The Natural Heritage Society

of Oamaru Inc

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.

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 The cooperative has been superseded by the Brydone Growers farm shop at Totara which sells fresh organic produce from their farm.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.