ABOUT US
The Biological Husbandry Unit Organics Trust is a registered charity (CC44519), dedicated to providing education, training and research in organic, ecological, permanent and related agricultures and horticultures.
It is run by a board of trustees with representatives from the New Zealand organic movement, organic farmers / growers and from Lincoln University.
Our Staff
Penny Platt
In her day job, Penny is one of the owners and veggie growers at Untamed Earth Organic Farm. They grow certified organic veggies across three farms across Waitaha to sell…
Hamish Kelland
I have 30 years experience in horticulture and teaching. I hold B.Hort (Lincoln Uni); Dip. Hort. (Lincoln Uni); Certificate in Organic Hort. (L4); Dip Teaching. I tutored at Lincoln University…
Dr Charles Merfield
Dr Charles Merfield aka Merf is the BHU’s resident scientist and lecturer. He started his career studying commercial horticulture in the UK and then managing organic vegetable farms in both…
Luke Bird
Luke-Bird Martin is the Collection curator of O Tāne Aotearoa – the New Zealand Plant collection at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. He spends the rest of his time on his…
Cornelia Holten
Cornelia comes from a family of farmers as far back as she can trace it. Farming is in her blood and she feels at home milking her cow, growing organic…
Ngaio Cowell
Ngaio Cowell (Ngaati Te Ata Te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua) is based in Ōhinehou. Working under the name Tipu Toi, Ngaio primarily works within the realm of Te…
Our Board Members
Chair
Penny Sewell – Director, Untamed Earth Organic Farm
Trustees
Jon Manhire – Managing Director, AgriBusiness Group
Rainer Hofmann – Professor of Plant Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University
Gina-Lee Duncan – General Manager, Te Rūnanga O Koukourārata
Jade Moana – Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Kāti Māmoe – Aweko Kai
Bill Martin – General Manager at the Summit Road Society
Our History
The Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU) was established in 1976 by Bob Crowder, an academic working at Lincoln University (LU). After Bob’s retirement at the end of the 1990s the BHU was re-launched in 2001 as a charitable trust as a joint venture between Lincoln University and the New Zealand Organic Movement.
The BHU farm and research activities were initially managed by Dr Tim Jenkins as part of a duel academic position at LU. Funding from MAF Sustainable Farming Fund and AgMardt that enabled the position was largely research based developing and promoting techniques for commercial scale organic agriculture. As the position developed the extension aspect of this was able to be expanded with well attended workshops aimed mostly at small farmers/growers and the development of a large published (web and print) resource of practical and technical information for commercial growers. Academic material was also developed for formal LU courses. The BHU employed and hosted summer students and overseas interns as well as working with LU and visiting researchers.Tim moved onto commercial research, extension and product development in August 2004 but has continued to write regularly in several publications including regular columns in OrganicNZ magazine and Canterbury Farming Newspaper. He now co-directs the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Ltd and is a research associate with the BHU.