Heritage Food Crops Research Trust - Whanganui, New Zealand
The goal of the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust (HFCRT) is to reconnect people with older plant varieties proven to be superior for human health. The HFCRT organic gardens grow, save, and share heritage seeds, plants and trees with local, national and (where possible) international communities.
“Let food be thy medicine” (Hippocrates). For more on HFCRT go here for their social media or here for their website.
A huge thank you to the financial support of the Whanganui District Council - Climate Action Fund (in both 2022 and 2023 rounds) which funded Rachel’s position from 2023-2024.
This funding allowed for the planning, developments and projects on this page. Multiple funding relationships have been developed in this timeframe. Strategic Planning was developed to guide the property towards long term sustainability. Frameworks to guide and support the volunteer workforce who are integral to it’s success.
HFCRT are a registered charity. Funds/donations are required for general overhead and maintenance costs, to increase production, manage administration, develop marketing, education.
All seeds and trees are given to the public, free of charge.
Permaculture design reduces maintenance of orchards and production areas
An organic property does not use herbicides or pesticides so requires constant manual labour for weed management. As the labour to the HFCRT is voluntary, the intensity had to be reduced for it’s long term sustainability. Permaculture design practices have been used to produce higher quantities of seeds and trees (to share with the community), and best practice examples to educate the community and school groups on organic food growing and seed saving. This empowers the community with the confidence to grow high nutrition foods, contributing to local, and national, food security. New management schedules were adopted to reduce the climbing Convolvulous which can quickly dominate the orchard canopies, and gardens. Garden beds were edged with Redwood sleepers to reduce the incursion of weeds. Areas are weeded and prepared with wet newspaper (or cardboard) and maintained with layers of tree mulch, suppressing weeds, building beautiful soil an abundance of worms, and preventing evaporation. These basic modifications have resulted in a huge reduction in time spent on repetitive tasks, as well as creating a more beautiful environment, so beneficial to the mental wellbeing of volunteers and visitors.
Volunteer Community
A non-profit Charitable Trust, all work on the farm is undertaken by volunteers. This model can have limitations on a project of scale, as long term planning can be difficult.
We value all that volunteers bring to the project. To give back, care for each other, and to build community we have shared meals using farm produce. We also encourage volunteers to express their unique skills and creativity, and to share seasonal farm surplus.
Big Garden
Below is the restructure of Big Garden in winter 2023, in preparation for spring planting. Climbing frames are used for the Heritage beans, grown for seed, and the grafted fruit trees are grown in raised beds down the centre. These beds now have higher levels of productivity and are easy to maintain without competition from weeds, which previously dominated.
Berry House
In Autumn 2023 the area below was converted to a BERRY HOUSE to trial and protect seedling varieties, especially Honeyberries, as well as a mix of summer crops, grown for seed collection. Previously the covered area was used to trial ancient Wheat varieties. This was a very labour intensive crop, even at small scale, as it required frequent hand weeding. The high humidity of Whanganui also resulted in the Wheat sprouting and developing mildew. These varieties were grown at Lincoln University in Canterbury with much better results, a more suitable dry climate.
As the area had become wild and overgrown Convolvulus had climbed into tree canopies. Previously black plastic was used on a large scale to suppress weeds. These were removed with edging and a path created around the perimeter to allow for ease of maintenance. The Bean fences were relocated, inside beds for ease of maintenance and positioned away from trees, in full sun.
Education and Community
In this time Rachel and Mark have focused on building educational opportunities and bringing more diversity to the project by hosting events to welcome schools and new people to the project.
Signage
Bringing colour and creativity to the project Rachel worked with children and volunteers to make signage. These signs locate areas and are visual aids to learn the many differant food crops.
Mural -Berengere Collas
In October 2023 we were very lucky to have a visit from the talented French Artist and Illustrator Berengere Collas who rejuvenated an old containment facility. Thank you Berengere for bringing your light and beauty to the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust project! And thank you to the helpers who cleaned and Mark, who prepared and undercoated the container so perfectly :)
