although much is being done to protect new zealand's indigenous biodiversity, there is sadly too little focus on protecting the biodiversity of the foods we rely on.i can't help but feel that ensuring a richly diverse range of foods must be of more importance than protecting native flora and fauna, recognising of course that if we cannot feed ourselves sustainably, we cannot look after anything else!
it would be ideal if both native conservation and food conservation were equally supported in new zealand.
heritage plants and animals are not only intrinsically special; they have been bred by humans over time to display particular characteristics - such as storage ability, pest resistance, productive season and taste.
it is only within the last few decades that these characteristics began to take a turn for the worst...
gradually, we have allowed ourselves to accept the identically mediocre foods offered at the supermarket, day after day, all year, the same foods regardless of season... because it is 'cheaper' and 'more convenient' to buy things from the supie than the eqivalent time spent gardening. good little consumers.
oh, the thousands of apple cultivars! the yellow, white, purple hued carrots, violet caulis, frilly afro lettuces, multi-coloured chickens!
these heritage varieties offer an exciting journey in cultural realisation - we can reremember that certain fruits taste better at certain times, that fresh picked is thrilling, that colour, flavour, texture can be vibrant instead of banal...
but these plants and animals need our help, because without people to keep producing them, they will vanish - and we will suffer. The corporate-controlled food production systems are only interested in a few regular uninspiring food species, so will only preserve these, and as genetically engineered crops creep into our fields we will face pollution of our heritage with dubious technology.
while preserving heritage animal breeds is a more serious commitment, it is splendidly easy to have a small tub of tomatoes growing on your doorstep (there are so many delicious choices!), sow alternating rows of different coloured lettuces, plant a heritage fruit tree... i reckon they taste better, even if that's just cos they look so damn nice!
grow, grow, grow!
8 comments:
In addition to ecological benefits, what a marvellous way to make meals more interesting. Much better than, say, forking out an extra fistful of dollars for some overpriced and overpackaged (and in NZ, typically over-overseas-transported) food product targeted at the adventurous - yet keenly discriminating - gastronome.
There is, fortunately, increasing focus Nickbionic, on biodiversity in food crops, here in Southland. The seed-savers network based in Riverton has had a kick-restart, with the arrival of a very enthusiastic 'saver' (often one person is all it takes). He comes armed with sacks of seed that he has kept from last seasons gardens and a keenness that is most often seen in the young. He also has the strict ethic needed to keep the system tight and avoid the blurring at the edges that often comes from half-hearted effort. As to the heritage fruits - the response to the Open Orchard project has been lively and..real! There are dozens of trees in the ground now as a result of the project and many more to go on over the next couple of weeks. The dream of replanting the old orchards is ' a happening thang'. Give a man a fish.. of course the most potent aspect of that programme is the enabling of the growers to manage and reproduce their own orchards and bookings for the grafting workshops are heavy (in a good way!) The next phase will be to promote the underplanting of the new-old orchards with herbs and edible plants many of which will be of interest to you I suspect. The future for diversity of food crops in Southland is rosy, I believe and your post is very useful in bringing the issue into the light. I hope your readership grows and grows.
Snowy
you are so right snowybramble - there are some excellent initiatives underway in the deep south!
this is most encouraging.
it would be great to think that central government was equally supportive of such actions...to be fair, preserving our exotic biodiversity has been acknowledged as an issue at a central level, but this seems to have been focused more on such crops as pine trees, sheep and cows and does not address the issues of corporate control of natural resources...concerning.
On the topic of local vs. non-local action, was talking to someone the other day who did a permaculture residential course not far from here. Taranaki I think. One of the course facilitators was doing a PhD thru Massey on the 'best' way to implement systemic change. I believe this chap advocated (and practiced) making changes via the regional council, as the best way of effecting wider-ranging changes. Kind of makes sense to me as reg. councils are delegated a fair bit of RMA admin clout. I'm sure you're aware of that idea Nick but thought you might be interested in that guy's work. :o)
Systemic change through a rep on the regional council! great idea! why not install one into a council near you. Have him or her lean on the rudder from inside of the boat. how to win the seat, how to win the seat... te mahi kai hoaka ne ra!
Just heard your letter lauding sustainable initiatives in Riverton read out on Natrad. Well done! Good to stress that it's not just the balmy north that can produce good food.
judy in dn
Thanks for your comment Judy, it's nice to know there are people out there reading my blog! (and listening to National Radio - oops, I mean, Radio New Zealand National)... it's so easy and satisfying to praise the good actions already happening around the place.
Hey Nick, we heard it too!Thanks for the most excellent plug:-)
In other news...journalist/photographer visits local garden on behalf of 'New Zealand Gardener'for promo shot of nominee for 'Gardener of the Year'. Despite general early spring chaos, pronounces garden 'magical'. Three-legged dog hogs limelight.
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