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ResourcesRegional Organic GroupsThroughout Australia there are community groups established to support organic growers and the promotion of organic food in general. These groups provide information, field days and other activities that can be of interest and benefit to growers and the public alike. Many of these regional organic groups have websites providing valuable resources and information. Resources for Sustainable LivingThe current systems of Western food production are unsustainable. Broadacre farming has devastating impacts and ultimately results in land degradation and desertification. A more sustainable agricultural system enhances soil nutrition and structure while providing limited opportunities for pest infestation. Permaculture is one such method that is described as integrated farming. In Australia many people have the opportunity to grow some of their own food. Most people live on a suburban block that has sufficient room for a veggie garden, albiet a small one. Having a Backyard Organic Gardening is an excellent way to regain a connection with your food, save money, eat fresh organic veggies, especially green leafy vegetables, and take the pressure from our stressed agricultural lands. Some restaurants are cashing in on the popularity of Bush Tucker by offering various gourmet bush tucker dishes. Any move towards including these traditional foods has significant benefits for the majority of people who eat only a handful of different species of food. This variety will help to improve the range of different plants we eat, and therefore the different nutrients from them. A significant loss of the diversity of food we eat has actually occured from within crop species. Historically every region has a slightly different species of rice and amassed to thousands of different varieties. Now this variety has been greatly reduced through commercialisation of seed stocks and genetic modification. Traditional Seeds are a resource and should be protected. Conventional food production has been the topic of much analysis in this site. Aquatic life is being threatened by commercial harvesting. An alternative is Aquaculture however there are many issues such as water pollution and destruction of coastal habitat to overcome. Meat Production is another industry that has significant negative environmental impacts. Hooved animals cause soil compaction and trample native vegetation. Overgrazing, often brought on by droughts, causes massive erosion problems in Australia. In general, meat production is not an efficient conversion of sunlight to human energy. Where possible we should aim to eat food from within our bioregion. One such region that has a regional focus is South East Queensland. The Brisbane Region Organic Food Directory provides information on where to find organic food within the region. Perhaps other regions will follow this lead a create an organic community. An issue that has not been discussed here is that of Food Packaging. Have you been the local supermarket recently and seen what our food is actually packaged in. I wanted to buy a cake from a leading supermarket but found that they were all heavily packaged in plastic. We need to do something about this. The best thing you can do is not buy things that are excessively packaged. Other ResourcesBio-Dynamic Farming & Gardening Association of Australia (BDFGAA) – This group is a local growers group. They supply Bio-Dynamic preparations.PO Box 54 Bellingen NSW 2454 Ph: (02) 6655 8551. Fax: (02) 6655 8551 Brisbane Organic Growers (BOG) – A group of local growers with some good resources.
Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) – A group of local growers, with very comprehensive and informative web site
Green Innovations - a non-profit organization providing an environmental think-tank and environmental services.
Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia (ORGAA)
Permaculture Research Institute (PRI)
Seed Savers Network (SSN)
Suncoast Organic Growers Group
Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organization (TROPO)
PO Tableland Organic Growers Association
Tasmanian Herb Growers Association
Tasmanian Organic-Dynamic Producers
Tasmanian Organic Farming Advisory Service (TOFAS)
Tully Bio-Dynamic Gardeners and Farmers Association
Organic Bulletin Board - maintained by TROPO Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) - Australia's leading environment organization. ACF has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) - aims to foster awareness and action on environmental and social issues affecting urban areas. CERES operates a diverse range of projects on the 4 hectare CERES site, including: community gardens, permaculture gardens, sustainable energy house, renewable energy systems, animal farm, permaculture and bushfood nursery, various multicultural "villages", household composting systems, and a Vermiculture and worm farm enterprise. CERES is situated in Brunswick, Melbourne Green Innovations - a non-profit environmental think-tank and environmental services organization Greening Australia – Greening Australia is a national non-government organization that aims to support community members to protect remnant vegetation, protect biodiversity, repair and prevent land degradation, improve water quality, and provide habitat for native fauna. The Henry Doubleday Research Association of Australia Inc Organic Producers Association of Queensland (OPAQ) – OPAQ aims to provide an umbrella function to all organic growers and organizations, and to build strong links between conventional farmers, organic farmers, and environmentalists. It runs field days. Organic Exchange This site has useful information about organics. PO Box 219 Nimbin, NSW 2480 info@organicexchange.com.au |
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