About Us
Otepoti Urban Organics is a non-profit network of gardeners, community groups and businesses who have an interest in fostering and engaging in organic food growing activities, and other sustainable practices, in 
the Dunedin area. The primary purpose of the network's existence is to increase the quantity and quality of food grown by people in their own back yards or other locations, and to make these activities more enjoyable, productive and efficient for all involved. We encourage people to view vegetable gardening not only as a hobby but as a way of life... an opportunity to engage in a living relationship between you, the food you eat, and the community you live within.
the Dunedin area. The primary purpose of the network's existence is to increase the quantity and quality of food grown by people in their own back yards or other locations, and to make these activities more enjoyable, productive and efficient for all involved. We encourage people to view vegetable gardening not only as a hobby but as a way of life... an opportunity to engage in a living relationship between you, the food you eat, and the community you live within. URBAN ORGANICS FOR A MORE SUSTAINIBLE FOOD SUPPLY
We view urban food cultivation as one key step in increasing the long-term sustainibility of our food supply here in Dunedin. Discussion on this site and the building up of the gardening guide resources will assist people in attaining the highest possible yeild of nutrients, given the space that they have and the crops that they choose to grow. We envision that eventually, nearly every house will have a productive veggie garden on its property.
This website is the main hub of Otepoti Urban Organics. We also send out occasional emails to people who are on the mailing list, for updates and to let you know about upcoming events of interest. To join our mailing list, click here.
At present the main functions of this network are as follows:
• Providing a central contact point for food crop cultivation related topics in Dunedin City and, more broadly, the Coastal Otago / Southland bioregion.
• Operating the Symbiosis Seed Exchange network, for the continued survival and improvement of our most cherished vegetable varieties.
• Increasing the level of cohesion between the many related groups and initiatives that are going on in Dunedin and beyond.
• Developing high quality, dynamic resources to inform people the practical steps they need to take to create and maintain food gardens, with a strong focus on sustainability and permaculture concepts. This will likely be done at workshops and on the internet.
• Assisting in taking these ideas through to practical reality. Facilitating the actual creation and maintainence of urban gardens by helping people access information and materials (such as soil / compost ingredients, seeds, seedlings etc). As well as one-on-one advice given on a voulintary basis (potentially at a persons house or other garden site, and through the web-forums here) for those needing help to get started.
The theory is that by having a central networking point for specifically gardening related information in Otago, the information database will build up into a diverse and easily accessible resource covering topics of gardening how-to's, activity within the community on sustainability related issues, network contacts etc. How you can help this happen is to get a username and password for this site, and contribute any info, questions or suggestions you may have on the topic.
• Increasing the level of cohesion between the many related groups and initiatives that are going on in Dunedin and beyond.
• Developing high quality, dynamic resources to inform people the practical steps they need to take to create and maintain food gardens, with a strong focus on sustainability and permaculture concepts. This will likely be done at workshops and on the internet.
• Assisting in taking these ideas through to practical reality. Facilitating the actual creation and maintainence of urban gardens by helping people access information and materials (such as soil / compost ingredients, seeds, seedlings etc). As well as one-on-one advice given on a voulintary basis (potentially at a persons house or other garden site, and through the web-forums here) for those needing help to get started.
The theory is that by having a central networking point for specifically gardening related information in Otago, the information database will build up into a diverse and easily accessible resource covering topics of gardening how-to's, activity within the community on sustainability related issues, network contacts etc. How you can help this happen is to get a username and password for this site, and contribute any info, questions or suggestions you may have on the topic.
Contact person for this network is Bart Acres. Email otepoti.urban.organics@gmail.com (Note: To join our email list, don't email us to ask, instead click here) , Ph. 021 1488815
