Newsletter Catchup

Just a quick note to say that last week's newsletter was canceled due to holidays this end - I thought I could do it, but the snow was just too much fun! I am way way behind on emails (I just managed to get them down below 300 today) - so you will find this newsletter a little light on articles. I'll strive to get on top of things within the week.

Organic Food Benefits

A recent review found 1) organic plant products contain more dry matter and minerals (Fe, Mg); and contain more anti-oxidant micronutrients such as phenols and salicylic acid, 2) organic animal products contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids, 3) data on carbohydrate, protein and vitamin levels are insufficiently documented, 4) 94-100% of organic food does not containany pesticide residues, 5) organic vegetables contain far less nitrates, about 50% less; and 6) organic cereals contain overall similar levels of mycotoxins as conventional ones.

The High Price of Cheap Food

The U.S. agricultural industry can now produce unlimited quantities of meat and grains at remarkably cheap prices. But it does so at a high cost to the environment, animals and humans. "Taxpayer subsidies basically underwrite cheap grain, and that's what the factory-farming system for meat is entirely dependent on."With the backing of the government, farmers are producing more calories. Given that, it's no surprise we're so fat; it simply costs too much to be thin. "Ultimately it's going to be consumer demand that will cause change, not Washington."

High Nitrates and Alzheimer's

One of the world's leading Alzheimer's researchers has highlighted an urgent need for levels of nitrates in our water, food and in synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to be reduced. Researchers have found a link between increased exposure to fertiliser, processed foods and increased deaths associated with insulin-resistant diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson's.

Nomadic Grazing

One of the world's most ancient activities, nomadic grazing, has been re-emerging as a vital part of the strategy for coping with the impact of climate change in the world's desert regions and rangelands. "If nomadism is done properly, the country recovers. It flourishes and that allows more carbon to be stored in the soils."

Fertiliser Gouging

With soaring phosphate prices still in our memories - it has now been discovered that Incitec Pivot has been exploiting the Pacific island nation of Nauru by buying its phosphate at a fraction of the world price. Incitec Pivot saved $46.4 million through buying cut-price phosphate from the island from April 2007 to November 2008, to the detriment of the government and people of Nauru.

Farmers Urged to March Against ETS

Senator Heffernan believes farmers need to send a loud message to politicians and Australia's urban consumers that food security is under attack and the future of farming will not survive a tax on carbon. "It is not good enough that Europe and the US can make decisions to exclude their farmers, but Australian farmers - who have to go out and compete with Europe and the US - are left in limbo until 2013."

Carbon Trading Rorts Likely

Trading of emission permits around the world will become a financial rort that fails to reduce carbon emissions - and will ultimately be scrapped in favour of a simple carbon tax, a former senior official in the Clinton administration has forecast. He warned that a carbon market would not be trading carbon, ''....it'll be trading derivatives''. International trade in permits will mean the integrity of a permit is only as good as the weakest supervisory regime.

Toxic Glyphosate

Very low doses of some types of the herbicide Roundup can disrupt human liver cell function; the formulations' toxicity may be tied to their "inactive" ingredients rather than the active weed-killing ingredient glyphosate. The chemical formulas of herbicide additives are generally protected as trade secrets, and the researchers did not try to chemically identify them. Therefore, their effects cannot be easily investigated and they remain undetected in the environment.

Herbs Instead of Pesticides

Common herbs and spices show promise as an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional pesticides. The "plant essential oils" of rosemary, thyme, clove and mint have a broad range of action against bugs.

Harnessing Rain as Energy

An 18-year-old student in Turkey won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize by showing how PVDF, a smart material with piezoelectric properties, can be used to capture the kinetic energy of raindrops and transform it into electrical energy. "I hope that my work will contribute to the development of the next generation of energy panels where rain, sun and wind are combined."

Hobby Bee Keepers

There are almost 3000 registered beekeepers in NSW, 2297 of whom are hobbyists or amateurs. Enthusiasts credit the trend with an increasing desire to get back to nature and to understand how food is produced. An average hive can produce up to 50 kilograms of honey a year, with most hobbyists keeping fewer than 10 hives.

Geomancy Training

Alanna Moore, an international expert on subtle environmental energies and their enhancement, is coming to Blue Knob, near Nimbin in northern New South Wales, on October 11th to teach a practical one day course in how to detect the geomancy of the land. The application of energy dowsing to gardening is another area of Alanna's experience, is author of "Stone Age Farming" and was co-founder of the NSW Dowsing Society 25 years ago.

Small Farms Gathering

This 2nd get-together for small farmers around the Inverell District will be held 5th September. There will be talks on Dexter cattle and olives, as well as discussions on moving into a new region and choosing the right equipment.   Small Farms Flyer 19/08/2009,00:12 194.91 Kb

WealthFocus

PrincipalFocus are repeating their successful WealthFocus course in Dubbo 8th - 9th September. This 2-day workshop will identify what type of investor you are and what type of investments suit that style; what the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) really means for you; why off farm investing is critical for you ..... now, in retirement and for your children; why right now is a "once in a generation" opportunity for smart investors; how to dramatically reduce risk when investing in shares, property and other securities; how the management principles for successful farming must be applied when investing in shares and property.

Sustainable Farming Workshops

I am presenting a couple of workshops on soils (demystifying soil tests, rehydrating landscapes etc) at Wherrol 7th September and Krambach 8th September, which will be followed by Maarten Stapper covering soil biology and sustainable farming practices and case studies Krambach 10th September, Barrington 11th September, Booral 12th September. What fun!  Landcare Week Sustainable Farming Workshops 31/08/2009,21:51 283.33 Kb

Carbon Farming 101

What a terrific idea - as part of the lead into the Carbon Farming Conference in Orange 4th - 5th November, a 1/2 day seminar (an optional carbon farming boot camp) is on offer 3rd November, which is a FarmReady approved course, and includes the Carbon Farming Handbook. Well worth considering. More information coming.

Health

Teasing Apart Tanning Bed Hype

International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category, deeming both to be definite causes of cancer. But the story behind this news is perhaps more interesting. The primary study being used to support the conclusion that tanning beds are "as dangerous as arsenic" is remarkably weak, even in their own words! The real story is a story of moderation and understanding. Tanning beds can actually be incredibly healthful.

Electronic Tongue

Scientists have developed an 'electronic tongue on a chip' to quickly and accurately identify sweetness, giving manufacturers an inexpensive quality control tool. The sensor can distinguish between 14 different natural and artificial sweeteners, including sucrose, xylitol, sorbitol, aspartame, and saccharin.

Vitamin D and Swine Flu

The Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed that it will be investigating the role of vitamin D in protection against swine flu. Part of the researchers' goal is to understand if vitamin D levels are in any way responsible for the fact that most people with seasonal influenza develop a mild illness but a small minority go on to develop severe symptoms.

Nanoparticles in Food

[The race is on! I wonder if food based nanoparticles will be labelled....or perhaps more importantly, safety tested first?] Nanoparticles containing beta-carotene could be used to naturally colour water-based foods, and offer an array of advantages, according to an innovation from the US.

No Insurance for Swine Vaccine

The Federal Government's pandemic preparations have been thrown into chaos as it's been revealed that medical indemnity insurance providers are refusing to underwrite insurance coverage for those who will be administering the H1N1 shots, stating that, "...inadequate testing and the possibility of spreading other infections mean there is too high a risk that patients will sue them later."

Vaccine Damage to Dogs

A team at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine conducted several studies to determine if vaccines can cause changes in the immune system of dogs that might lead to life threatening immune-mediated diseases. The vaccinated, but not the non-vaccinated, dogs in the Purdue studies developed autoantibodies to many of their own biochemicals, including fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, cytochrome C, cardiolipin and collagen.

Miscellaneous

Wow, what a gem. It started with some research and ended up the focus of living universities throughout Vietnam's poorest, and now many other countries. The theory counters conventional approaches to change - the idea is that you go into groups of people as an innocent and together locate the positive deviants - those that thrive despite the group and the common resources available. They can pretty much be found in any community of people. It is witnessing their behaviours, and eventually imitating them that positive long-lasting change really occurs, even when it involves overcoming malnutrition!

Events

The calendar is playing up, so most of the links below are directed back to other websites where possible or to a contact email address. If there are no links, look to the related article above.   

* Small Farms Gathering - Inverell NSW 5th September 2009.

* Sustainable Soil Improvement - Wherrol NSW 7th September 2009.

* Sustainable Soil Improvement - Krambach NSW 8th September 2009.

* WealthFocus - Dubbo NSW 8th - 9th September 2009.

* Biological Agriculture for Sustainability - Krambach NSW 10th September 2009.

* Biological Agriculture for Sustainability - Barrington NSW 11th September 2009.

* Biological Agriculture for Sustainability - Booral NSW 12th September 2009.

* Geomancy Training - Nimbin NSW 11th October 2009.

* Carbon Farming 101 - Orange NSW 3rd November 2009.

Postscript

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal..