Healthy Food from Garden to Plate to Garden
Growing organic food and recycling food waste efficiently back to the soil using a technology called EM & Bokashi Composting
As part of the New Zealand Nature Farming Society tour, the Environment Centre is hosting four speakers on Bokashi in the Environment Centre, 7.30pm 16th March.
RSVP to Katherine 839 4452 or email back.
Ø What is EM? EM stands for Effective Microorganisms and consists of mixed cultures of beneficial and natural occurring microorganisms. EM is a global technology used in more than 140 countries.
Ø What is Bokashi? Bokashi consists of plant by-products that are combined with EM to produce a fermented compost-like additive. It acts as a ‘house’ for EM continuing to inoculate the application point. Bokashi is used in the home double bucket composting system called, Bokashi Compost-Zing system.
Ø What is Nature Farming? Also known as Kyusei Nature Farming. This is a form of organic farming developed by a Japanese philosopher, Mokichi Okado 1882-1955. Okado described the dangers of the green revolution and chemical farming prior to this era.
The Speakers will be:
Dr. Ravi Sangakkara completed his PhD in NZ in the 1980’s at Massey University; he now holds a chair in Crop Science at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Ravi specializes in crop agronomy and food production systems. Ravi has extensive international publications in the field of crop agronomy and serves on editorial boards for a number of international science journals. In addition to his very busy teaching and research programme in agronomy, Ravi has developed a broad technical expertise in EM technology, including many research projects evaluating EM, Bokashi and Nature Farming techniques around the world.
On a voluntary basis, Ravi heads a technical group based in Thailand (called APNAN), which provides technical expertise to EM projects all over the world. In this capacity he has provided technical expertise and scientific guidance to our NZ group (NZNFS) developing EM, and Bokashi projects over the past decade.
Ravi will address NZ audiences and share his knowledge of projects around the world successfully integrating EM technology, including the use of Bokashi in food production systems based on organic management using Nature Farming techniques.
Mike Daly was raised on a farm in Canterbury. After studying agricultural science at Lincoln University in the mid 70’s he began a 20 year career in agricultural research working for MAF, AgResearch and HortResearch, specialising in sustainable farming methods and in particular organic farming techniques. While attending an international conference on organic farming in Brazil in 1992, he heard a presentation on EM and was invited to research this technology in NZ. After three years of research he considered the technology had great promise and set up a Trust (NZNFS) to develop EM and Bokashi in NZ.
Mike will talk about the scope of EM use in NZ and focus on growing food organically using this unique technology
Neville Burt was raised on the West Coast of the South Island, studied earth sciences at Canterbury University in the early 70’s and after 16 years in the transport industry then made a career change into horticulture. He developed an early interest in organic production and liked to experiment with new ideas and products. This interest led to finding about EM Technology and he set about developing products using this technology with a focus on Bokashi. Neville started a company called Bokashi NZ in 2003, and began making Bokashi for the kitchen composting system that recycles food waste from the kitchen to the garden. The Bokashi Compost-Zing system as it is called, is gaining rapid acceptance throughout NZ after thorough testing and promotion in Christchurch by the Christchurch City Council, and a number of pilot trials in other regions throughout NZ, including Blenheim and Waiheke Island.
Neville will talk about householders recycling food waste quickly and efficiently in the home garden, and also larger commercial applications, such as restaurant’s recycling food waste to gardens.
Glenda Andrew-Neal resides on Waiheke Island and has worked as a community educator in Waste Minimisation for nearly 6 years for the Waste Resource Trust. Glenda travelled to Thailand for her training in Bokashi and EM technology in 2005. She is very passionate about composting and is achieving good results on Waiheke Island through an educational programme diverting organic waste from landfill using the Bokashi system. This was achieved through regular Create Your Own Eden composting courses, networking with local schools and the business sector. Glenda has been instrumental in diverting food waste from local restaurants using large scale Bokashi bins.
Glenda will demonstrate how this has been achieved on Waiheke through a variety of examples, including a local community garden. She believes that now more than ever we should work together for the good of our environment, live more sustainably and encourage local food production using organic principals.
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