Bill Martin is the Manager of the Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU), run by the BHU Organics Trust, and hosted by Lincoln University. He gave a clear and thorough talk about the development of organic farming in Aotearoa and worldwide. The unit was set up to manage the organic farm started by Bob Crowder in the 1970s, and has been certified organic since 1976, making it one of the oldest certified organic farms in Australasia. I have fond memories of attending a Values Party Conference at Lincoln University in 1981, when Bob Crowder brought his Morris Dancing group to teach us all to do Morris Dancing – something the media never let us forget.
The mission of the BHU is to provide Education, Research, and Community Extension. They offer zero fees certificate courses, through the Southern Institute of Technology, as well as internships in organic market gardening. They are the only place in Aotearoa where this face-to-face training is available as others closed when there were changes to Ministry of Education funding.
Their research has recently included producing crop covers for tomatoes and potatoes to provide a physical barrier against tomato-potato psyllid. This crop cover mesh is an alternative to spraying and can be purchased through their website.
Community Extension projects include providing raised beds for low income families in Richmond, as well as the Climate Action Campus which has taken over the previous site of Avonside Girls’ High School, and is a satellite school for neighbouring primary schools. They produce a Kit for primary aged children called How Does Your Garden Grow, which gives practical ways to measure bio-diversity in soil, and would make an excellent gift for children.
Between 1920 and 1950 Soil and Health Associations were formed, and the use of compost began to be understood. Rudolf Steiner’s agricultural lectures were given in 1924, and the term organic was coined in the 1940s. During the 1940s and 1950s pesticides were discovered and used, along with nitrogen and phosphate. Food shortages during and after World War Two meant that the organic movement almost ceased to exist because increased production was paramount. In 1962 Rachel Carson published her work Silent Spring, which showed the dark side of agricultural chemicals, and is now regarded as one of the most important scientific books ever published. This signalled the rebirth of the organic movement, and in the 1970s the first organic standards were written. IFOAM, an organisation that works to bring true sustainability to agriculture across the globe, was founded in 1972, on four principles: Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care. In the 1980s organics started to take off, and by the 1990’s they were becoming mainstream. Two local examples are Untamed Earth Organic Farm and Streamside Organics both of whom deliver veggie boxes around Christchurch. I was reminded of how lucky I am to have organic food available at PIKO close to home.
In recent years sustainable has become regenerative, and Regenerative Agriculture is gaining ground in Aotearoa, especially in Canterbury. Its three key outcomes are improved soil health, fostering biodiversity, and promotion of economic resilience in farming communities.
So what has changed in Organics? There is now much more overlap between organic and conventional agriculture, especially in soil health as people move from double digging to no dig. Organic sales are growing steadily worldwide. In Aotearoa our domestic and global organic markets are growing, led by organic dairy products, then organic fruit and vegetables, followed by organic wine. The big driver for this increase is concern for animal welfare, especially among young people, who are tending to be vegetarian or vegan. It’s good to know so many are making this decision due to a growing understanding of environmental issues.
If you are gripped by climate panic
one action is to eat organic
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Ruth's Reflections 