Published by Helen on 23rd February 2009
On the weekend Hugo and I went to support Gerhard Grasser of Agrisolutions man his stand at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo. On Saturday Gerhard gave 2 talks about rapidly creating the soil recover due to drought and/or bushfires. During the 1st one he was interrupted several times by a man in the audience about reduced use of fertiliser in a biological farming system.
The man left early but appeared at his stand afterwards claiming in a loud voice that Gerhard was dishonest - nothing else - just dishonest. When I asked why, he had little to say except repeat his claims. When I asked again he said that Gerhard hadn’t detailed which soil testing labs. were independent but he said he knew that there was only one that was independent - Incitec!!!!! it was curious as he would not engage in discussion.
Hugo said that there was a similar incident on Sunday with another man just hanging around and proclaiming that Gerhard was dishonest.
On discussing it tonight Hugo thinks, and I agree, that both men were there to discredit anyone perceived to be a threat to chemical fertiliser companies. The 2nd man was touting how good GM cops were because they increased corn yields in 3rd world countries by 3%. Once again he would not engage in any discussion.
Published by Helen on 15th February 2009
During the nuptials of Ben Van Deventer and Liz Nisbet, at the nearby De Bortoli winery, a dozen staff spent hours battling deadly embers as the 170 guests partied.
Flames came within a few hundred metres of the winery and its buildings and 180 hectares of vines survived.
Owner Leanne De Bortoli said the fire’s speed and ferocity surprised everyone. “We’d all been listening to the radio and hearing about the fires in Kilmore, but we thought, ‘That’s miles away’.”
The wedding took place in the garden at the centre of the winery at 4pm. It was 45 degrees but the wind had dropped. But as the ceremony ended, smoke thickened, the wind picked up and embers and ash started falling. Guests were herded out of a car park marquee into the safer main red brick building as appetisers were served while “all hands on deck”, including winemakers and musicians, watered surrounding grounds and gutters. As night fell, fires approached from hills 1 kilometre to the south and west.
About 9pm the bridal party were let back into the marquee to cut the cake and give speeches and some ventured outside for photos as the fire glowed in hills behind them.
Ms De Bortoli said the day was “quite frightening”, but staff were heroes and she feels lucky the winery was spared and no one was hurt. (The Age, p1 Carolyn Webb February 13, 2009)
Helen Disler from Farming Secrets spoke with Leanne on Monday unaware of how close de Bortoli’s were to the bushfires. As she spoke they were still fighting fresh fires at the vineyard.
Farming Secrets have been filming de Bortoli’s change over to organics using compost and compost teas in the vineyards close to where the fires were raging. They are very concerned for them at this time of loss and suffering for not only them but for the tight knit community around them.
