01/08/2013 - Organic Unit 10325 and Permaculture Unit 21041

Actual Temperature
13 degrees Celsius
Humidity : 85%
Rainfall : 0.00mm
Wind : Calm

In the morning section was Organic Class with Lisa Burton. Organic food is treated in the same way as all other foods in NZ Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). Organic agriculture and food production systems avoid or exclude the use of most synthetic pest control compounds and fertilisers, antibiotics, growth promotants and food additives derived from non-organic sources, as well genetic modification and irradiation.

Lisa also covers BIO-GRO Certification formed in 1983. BIO-GRO New Zealand is a member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) is continually scrutinising and reviewing Bio-Gro systems to ensure compliance with the international standards. She also taught us how to find the Food Additives and are used and reading the food label. On the label, within the list of ingredients, the class name of the additive will be listed and then the additive name or code number in brackets.

An organic production system is designed to :

• enhance biological diversity within the whole system
• increase soil biological activity
• Maintain long term soil fertility
• recycle wastes of plant and animal origin in order to return nutrients to the land, thus minimising the use of non-renewable resources
• rely on renewable resources in locally organised agriculture systems
• promote the healthy use of soil, water and air as well as minimise all forms of pollution thereto they may result from agricultural practices
• handle agricultural products with emphasis on careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the product at all stages
• become established of any existing farm through a period of conversion, the appropriate length of which is determined by site-specific factors such as the history of the land and types of crops and livestock to be produced

After tea break Lisa took us to L Block to guide on steps to create Composting and what should be added to have a complete procedures.

In the afternoon a class with Kim about ecology natural system. Permaculture is often called the "cultivated ecology" because of its goal to integrate and transform human societies so they live in sustainably designed and highly sustainably designed and highly productive ecosystems where self-interest is aligned with the common good and outdoor in Botanic Garden in Lovelock Bush. We went to look around the bush what are tree shapes, colour of the leaves, leaf pattern, grouping of the trees.

We went around the bush to look at various kind of plants, the texture, sizes of leafs, the smell of soil, and pattern and levels of the trees.