Tomtit Farm – A day of Community Supported Agriculture and Soil Microbes

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66 Webster Road Matangi | Saturday 4 May, 10 am – 12 pm

🌱🌿 Join Us for Organic Week at Tomtit Farm! 🌿🌱

Get ready to delve into the fascinating world of microbial farming and organic food production at Tomtit Farm’s exclusive event for Organic Week in New Zealand!

🌾 Discover the Secrets of Microbial Farming:
Explore the innovative techniques behind microbial farming and learn how we cultivate nutrient-dense organic foods at Tomtit Farm. Whether you’re a seasoned grower, a home gardener, or simply curious about sustainable agriculture, this event is your chance to gain invaluable insights into the art of organic farming.

🌿 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Insights:
Join us as we delve into the concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and how it plays a crucial role in feeding our community with fresh, locally-grown produce. Farmer Brit will be on hand to share her expertise, answer your burning gardening questions, and inspire you to embark on your own CSA journey.

🌱 Seed Sowing Workshop:
Round off the day by getting your hands dirty and sowing some seeds to kickstart your own growing journey. Learn essential tips and techniques for successful seed propagation and take home the knowledge to nurture your own thriving garden.

Koha appreciated.

Contact Brittany for more info: info@tomtitfarm.com

Carriage Gardens Tour & Chat

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Carriage Gardens, 29 Awahou South road, Pohangina Valley, Manawatū | Saturday 4 May, 10 am – 4 pm

Explore a picturesque small lifestyle block nestled in Pohangina Valley, boasting extensive gardens flourishing with organic principles, guilds, and companion planting.

Featuring herbs, ornamentals, food forests, productive vegetable gardens and large native plantings. We use
biological aerated spaying, ‘found’ and natural mulches, composting, no dig with no artificial fertilisers. Growing seedlings and often from own saved seeds.

Join Sharon Corkran and Kevin Gillanders for the day to learn and share positive gardening ideas!

This is a free event, just turn up.

Email Sharon with any questions: sharicork@gmail.com

Planning the home orchard/food forest/lifestyle block

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7 Puketirau, Tirau, Waikato, 3484 | Saturday 4 May, 10 am

Sheryn Dean, former editor of OrganicNZ and TreeCropper magazine, has been collecting and trialling food-producing plants on a 3ha lifestyle block in the Waikato for 15 years. She has experimented with growing a wide range of fruits, nuts, vegetables, stock fodder and hopefully, one day, truffles. Come and discuss the variety of trials, pruning techniques, and microclimate manipulations she has experimented with to grow a wide range of plants.

Topics covered: planning, species selection, planting, formative pruning, micro-climates, and considerations for ongoing maintenance. View a mature orchard to see the results of different techniques.

Bring lunch and a chair, a notebook, and labels and bags if you wish to take cuttings. Please dress to be outside for the weather.

Hot and cold drinks are provided—$20 per person, payable on the day.

Email Sheryn to confirm your attendance sheryn.dean2@gmail.com

How can we best celebrate our great growers this organic week?

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What to eat during Organic Week?  Hopefully, we will consume local organic and biodynamic products.  Even better, we will consume products rich in nutrients and phytochemicals such as phenols and antioxidants, beneficial to our health and well-being.  And even better, we will choose to eat, drink, wear and use such wholesome goodies every day, everywhere.  

Sustainable growing systems – organics and biodynamics – do influence the quality of food, drink and fibre produced.  Grown well, these products can benefit us in so many ways.  

At a global level, a recent study by the Food System Economic Commission, in association with the University of Oxford and London School of Economics, concluded that existing “conventional” food systems destroy more value than they create.  For the first time, the value of a move to sustainable food systems has been quantified.  It comes in at US$10 trillion of benefits a year, including reduced production costs and better health and environmental outcomes.

The study proposes moving away from tax breaks and subsidies for large-scale monocultures that rely on fertilisers, pesticides and clearance.  Instead, smaller, sustainable units with wildlife can turn economic production into carbon sinks.  

Current food production is the largest contributor to biodiversity decline, freshwater breakdown, one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, growing food insecurity, and to adverse health outcomes.

“Changing the way we produce and consume food will be critical to tackling climate change, protecting biodiversity, and building a better future.  It’s time for radical change,” according to Nicholas Stern, chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/29/sustainable-food-production-economic-benefits-study

This and other studies also conclude that the “radical change” is neither too expensive nor too difficult to achieve in the relative short term.  It is clearer every week the choices we need to make to growing systems and policies to produce the necessary medical and environmental outcomes we increasingly need.  And Aotearoa can help lead this change.

Recently, the Kete Ora Trust, a sponsor of Organic Week, funded an extensive first stage study by Plant & Food Research examining links between growing systems and nutrient dense food.  Kete Ora Trust funds research and education to promote biodynamic and organic land use.

Food nutrient density has declined rapidly since the 1940s due to agriculture practices and applications.  It now takes more conventional food to produce the same amount of nutrients from the same food consumed by our forebears.  

Sam Weaver

”biodynamic and organic can improve not only soil and human health, but also produce positive environmental and net economic gains for growers and consumers.   This is a quadruple win for people and the planet.” – Sam Weaver

Chair of the Kete Ora Trust, Sam Weaver says there is strong evidence that sustainable growing systems have real advantages over conventional systems to produce food and drink rich in certain minerals and phytochemicals, beneficial to our health.

“More sward diversity and healthy growing means more soil life and more soil nutrients available to plants and therefore to animals and humans,” says Sam.

“We have seeded a study that offers other sponsors the chance to demonstrate that biodynamic and organic growing systems and products can improve not only soil and human health, but also produce positive environmental and net economic gains for growers and consumers.   This is a quadruple win for people and the planet.”

Sam Weaver added that as a wine grower and producer he is greatly encouraged by research showing biodynamic wine growing produces more beneficial phenolic compounds in wine, compared to conventional growers.  The same outcome is achieved from organic and biodynamic olive and other production.  Phenolic compounds can reduce oxidation that helps prevent disease in cells and organs.

Further stages of the Kete Ora Trust initiated research will add to mounting evidence that organic and biodynamic management systems produce the healthiest products from lower inputs, improved biological processes, low/no contamination and greater species diversity.  

“The evidence is either there or nearly there.  The need is palpable.  The Kete Ora Trust is inviting other funders to join us to enable food production to move to a healthier level.  As we celebrate Organic Week, let’s continue in the knowledge that each one of us, this country, and the world can greatly benefit from organic and biodynamic production.” 

Find out more about Organic Week proud silver sponsor, Kete Ora Trust:

Where Nature Thrives — The Role of Organic Farming in Nurturing Nature

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In the heart of Aotearoa’s lush landscapes lies a delicate balance between biodiversity and human activity. Our unique evolution has gifted us with a rich tapestry of native species found nowhere else on Earth. Yet, as we forge ahead with industrial agriculture, our precious flora and fauna face unprecedented threats.

The Battle for Biodiversity
The stark reality is that our current food system, dominated by industrial agriculture, is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. Shockingly, 86% of species facing extinction are directly threatened by agricultural practices. Monocultures and heavy reliance on synthetic inputs have wrought havoc on ecosystems, eradicating biodiversity at an alarming rate.

Organic Farming: A Beacon of Hope
Amidst this crisis, organic farming offers a beacon of hope. Rejecting synthetic inputs and prioritising soil health, organic practices champion ecological balance and foster a flourishing diversity of life above and below the earth’s surface. It’s not merely about growing food; it’s about cultivating a symbiotic relationship with nature.

The Power of Diversity
Enhancing biodiversity, particularly on farms, is key to creating resilient food systems capable of weathering the storms of environmental change and economic pressures. By embracing diverse ecosystems, organic farms become resilient bastions equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

Bridging Conservation and Resilience
Organic farming stands as a bridge between biodiversity conservation and food resilience. Through its holistic approach to sustainable agriculture, it offers a pathway towards harmony with nature. By championing organic practices that nurture biodiversity, we lay the foundation for robust food systems capable of thriving in the 21st century.

In the quest to safeguard biodiversity and ensure food security, organic farming emerges not just as a solution but as a moral imperative. It’s time to cultivate not just crops but a deeper connection with the land; Organic Week is a time to celebrate our organic sector and highlight the importance of building resilience, diversity, and abundance in our food system.

About Organic Week Aotearoa
Proudly brought to you by Soil & Health NZ and Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, Organic Week Aotearoa is a national celebration of organic agriculture taking place each year from 1 to 7 May. This year’s theme, “Where Nature Thrives,” emphasises the vital role of organic producers as guardians of biodiversity through organic regenerative farming practices.

Throughout the week, Organic Week aims to spotlight organic agriculture as a solution to our twin climate and biodiversity crisis. By gathering stories and speakers, the event will illustrate how organic farming contributes to preserving biodiversity and protecting our environment.

Organic Week seeks to spark conversations that deepen our understanding of the connection between our food choices and their impact on our health and the environment—be it biodiversity, soil health, water quality, or climate resilience.

OrganicNZ Awards Returns for 2024

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Today, the Soil & Health Association of New Zealand announced that the next OrganicNZ  Awards will take place on May 3, 2024, at the Boatshed, Wellington — as part of Organic  Week Aotearoa celebrations (May 1-7). 

Nominations are now open and will close on 10 March 2024. 10 award categories aim to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Aotearoa’s organic farmers,  leaders, brands, food and other products. 

Categories include “people’s choice” awards such as OrganicNZ Community Garden of the  Year, and judged, peer-reviewed awards such as OrganicNZ Brand of the Year, OrganicNZ  Organic Farmer of the Year, and more. 

Jenny Lux, Soil & Health NZ Chairperson, said, “The OrganicNZ Awards serve as a platform to  honour those who have a vision for and contribute to an organic and regenerative future for our country, promoting practices that benefit the health of soil, crops, livestock, people, wildlife, and the climate’’.  

Jenny announced two new award categories for 2024, the OrganicNZ Leader of the Year and OrganicNZ Exporter of the Year. ‘’These additions reflect our commitment to recognising a  broader range of excellence and innovation in the organic sector, making the awards more  inclusive and comprehensive.’’ 

An awards ceremony will be held in Wellington during Organic Week, May 1-7, 2024, and will  not only celebrate the winners’ achievements but will also bring together industry leaders,  organic advocates, and stakeholders to foster collaboration and share insights.  

Key Dates: 

• Nominations Open: January 18 

• Nominations Close: March 10 

• Award Finalists Announced: April 3 

• Awards Ceremony: May 3 

For more information on the nomination process, award categories, and event details, go to:

Organic NZ Exporter of the Year

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Organic NZ Exporter of the Year

This award celebrates the exporters who take the organic produce of Aotearoa to the world. It will be presented to an exporter who is building the reputation of our country’s organic brand and industry.

finalists will be announced soon

Note: Judges will take into account practices such as packaging practices, sustainable energy and resource use, advocacy for organics and other certifications, eg living wage and carbon zero. These are examples, not requirements.  

2024 Finalists Coming soon

OrganicNZ Emerging Leader of the Year Award

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Organic NZ Emerging Leader of the Year

Voting runs from 3 April to 29 April

This award recognises someone working in an inspiring leadership role in the New Zealand organics/kai atua sector with under five years of experience.

The Criteria

Nominations for this category have to be:

  • Someone who has been working in a leadership role in the New Zealand organic sector for under five years.
  • Be able to demonstrate how they are helping to mitigate climate change within their work.
  • Interacting and engaging with relevant communities, including tangata whenua to build a just society.
  • Working to future-proof and lead a financially viable organisation.

The finalists…

Alex Morrissey, Founder of Little Farms
https://wearelittlefarms.com/
Alex champions organic farming, environmental sustainability, and community equity. She connects local organic growers, reduces food miles, and empowers communities through education and accessible produce. Alex’s work embodies a commitment to a healthier, fairer society.

Jamie Tucker, Founding farmer at Laughing Pukeko and programme coordinator at AsureQuality 
https://laughingpukeko.co.nz/
Jamie established the BHU market garden and is now a Program Coordinator at AsureQuality, focusing on freshwater. She’s an advocate for organics, volunteering at OANZ and engaging with Eat NZ as a 2022/23 Kaitiaki. Her commitment to sustainable agriculture and community involvement reflects her passion and dedication.

Saskia, Sheldon and Elle, Vagabond Veg 
https://www.vagabondvege.nz/
Saskia, Elle and Sheldon are small scale farmers focused on growing with ecologically and socially centered practice. Embarking on the Hua Parakore journey and co-creating local food systems that work for farmers, community and our earth.

Each vote you make gives you one entry into the draw to win one of two $50 Kings Seeds Vouchers. Voting closes on 2 May, the winners of the seeds will be notified shortly after.

The winners of the OrganicNZ Awards 2023

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Congratulations to the OrganicNZ Awards 2023 Winners

We are delighted to announce the winners in the Peoples’ Choice, Hua Parakore, and Peer-Reviewed categories for the OrganicNZ Awards 2023.

Community Garden of the Year – presented by Chantal Organics

Aunty’s Garden, Waipatu Marae, Hawke’s Bay

Laurie Foon, Deputy Mayor (left), and Kristen Capaccio, Chantal Organics (right), present the award to Arohanui Lawrence, Aunty’s Garden (middle)

Farmers’ Market of the Year – presented by Farmlands

Waikato Farmers’ Market

Laurie Foon, Deputy Mayor (left), and Gaz Ingram, Farmlands (right), present the award to Jen Wilkinson, Waikato Farmers’ Markets (middle)

Non-food Product of the Year – presented by OANZ

Miraculous Facial Oil, Linden Leaves

Laurie Foon, Deputy Mayor (left), and Tiffany Tompkins, OANZ (right), present the award to Nikkie Rich, Linden Leaves (middle)

Beverage of the Year – presented by Fonterra Organic

Otis Oat Milk – the Organic One, Otis Oat Milk

Laurie Foon, Deputy Mayor (left), and Andrew Henderson, Fonterra Organic (right), present the award to Chris Wilkie, Otis Oat Milk (middle)

Food of the Year – presented by Countdown

Salt & Vinegar Pea Chips, Ceres Organics

Laurie Foon, Deputy Mayor (left) presents the award to Noel Josephson, Ceres Organics (right)

Hua Parakore Award – presented by Te Waka Kai Ora

Papawhakaritorito Charitable Trust

Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae

Geneva Hildreth, chair (left), and Pounamu Skelton, kaiwhakahaere (right) of Te Waka Kai Ora

Emerging Leader of the Year – presented by TranzAlpine Honey

Brittany Stembridge, TomTit Farm

Kate Walmsley, Kaicycle (left), and Yuriy Soshnikov, TranzAlpine Honey (right), present the award to Brittany Stembridge, TomTit Farm (middle)

Brand of the Year – presented by the Soil and Health Assn. NZ

TranzAlpine Honey

Kate Walmsley, Kaicycle (left), and Marion Wood, Soil and Health Association NZ (right), present the award to Yuriy Soshnikov, TranzAlpine Honey (middle)

Organic Regenerative Farmer of the Year – presented by Biolchim

Jenny Lux

Kate Walmsley, Kaicycle (left), and Steve Cully, Biolchim (right), present the award to Jenny Lux, Lux Organics (middle)

About the judges

Philippa Jamieson is the former editor of OrganicNZ magazine and an Honorary Life Member of the Soil & Health Association.

Geneva Hildreth is Co-Chair of Te Waka Kai Ora and a former chair of Te Tai Tokerau Organic Producers.

Allan Richardson is a west Otago organic sheep and beef farmer and current OANZ board member.

Cleo Te Kiri is a BioGro board member and is the Dairy Business Manager Organics at Pamu (Landcorp).

Chris Morrison is the chair of OANZ and has made numerous business and voluntary contributions to the world of organics in Aotearoa.

About the awards

The OrganicNZ Awards are presented by OrganicNZ magazine as part of annual Organic Week celebrations.

Organic Week is an annual celebration, held 1 – 7 May this year, organised by The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand and Organics Aotearoa New Zealand.

Organic Week is sponsored by Countdown, Biolchim New Zealand, Farmlands, AsureQuality, Kokako Coffee, Chantal Organics, TranzAlpine Honey, Pernergetic New Zealand, Waihi Bush and the Open Polytechnic.

Three peer-reviewed awards were decided by a group of judges. These categories are: Organic Regenerative Farmer of the Year, Emerging Organic Leader of the Year, and Organic Brand of the Year.

Five Peoples’ Choice awards were decided by public vote. These categories are: Organic Food Product of the Year, Organic Beverage of the Year, Organic Non-Food Product of the Year, Community Garden of the Year, and Farmers’ Market of the Year.

Watch the Organic NZ Awards 2023

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Celebrate the organic sector with the presentation of eight OrganicNZ awards, and te tāonga o te Hua Parakore.

The evening was opened by Dennis Ngawhare, as well as Wellington’s Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon and the awards themselves were presented by representatives of our major sponsors and community.

It was so special to host such a diverse crowd of organic practitioners, leaders, business people, media representatives, and the wider community. Thanks to all who watched from home, too!

Watch both parts of the night recorded below, or click here to watch on Vimeo: Part One and Part Two