Dr Laupepa Va'a of the Northland District Health Board (DHB) is working on a major project investigating the feasibility of a more integrated approach to food recovery. He is busy engaging people involved in food recovery and food access. Globally, we waste one third of food produced. The good news is that we produce enough to … Continue reading Food recovery in Northland
Manuka honey has enabled the Murray whanau in the Far North to re-establish a strong economic base back on their rohe (tribal lands). The story of Northlanders re-establishing their cultural and economic base on the land is a important and encouraging step in our move towards sustainable food systems. Their story is told in this Country … Continue reading Kaiora honey
Have you done a MOOC yet (Massive Online Open Course)? I have completed Otto Scharmer's u.Lab course twice now, because it was so good. It is on again in September. It is highly relevant to our aspirations for local food for at least two key concepts in the course. Otto Scharmer uses hi Theory U to … Continue reading The u.Lab free course is highly relevant to local food
While current sustainable food system initiatives in Northland are admirable, as yet, they remain relatively poorly connected. If this were to continue, such initiatives will remain as a counter-culture in the prevailing industrial food system. Local Food Northland believe that developing a Northland food policy council, founded democratically as a “grass-roots” initiative with the task … Continue reading A Food Policy Council for Northland?
We have to change our narrative around climate change. Our government tells us that we are too small here in New Zealand to make any positive impact on climate change. But we have been leaders in social change. We were the first nation to give women the vote in 1893, we have been world leaders … Continue reading Local food and climate change
Stevia (Stevia rebaudia) is a great addition to any Northland garden. Although the plant is of tropical South American origins, it grows well here. It is a perennial that dies back in Winter, but in my garden, regrows every spring. The plants can handle some frost, so most Northland sites are okay. In these situations the … Continue reading Stevia – sweet as
The local food movement is active internationally and nationally, but to our knowledge, in New Zealand there is limited national engagement. Local food initiatives are proliferating globally and offer significant economic, social and environmental gains for communities. Growers continue to suffer from food chains dominated by international distribution and retail companies. Smaller growers are marginalised … Continue reading A national collaboration for the local food movement?
Here is the final version of Relocalising our Food. Thanks to all of those who helped shape the thinking in this document. Jeff, Clive and I are continuing to work on pursuing the outcomes envisioned here.
Rita Shelley I grew up in the most urban of environments. We didn’t have land. We didn’t grow things. Most of my life I couldn’t understand the pleasure in gardening. Recently, I’ve begun to change. I got there through food. You see, my partner and I love to eat and we are enthusiastic cooks. I … Continue reading Food for Thought
There are restaurants and cafes around Northland that choose to support local producers, but do you know who they are? And if you did know, would you be more likely to choose them to dine with? There are a surprising number of local restaurants and cafes that are passionate about local food, but they are … Continue reading Choosing local food
We are promoting a sustainable food system for Northland. Sheri Flies… says that three essentials must be considered in order to move the food system towards sustainability. “The first thing is that you have to have a critical mass of benevolent demand on the side of the customers. Then you need full economic, social, and … Continue reading Moving the food system towards sustainability
Aotearoa Food Policy Network 