The Lessons From The Loess Plateau

The Lessons of the Loess Plateau shows how an ancient civilization failed because they degraded their ecosystem functions. This parallels many if not all of the original cradles of civilization. But recently the Chinese People are showing that it is possible to rehabilitate large-scale damaged ecosystems. [Wow, this has the visual before and afters, and they are awesome]

Managed Grazing Carbon Neutral

Cattle grazing systems on native grassland in the northern United States are reducing greenhouse gases, a new study reports. All grazing treatments showed significant increases in carbon down to 15 cm, and lesser increases down to 60 cm. In more heavily grazed pastures, about a third of all sequestration is negated by cattle methane production, although this drops to 12% in moderately-grazed pastures. Cattle were set-stocked throughout the duration of the trial. [Imagine if the trials worked with timed grazing management too...]

Link Between Nitrogen and Plant Disease

New Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)-supported research shows moderate temperatures and high nitrogen nutrition increase the severity of stripe rust in susceptible wheat varieties. Additional nitrogen can affect stripe rust development through changes in nitrate levels in wheat leaves which are a substrate for pathogen growth. [Yay, mainstream science is catching up on the negative impacts of too much nitrogen]

The Role of Sulphur

Sulfur is one of three nutrients that are cycled between the soil, plant matter and the atmosphere. The carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles are all dependent upon specialist bacteria and if these creatures are compromised, the recycling potential is reduced and farmers are forced to increase inputs to compensate for the shortfall.  

New Culprit for Bee Decline?

US researchers claim to have identified a new potential cause for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in honeybees. They say the pathogens to blame are a fungus and a family of viruses. It was only recently that they were able to determine that it is when bees are infected both with Nosema and with a group of RNA viruses that it is likely to lead to a collapse of a colony. They believe the infection is spread primarily through pollen on flowers.

Synthetic Biology

What if there was a man-made microbe to help tackle an oil spill like the one in the Gulf of Mexico? It's just one of the potential benefits of synthetic biology, a technology which has jumped into the public consciousness with the creation of the first organism with man-made DNA. What are the other potential benefits and risks? [What?! Oil is already able to be gobbled up by naturally occurring fungi....why does it have to be man-made to get the headlines????] 

Sustainable Bottled Water?

Bottled water, which for years delivered double-digit growth for Nestlé, is under fire from environmentalists. In a US town, Nestlé is trying to tap 100 million gallons of water annually from a new spring. They want to prove that water drawn from the spring—which supplies a hatchery that raises Idaho Sockeye, an endangered species—can be replaced with municipal well water, with no harm to the fish. Three fish have already died. "We are accused of mining water, which would suggest we are depleting a resource... But instead, we take water in a sustainable way. The notion that we just take what we want is simply not factual."

Nanofood

There is a team of scientists tweaking foods to trick the body into feeling pleasantly full long after the final mouthful - and without overeating. Nanotechnology promises even saltier-tasting salt, less fattening fat, and to boost the nutritional value of everyday products. Nanofood supplements could even tackle global malnutrition. [Haven't we tricked our bodies enough??]

Withdrawing Carbon Capture Support

The environmentalist Tim Flannery has withdrawn his support for carbon capture and storage as an answer to combating climate change, saying he now believes it would be economically unachievable.

Glyphosate Poisons Soil Biology

Glyphosate tolerant (GT) crops and glyphosate herbicide (commercial formulation, Roundup) poison nitrogen fixing and other beneficial soil bacteria, increase fungal pathogens, undermine plant immunity to diseases, decrease plant micronutrients available in the soil, and more.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

Transocean’s corporate motto is “We’re never out of our depth.” But after last month’s fatal explosion on a Transocean oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, that assertion is open to question. In September, the company claimed the record for the deepest offshore well after it finished one for BP in the Gulf of Mexico that was 35,050 feet in vertical depth. Now Transocean might be in the record books for a less stellar achievement: contributing to what some experts predict will become the biggest accidental oil spill in history.

Cuba's Experience Without Oil

Is it really possible for us to adapt in a world less reliant on oil? One place that we can start to learn is from Cuba. 'The Power of Community; How Cuba Survived Peak Oil' examines how Cuba survived major oil shortages and managed to transform their transport and agricultural systems and turn their country around for the better.

Beer Cans Turn into Cups

In preparation for the FIFA World Cup, two companies have joined forces to create a beer can that doubles up as a drinking cup. The can has a full aperture end that allows the entire lid to be removed, turning the can into a drinking cup, which removes the need for glassware and draught installations.

Free Solar in Zone 2 NSW

I was alerted to this deal from a grower near Narrabri who is signing up. Free* solar systems for Broken Hill, Dubbo, Moree, Walgett, Narrabri and Roma residents. Installation will take place from 1 November 2010 through to 31 May 2011, but you need to sign up before 30th June. Might be worth checking out.

BAA Postal Votes

We are nearly there! The Biodynamic Agriculture Australia AGM will be held in Melbourne on 26th June. Postal votes MUST be posted back by this Friday. Please take the time to vote for your preferred candidates, but I would strongly caution you to do some research into the proposed constitutional changes before placing your vote on that. The changes are not pointed out, and an explanation for the changes are not provided. Concerned members warned about these changes months ago, and those warnings can be found at the bottom of the biodynamics page. They are substantial changes. If you feel strongly that BAA is heading in the wrong direction, please consider also submitting a proxy to a sympathetic member who will be present at the meeting. We expect new resolutions to come from the floor where the postal votes will not count. Members can only take 2 proxies into the meeting, so if you intend to be there please please let me know and if you can't, consider sending in your proxy form for those that can, but again please please contact me for more details.

Future Proof Farming

Harnessing Your Underground Workforce. This one day course combines fun science with practical experience covering: the important role of different soil organisms; repairing soil disturbance events; viewing your own soil biology with microscopes; the relationship between soil and pests, weeds and disease; how to feed beneficial microbes. Hastings New Zealand 8th June.

Learn to Look After Your Family

The Dawson program is the most wonderful way to balance the body energetically so that you can deal with whatever life throws at you. It treats the cause and not the symptom. It is non invasive, painless and drug free. It allows you to look after your own health and that of your family. The course will be run in Stanthorpe over two 3 day modules Module 1: 7th - 9th September. Module 2: 26th -28th October.

Health

Flawed Medical Studies

Is modern medicine actually "scientific"? The gold standard for modern medicine is the double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. But there are serious problems with these studies, unknown to most, but widely acknowledged by researchers. [Oh the commonsense and obviousness of this - a wonderful interview]

Reformulating Milk

A new initiative to identify dairy bioactive ingredients has yielded 30 peptides that could be used to develop new functional food and beverage ingredients. It's part of the “intelligent milk mining” scheme. [Intelligent! Trying to find and patent the 'active' part of milk to create new profitable foods? What about the whole real thing?]

Peas to Replace Soy?

One company is proposing a new pea-based beverage concept to the industry, which it believes could rival soy products as a source of protein for people who follow dairy-free diets. Unlike soy, pea is not on the EU list of allergens and does not contain the hormone oestrogen. While soy products are dogged by GM issues, peas from France are GM-free.  

The Cost of Creating New Markets

PepsiCo plans to invest $2.5bn over the next three years in China as the company turns towards the less developed central and western areas of the country for growth opportunities. “We are building expertise and infrastructure now so that we can have a strong, sustainable manufacturing and agricultural base to serve the diverse and growing needs of consumers across China.” [I guess this is good news to some]

The Science of Fluoride

Chris Bryson, an award-winning investigative journalist and former BBC producer, concludes that “fluoride science is corporate science. Fluoride science is DDT science. Fluoride science is asbestos science. It’s tobacco science. It’s a racket.” Ted Norris, an MD with a PhD in neuro endocrinology agrees, saying that fluoridated water is a scam worse than big tobacco.

Sunscreen Protection or Just Marketing?

Sunscreen product SPF numbers rise, but they have little to do with the science of protecting skin from the sun's harmful rays — and more to do with marketing. Sunscreen can help protect against sunburn, but contrary to what many people think, it hasn't yet been shown to prevent skin cancer or premature skin aging.

Fructose, Uric Acid, High Blood Pressure

The links are being pieced together. Fructose generates uric acid within minutes of ingestion. Uric acid inhibits the nitric oxide in your blood vessels, and nitric oxide helps your vessels maintain their elasticity. Nitric oxide suppression leads to increases in blood pressure. Interestingly, glucose actually accelerates fructose absorption. So when you mix glucose and fructose together, you absorb more fructose than if you consumed fructose alone.

Detoxing Through Your Soles

The Chinese call the feet the second kidney in reference to their role in detoxification. The feet contain over 2000 pores, which can serve as pathways for both the uptake of nutrients and removal of waste products and contaminants. Foot pads are one technique that take advantage of this idea, though there are cautions to some of the claims made.

Candida albicans

Candida is the short name used to describe yeast overgrowth in the body. One of its important functions is to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria. However, candida is not intended to overgrow and get out of control while the body is alive. This is only intended to happen when the body dies, when it’s function and characteristics change in order to break down the body. A healthy immune system keeps Candida in balance with the other micro-organisms. The causes of immune system dysfunction are varied and complex, but antibiotics are the biggest culprits because they wipe out friendly micro-organisms, in the digestive system. Did you know that you can test for Candida by simply spitting into water...

Labelling Fiascos

A recent Codex meeting considering proposals on labelling additives and nutrients has received a mixed reception from dairy trade representatives. “While we achieved a key win to not label additives that are used only as a processing aid, unfortunately there was little or no emphasis on labeling of nutrients that should be encouraged for good health or nutrition.” The dairy industry won the argument to have ‘carrier’ additives, such as flavours and colours, considered processing aids, not food additives. They could not persuade the committee to exclude saturated fat from the list, though the committee agreed to add a footnote that will require labelling for trans-fatty acids only under specific circumstances. [Confused?!]

Quote

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” - Annon

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

Giethoorn is called the Venice of the Netherlands for about 7.5 km of canals run through the little village. Some 50 little wooden bridges span the canals and most houses have thatched roofs. All traffic has to go over the water, and it is done in so-called “punters”, they are ‘whisper-boats’ for they are driven by an electric motor, so they practically do not disturb the peace and quiet in this scenic little village. Check out the photos - how charming!

Events

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

* Future Proof Farming - Hastings New Zealand 8th June 2010.

* Learn To Look After Your Family Module 1 - Stanthorpe Qld 7th - 9th September 2010.

* Learn To Look After Your Family Module 2 - Stanthorpe Qld 26th - 28th October 2010.

Postscript

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

Q: Are you sexually active?
A: No, I just lie there.

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

Q: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: How old is your son, the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years.

Q: What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?
A: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo or the occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
A: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
___________________________________
Q: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
_____________________________________
Q: Were you present when your picture was taken?
______________________________________
Q: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?
_____________________________________
Q: She had three children, right?
A: Yes.
Q: How many were boys?
A: None.
Q: Were there any girls?
______________________________________
Q: How was your first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?
______________________________________
Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?
______________________________________
Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.
______________________________________
Q: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.
______________________________________
Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.
______________________________________
Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
______________________________________
Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere

Yours Sincerely,
Carolyn Ditchfield