If ever there was a time....

This could be a chance to put a case to our central government for the charter to be the basis of creating a food resilience policy....I believe we have one of the most (if not the most) comprehensive network of food resilience folks across the country and in tandem with the Food Policy group...could actually be seen to be a group to engage with around this.

Morena

Look forward to receiving the Zoom link.

I’m in.

Sure

Kia ora Michael

Good to hear from you as always. Apologies for going MIA for so long - I have felt very stretched for so long I have longing for something like the current shutdown to enjoy a pause and plant a seed for a slower, more human pace to life. Ironically it so far has only stretched me further...

Having said I think there is a window of time now to remind people of the importance of local food. I don't know how I can support other than to share the opportunity with my network, but I would be keen to support this to happen. I can also share this opportunity with my APW colleagues and see collectively how we can support. I think we need be to planting as many seeds now as possible right now so they have time to germinate in the coming months (and years?) Do you know of Holling's Adaptative Cycle model to describe how complex living systems change over time? From that model we are in the release phase and it is in the next phase, re-organisation, that the system is most open to change - most open to new ways of doing, thinking, behaving etc. and so the more seeds we can plant now to remind ourselves as a society of what the values and principles that we want to live by are the better.

I think phone/zoom is probably the best way for me to contribute/discuss this further.

I hope this communication has been somewhat helpful - sorry it lacks clear commitment or specifics.

Mauri ora

Finn Mackesy | Permaculture | Engagement | Facilitation | Education

021 562 995 | [email protected] | resilio.nz ( http://resilio.nz/ )

I’m not sure that the charter is ready to become the core of anything - as no work has been done on it since it’s initial framing, and it (in my opinion) opens way more questions than it answers..

But, with that said, I do agree that this break in “reality” is an opportunity for small scale farming to really increase its profile, and this group does have the right mix of people to help make that happen. Perhaps in lieu of attempts to enshrine the charter in a national food policy statement we could instead aim for a more modest goal, for example, a central government fund to train and expand the existing network of regenerative farms?

This aligns with talk around rebooting the Ministry of Works, and doesn’t just offer increased resilience for NZ as a whole but also the potential for increased local employment and, in the words of FLOB, “climate-change ready infrastructure” - I’m imagining a decentralised network instigated by a centralised push for training and expansion. Crucially, such a programme is both affordable (costs nothing verses road building etc) and avoids the sticky wicket of “taking on” industrial agriculture (while subverting its grip from below).

My feel is that we easily have the expertise and connections here to advocate for and design such a programme (covering basic regenerative skills, the tools and equipment required, how to run a micro-enterprise etc), and that it could be rolled out relatively cheaply, using some of the money that is going to be flowing to set people up in small businesses that will both enrich their community’s social and economic lives - a true win-win.

There’s plenty of examples of places making these transitions in times of trial (Cuba, Victory gardens etc) that we might draw on for inspiration as increasing numbers of people click onto the possibility here, but a fund to cover expansion would sure make life easier..

Anyway, would love to hear what people think about this and if it’s a go or if I’m barking up the wrong tree and people do feel like the charter is ready... my 2 cents is something like this would achieve a similar outcome to what we might hope from the charter, but do so by prioritising the local and the physical over the national and abstract, helping us avoid all the back and forthing that building national policy entails - putting the soil first instead x

We are currently developing a scope of works called Regenerate Now- recovery farms . We have a working group and anyone who wants to help can contact us

Btw I am the vision holder of ftlob and the ufa

lol I know who you are Sarah :) Would be very interested in being involved - send me an email? [email protected] x

I think this is a great strategy proposal @Dan K , congregate around something local and physical (tangible) - in many localities. As @sarahsk says, they are working on that with Regenerate Now, which looks awesome and I wish much success, but I'm feeling like you're digging at something which both includes urban market gardening, but perhaps extends beyond the marketplace or one specific group as well?

Happy to meet via video.