Support Local Organic Produce

Health in Harmony editor, Rosie Cox, extols the virtues and benefits of buying local organic produce:

We are children of a chemical age. Chemicals are everywhere and so too are allergies, disease and mental suffering. It’s not surprising there is a current movement towards living a more sustainable, organic and healthy lifestyle.

Choose organic products to reduce the intake of residues of chemicals that may be present on food such as fruit and vegetables. Organic foods have less impact on the environment as producers avoid chemicals, which otherwise get into our soils and waterways.

Nature has been growing plants without pesticides since the beginning of time.

The current movement towards organic farming isn’t just about eating healthier, it’s about the idea of re-building a healthy eco future for the planet. This is a great reason to go organic, but unless you are growing your own produce, you could be supporting the ‘big’ mass producing organic farming that is occurring particularly in the US.

Commercial agricultural techniques, even organic farming, wreak havoc on both the topsoil and ecosystem through their huge fields of growing just one strain of plant.

The Japanese farmer Masanobu Fukuoka invented a no-till system for small-scale grain production that he called Natural Farming.

If you want to eat and live organically, not only for your health, but also to protect the environment then it’s important to shop at your local organic store or farmers’ market. Read the labels and help support the small family farmers and local environment and find out where your supermarket sources food.

Author: Health in Harmony founder and editor, Rosie Cox is a Wanaka based yoga teacher.

Enjoy the Crunch and Credit

New Kitset Vegetable & Herb Garden Makes Growing Your Own Easy:

As rising living costs bear down on household budgets, one green-fingered Queenstown entrepreneur is offering locals a way of enjoying the crunch and the credit.

Easy Veg, a new one-stop kitset vegetable and herb garden, is now available www.easyveg.co.nz.  Display gardens can be viewed at Queenstown’s Mitre 10 store and the Shotover Garden Centre and will soon be accessible in Wanaka, Alexandra and Cromwell.

The brainchild of longtime local and experienced viticulturist Mick Palmer, Easy Veg is a cost-effective, easy to assemble garden, perfect for those wanting to grow their own produce to save money, eat healthily and savour the flavour of super-fresh organic vegetables.

“Vege gardens were a way of life for our older generation but have lost momentum in the last few years,” he said.

“Now that times are tighter there’s been a massive increase in people getting back to basics and growing their own veges.  It’s a win-win situation because they avoid high supermarket prices, guarantee their produce is organic, and have the satisfaction of eating what they grow straight from the garden.

“Imagine walking out to your Easy Veg garden and picking your own organic tomatoes and salad – tomatoes that smell like tomatoes, look like tomatoes and taste like tomatoes!  Within five minutes you’re inside, slicing the still-warm tomatoes and laying them on a slice of toast.

“Easy Veg isn’t rocket science but being able to have your vege garden delivered, installed and planted within four hours will make others green with envy.

“You can install it yourself or we can do some or all of it for you.  We leave the best bit of planting the garden up to you and through our gardening, organics and natural pest control guides we supply you with all the information you need to be a successful gardener, from a novice to producer.

“Best of all, if you follow my advice your garden will be low maintenance and weed free!”

Easy Veg kitset vegetable gardens come in four sizes – Getafix (0.5m x 1.2m x 0.3m herb garden, Herbie (1.2m x 1.2m x 0.3m vege garden), Alfresco (2.1 x 1.2m x 0.3m vege garden) and Gourmet (3.0m x 1.2m x 0.3m vege garden) with options to install on lawns, decks and patios.

Growing time can be extended with Easy Veg’s custom-built greenhouse and frost protection kitset at a fraction of the cost of a glass or greenhouse.  The kitset framework is environmentally friendly and made from sustainable non-toxic Macrocarpa.

Mick came up with the Easy Veg idea through his love of gardening and knowledge of soils, nutrients, irrigation and plant growth.

“People spend a lot of money on buying veges when they could be getting them straight out of their garden.  I was getting a lot of questions from people who want to grow and eat great produce but did not have the time, knowledge, or ability.  I’ve established several raised vege gardens around my house which are all organic and weed free so I wanted to pass on my knowledge to make it fun and easy for people to create their own bit of Eden.  As part of the Easy Veg service I also do a monthly service check on all gardens.”

Mick believes that it’s never too soon to learn how to garden so has donated one of his gardens, with materials and plants supplied by Mitre 10 Frankton, to Queenstown’s ABC Childcare Centre.

ABC director Pip Walsh said it would be a great learning opportunity for the children.

“It’s absolutely fantastic and provides a great opportunity for the children to get back to basics and learn about responsibility, caring for their environment and healthy eating.  Mick was great with them – he spent ages answering all their questions and showing them how to care for the garden.  We couldn’t tear the children away!  We’ve already set up a water roster and I can see it’s going to be a great summer project for them.”

Author - EasyVeg  – To order an Easy Veg garden or get more information, visit www.easy-veg.co.nz