Hungry for Organics

  Theresa Sjoquist explores what’s behind the supply and price of the organic food we buy, and how we might improve the range and reliability at a reasonable cost. If organic food lovers  make any complaints, they are most often that organic food is expensive, and, it is hard to find, especially a consistent supply. Consumers could […]

Sweeter than Wine – Organic Molasses

  Organic Molasses – Growing and Uses   For the first time in New Zealand, certified organic molasses has become available as a soil and foliage input. Previously, organic non-certified and standard molasses were acceptable as soil and foliage inputs in otherwise organic products because a consistent bulk organic supply didn’t exist. The new supply […]

Earthwood – Restore-Recycle-Revive-Reveal – Furniture Restoration

  Earthwood Ltd, based in Helensville, restores furniture, from antique heritage pieces, to musical instruments such as pianos and violins.  Mark Biggelaar first opened Earthwood’s doors in October 1991 but has restored and polished furniture for 43 years. “I learnt the trade from my father, Paul Biggelaar. He was a mult-talented craftsman who passed away last year. […]

Driving the Future – Electric Vehicle Practicalities

  In the late 1800s and early 1900s vehicles were powered roughly equally by steam, electricity, or fossil fuels. Henry Ford’s wife drove an electric vehicle (EV) that was powered by nickel iron batteries, still operable today. A Northland story In 2011 Nissan introduced the LEAF, a wholly electric vehicle. The LEAF was $70,000 in […]

The Customer Wins – profiling I E Produce

At the end of their first year in business in 1994, Joyce and Phillip Lowyim of IE Produce in Takapuna asked their customers what other food products they wanted to see in-store. A surprising number wanted to see organic produce. Joyce says, “In the beginning it was hard to find good enough quality produce, especially […]