Koanga Institute

Autumn Harvest

I don’t know anything more satisfying than being able to store food that has been growing all summer to eat through the winter. It always feels as though it is the summer sun that I’m harvesting to enjoy through the cold dark months.

This past weekend I got right into the spirit of things and processed the following...

Si and I came to Koanga because I wanted to learn how to grow food and to get some practical skills and experience around permaculture, and Si was following an interest in natural building.  We both liked the idea that the institute was part of a fledgling community, and were interested to see and experience life at Kotare Village.  

The Significance of our NZ Heritage Seeds and their Relationship with our DNA.

What is a heritage seed?

(‘Heritage’ is the English word and ‘Heirloom’ is the American term for the same thing)

In our Koanga Institute catalogues we define ‘heritage’ seed, as seed that has been passed down to us, through our families, our friends, and our communities through the generations. It is seed that has not been bred or grown by agribusiness.

Apples are a strong part of our cultural heritage. We have co evolved with apples, we have travelled around the world with apples. Apple seeds were in the pockets and barrels of most of our ancestors as they travelled the world’s by ways over the past few centuries.