New Zealand Growing Today article by Nathalie Brown.
The Natural Heritage Society
of Oamaru Inc
A non-profit incorporated society, set up to promote and support sustainable initiatives in North
Otago.
We promote:
Organic methods of farming with appropriate technology.
An organic produce market including the development of a cottage industry.
The preservation and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
Environmental and socially sustainable employment including traditional arts and crafts.
Education based training programmes.
What has the Natural Heritage Society achieved since its formation in 1999?
Set up the Oamaru Organic Cooperative shop in response to the threat of
Genetically Engineered organisms entering the food chain. The cooperative has
been superseded by the Brydone Growers farm shop at Totara which sells fresh
organic produce from their farm.
In conjunction with the cooperative shop the NHS ran a local farmers market for
three years.
For four years (2001-2004) we mounted the NZ Organic Food and Wine festival
highlighting organics on the national level with stall holders from all over New
Zealand.
In 2005-2008 we organised weekend forums with speakers and participants from
throughout the country:
The first concentrated on sustainable organic initiatives and community
waste management with field trips to North Otago properties.
The second concentrated on the threats and opportunities of peak oil with
the key note speaker being Professor Ric Sibson, Otago University
Geology Department. The establishment of the Hampden Energy Futures
Forums was a direct outcome of this event as well as the establishment of
the Oamaru Organic Gardening Group.
In 2007 the theme was the reality of peak oil and climate. Guest speakers
included David Holmgren, co-founder of the Permaculture movement and
Dr. Susan Krumdieck, School of Engineering, Canterbury University on
planning for change.
In 2008 Dr Susan Krumdieck and six of her associates lead a two-day
planning exercise on establishing a transition town system as a response to
peak oil and climate change.
The NHS ran a series of documentaries for public viewing in the Harbour Street
Theatrette.
Join the Natural Heritage Society and support our objectives to:
Educate the public about issues such as climate change and peak oil.
Act locally to prepare for the inevitable changes wrought by these phenomena.
Build systems that foster organic agriculture for the local market.
Teach domestic crafts and establish cottage industries that give preference to the
use of local resources.
Establish a register of low-tech traditional crafts with a view to teaching these
skills through a local tertiary institute/college.
Support and encourage the use of small alternative technologies e.g. composting
toilets, water tanks etc by lobbying local government.
Write an energy descent action plan for North Otago that includes our core
infrastructures such as agriculture, housing, health, transport, energy, waste
education.