser, Auckland couple Dave and Gillian Woods reflect on organic gardening and half a century of involvement with Soil & Health. Ken Downie tells the story in words and pictures.   The content below is available with a print or online reader subscription The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Compostable packaging
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Compostable packaging

In 2018 (ONZ Jan/Feb) we featured a story about compostable packaging that stimulated plenty of lively debate. It was a fledgling industry in New Zealand back then, so what difference has three years made? We asked Niki Morrell to find out.  The content below is available with a print or online reader subscription The following content is accessible for members only,…

Organic meal in a box
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Organic meal in a box

A simple cardboard box turns out to be lot more than just an intentionally plain and brand-free box. Not only is it full of healthy organic food, but the box also represents an alternative to the global commercialisation of food production and consumption, as well as being a symbol of environmental and personal health and wellbeing.   But it’s what’s on the inside that really matters, says Clinton…

A taniwha in the garden
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A taniwha in the garden

Living willow sculptures can add fun, exploration and even legendary creatures to a garden, as Jen Rodgers discovers during a project at Warrington School, north of Dunedin.   Tucked down the back of the school, past the swimming pool, is a little white gate. It leads to a garden, with the seasonal delights of shiny blackcurrants, native flaxes…