Behind Still

I feel like I'm sinking in the backlog of work. While I wanted to clear all my emails up to the date of this newsletter (a full week ago!!), I think it best to get it out as is so that upcoming events will not be missed. I am away all next week, but might aim to surf the emails for urgent events and simply post them out. Then over the next couple of weeks I hope to get myself on top again.

Humus

The 10-minute trailer for the film 'Humus' reveals interdependencies between intensive agriculture and climate change that were scarcely recognised until recently. Researchers are now trying to unravel the secret of sustainably fertile soil and find solutions for building up humus in our agriculture. Terra Preta (biochar) is one lead. The conclusion? Good humus can aid the climate.

Increasing Soil Organic Carbon Under Pasture

This NSW DPI booklet aims to provide a practical guide to soil carbon under pastures. It is the product of a three year project looking at soil carbon levels under pastures, and the researchers have taken the opportunity to expand it from a simple report of project results to include further information on soil carbon that will be of interest to farmers, particularly graziers. [I wonder if the liquid carbon pathway is mentioned, or is it still all revolving around decomposition of biomasss only?]

What Would Nature Do?

We waste an appalling amount of resources. Our cars waste around 85% of the energy put into them, transmission losses from the power grid are as high as 10% and our industrial processes generate huge amounts of waste such as pollution and heat. The solutions are to be found in the same place we plunder. Nature has been playing the sustainability game for around 3.8 billion years, and has become extremely good at it. Nine basic laws that underpin biomimicry have been identified. Nature runs on sunlight and uses only the energy it needs. It fits form to function, recycles everything, rewards cooperation and banks on diversity. Nature demands local expertise, and taps the power of limits. And, most importantly, Nature curbs excesses from within.

Hope in a Changing Climate

"Hope in a Changing Climate" demonstrates that it is possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems, to restore ecosystem functions in areas where they have been lost, to fundamentally improve the lives of people who have been trapped in poverty for generations and to sequester carbon naturally. This film provides on the ground inspirational examples. [The world can be healed]

Another Food Inc Review

The way we eat food has changed more over the past 50 years than in the previous 50,000 years. These are the opening words of what I offer as the most important, and one of the best, films of the year, Food, Inc. See it if you can. Every word in this gripping documentary is from real life, and is about the most basic element of your survival - the food you eat.

New Zealand Organic Report 2010

There has been considerable growth in New Zealand's organic sector (domestic sales and exports) between 2007 and 2009 and the environmental benefits of organic production are confirmed in this report. Organic soils store more carbon in soils, and that organic farms have higher levels of biodiversity.

Fruit and Vegetable Health Claim

Increased intakes of fruit and vegetables may decrease markers of inflammation linked to a range of chronic diseases, says a new study from Spain. “Thus, this study found, apparently for first time, that healthy adults with a high consumption of fruits and vegetables had lower [levels of pro-inflammatory markers in white blood cells].” Chronic inflammation has been linked to range of conditions linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, type-2 diabetes, and arthritis.

Turning Self-Sufficients into Commercial Employees

The 2010 Alltech Bioscience Medal of Excellence winner states that small landholders are among the solution as they often are in the world's most food-insecure areas. If a way can be found to aggregate these small landholders, a lot of productive land could be gained upon which to produce more food. "It should never have been the objective to make him or her a better subsistent farmer but, rather, to convert them to commercial farmers. That is what is in their best interest as well as in all our best interest." Given the future constraints of limited land and water, technology - and its continued adoption - is the only solution. [A brave new world believer]

High Elevation Pollution

Air quality monitoring over the last several decades shows that the Smokies' high-elevation streams have some of the highest levels of acid contamination in the U.S. The most harmful of these pollutants - nitrates and sulfates - blow in from outside the park to form acidic rain and cloud water at the park's highest peaks. [This article focuses on the subsequent health of the rivers, but I question its likely effect on trees too...is it really just climate change killing trees, or good ol' pollution?]

Toxic Supermarket Labels

Supermarket food is at risk of being contaminated by a 'highly toxic' chemical found in the glue of packaging labels. The chemical, which is in the same class of toxicity as mercury, asbestos and hydrochloric acid, can seep through and contaminate food, according to a study.

So How Big are Woolies and Coles?

The statistics speak for themselves. Perhaps the envy of similar businesses around the world, you are left wondering how we got ourselves into this uncompetitive pickle. Extraordinary when you consider this duopoly affects just about every aspect of our lives.

Synthetic Biology

A Canadian environmental group has already claimed partial victory in trying to impose a global moratorium on scientists such as Craig Venter, the controversial genome entrepreneur who last week claimed that he had made a synthetic cell in a test-tube controlled by a chromosome created from scratch. They drew up a proposal on synthetic biology that is likely to result in any release experiments into the wild being banned. "Synthetic biology is a high-risk, profit-driven field, building organisms out of parts that are still poorly understood."

GM and Offspring Defects

Jeffrey Smith, author of the bestseller Seeds of Deception, and Genetic Roulette, discusses the latest GMO research findings coming out of Russia, which adds fuel to previous concerns about long-term sterility and other highly bizarre physiological side effects.

Inevitable Glyphosate Resistance

Australian farmers need to manage glyphosate rotations carefully to avoid the problems emerging in the United States, where glyphosate tolerant genetically modified (GM) crops have led to an over-reliance on the cheap and popular herbicide. Opinion is divided as to how well set up Australia is to manage the inevitable problems with glyphosate resistance. “I guess if there has been a silver lining from the delay in the introduction of GM technology here in Australia, it has been the chance to observe what problems have come up in other countries and how they deal with them...I think we may see more livestock in the rotation and a move away from really strict no-till principles." [What a good idea!]

Electricity Generating Material

Researchers at UC Berkeley are perfecting microscopic fibers that can produce electricity from simple body motions such as bending, stretching and twisting. The filaments, which resemble tiny fishing lines, may soon be woven into clothing and sold as the ultimate portable generators. Researchers are envisioning hikers powering up their digital cameras while trekking up a mountain or a jogger charging up her cellphone in mid-run.

Mini Nuclear Reactors

Companies are rushing to develop a new generation of refrigerator-size nuclear reactors to help meet the world's growing demand for electricity. The price tag is $50 million for a 25-megawatt reactor which would put electricity into 20,000 homes.

Seven Years Later

I just discovered that I am not the only person to have suddenly had re-notification of a supposedly old Queensland police fine, in my case it was originally issued just under 7 years ago - yes, 7 years later! It was a speeding fine back in 2003 that they claim was only part paid, which is highly irregular for me in the first place (I never as a rule part pay bills). But the curious part is the reason they have not contacted me for the last 7 years. They claim they sent letters to my old Queensland address which got no response. But by 2003 I had already been living in NSW for two years with a NSW car registration and NSW licence - both apparently recorded on the speeding ticket. The new 7 year old fine is only $135, so it will be easier to pay and not question (who do you direct questions to anyway?). But it appears that many many people will be surprised by this one.

What's New...

Until the end of June, Fertile Farm is discounting most products by 5%*, this includes manures and composts, most liquid fertilisers, seed dressings and inoculants, rock phosphates and guano. Fertile Farm is about ensuring your farm is fertile. They offer a free consultation service which includes soil testing, plant and sap testing so that you have a good understanding of your Nutrient Recourse Management, and that fertiliser products used are doing what they are supposed to do. Contact them for more information.

2010 Farmer and Young Farmer of the Year

NSW Farmers Association is encouraging landholders to nominate for this award. The successful farmer will win $10,000 while the young farmer will collect $5,000. The four judging criteria are: farm management, innovation, finanical management, leadership. Nominations close 10th June.

Seed Savers Up North Meeting

Seed Savers Up North is a local seed network - part of the Seed Savers Network Australia wide. It is a non-profit group of people who are passionate about saving our plant heritage and preserving the genetic basis of tomorrow's food. Their next meeting will be 6th June Mareeba (you will need to ring or email to get the meetings details).

Soil Carbon 101

Practical Carbon Farming one-day workshop presented by Carbon Farmers of Australia in Hamilton Vic 18th June covering soil carbon - what is it and how does it benefit agriculture; soil carbon farming and land management; soil carbon and soil biology; trading soil carbon offsets.

What Women Want

A one-day workshop will be held in Tamworth 18th June and include speakers Wendy Harmer, Lyn Sykes, Sonia Muir and Genevieve Marchiori. They will be discussing: getting and

Food Forest Course

Over the course of a weekend, you design and implement a full food forest system. The course includes drought-proofing practices and how to manage the Forest through time; practical skills from cutting and joining pipe to improving soil through using compost teas, rock minerals and nutrient-accumulating companion plants, just to name a few. A weekend packed with practical information around a solid permaculture design framework that you can take home to adapt to your own garden. Bungendore 19th - 20th June.

Radionics and Field Broadcasters

Hugh Lovel is presenting this workshop at Yungaburra 27th June.

All Dried Up?

Dr. Christine Jones is a ground cover ecologist, who has galvanized awareness of soil carbon in the international climate change debate. She is touring New Zealand in June and covering how the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles are instrinsically linked. Pukekohe 23rd June, Taurange 25th June, Palmerston North 29th June, and at the 2-day Soil Conference at Cromwell 30th June.

Basic Biodynamics

A two day Workshop for commercial farmers seeking a viable alternative to conventional agriculture, presented by Cheryl Kemp and Adam Collins, Clifton Qld 10th - 11th July. It will also include practical work, such as making compost and seaweed teas, looking at stirring systems and get an understanding of how Biodynamics can help you achieve your goals to a healthier chemical free farming system and increased yields.

Quantum Agriculture Intensive Workshop

This 5-day workshop in Mossman (11th - 16th July) will not be like any of Hugh Lovel’s introductory presentations. To attend you must either have taken a previous workshop or bought and studied his DVDs. Everyone who attends should bring with them all the data they can gather about (especially soluble + total soil tests + leaf tests + pictures) at least one intractable or unsolvable problem in their agricultural experience so you can sort them out as group, classroom exercises. Try to bring your worst, most vexing problems

Biodynamic Field Day

Biodynamics Far North Queensland invite members to a field day on a property that grows vanilla, dragon fruit, cane and organic free-range chicken meat and eggs. Gordonvale 1st August. Then another field day on a property growing biodynamic vegetables, fruit and coffee, Tolga 19th September.

Horn Lifting Day

Biodynamics Far North Queensland are hosting a biodynamic horn lifting day at Kaban 5th September.

Australasian Permaculture Convergence

This year the Australasian Permaculture Convergence (APC10) will be hosted in the beautiful Wet Tropics township of Kuranda 24th - 27th September, with the involvement of Major General Michael Jeffery and a host of organisations getting behind the event. [Wow, what a line up of events and speakers - fun fun fun]

Health

Illegal Marketing of Drugs

Drugmaker AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $520 million to settle federal investigations into marketing practices for its schizophrenia drug Seroquel. The company was accused of misleading doctors and patients by spotlighting favorable research while failing to adequately disclose studies showing that Seroquel increases the risk of diabetes.

Switching Off and On Genes for Health

The new field of epigenetics has shown that the choice of which of your genes are "expressed," or activated, is strongly affected by environmental influences. One implication of this is that many health problems -- ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease to neurological disorders -- can be caused at least in part by altered "histone modifications," which affect DNA. [ie many diseases can be reversed or prevented by knowing how to reset the environment that your DNA experiences]

False Marketing of the AIDS Epidemic

The global AIDS epidemic being pushed by the AIDS industry is a fraud. Key pioneers from the industry now speak out against "the false marketing of the AIDS epidemic" in an exclusive video clip from the highly controversial documentary House of Numbers. [It seems to be a case of follow the money trail yet again...]

The Dangers of Swimming Pools

Given the popularity of swimming for recreation and sport, it is remarkable that we are only in the early stages of understanding swimming pool chemistry, human exposure(s), and potential health risks. Swimmers themselves complicate pool water chemistry and toxicity by introducing undesirable substances (e.g., skin, bodily excretions such as sweat, urine, and fecal matter; pathogens; and personal care products, such as lotions and sunscreens).

Acceptance and Committment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets it name from one of its core messages: accept what is out of your personal control, and commit to action that improves and enriches your life. ACT  (which is pronounced as the word 'act') does this by: a) teaching you psychological skills to deal with your painful thoughts and feelings effectively – in such a way that they have much less impact and influence over you. (These are known as mindfulness skills.) b) helping you to clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you  - ie your values - then use that knowledge to guide, inspire and motivate you to change your life for the better. [I was intrigued and thought others might be interested]

Dangers of Phthylates

Soft and flexible plastics like shower curtains contain a family of chemicals knows as phthylates. They're also in shampoos and carpeting. They disrupt hormone activity and some preliminary studies show that they may be causing a slow and steady demasculinizing of men. If you want to know if something you're using has phthalates, it's hard to find out: there's no requirement they be listed on labels. 

Quote

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

This is a sobering slide show illustrating the precarious position Australia's economy is in, particularly in terms of house prices and home loans. All the 'news' on TV is certainly not telling the whole story...How will you profit from the coming Aussie property crash and banking crisis?

And across the ocean the US Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has admitted that the U.S. central bank created $1.3 trillion out of thin air to buy mortgage-backed securities.

Events

All events listed in these newsletters can also be found at Events on the website in date order.

* Seed Savers Up North Meeting - Mareeba Qld 6th June 2010.

* Soil Carbon 101 - Hamilton Vic 18th June 2010.

* What Women Want - Tamworth NSW 18th June 2010.

* Food Forest Course - Bungendore NSW 19th - 20th June 2010.

* All Dried Up? - Pukekohe New Zealand 23rd June 2010.

* All Dried Up? - Tauranga New Zealand 25th June 2010.

* Radionics and Field Broadcasters - Yungaburra Qld 27th June 2010.

* All Dried Up? - Palmerston North New Zealand 29th June 2010.

* Soils Conference - Cromwell New Zealand 30th June - 1st July 2010.

* Alternative Ag Info Day - Inverell NSW 10th July 2010.

* Basic Biodynamics - Clifton Qld 10th - 11th July 2010.

* Quantum Agriculture Intensive Workshop - Mossman Qld 11th - 16th July 2010.

* Biodynamics Field Day - Gordonvale Qld 1st August 2010.

* Horn Lifting Day - Kaban Qld 5th September 2010.

* Biodynamics Field Day - Tolga Qld 19th September 2010.

* Australasian Permaculture Convergence - Kuranda Qld 24 - 27th September 2010.

Postscript

Subject: Stimulus Package

It's a slow day in a dusty little Australian town. The sun is beating down and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.

On this particular day a rich tourist from down south is driving through town , stops at the local motel and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.

He gives him keys to a few rooms and as soon as the man walks upstairs, the owner grabs the $100 bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.

The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.

The guy at the Farmer's Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his drinks bill at the local pub.
The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar , who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.

The hooker rushes to the motel and pays off her room bill to the motel owner with the $100 ..

The motel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.

At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, picks up the $100 bill, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.

No one produced anything. No one earned anything.

However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.

Yours Sincerely,
Carolyn Ditchfield