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Sandra Slack is the head of Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library. Sandra, together with a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, performs the important role of conserving, documenting, and making available a range of vegetable varieties that are no longer widely circulated. This is time-consuming work that requires significant attention to detail. The work undertaken by Sandra and her team ensures that crop genetic material can be retained for future generations. Organic Guide recently interviewed Sandra to find out more about her work and the crucial role played within the organic movement by Garden Organic. Q: How and when was Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library established? A: Through the mid 1970s legislation was introduced...

As a dedicated organic consumer I like to play my part in minimizing the impact our species has on the planet. There are numerous “big” environmental issues, which I don’t have direct control over, and then there are the smaller ones over which I enjoy at least a degree of control. Naturally enough, rather than depressing myself with my inability to alter the course of global issues, I tend to focus my efforts and attention on the day-to-day things I can do to contribute to a better, cleaner, greener society. That’s why I pay particular attention to the packaging of organic produce. I have an expectation – and I don’t believe it to be unreasonable – that organic products should be packaged in an environmentally responsible manner....

Large scale agriculturalists and primary producers have recently become interested in measuring their carbon profiles. This may be accounted for in terms of sound economic management, and the type of foresight which anticipates the introduction of government policy and other compliance imperatives. Within this analytical environment, there is renewed demand for comparative studies which measure the approximate carbon profiles of organic and conventional agricultural technologies. In a field-based trial organised through the University of Nottingham, researchers concluded that organic weed control required almost double the amount of energy per hectare of wheat production compared with conventional control methods. In terms of carbon dioxide...

Australia is currently experiencing a long and exhausting drought. Farmers are struggling. Many of them have been forced to sell their family farms. Those that remain face tough times ahead. During times of difficulty such as this, it’s often simpler to look for quick fix solutions rather than to focus on the more sustainable long-term options. Biological Farmers of Australia Standards Chairman, Dr. Andrew Monk warns against adopting quick fix solutions. Instead, he emphasises the importance of focusing on natural farming systems which emphasise biodiversity and encourage sustainable practices. Dr. Monk says biodiversity can reduce the vulnerability, and boost returns of crops, particularly during trying seasons. “Biodiversity makes...

The number of political and social movements seeking popularity through their advocacy of environmental or green causes has increased markedly over recent years. While their growth expands to encompass wider segments of the population, environmental awareness can easily become watered down to express positive sentiments while failing to address the complexity of genuine participation. The overall benefits of adopting a green perspective tend to be elaborated at the expense of balanced and honest accountancy. There are of course inherent deficits associated with the green approach and proper documentation of these is essential for growth and development into the future. A significant percentage of consumers have adopted various lifestyle measures...