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Food Systems and Gardening

The global agriculture system will have to change radically if the world is to avoid future environmental and social problems. When we import food, we don’t know how the land was acquired or prepared to grow the food.  We don’t know the food was grown, what chemicals were applied to the soil, or what kind of effect the business of growing the food had on the surrounding community and natural environment.  All we generally know is where it has come from.

Further information...

  • The International Development Research Centre has developed a slideshow highlighting the issues of current global food systems.
  • Global responses to food security issues have predominately come from the health sector, as the paper written by the Dietitians of Canada highlights. From a social justice perspective: "Community food security exists when all community residents obtain a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet through a sustainable food system that maximises healthy choices, community self-reliance and equal access for everyone".
  • So what is it that New Zealanders want?
  • Check out this great New Zealand site, The Journey of Food, and see just how far our food travels to get here.  Garlic, for example, often comes from China - when it is just so easy to grow!
  • The 'environmental sustainability' aspect of community food security includes the need to grow food in a way that is in balance with the earth’s natural systems.  This means growing, distributing and eating food in a way that has the lowest possible ecological footprint.  The most sustainable food system is to grow your own or buy locally-grown organic seasonal food.
  • The development of an organic garden requires the focus to be on maintaining a strong soil ecosystem, rich in diversity, that will support growth and a full complement of nutritional benefits for your family.
  • Non-organic gardeners add chemicals that may give an instant reward in terms of plant growth, but ultimately damage the soil ecosystem - reducing the nutritional quality and resulting in less living diversity in the long run.  In contrast, sustainable community food systems help ensure community food security for the long-term.  Both sectors agree on the fact that the process of how community food systems develop is as important as the outcome, especially in terms of the long term well-being of people and planet.  There is an increasingly strong global movement towards sustainable community food systems.

Sustainable community foods

  • Are produced by people in ways that value and care for the earth, workers and food.
  • Are produced close to home (or at home) so foods are fresh, nutritional and seasonal.
  • Are cruelty free (respect for life).
  • Support economic, environmental, social, spiritual and nutritional well-being.
  • Offer a delicious and social approach to the way food is produced, cooked and shared.
  • Integrate markets and community distribution/sharing processes (eg, Farmers' Markets).
  • Incorporate community gardens and community food forests.
  • Support a high level of biodiversity.

Local community gardening projects

  • Here in Rotorua, we currently have two community food garden projects - one at Selwyn Heights Primary School with a focus on nutrition and learning to cook (contact Toni Hei Hei) and one at Hannah's Bay (contact Denise La Grouw).
  • If you are passing through Hamilton, the Permaculture Gardens provide a great example of just how productive a food garden can be.
  • Growing you own organic vegetables has far-reaching positive consequences for both the natural world and our mind, body and soul.  Why not give it a go?
  • Check our this composting website.  Composting is an essential part of any organic garden, and in fact of every sustainable household!  You can always take your compost to the community compost bin that is part of the Hannah’s Bay Restoration project.  E-mail for more information.
  • Gardening with kids is a great way to engage our young people in the wonders of nature, whilst ensuring they are eating healthy food.  Try some of these great kids' activities.
  • Check out this video to see what happens when you create a food forest!
  • Or why not try having chickens - they are fantastic garden helpers - plus you get fresh free range eggs and chook poo!

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