Nourishing Land & People - February Newsletter
Kia ora,
Welcome to the Biome Newsletter, February edition - featuring updates from our giftees & local ecosystem.
In times of uncertainty, when the path ahead feels unclear, one thing we know for certain is that every day, three times a day, what is important is where our kai [food] comes from.
As we navigate global uncertainty, locally we are reminded that the hands tending the soil, the minds that are reimagining food systems, and the communities that gather together around nourishment, are the true stewards of our kai-producing future.
This month, we celebrate those working at the frontlines of regenerative food and land stewardship. From the vibrant Underground Festival recently in Christchurch, to the upcoming Kelmarna Gardens Harvest Festival in Auckland, and the nation-wide Open Farms Day (featuring Mangaroa Farms) coming up Sunday 9th March, food growers, farmers and community continue to gather, learn, and inspire eachother.
As Organics Aotearoa works to protect the agriculture industry from unregulated GMOS, Papawhakaritorito Trust reconnects us to the growing methods and tools of our tūpuna [ancestors], and Kōanga Institute continues to supply invaluable resources for growing kai at home.
These are the stories of those who plant hope, nurture abundance, and feed both people and the land. May they remind us that every meal is a relationship, every seed a promise, and every harvest a step toward resilience.
We hope you enjoy this month’s collection of updates.
Ngā mihi aroha
- Biome Trust
Learning about soil health in the pastures at Underground Festival, Greystone Wines, Christchurch.
Giftee Updates
Underground - Aotearoa’s festival of soil kicked off last week, bringing together farmers, gardeners, activists and more to reimagine farming in Aotearoa. More
Organics Aotearoa highlights the next steps after 10,000+ public submissions were submitted against the Gene Technologies Bill. More
Papawhakaritorito Trust celebrates the return to food growing and māra kai with a bespoke gardening planner booklet & beautiful set of greeting cards. More
Mangaroa Farms is hosting their annual Open Farms Day Sunday 9th March from 9am - 3pm. Grab a free ticket if you’re in the Wellington region. More
Future Whenua is hosting the fifth annual Summit, merging diverse perspectives pushing the boundaries of traditional farming. 21-23 March, Lake Hāwea Station, Wānaka. More
Kelmarna Gardens is hosting their annual Harvest Festival on March 16th in Auckland featuring local food, music and more. Save the Date
Happen Films looks back at 10 years of filmmaking, creating over 40 short films, and featuring over 69 million views. Watch video
Learning Environment is offering a work exchange opportunity - on-site accommodation in the tiny house in exchange for 16 hours per week of work. More
Tīwaiwaka’s Rob McGowan features on the People Helping Nature Podcast, covering Tīwaiwaka: A Movement to Heal Our Relationship with Nature. More
Ma Earth features an engaging episode with Djimo Serodio a.k.a. “Tree-man” - entitled Trees as a Base Asset for Natural Capital. More
Kōanga Institute have released their 2025 Fruit Tree Catalogue, as well as resources to design and plant resilient orchards / food forests. More
Toru Education is hosting a range of events in the Greater Wellington region, including the monthly Toru Trail, permaculture workshops, bush tracking, and food forest design. More
Local Futures is hosting the Feminine Futures webinar series, bringing together seven talented women to reassess progress from a feminine living-world perspective. More
The BioFi Project features the 2025 Cultivator to accelerate investment-ready Bioregional Financing Facilities (BFFs) to catalyze the transition to bioregional regenerative economies. More
Mangaroa Farms is offering a fully furnished 4-5 bedroom home as a rental opportunity for a family interested in living as part of the local village. More
One Earth highlights the Planetarian Diet, eating to heal the Earth and ourselves. More
Agrarian Trust supports next-generation farmers by working to acquire and steward land for equitable access, cultural reconnection, regenerative agriculture, & ecological restoration. More
Additional News
Open Farms Day on Sun 9th March is a nationwide event focusing on reconnecting Kiwis with local land, food & farmers. Check out an event in your area here
Farmer’s Footprint NZ features their recent short film—a powerful journey into the heart of New Zealand’s regenerative farming movement. Watch
Earthbeat Festival celebrating music, regeneration, art and community is hosted at Atiu Creek Regional Park, 19-23 March 2025. More
Predator Free NZ features the five things to rid a city of rats: Predator Free Wellington’s urban blueprint. More
On the Land features a brand new magazine, covering inspiring NZ stories in homesteading, permaculture, regenerative farming & off grid living. More
“It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.”
