Preserve fruits and veges solar dried

On Saturday 25 September Peter Volker at the Environment Centre, Hastings, will explain the possibilities and limitations of drying fruit and vegetables, using the solar warmth. Samples of dried fruits and vegetables will be shown. Early days yet, to think of preserving?

Mind you, within not too long the land is going to ask for your time and attention! So think of using the time now. See what the possibilities are to carry out solar drying. And also hear how you can build your own solar dryer.

Two types of solar dryers, self built, will be demonstrated and possibilities will be discussed on how one can build one’s own dryer. Build a dryer, either each by him – or her self, or alternatively in a group, together. In that case purchases of parts can be made collectively.

And then ... Still some time left to build the dryer before the fruits are ripe and to practice with some early products!

Time: 25 September from 10.00 to 12.00

Place: in the Environment Centre in Russell Street, Hastings.

Cost $ 12.- p.p.; includes information in handout sheets.

Interested ?   Then phone or e-mail Peter Volker no later than 22 September

Phone 06  874 9064   E-mail  peter.volker@clear.net.nz

Scion and ArborGen's GE Tree Application Open for Submissions

Media Release  -  Soil & Health Association of New Zealand  (Est. 1941)

Publishers of ORGANIC NZ

25 August

Scion and ArborGen's GE Tree Application Open for Submissions

Kia ora

as we anticipated in the latest Organic NZ, Scion's application to field trial thousands of GE trees at Rotorua is now notified by ERMA for public submissions. From scanning through the application and appendices, Scion intends to use a ~4ha site, grow the trees up to 8 years each, the trial having a 25 year consent. No height limit and using ladders and cherry pickers to check for reproductive structures at which time the tree is to be felled.

Soil & Health notes

• Terminator gene technology is intended although still hotly debated internationally as to its acceptability.
• The application is intended for thousands of experimental GE trees with a very wide variety of GE experimental options.
• Previous study of environmental effects at Scion's GE tree field trial site was inadequate, brief and as yet the research is not academically peer reviewed or published.
• The risk of pollen drift is heavily downplayed in the application, yet will be the obvious main risk, and on past Scion practice is a likely outcome.
• ERMA state that controls mean that pollen drift is unlikely. ERMA stated the same for the Plant & Food GE brassica application, but leakage happened there. Scion have already had pollen catkins appear unexpectedly on poorly managed GE tree seedlings at the Rotorua site.
• Maori consultation has given a mixed level of support with some strong objection and questioning of the appropriateness of this technology in New Zealand.
• Herbicide tolerant trees will only aggravate the already OTT use of herbicides in NZ forestry should the technology be commercialised here as Scion and its USA partners intend. International GE tree giant ArborGen is nearly totally USA owned, with even the 3rd share of ArborGen by NZ company Rubicon more than 80% USA owned. The other 2 ArborGen components are by huge USA companies.
• The overt partnership with ArborGen places Scion and hence New Zealand internationally as instigators of a new environmental threat. Opposition has been strong in several parts of the globe, with the strongest direct action being the 2006 destruction of millions of GE eucalypts in Brazil by 2000 local women.
• GE trees are seen as riskier than GE crops because of their longevity and strong position in ecosystems
• Soil & Health - Organic NZ will be opposing the application and has previously exposed several issues of non-compliance by Scion at its Rotorua GE field trial site.
• This application has been seen as having an assured approval by ERMA as Scion had already been preparing an intended field trial site although denying it previously. The site may change.

Contact:

Steffan Browning

Spokesperson

Soil & Health Association of NZ - Organic NZ

021 725655

ERMA - Submissions sought on GM pines application

The Environmental Risk Management Authority  http://www.ermanz.govt.nz is calling for submissions on an application by Crown research institute Scion to conduct a field test of genetically modified pine trees in containment.

Scion wants to test genes influencing plant growth, reproductive development, herbicide tolerance, biomass utilisation, wood density and stability, at a secure, four-hectare site in Rotorua.

The application states that the trees will not be allowed to produce mature reproductive structures. Therefore no pollen or seed will be released.

The application is now open for submission from the public. Submissions close on 6 October 2010.

All submissions will be evaluated, and a hearing may be held if requested, before a committee of the Authority makes a decision on whether to approve or decline this application.

Application and submission documents are available at:

http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/find/WebResults.aspx?search=erma200479

Save Our Bees - Charitable Trust

www.saveourbees.org.nz

Visit and support a new Charitable Trust 'Save our Bees'

Donate to help Save Our Bees

Learn how to have your own Top Bar Hive in your own garden

Join the Save Our Bees community forum for advice and knowledge sharing and to 'hive share'

Attend a FREE workshop on Top Bar bee keeping

Honey bees are decline worldwide. learn why they are so important to our environment and what you can do to help them.

Download a FREE ebook on establishing and managing a Top Bar Hive. This e book is written for New Zealand conditions.

Eco Home Tour - Gisborne - Sunday 26 September 2010

Cheesemaking - Making your own cheeses at home

A one day workshop (6 hours) with Dr Cryn Russell on all the production of the following cheeses:

Camembert, Quark or cream cheese, Sour cream or marscapone, ricotta

CLICK HERE for more info

The Reel Earth Film Festival 2010

New Zealand's only environmental film festival is coming to Havelock North this September! 9 September for one week These films are about NZ natural history, global biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, climate change, freshwater and ocean. A fantastic selection!!

CLICK HERE for more info

Grafting Workshop at Te Koha

Saturday 4^th September 2010

GRAFTING WORKSHOP @ Te Koha

WHAT TIME

9am – 12pm

CLICK HERE for more info

“Growing organic/biodynamic veges in your home garden”

Beginning 18 September 2010 Duration 4 x 3 hour workshops - Saturdays 1-4 pm

Closing date for enrolment: 8 September. Maximum 10 persons

CLICK HERE for more info

Transition Town night at Shed 2

Coming soon at Shed 2

A night to gather and learn, network and socialise all in the name of Transition Towns.

Details to follow...