Organic farming is about a lot more than removing pesticides: it’s about creating an ecosystem that’s healthy from the soil up. Visit Margaret at Spring Hills Farm for a lesson in transitioning from conventional to natural methods of farming and the positive effect that results.
Watch this Amazing video about healthy farm and healthy you.
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.
Blischke has been living the life of a farmer for the past 13 years. Before that, she commuted to Boston where she worked as an administrator for the federal Women, Infants and Children program that helps low-income families obtain milk and other nutritious foods.
After her first child was born in 1986 she traded her suit, blouse and high heels, for jeans, a tractor and braids. Money was tight then, and it is now, but the tradeoff is that her children Travis, 21, and Stephanie, 14, grew up surrounded by the bounty nature provides.
The farm has expanded from producing just fruits and vegetables to one that sells eggs, herbs, honey, home-made soap, goat’s yarn, lip balm and hot pepper sauce.
Most of her products are certified organic.
She uses modern techniques and equipment, but the sweat and hard work is the same as it was more than a 100 years ago when the South Shore boasted hundreds of farms. Today, there are only a handful, and most only grow produce. Profits are rare, and every year is a struggle, Blischke says, as she stops hoeing a row of potatoes to watch two birds whiz by overhead.
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.
Watch as a group of Indian villagers revert back from conventional farming methods to farming the way their forefathers farmed. They understand that by conventionally farming, they have put themselves in a treadmill situation, where each year, soil fertility goes down and consequently every year one must increase the amount of inputs going into the soil and subsequently increase costs.
By farming organically these farmers make more profits. As fertility is brought back into the soil the inputs will be lower. The farmers save money by eliminating fertilizers and pesticides as well as not having the cost of buying seeds. Then when they market their cotton the price of organic cotton is 8 – 15% higher compared to conventional cotton. This group being Fair trade receives a further 20 -30% consequently increasing the price more than 40%!
Through co-operation and joining forces to hire a marketing agent, organic farmers groups can negotiate the prices they want. No longer are these farmers at the mercy of the market forces. With regular communication farmers benefit from the umbrella organization, Ofarm who co-ordinate a pool of supplies to create market strength. Farming Secrets encourages all farmers tojoin together to compete against the market rather than against each other.
As shown by a 13 year study, organic farming is not only more beneficial for the environment, it is also more profitable. The study compared organic farming to conventional mono cropping and came up with these findings. 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.
“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
“Grain growers have been urged to plan a rust-management strategy in line with their crop-sowing plan for winter” The Weekly Times Feb 18th 09 p.35
This article caught our eye as it went on to give details of the varieties of wheat and triticale that were rust prone and suggests choosing newer varieties, particulary triticale, that would be less susceptible to rust.
Last year we were asked our advice on how to treat stripe rust on wheat. It was prevalent through the district. Our advice was to apply a biological spray along with canola oil.
Not only did this treatment stop the rust, it did not appear again and of course the spray had the side benefit of feeding the microbes!
We noted that his neighbour sprayed a chemical to stop the stripe rust and sprayed 3 times throughout the season doing much damage to his soil life!
Maybe all farmers need to do is change their farming methods and activate their soil life.
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.
It defies logic to allow large multinational companies to launch their products in Australia.
The only people who stand to gain from these products are the suppliers of them.
In fact the release of these products will cause increased expenditure for farmers:-
who will have to buy the product each year at non negotiable prices
who will see no long term increased productivity and who will certainly see no profitability which will instead be enjoyed by suppliers.
The cost to Australia is enormous particularly as the new technology pays scant regard for the soil
microbiology, the environment or the long term future of agriculture
WHAT SHOULD OUR GOVERNMENT DO?
The government should be funding the development of sustainable farming practices.
It is a well known fact that the organics industry is the fastest sector of agriculture. It is not so well
known by those outside the industry of the benefits provided by farming organically.
All that GM promises – drought resistance, less weeds higher yields and better returns can be
delivered by organic farming – and more.
In fact organic farming can reduce water use by up to 70%, uses less fertilizers, uses no weedicides,
pesticides or harmful chemical drenches. It is an environmentally friendly practice which increases
the soil biology, the true foundation of farming healthily.
WHO AM I?
My name is Helen Disler and I have been working with farmers for over 30 years and helping them
farm more profitably and productively – the aim of all farmers. Over the years more and more
farmers have come to realize that there is more to farming than just adding fertilizers to increase
production. Farmers are realizing that it is getting the soil healthy is the key to productive and
profitable farming. They are keen to learn how to do this so that their farms are viable for future
generations. GM will do nothing to address this. In fact GM will only create more expenses
and problems for farmers to deal with. Farmers do not need to be squeezed any further.
Hi to all our Farming Secrets members, organic and sustainable farmers, enthusiasts and any body in general with an interest in organic farming, sustainability and living in a better, cleaner and more natural world.
We have decided to launch a blog which reflects our interest and opinions on the things that matter most to us. We hope you will be a loyal subscriber and join our plight to promote all things organic and natural!
For more information about Helen and Hugo Disler’s farming club, visit www.farmingsecrets.com
