The Importance of Ecology Evenness

Much focus is put on species numbers or 'richness'. But recent research shows the importance of 'evenness' — the relative abundance of different species. Evenness quantifies not just the presence of different species, but whether one is dominant or whether there is an equal distribution of numbers between species. A study has found that the increased evenness of organic farms compared with that of conventional farms led to 18% lower pest densities and 35% larger plants. The next step is to discover what it is about organic agriculture that promotes evenness, and to determine whether this finding also applies in systems other than potato fields.

Soils Alive!

The booklet Soils Alive!, published by Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania, sets out to provide a context for soil health by looking at soil ecosystems and how they function, give descriptions and colour photographs of soil organisms likely to be found, guide understanding of what may be good or bad populations of organisms, and outline a range of management practices likely to impact both positively and negatively on soil ecosystem function. [Unfortunately the conversation on soil carbon sequestration only focuses on decomposition, not the active carbon pumping of green living plants - shame!]

Screw Tops Threaten Forests

Cork suppliers and environmentalists are claiming that screw top wines are threatening the two million hectares of forest across Portugal, Spain, North Africa and Italy which are sustained through industry management. They fear that if farmers cannot make money from cork they will replant with non-native eucalyptus trees. [Well who would have thought...]

Outback Carbon Banks

Australia's outback is a massive carbon bank ready for deposits and its fees would be cheaper than other methods of reducing carbon emissions. Research has investigated five carbon-cutting methods for the outback, which covers three-quarters of Australia. These included reduced land clearance, control of feral animal populations and better fire management.

Soil Ecology and the Soil Food Web

I was recently referred to Soil Secrets and the work of Michael Martin Melendrez in the arid region of New Mexico US. I was particularly taken with this well laid-out summary of Soil Ecology and the Soil Food Web, with the role of each microbe group player. As he states, our historical use of fertilisers has been to prop up the health of our plants, effectively by growing plants hydroponically (ie with reliance on nutrient saturated soil solution). But this contradicts what happens in nature and how plants acquire nutrients where you cannot convert to lower water usage and continue to use fertilisers at the same time.

Plight of Dwindling Honeybees

Just prior to the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, the overwinter and spring bee survey numbers from across the US were released. The numbers were startling; our humble honeybees are sicker than ever. Worldwide honeybees account directly for at least a quarter of a trillion dollars of commerce and every continent accept Australia is suffering badly from the decline of bees.

The Monsanto US Government GM Story

In the US, new types of food substances are normally classified as food additives, which must undergo extensive testing, including long-term animal feeding studies. If approved, the label of food products containing the additive must list it as an ingredient. There is an exception, however, for substances that are deemed "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). GRAS status allows a product to be commercialized without any additional testing. According to US law, to be considered GRAS the substance must be the subject of a substantial amount of peer-reviewed published studies (or equivalent) and there must be overwhelming consensus among the scientific community that the product is safe. GM foods had neither. [A great referenced read].

Secret GM Corn Approval

Twitter was the key to exposing Australia's food regulator’s (FSANZ) secret approval of the chemical laden GM corn “Smartstax”. FSANZ did not put the crop through a safety assessment, nor notify the public of the crop's approval. It is understood that FSANZ is claiming that as the individual GM crops that make up this plant were already approved, they didn’t need to reassess this four‐in‐one combination that triples the number of pesticide genes.

GM Wheat Trials in Australia

In June, Australia's gene regulator approved trials of up to 1,322 different types of GM wheat.  The trials are set to take place over the next five years in Corrigin, WA; Narrabri, NSW; Adelaide, SA; and just outside of Brisbane, Qld.

Coles Backslidding on GM Feed

Coles' response to the True Food Network reveals the company is backsliding on GM feed. Coles states their 'strong preference' for non-GM feed and promises that they follow all the laws when it comes to genetically engineered toxins, but they fail to mention its chicken products even though poultry producers are known to use GM feed.

Engineering Malaria-Free Mosquitoes

Researchers report that they have developed a genetically engineered breed of mosquito that cannot be infected by the malaria-causing parasite. It involves changing a single gene, one involved in the production of insulin. The researchers don't yet understand how the genetic change makes the mosquitoes malaria-proof.

Sidestepping Copenhagen?

EU Banking in Big Trouble

Investors smell a rat. They know the banks are playing hide-n-seek with downgraded assets. Many of the Union's largest banks are sitting on hundreds of billions of euros in dodgy sovereign bonds and non performing real estate loans. But writing down their losses will deplete their capital and force them to restructure their debt. So the banks are concealing their losses through accounting sleight-of-hand and by borrowing money from the European Central Bank. This has helped to hide the rot at the heart of the system.

No Fly List

In the US there is an injunction being sought on behalf of individuals who, as the suit puts it, ``the government deems too dangerous to fly, but too harmless to arrest.'' It's more than a clever turn of phrase. It is also an apt description of the legal limbo to which the the government has consigned an untold number of innocent people in the name of fighting terror. Here's how it is when your name is on the no-fly list: They won't let you fly. They won't tell you why. They won't show you the list. They won't take your name off the list. They won't give you any way to appeal.

Death By Gadet

“Blood diamonds” have faded away, but we may now be carrying “blood phones.” An ugly paradox of the 21st century is that some of our elegant symbols of modernity — smartphones, laptops and digital cameras — are built from minerals that seem to be fueling mass slaughter and rape in Congo. Electronics manufacturers have tried to hush all this up. They want you to look at a gadget and think “sleek,” not “blood.” This is a video that cleverly summarises the problem.

As Simple as a Toilet?

40% of all the people in the world do not have access to toilets. Instead, they're forced to defecate outdoors; in fields and on riverbanks, causing human fecal matter to enter their food and water supply. The lack of toilets alone causes an estimated 2 million preventable deaths a year. But it is posited that "when people don't see the problem, they don't push for solutions." [Could solutions be as obvious as this?] 

Tachyon Technology

Wow, something I have never heard of, but certainly intriguing. A scientist called Moray, working along similar lines to Tesla, developed a machine, which could generate 50 kilowatts of electricity. He was not allowed to patent it, because it had no visible energy source. In 1966 two scientists working separately made the discovery at the same time that there is energy, which travels faster than the speed of light and can be proven according to Quantum Physics. One of the scientists, Feinberg, then coined the word Tachyon to describe it. This is a wonderful animated summary of what it is. [What an extraordinary world we live in!]

What's New...

The Mulloon Institute (Mi - pronounced "My") has been set up to be a "University for future generations", providing education through experiential learning as well as research and development. Mi is focused on those who will lead future generations in the skills of surviving and thriving - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - using primarily the resources of nature that are available to them. It is located on campus at the beautiful Mulloon Creek Natural Farms, Bungendore ACT. They deliver knowledge about how to improve the social, financial and ecological health of Australia's farms.

Canadian Organic Newsletter

The latest newsletter is online and includes articles on: Reducing the germinable weed seedbank with soil disturbance and cover crops; Organic poultry: Consumer perceptions, opportunities, and regulatory issues; Differences in sheep and goats milk fatty acid profile between conventional and organic farming systems; Generating Policy Capacity in Emerging Green Industries: The Development of Organic Farming in Denmark and Australia; Can Plants Access P Pools not Accounted for in Traditional Soil Tests? A Study of Organically Managed Soils Across Saskatchewan; Learning from the Present and Past: A Review of Agricultural Impacts on Soil Fertility; and much more...

Wild Orchid Garden Club Event

The newly formed Wild Orchid Garden Club is hosting a day at Wallangra 25th July. Guest speakers include Di Sheinberg on garden design, Carolyn Ditchfield on improving soil structure, The Tree Tenders on uses for ornamental natives and Fiona Adams on growing lavender.

Permaculture in Goondiwindi

Hamish Gale of Country Life Gourmet Foods is holding a permaculture movie afternoon in Goondiwindi on Saturday 21st, and Moree on 22nd August. Geoff Lawton’s Permaculture movies will be played with a live video hookup after the movies where people can ask questions directly to Geoff, the head of the Permaculture Research Institute (PRI). Nick Huggins, a permaculture teacher with the PRI will facilitate the afternoons. Tickets are just $10. RSVP to Hamish on 0407 699 112.

Pasture to Pocket Workshop

This 2.5 day workshop covers how soils operate; how animals operate; how business operates – the 3 Secrets of Profit; Grazing Management Systems – the pros & cons; principles of sustainable grazing; property development and planning; planning water and fences; Ecological Indicators; management tools. Tambo 28th - 30th July.

Fundamentals of Soil

This one day course taught by Dr. Christine Jones and Colin Seis will teach the fundamental mechanisms of how crops and pastures get nutrition from soil, how nutrients can be unlocked from soil and how more water can be stored in soil to reduce the affects of drought. They’ll also provide an overview of how farming practices like pasture-cropping, grazing management and shelter belts can harness these mechanisms. Bungendore ACT 2nd August.

An Afternoon with David Howard

David Howard is the former Head Gardener to HRH Prince of Wales. The afternoon will provide an interactive conversation based on David’s experience of organic garden management. Starting with the soil and its structure, this also covers good garden management and elements of recycling waste and tough woody material, making compost, staking and tying, pots, hand tools, biological pest control and seed saving. Bungendore ACT 15th August.

Introduction to Permaculture

Learn the principles behind permaculture design and how to apply it on any scale, from broadacre farming to an urban block, in order to increase the productivity and resilience of your land or garden, reduce your energy consumption, improve your soils and save water. Plenty of hands-on practical workshops are included, covering Food Forests, soil improvement, water harvesting techniques and composting. Take home the principles of smart design and the skills to apply it! Bundendore ACT 25th - 26th September and 13th - 14th November.

Permaculture Design Certificate

Learn how to design efficient and productive permaculture systems with Cam Wilson, and get your hands in the dirt learning practical skills too. Having worked alongside a number of Australia’s top permaculture teachers, he recognises there are many ways the permaculture concept can be presented. His aim is for participants to leave the course empowered and with a solid understanding of the Permaculture design process. Bungendore 1st - 16th October.  

Health

Learn to Listen

This interview with Kevin McDonald rang all my bells. It puts forward a wonderfully simplistic approach to natural health. His book 'Learn to Listen' is a breath of fresh air in the complex world of biochemistry and nutritional requirements. I highly recommend reading this for anyone even remotely interested in their health.

Whooping Cough Outbreak in Vaccinated

Reports of whooping cough outbreaks in California and in other states this summer are nothing new. Every four to five years – no matter how high the vaccination rate is - there are reports of whooping cough increases. According to the CDC, 84%of children under age three have received four DTaP shots. By the time American children enter kindergarten nearly every child has gotten all the CDC recommended pertussis shots. Independent research has confirmed that many whooping cough victims where vaccinated. [So where was the protection in such a highly 'protected' population?]

A CDC study suggests that the resurgence of whooping cough is due to the vaccine causing an increased and more virulent toxin. In other words, vaccinating against the whooping cough pathogens has caused the pathogens to evolve with a more virulent strain.

Combination Vaccines Don't Work

The pentavalent vaccine combines DPT, Hib and Hepatitis B. A Cochrane meta-analysis has found that the combination vaccine is not as effective as the vaccines administered separately. As such, the combined vaccine is not used widely in the West – in areas which have a good system for reporting adverse events. Here vaccines are generally given to healthy children and therefore the tolerance in the public for vaccine-related adverse-reactions is low. But in Sri Lanka after several thousand doses were administered, it was withdrawn in April 2008 because of 25 serious adverse reactions that included 5 deaths.

Arsenic in Meat

Arsenic is regularly feed to chickens and sometimes also to turkeys and pigs. The poultry industry commonly uses additives with arsenic in them to induce weight gain and create the appearance of a healthy color in chicken meat.

Bacteriotherapy

A patient suffering from a vicious gut infection had some of her husband’s gut bacteria transplanted into her colon (via a saline solution). Her diarrhea vanished in a day. Interestingly, they took a genetic survey of the bacteria in her intestines before and after the transplant. Before the transplant, they found, her gut flora was in a desperate state. Two weeks later her husband’s microbes had taken over. The scientists continue to be blown away by the bacterial landscape of the body - for example, each tooth—and even each side of each tooth—has a different combination of species. [As pointed out, imagine if this sort of research was conducted on our soils too?]

The Case Against Water Fluoridation

Trained as a chemist, specializing in environmental chemistry, Dr. Paul Connett is known throughout the world as a leader in the movement against water fluoridation because of his knowledge base. In this interview he shares important information about fluoride and water fluoridation that you may have not been aware of before, and offers practical advice for what you can do to help get fluoride removed from the water supply.

Two-Step Flu Vaccine

A two-step flu vaccine using DNA to "prime" the immune system and then a traditional seasonal influenza vaccine may be able to protect against all strains of the virus -- providing a long-sought "universal" flu vaccine.

The Story of Cosmetics

Annie Leonard has done it again! This is an absolutely brilliant video cartoon about cosmetics - toxins in, toxins out. It certainly hits home in the most down-to-earth way. Highly recommend you take the time to view it.

Quote

"Have you ever wondered which hurts the most: saying something and wishing you had not, or saying nothing, and wishing you had?" - Unknown

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

Even the troops are waking up. This is an impassioned call to reassess what our wars are really about, from one solider's experience. Lots of truths in this one.

Events

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

* Wild Orchid Garden Club Event - Wallangra NSW 25th July 2010.

* Pasture to Pocket Workshop - Tambo Qld 28th - 30th July 2010.

* Fundamentals of Soil - Bungendore ACT 2nd August 2010.

* An Afternoon with David Howard - Bungendore ACT 15th August 2010.

* Permaculture in Goondiwindi - Goondiwindi Qld 21st - 22nd August 2010.

* Introduction to Permaculture - Bungendore ACT 25th - 26th September 2010.

* Permaculture Design Certificate - Bundgendore ACT 1st - 16th October 2010.

* Introduction to Permaculture - Bungendore ACT 13th - 14th November 2010.

Postscript

Yours Sincerely,
Yours sincerely,

Carolyn Ditchfield