Post Oil Perth

Interview with Bill Tannock, Secretary and Treasurer of the
Organic Growers Association of Western Australia (OGAWA)
Perth 12 May 2008

Today I met with Bill and Faye Tannock. I explained our plan for Post Oil Perth to Bill and asked for his advice on the plan, as well as help in finding mentors amongst the members of OGAWA.

Bill, who practices Biodynamic gardening, provided heaps of information about OGAWA.

• OGAWA has about 200 members who are professional organic growers. At present, most professional members supply to large companies like Coles or Woolworths, their produce is shipped to the eastern states, and whatever is needed for Perth is shipped all the way back again! Clearly this won’t be sustainable situation when transport costs escalate much further.

• OGAWA has about 150 additional Perth members who are either personal organic growers, or source their food needs via OGAWA members. These members tend to be well educated, middle aged folks motivated towards an organic diet by health concerns. They are split into 3 suburban groups that meet independently each month.

I was heartened by the strong activity of OGAWA in Perth…. It looks like a great place to start prospecting for mentors to help others learn how to grow their own food.

Bill stressed the need to teach people not only how to grow food, but also how to set up the right ecology to control pests and maintain living soils. Here I could envisage a fruitful marriage between organic practices and Permaculture to meet this goal. He also emphasized the need to correct soil deficiencies inherent in our ancient, worn out landscapes before reasonable productivity could be achieved.

Bill remarked that farmers markets were springing up all over Perth! Promoting the further growth of this phenomenon is integral to the Post Oil Perth strategy.

Bill also made many other useful suggestions, such as other groups to link to and potential patrons for POP.

I am looking forward to publishing an article about POP in the OGAWA newsletter soon, and presenting to OGAWA meetings in the near future.

Thanks Bill!