Helen and Hugo’s Organic Farming Blog

Each of us can do our bit in saving young girls from the sex trade in Nepal/India.
One brave lady - Anuradha Koirala - has been doing just that and has rescued over 12,000 girls from a life in slavery.
Acknowledged as the CNN hero of the year, this short clip brings you a closer look at her work.
It is very moving.

ALDI is the first and only supermarket in Australia to be completely free of artificial food colours across its entire range of exclusive brands and branded food items.

Stefan Kopp, ALDI’s managing director– buying, says this initiative was about providing parents with peace of mind. “While we completed the reformulation of our exclusive brands last year, we were determined to eradicate all artificial colours in the branded food products we sell as well,” he says. “Parents can have complete confidence that no matter what food product they purchase at ALDI, it is free of artificial colours, providing better choice for the health of their children.

Mr Kopp said artificial food colors are liquids or powders added to foods or beverages to enhance the colour and appearance. Research shows that artificial colours may cause hyperactivity, allergic reactions and migraines and they have been linked to stomach upsets and swelling of skin (The Southampton Study 2007).

Sue Dengate of the Food Intolerance Network described Aldi’s move as a huge step in the right direction. She said that Coles and Woolworths are also doing the same in their house brand products.

Ms Dengate said food allergies are now up to 8% in children aged to five years old and in addition, a lot of people are now using synthetic antioxidants that can have an effect on children’s allergies and manufacturers don’t have to state that it is artificial on the label. “There is a difference between food allergies – a reaction to proteins in food - and food intolerance which is related to chemicals in food and artificial colours and flavours,” she said.

“We are delighted with Aldi’s move, but artificial colours are not the only problem as products may still have other things in them such as preservatives,” Ms Dengate said. “Organic food is the best means of avoiding over 50 additives in foods which cause health or behavioural problems, particularly children, excepting those with annatto natural colour and rosemary extract used as a preservative. There are also a limited number of natural foods which can cause intolerances, therefore it’s always good to visit the Food Intolerance Network website.” Look up: www.fedup.com.au.

Today the damage from vaccines is emerging in Japan, where the health ministry has suspended the use of vaccines from Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis following the deaths of four children there who died within minutes after receiving these vaccine shots.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031616_vaccines_Japan.html#ixzz1FzMzdKG9

(NaturalNews) The deaths just keep mounting all across the world: Children are collapsing into comas and then dying, just minutes after receiving combination vaccines that have been deceptively marketed as “completely safe.” Last year, Australia temporarily banned flu vaccines in children after they were found to have caused vomiting, fevers and seizures http://www.naturalnews.com/029586_Australia_vaccines.html

This posting is to make sure that all of us become informed and question the public reports.

A FARMING family from Mukinbudin said the majority of farmers are against the introduction of genetically modified (GM) technology in WA, despite its legalisation last month.
State Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman lifted the ban on growing GM canola in February to allow it to be commercially grown this year.
The Labor party put forward a motion in parliament last Thursday to reverse the decision, but it was overthrown.
The Copeland family have been farming at Mukinbudin for nearly a century and said they were disappointed by the decision.
“Throughout WA, 27,000 people signed a petition to keep WA GM-free, as opposed to 300 farmers who signed an agreement with Monsanto to grow it,” Anne-Marie Copeland said.
“None of our neighbours will be growing it, because they have all signed the petition to say they are against it.

Muhammed Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize winner 2006, is urging big business to make a difference in their hearts and not just their pockets. Yunus calls it ’social business’, a business which succeeds on helping other people not just for benefitting ourselves. A business that tackles chronic problems such as malnutrition, environmental decay and/or unemployment.

Yunus claims that human beings whilst being selfish we are also selfless, kind and do want to help people and make a difference to lives and make the planet better for ourselves.

We agree and support him. In particular we have a bank account with the Grameen bank here in Australia which loans money to the poorest of the poor to help end their poverty. It is a brilliant organisation and we encourage you to find out more if you too want to be effective in providing opportunity to those who have little choice in this world.

Visit: www.grameen.org.au and be inspired. For so little you can make a world of difference.

This video is a great overview of the organic farming process from seed to harvest and putting food on the table. A must see for anyone interested in organic farming and the process of growing food organically and putting on our tables.

It supports our drive at Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.

With healthy, natural soil, learn how your plants and the environment can thrive in this free gardening video about how to use organic fertilizers on plants.

It supports our drive at Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.

The article in The Age “Thornley blasts power bosses over coal use” (p.2 by Adam Morton
25.04.09) is spot on. The Victorian Government led by John Brumby seems more interested in
jobs for the boys than jobs for the people. Brumby’s lack of leadership in applying rational,
logical thinking that would serve to create long term solutions is starkly evident once again.


Thornley claims that coal should not be burnt but rather have the carbon extracted and burn
the gas. This way we would not only have carbon to sell for $1200 a tonne to India and China to use in water purification, we would cut emisssions by two thirds, save the equivalent of 2
desalination plants worth of water and double the number of coalminers jobs. Presently we are
getting nothing for the carbon and at best a negative $30 when there is a carbon price and
“killing the planet”.


Seems like simple and obvious arithmetic to me. Just like it is not to provide water by building an energy guzzling, environmentally disastrous, shortlived desalination plant or a pipe from the Goulburn River to supply Melbourne. The latter is nowhere near finished and already been
declared a failure! On top of that, the ratepayers are being told that they will carry the burden of these Government projects. When will the Government serve the people instead of lining the pockets of yet another mate’s company?


What we need are leaders who have vision and the courage to plan for our future and
to not bow to the self serving needs of big business. A great leader creates a sound future for all and enrols the people in making it happen. It has nothing to do with protecting entrenched views from people trying to protect their jobs and their ego. Nor is it about taking easy options.

“Greenpeace Wrong About GM farming” is one of 2 letters in Opinion, Stock and Land, 2.4.09 p. 10

It is written to make 2 organic farmers who are going from town town with Greenpeace look like misinformed, ignorant farmers spreading mistruths GM. They are riding “side saddle …pump(ing)
out loads of misinformation about litigation-prone agribusiness, compensation, seed supplies and other bulldust”

The writer, Wayne McKay of Billimari, NSW, says that they are “trying to whip up a fever of bother about GM canola” His proof that they missed their mark is that 1000 farmers, up from 100 farmers last year, have turned a “deaf ear to the doomsayers” because “Guess what? Farmers see through such stunts” Wayne’s last comment that these 2 farmers “have only demonstrated that their opposition to GM technology is stronger that their knowledge of farming”.

It amazes me that Wayne hasn’t stopped to realise how illogical his claims are.
Firstly the 1000 farmers were always going to plant GM canola because they see it as their best way to farm profitably. They are unaware of the benefits of biological farming and know no other way to farm apart from getting rid of weeds - competition - and adding inputs to make plants produce.

Secondly why would 2 organic farmers spend their time going around to the towns to oppose GM? Organic farmers do not need GM technology to grow their crops without weedicides so maybe these 2 farmers are extremely concerned about the future for all of us if GM crops are widely grown. They know that there is a better, healthier way to farm because they know their soils and look after them.

I am extremely grateful that people do take the time out to get the information out there. Due to the huge influence that the big agribusinesses can exert on our governing bodies and the media, it is difficult for the ordinary bloke to access a balanced stream of information.

One excellent source of current information is to be found at: www.madge.org.au

just reading “Good Fruit and Vegetables” March edition p. 23 where there is an article about Dr. Bruce Cockroft who is leading research on 8 top orchards in order to increase yields by up to a 150% while reducing water usage.

Dr. Cockroft says that “increased biological activity is critical as it increases plant roots (and) water absorption” One of the trial farmers can see that increased biological activity means that his soils are less compacted (and) water absorption levels are greater.

In other words, follow practices that are an aid to help develop better soil biology.