OrganicFarmNZ wins in the Bay

by Cleone Armon.    Published in “Organic NZ” May/June 2003

INTEREST IN ORGANICFARMNZ’s low-cost certification scheme for domestic market growers is proving strong in Hawke’s Bay, largely due to the passion and vision of local dynamo Marion Thomson.

Marion is passionate about Organics and had a vision to see her home region become one of the early leaders in establishing the community-based certification scheme.

The vision turned to action. The Biodynamic Organic Education Trust, of which Marion was a member, was keen to support a scheme which fostered the development of self-help communities in the region, and became the carrying body for the scheme in Hawke’s Bay. Initial public meetings were held through 2002 and a data-base of interested growers was established.

By the beginning of 2003 Marion, backed by the Trust, organised the first workshop with four local growers. These growers identified their interests and concerns and were guided through the process of certification from management plan to group audit.

Application forms were filled out on the spot and the first “pod” was formed with three growers under the initial leadership of Malcolm Byford and Monique Haliday of Earth Gardens. Earth Gardens is a work rehabilitation programme for people recovering from mental illness. The work focus is provided by an organic garden enterprise in which  vegetables and fruits are grown for sale and for use within the programme i.e. daily lunches. Earth Gardens is interested to gain organic certification in its pursuit of being a quality service, and the OrganicFarmNZ certification scheme fits their ethos with its emphasis on peer support and auditing, development of community and, also, its affordability.

A fourth grower, a woman from Central Hawke’s Bay, went away with the intention of attracting a couple of other growers to form a second pod with people who live in her vicinity. Other enquiries suggest that a pod could also form in the Hastings coastal region. The Trust has already received the first application from an individual grower.

Marion is a member of the National Coordinating Committee for OrganicFarmNZ. This means that besides working locally she has also become responsible for facilitating and developing regional bodies from Wairoa to Wellington so they can establish the scheme in their areas.