Workshop Notes - Biodynamic Food Production / Food Sharing July 2008

Discussion:

1.       Adrienne has been using BD methods for 30 years. Makes preparations at home eg 500. Has very productive home garden. Will be lifting cow horns for 500 on 18th October & plans a Home Garden BD workshop on that day.

2.       Has spoken to Kathy Tohill-Curnow, TDC Horticultural Officer with responsibility for protecting heritage trees.) about planting productive shade trees eg feijoa, quince, walnut, hazelnut on road and grass verges in Motueka. Positive response.

3.       Start with small -scale and easily manageable initiatives to rebuild culture of gifting/sharing  eg  a) Jan Flinn produces food for family from small home garden and shares excess with neighbours-building trust and reciprocity. This can be done in your own street to start with. b) Exchange food at work, school, workplace, bookclub etc activity groups.

4.       Sharing skills: this generation has missed out on basic self-reliance skills. Can be passed on through youth researching suitable plants to grow and designing their garden/orchard (can make use of Enviroschools model; permaculture; BD; heritage plants)

5.       Promote Kitchen gardens eg High schools have horticultural classes but nothing to show for it as vegetables are grown and then sprayed rather than harvested and used.

Likewise with Motueka hospital which has lots of grass- could have working kitchen garden. Many patients are confined to indoors now - could use the garden to relax in or do small tasks if able. Hospitals could become a Hub of Health rather than a place of illness.

6.       CSA and model used by John Peterson in his film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John”

7.       Seed saving: protect and share varieties which are no longer commercially available. Koanga Gardens and Ginny Clayton (Ginny’s Herbs); Community gardens in Nelson and Golden Bay are good sources of Seeds.

Actions:

1.       “Demystifying Biodynamics Workshop”on Saturday 18th October 2008, 11.30 am to 5pm  at 7 Linden Place. All welcome.

2.       Promote Kitchen Gardens in hospitals, schools, Marae (for skilling, employment, sharing and income. Contact: Adrienne

3.       Training in organics offered by Grant Douglas (grew fruit & veg for 200 people at Riverside.)

4.       Open orchards: check access to vacant/unused local land for planting edible landscapes (with TDC, Marae, landowners) eg Queen Victoria St has unused greenhouses.                              Contact -Adrienne.

5.       Seed saving and exchanging: Contact - Carolyn Hughes

6.       Next meeting: Adrienne’s place on 18th October.