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August 2010 |
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OGAWA
e-newsletter is published at the beginning of each
month. For enquiries please contact enews_editor@ogawa.org.au.
OGAWA has a new post office box address. OGAWA
Inc. PO Box 1512. Booragoon WA 6954 |
| President's report August 2010 |
Hi Everyone,
I am pleased to announce that we have our new web page up and running. Thanks to Sue Warrington for all of her hard work. It really looks great. It is not quite finished yet, but we are getting there. Have a look and let us know what you think.
I am sooooo over seed packets right now. My son's and I have been making up sample seed packets and attaching them to OGAWA's new flyers for the ABC's organic garden competition. There are 2000 flyers out there now promoting our association. Visit our web for updates on how the competition is going.
Thank you to all of you who filled out the survey we conducted a couple of months ago. What we are looking for are a couple of volunteers to help Maggie fill out the Lotteries West grant application form. I am sure you can appreciate, that the application form is very intense and very long, and is too much for just one person. If anyone is able to put in a bit of time to help out it would be much appreciated. Please get in touch with me if you are able to help.
As part of the associations further move towards promoting sustainability, please note we have chosen to send out our initial membership renewals via email for 2010. As our membership grows larger we are finding it necessary to look at new ways of streamlining how we manage these processes and this was one suggested at recent committee meetings.
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Leesa Caldwell
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We apologise to those members that may see this as impersonal, though as discussed due to the numbers involved and our continued commitment to reducing our environmental impact we see this as an effective method to receive these renewals in the future.
The association will still post those memberships that are only contactable by post or would prefer to still send in their memberships by cheque or money order. We value the commitment of our members and encourage further suggestions on how this process may be further made easier in the future for both the association and the members involved. As we have only a small committee we are continually looking at ways we can improve the cross flow of information in regards to promoting Organics and reducing time we spend on completing administration tasks. Hopefully in the future our website will offer further opportunity for this and make renewals processes easier for all. We thank-you for your continued support to the association and the contribution your membership makes in continuing our promotion of Organics in Western Australia.
Just a reminder, on August 7th Subiaco Farmers Markets is having an “Organic Day” which OGAWA is part of. Jude Blereau will be there with some of her students, doing cooking demo for the kids, and plenty of Organic Produce to buy. The Markets are open from 8.00am till 12.30pm. Check our web page for more details.
Also we have the AGM followed by the “Trust Organic Festival” happening on Sunday 5th September at City Farm, and farm tours in the Perth hinterland on Saturday 4th September, see details later in the enews.
Cheers
Leesa Caldwell
www.thegreenhouseorganic.com
ORGANIC ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Sunday 5th of September 9am
City Farm, Lime St, East Perth
The meeting is before the Trust Organic Festival. Please come and support your association. If you have thought about being more involved, now is the time! See you there! |
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| OGAWA Organic Update News |
Is Organic Food Healthier? The Answer Is Yes
While an exhaustive research review found few well-designed studies comparing human health outcomes from eating organic v. non-organic foods, there's plenty of work documenting nutritional attributes and dramatically lower pesticide residues of organic crops. Better research may soon give a fuller picture of organic health impact.
Source: Rodale Institute
Consumer demand sees organic wine shine for the first time at WineTech
The Australian wine industry had its first opportunity to learn about organic wine production last week at the industry's major triennial event, WineTech in Adelaide. Organic representative group Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) joined biological farm input manufacturers to highlight the quality potential of organic wines. BFA General Manager Holly Vyner says that contrary to popular belief [...]
Source: Aust Food News
Organic & biodynamic products: the new regime
The voluntary Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products (AS 6000-2009) is slowly changing the landscape of Australia's domestic organic industry, with growers, manufacturers and consumers now provided with strict requirements defining what is and isn't ‘organic'.
However, almost 12 months down the track since publication, some experts question why the industry-led Australian Standard hasn't yet been made mandatory, despite the continuing occurrence (albeit low) of misleading claims and less-than-scrupulous sellers.
Andy Munro from Slater & Gordon Laywers discusses.
The Gillard Government is ensuring consolidation in the organics industry by supporting Standards Australia with the ongoing maintenance of the Australian standard for organic and biodynamic products.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the government made an election commitment to develop a National Standard for Organic Produce, including an agreed labelling and certification system for Australian organic produce.
“Having developed the standards for organic and biodynamic products in 2009, it is vital that these remain up-to-date,” said Mr Burke.
“The adoption of a single national standard for organic produce will provide greater certainty and credibility for industry and consumers and will be a major step forward in the industry's development.
“A broad range of organic industry stakeholders were involved in the development of the standard, including organic producers, retailers, consumer groups, certifiers, processors and government agencies.
“I encourage producers, certifiers and retailers to adopt this standard.”
The Australian Standard is a voluntary standard and will provide an important reference for courts to draw upon in determining if there has been a breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 in relation to organic or biodynamic labelling claims.
Standards Australia released the industry standard on 9 October 2009: AS 6000 - 2009 Organic and biodynamic products and MP 100 Procedures for certification of organic and biodynamic products.
Standards Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, recognised by the government as Australia's peak standards body. It works with industry, government and community stakeholders to facilitate the development of internationally aligned Australian Standards in the national interest. The Gillard Government will be funding $33,000 to Standards Australia to support this project.
Source: DAFF
Brussels food promotion goes green
The latest major food product promotion programme financed by the EU is focusing heavily on healthy foodstuffs - with organic, fruit and vegetable products getting the lion's share. The European Commission has approved 19 one-to-three year publicity programmes in 14 member states that will promote sales in the EU. The total budget of the programmes is EUR60.6m,
Source Aust Food News |
Steven McCoy
Development Officer, Organic Food and Farming
Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Ph 08 9368 3960
Mb 0424 147 408
Fax 08 9368 3355 |
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| FREMANTLE |
OGA
Freo next meeting:
| when: |
Thursday 12th August 2010 at 7.00pm |
| where: |
The Meeting Place |
| price: |
members free $5 non members |
| speaker: |
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| topic: |
Slow Food Night
PROOF OF THE PUDDING |
slow food night |
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Message from Leanne Reid |
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Fremantle Meeting – August
“PROOF OF THE PUDDING”
The Organic Growers Association (Fremantle) meets monthly to discuss gardening issues as well as other topical environmental topics.
The great winter warming buffet is on again.
Slow Food Fremantle and Organic Growers Fremantle are bringing their cornucopia of produce slow cooked by special 'secret' recipes to the buffet.
In addition, surplus produce and seeds will be there for your delight.
Numbers are limited by the space Maximum 45!
*** Booking necessary -
email ogafreo@yahoo.com.au to secure a place ***
When: Thursday 12th August 2010 at 7.00pm
Where: The Meeting Place, 245 South Terrace, South Fremantle.
Who: Those who love food
Bring: Plate of food to share (ingredients from your garden if possible)
Cost: Non-members $5.00
For further information,
contact ogafreo@yahoo.com.au |
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| ROLEYSTONE |
OGA
Roleystone next meeting
| when: |
Wednesday August 11th |
| where: |
Roleystone Family Centre, 19 Wygonda Rd, Roleystone. |
| price: |
Members: free Visitors $3 |
| speaker: |
Chris Oliver |
| topic: |
How to grow nut trees |
Chris Oliver with a Macadamia Tree |
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Message from Lisa |
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Hi Everyone,
We had a great meeting last month with Michelle Hazelwood from the Darling Range Wildlife Shelter. Michelle was a wealth of knowledge about what we can do if we see any injured native wildlife. If you have any towels or sheets you no longer need they use them for making bags for Joeys or if you sew, they are always looking for help to make them. They can also use sheets of corrugated iron, plants, or feed for the animals. If you want to donate or get involved as a volunteers, have a look at their website http://www.darlingrangewildlife.com.au/
Here is our info for August.
Cheers,
Lisa
Growing Nut Trees
The August 11th meeting of Roleystone Organic Growers will be a very informative one. Roleystone resident, Chris Oliver will be giving a talk on how to grow nut trees.
Growing nut trees is a project that will profit you for years to come if you do your homework and put a little work into doing it right from the start. The type of tree you can grow will depend on what type of soil you have, what type of land you have to work with, and of course what you like to eat.
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Chris will talk about how to plant, prune, water, fertilise and harvest to get the most out of your nut trees. He will also talk about what to do if the pests invade including the kind we all love to have around but not necessarily eating our nuts- birds and kangaroos.....Chris has over 33 years of teaching experience at TAFE, a degree in Botany and a diploma in Horticulture, and is very keen to share his knowledge with others.
The meeting is on Wednesday August 11th at 7.30pm in the Roleystone Family Centre, 19 Wygonda Rd, Roleystone. Entry $3-members free. Enquiries to Lisa 9399 2312.
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| GWELUP |
OGA
Gwelup next meeting
| when: |
7th August |
| where: |
ring for details |
| price: |
Entry $3, members free. |
| speakers: |
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| topic: |
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Citrus crops abundant this time of year |
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Message from Charles |
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Hi, Wet Gardeners, well briefly wet.
Firstly thanks to Alun for taking the time, under a dangerously laden coconut tree in Coral Bay, to type up the draft minutes for me to add to.
This Month's meeting took place in Pam's lush garden in Mount Lawley. Many thanks to her for her hospitality, which included home-made jams, scones, caramalised figs and date and walnut cake!
Announcements: Leesa asked for it to be pointed out that these meetings are not covered under public liability insurance unless we are all members of the organic association. Membership forms were distributed.
Fleur: has been busy recently, so has been following the advice she received from the organic shop of leaving the weeds to protect and build her soil, but to whippersnip them before they set seed. In the mean time she has been enjoying her native garden and the birds it attracts. Among the things she has are Hakea and Sandalwood trees. Karen has generously offered her time to help her out in the garden.
Mike: said it was time to prune his grapes and fig tree. He's using baits to keep the fruit fly in control. His Valencia orange is biannually cropping with lots of fruit last year, but virtually none this. He has got parsley, rocket and lettuce self-seeding everywhere.
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He's suffering from grubs in his broccoli and is planning to try coffee to keep his lighthouse snail population in check. It was mentioned that certified organic sweet potatoes are available from the greenlife soil company, and possibly absolutely organics. Karen said to say she saw them at Knights in Wangara.
Karen: has some leftover fennel, lemon grass and artichoke plants, so is establishing a "herb garden" with them, and is going to put up some fencing to make more use of the edge of her garden with the chooks. She's moving the biggest avocado sapling (self-planted from all her organic veg shop left-overs) from the vege patch to her verge orchard, to save it from the next chook invasion. Her collection of pineapple top plants from the vege shop is also growing, in spite of her giving loads away. She also has some Soursop growing around where the chooks cannot reach it. It is edible, but high in oxalic acid, if you want to try something like that get French Sorrel, it is hard to come by in WA but if you ask around people have it. Soursop is a very invasive weed so as much as I love edible weeds I would suggest getting rid of it. Karen was chasing perennial Runner beans, I have Scarlet Runner, there are plenty of others I think I have a few different types of seed but you will need to start them in summer and they take time to establish, if you want a runner bean crop next year, while the other establishes I recommended Purple King. Also if you want a edible perennial climber you can go past Choko as parts of the vine are edible and the fruit can be used like Zucchini or even an apple substitute.
Alun and Conny: The Comfrey picked up at the last meeting seems to be going well. It also seems that at least one each of the kale, broccoli and tree lettuce seedlings have survived both chooks and snails, we have started eating the lettuce. There was some discussion about our rainwater tanks, which are used to reticulate our covered patio plants at this time of year. Great excitement, after months of flowering, one of our Papaya's has started growing a fruit. From the look of their flowers (clumps of small, 2cm flowers) Karen's and Mike's seem to be male. Our female has larger, single flowers. We have discovered a source of elderberry cuttings which we have been searching for for a while (plenty of juice was collected and eaten in Europe!). There is a plant in Charles' garden, where else? A new garden bed has been created with a tiny pond (big plant pot) kiwi plants and various herbs. The herbs have been loving the recent damp conditions, but the kiwis are not doing so well.
Pam: Unfortunately, no-one had a camera with them, so I'm sorry I cannot share pictures of Pam's wonderful garden with you. She has orange, plum and mandarin trees which are about 20 years old, but the rest of her garden has been established over the last 10 years. You would never have guessed, but it may have something to do with organic matter. After I came across the 8th compost bin and 4th worm farm, I stopped counting! Generally her garden doesn't get much winter sun due to the neighbour's trees, but we didn't see much evidence of ill effects! She has two ponds in the centre of her garden, but has only ever had one frog. Vegetables are deliberately mixed up to reduce pest issues. Raised beds are being introduced (including one called Arthur, and one called Madagascar!). These are filled with sand apart for the last foot or so which is soil. Polystyrene pots are used to keep things cool, along with shade sails in the summer. Beer-filled snail traps are used to catch slaters. There are nasturtiums galore throughout her garden and also self-seeded silverbeet, snap-dragon, wild rocket, coriander, and wild lettuce (butter crunch). Her lemon tree is very productive, maybe due to yet another worm farm underneath it?
Pam is currently digging out passionfruit - the root stock took over from her grafted plant. It seems about half of those present had the same problem with grafted passion fruits, it took Mike 5 years to get rid of his! Pam didn't get many oranges this year either (she recommends the Valencia, a juicing fruit, for long fruiting and it is less susceptible to fruit fly if picked early). Mandarins are coming to an end, and cumquats were due for picking.
There was some general discussion about preserving citrus crops. Apart from making marmalade (at the wrong time of year to be sweating over a boiling vat!), fruit can be squeezed, frozen (in ice-cube trays) and bagged for the juice to be used later. Karen uses lemon juice for all her household cleaning.
I was having such an interesting time I forgot to plan the next meeting, although I think someone may have volunteered.
Happy gardening,
Alun. (and Charles)
NEXT MEETING
7th August at Mikes place, for address or more about Gwelup Gardening Group contact Charles Otway on 0466633275 |
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| MUNDARING |
OGA
Mundaring next meeting
| when: |
(second Tuesday of the
month) 7.30.pm |
| where: |
Bugle Tree Creek
Communication Centre,
Stoneville Road Mundaring. |
| price: |
Entry $3, |
| speaker: |
Amanda Shade |
| topic: |
Organic Pest Control |
Henry Leipec in action |
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Message from Ralph Darlington |
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Hello everyone,
Hope your gardens have been able to handle this mixed up weather pattern we're having.
The cold
winds and frost we've had, may help to give us a good Stone fruit and Apple crop this year.
At our last meeting Brian Andrijich spoke about the value of compost/humus in the garden, and I went
through various Fertilisers and minerals available to the Organic Gardener, their content and time of
application. Mineralisation is necessary in our WA soils, if we want to produce 'nutrient rich' food.
On Sunday the 25th July, 25 members of Mundaring Organic Growers spent the morning under
the guidance and instruction of Henry Leipec. Henry took us through the pruning of Stone
fruit, Pome fruit (apples pears) and Citrus.
Our host's Laurie and Sue Dow's orchard was soon resounding in pruning noises and many
questions being asked. It was a beautiful sunny morning in the Bullsbrook hills and at the completion of the pruning of
all our host's tree's a very delicious lunch was served. As usual, we all got 'stuck in'. A great
time was had by all.
Late next month we will also hold our 'Seed-in', to get our summer Vege's started. The
lengthening hours of daylight will certainly start to 'kick-in', and our gardens and seed will
respond. Fantastic!
The topic of our next meeting is about Organic pest Control, will be led by our member, Amanda Shade. This will be an interesting one, as we all have our own methods to help control those pests.
Enjoy these coming months.
Ralph Darlington
Any OGAWA members in the vicinity would be welcome at our meeting
email Ralph: darlington2@bigpond.com |
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| BROOME |
OGA
Broome next meeting
| when: |
to be announced |
| where: |
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| price: |
$3 for non members |
| speaker: |
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| topic: |
Garden visit
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Enjoying John and Kandy's hospitality. |
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Message from Tan Fowler |
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The July meeting was held at John and Kandy Curran’s property on Lullfitz Drive (albeit a week late, things are a bit frantic in Broome and I forgot!). What a beautiful peaceful garden! Lovely shade trees from seed collected in the north Kimberley, sand dunes in the background, a large chicken enclosure and a very productive veggie garden on one hectare.
Kandy described how when they moved to the property it had been planted out in coconuts. Over time they have cut a lot out and replanted with natives. The coconut fronds and fruit are collected and put through a mulcher with most of the mulch falling directly in the chook enclosure. It is very good mulch increasing the water holding capacity of the soil. The Currans’ are one of the first people in Broome I have met who actually harvest their coconuts, grating and drying the flesh, mainly for their home made muesli but it was also very nice on the cake we all got to try! The chickens get some as well, full of good oils.
John was very keen to show us the veggie patch. The only fertilizer he uses is from the chicken enclosure. Every day he collects the manure from under the roosts and leaves it in a container outside till full (about 3 weeks). This then is spread around the veggies and they looked big and healthy with very little sign of pest or disease. The beds are raised and watered twice daily. Some of the highlights were the delicious juicy sweet corn, an unusual Italian variety of tall spinach and the colourful scarlet beans. John plants all his seeds directly, I was impressed. Other veggies included tomatoes, eggplant, basil, rocket, lettuce, sweet potato (covers the patch in the wet), parsley…….
Thank you John and Kandy for a lovely afternoon.
Next meeting (I will try to remember!!) I hope to visit another garden (as it’s such a good time of the year), more details to come when I send the reminder.
Hope you are finding some time to enjoy the garden,
Contact: Tan 9192 8552
fusionherbs@westnet.com.au
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| Fresh Produce Report by Lyndon from Organic on Charles |
The cold weather has definitely stopped most plants in their tracks. When it came time to sit down and write there's not anything that exciting at the moment, however a look around the store and there's still plenty of fresh produce on the shelves; enough to make just about anything that you like. We really are spoilt for choice these days.
Carnarvon capsicum should be coming on within the next month and the local celery that's been coming in is excellent. Pineapple and pawpaw from the east is enough to bolster the local apples and citrus and make a lovely fruit salad. If you like your fruit on the tart side, lemonades are worth a try. They are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin and have that lovely lemon flavour without making you screw up your face from the sourness.
Fresh turmeric has now become available. It has a much richer flavour than its dried equivalent and is really worth a try. Just be warned that it will turn your fingers yellow!
Enjoy
Regards,
Lyndon McMath
Shop 7, 299 Charles Street
North Perth WA 6006
p: (08) 9227 7755 f: (08) 9227 7711
www.organiconcharles.com.au |
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Fresh turmeric |
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| Gardening report from Linda Mitchener from The Green Life Soil Co. |
Winter gardening What a strange start to winter it's been! So very cold (we lost our potatoes to the severe frost) and not much rain to speak of! Hopefully there will be lots more rain to come – wouldn't it be nice if it rains at night and lets us all get out in the garden in the sunshine during the day??
There's always something to be done in the garden. Traditionally, this is the time to pay attention to deciduous fruiting trees & vines. It's time to prune grape vines, and time to plant deciduous trees like apple, pear, mulberry, almond, stone fruit, etc. Remember to do your research on which trees require cross pollination, and whether the chill requirements are suitable for growing in your location. It is worth doing some reading up to ensure your investment will pay off – especially when you have to wait several years for a crop!
A good book is “The Complete Book of Fruit Growing in Australia” by Louis Glowinski, Lothian Press. It should be available through your local library.
It's also the time to spray your leafless fruit trees with copper hydroxide, lime sulphur or Bordeaux mix to help with fungal diseases like peach leaf curl, and leaf spotting bacterial disease. This will also help with dormant pests and their eggs laid in tiny bark fissures. Moist conditions can also promote mildew and other diseases. Milk spray and sodium bicarb sprays, as well as garlic, are useful preventative treatments. Ensure thorough coverage on stems and underside of leaves. Remember that organic sprays are not systemic, so there is no use spraying when rain is imminent. And repeated treatments may be necessary following rain. Should you be having to water, do so in the morning to allow foliage to dry during the day.
There are many great organic pest and disease treatment recipes available – we have some on our website: www.greenlifesoil.com.au/factsheet-pests.htm
In the vegie garden, there are still many options for planting; here are just a few:-
Artichoke, Asparagus (crowns have just arrived in nurseries!), Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Celery, Climbing beans, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke (look out for locally grown tubers at your fruit market), Kale, Kohl Rabi, Lettuce, Peas, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnip, etc. We have a ‘when to sow' chart available to download at: www.greenlifesoil.com.au/When%20to%20plant%20guide.pdf Remember suitability for planting will vary with weather conditions and your local environment – a little bit of trial and error is lots of fun, and a diary is a great tool to use, so you can repeat your successes the next year!
Remember to keep weeds down now, and keep an eye out for snail damage. Young seedlings are particularly vulnerable. If you use pellets, choose the iron based ones. Otherwise, beer traps are very effective (not to mention a good excuse for having a beer!).
I hope you are feeling all inspired to brave the chill and get outside! Have fun, and let's get dirty!!!
Linda Mitchener
The Green Life Soil Co.
info@greenlifesoil.com.au |
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| Go Organic with Eoin Cameron |
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Eoin Cameron form 720 ABC Radio WA |
This winter the Organic Association of WA has teamed up with Eoin Cameron's breakfast program on ABC Local Radio to encourage more West Australian's to grow their own organic vegetables.
“For the last two weeks Eoin Cameron has been inviting listeners of his popular Breakfast program on 720 ABC Perth to join him in growing organic veges over winter. The response has been incredible- showing just how interested people are to grow fresh produce in their own garden. The first 1000 packets of seeds supplied by the Organic Association were snapped up in a flash and so the decision was made to make another 1000 available for keen organic gardeners. They didn't last long either and now all 2000 organic gardening kits have been distributed.
That doesn't mean you can't be a part of it, you'll just have to source your own seeds. Eoin will be asking for your organic gardening stories, tips and photos throughout winter. Eoin has now got his own vegetable patch up and running in his backyard and will be sharing his own success stories (or otherwise) with listeners. There is great prizes up for grabs so keep listening to 720 Breakfast and go to the program page for updates.” |
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| Network of Consumers for GM Free Food |
Hi everyone,
The new Organic Association's website looks fantastic, and the interaction with Eoin Cameron and the ABC is a brilliant opportunity to bring out the best in organics, and educate ABC listeners and visitors to the website how important organic food is.
It shows how organics is a key to creating a healthy, sustainable way to feed ourselves when confronted with climate change and population growth.
It answers many of the questions about organics that many people are confused about, and also describes permaculture and biodynamics. |
I am pleased to say that there is also a page dedicated to GMO, which is another subject that confuses a lot of people. It can be found under the section ‘About Organics' and it simply explains the issues around GM crops and foods. It highlights how GM threatens organic crops through contamination as well as questioning the effects of GM on the environment and our health.
On another note, since the State Government's decision to allow GM canola cropping this season we have seen over 300 farmers seed over 72,00 hectares. One young GM canola farmer said on the ABC's ‘Landline' programme recently that the GM debate in WA seems to have subsided! Not likely!
We have several stories about to break, which will make sure that the GM debate is alive and kicking! Not to give anything away, just keep an eye out for more on the GM canola map, and food safety standards.
If you would like to receive our GM Free Consumers Network newsletters email me at jan60gro@yahoo.com
Cheers, Janet
www.no-gmo.asn.au |
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List of forthcoming events |
ORGANIC DAY AT SUBIACO MARKETS
Subiaco Farmers Markets are holding an “Organic Day” on Saturday 7th August at Subiaco Primary School, Bagot Rd, Subiaco. Market operating hours are 8.00am till 12.30pm. OGAWA will be having a stall there so come along and support our organisation. Annie Dunn will be doing a talk on 'Organics'. Jude Blereau and her students will be doing a cooking demo for the kids. There will be plenty of other activities and stalls. Come and join in the fun. Any of our commercial members who would like to have a stall, get in contact with Leesa at enquiries@ogawa.org.au for more information visit the blog
http://subifarmersmarket.com.au/organic-expo-at-the-market/
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
OGAWA will be holding a fundraising sausage sizzle at the Trust Organic Festival, Fathers Day Sunday 5th September from 11.30 am till 4 pm. If you can help for an hour it would be appreciated, and it would be good to have someone from all the regional groups (I'll be there for Broome).
Please contact Tan at fusionherbs@westnet.com.au
Trust Organic Farm Tours – Connecting the consumer to the producer
Saturday 4th September
As part of the Trust Organic Festival OGAWA and OFA (Organic Federation Of Australia) are offering two great tours on the one day. Take a trip just out of Perth and join Andre Leu (Chair of OFA) and local organic farmers on a day of adventure and tasting.
to secure your spot pre-book at enquiries@ogawa.org.au
Harris Organic Wines: 10 – 11.30 am $15 per adult
Come on a vineyard walk, through the underground cellar and finish with a wine tasting.
Located at the top of the Swan Valley on the Corner of Great Northern Hwy and Memorial Avenue Baskerville, Western Australia.
Harris Organic Wines use sustainable vineyard practices such as no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilisers - neither do we irrigate our vines - which contributes to their unique and rich flavour. ACO Certified
www.harrisorganicwine.com
Highvale Biodynamic Orchard:
2 – 4pm $15 per adult
As part of the tour learn about; fruit production and varieties, sustainable living and the use of Biodynamics at High Vale. There is also farm animal feeding and fresh fruit and preserves tasting.
35 Merrivale Rd, Pickering Brook.
High Vale is Western Australia's Big Apple for organic/biodynamic fruit. Set on an idyllic property and only 30 minutes from the CBD, High Vale offers the finest fruit, Inner Core juice and soon-to-be-released Core Cider and is a showcase for sustainable farming. Demeter Certified.
www.highvale.com
NEW LOCAL GROUP STARTING
If you live in the Chittering/Muchea area and would like to become a member of a new OGAWA Local group please let us know. Come and meet like minded people. Meetings will be once a month and we hope to have field trips and guest speakers. The date and time of the first meeting will be finalised when we have numbers.
Send your details to enquiries@ogawa.org.au |
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OGAWA Member Discount Scheme - Supporting
businesses that promote organic food and farming
WA organic food and farming businesses offering discounts to members
of OGAWA continues to grow. We thank these participating businesses
for supporting the OGAWA and encourage all members to tell your
friends about these great organic products and services available.
Click this link for the list of participating organic businesses.
The MDS is only available to current OGAWA members as shown
by a valid membership card.
OGAWA Member Discount Scheme - Ask for your
member discount from these participating businesses.
Simply
display your member discount card with some ID to verify your
OGAWA membership.
Membership Renewals Download
Ordinary Membership Forms $30
Download
Commercial Membership Application $60
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Wanted - your notices, events
and articles |
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This is you space
to post notices or tell us of your event please contact enquiries@ogawa.org.au to
forward your notices.
Free Earth Carer course on 'waste - associated problems and possibilities', organised by Mindarie Regional Council (MRC).
The course is 5 sessions over 3 weeks and includes tours and site visits, information sessions, domestic organic waste ideas, what others are doing and how to apply the message. All course materials, travel and meals area free. We just want people to know about waste!
Participants find the course stimulating, depressing, interesting, overwhelming and inspiring - often all at the same time! The course offers assistance for people who want to apply their knowledge at home, workplace, school, or beyond.
MRC has responsibility for waste in seven council areas including the Cities of Joondalup, Perth, Stirling and Wanneroo, and the Towns of Cambridge, Victoria Park and Vincent. While preference is given to participants from these areas, we will consider persons from outside these areas if places are available. The limit is 40 participants per course.
The next course is starting on 18 August 2010.
Please pass this information on to whoever you feel may be interested in your group.
Contact
Peg Davies
Waste Education Officer
Tel: 9306 6307
Mobile: 0422 941 492
E: kwinterton@mrc.wa.gov.au
W: www.mrc.wa.gov.au
Attention All Members
This is a new site which has just started operating here in Perth. It is free to advertise. Have a look and if you have any excess produce you might want to consider adding to his list.
My new web site for local food growers is www.woblmarket.com, the site is free to use by all and when growers list their produce, if they are certified organic, they can add their organic registration number and the organic organisation they are a member of.
FEATURES
* 400km search radius
* Add photos (3)
* Growers notes
* You can also list the outlets you sell from
Listing your product only takes a few minutes and all information is confidential.
Any help you can give to promote WOBLMarket will be greatly appreciated.
Warmest regards
Tim Lawrence
www.woblmarket.com
"Your local source of fresh food"
US Senate Bill threat to organic industry
This is not an enquiry, but something that everyone who is involved with food plants and home growing needs to know. At present in front of the USA senate waiting to be passed is a bill numbered S510 which if passed will make it illegal to trade, barter or sell any home grown produce. As is always the case, Australia follows soon after what happens in that country. It would be a veritable disaster if this was to happen here. Please Google it for yourself to find out the scary details (just put in senate bill S510). As you may already know, the implantable RFID chip was put into Obama's health bill and Australia fast followed suit and not many Aussies know that this chip has been approved here too... YET. But they will soon. The only way to stop these things happening here is through people power, and hence the reason for this email.
Barbara White
S 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010, may be the most dangerous bill in the history of the US. It is to our food what the bailout was to our economy, only we can live without money.
“If accepted [S 510] would preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. It will become the most offensive authority against the cultivation, trade and consumption of food and agricultural products of one’s choice. It will be unconstitutional and contrary to natural law or, if you like, the will of God.” ~Dr. Shiv Chopra, Canada Health whistleblower
It is similar to what India faced with imposition of the salt tax during British rule, only S 510 extends control over all food in the US, violating the fundamental human right to food.
Monsanto says it has no interest in the bill and would not benefit from it, but Monsanto’s Michael Taylor who gave us rBGH and unregulated genetically modified (GM) organisms, appears to have designed it and is waiting as an appointed Food Czar to the FDA (a position unapproved by Congress) to administer the agency it would create — without judicial review — if it passes. S 510 would give Monsanto unlimited power over all US seed, food supplements, food and farming.
Clipping from Organic Gardener May/June 2010
Crusader on the lookout
A consumer feedback program has been set up so people can “dob in” manufacturers or growers making unscrupulous claims about being organic.
The Organic Crusader, a service launched by organic certifying body Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA), allows consumers to ask questions about organic, provide feedback and report on dubious claims made on behalf of certified or non-certified products.
Dr Andrew Mon, BFA standards convener, said that even in its early days The Organic Crusader has already been alerted to misleading labeling. These included “a juice product that has blatantly included a preservative in its ingredients, not permitted by any known organic standard in the world, and several similar cases for cosmetic products” Monk said.
Once these cases were pursued and prosecuted, they would create a deterrent for others, Monk said. “The BFA will be aiding the ACCC(Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) to achieve such outcomes”
To report a false claim, call The Organic Crusader on (907) 3350 5716, visit www.bfa.com.au or email organiccrusader@bfa.com.au alternatively, says the Organic Federation of Australia, you can complain directly to the ACCC via the commissions website, www.accc.gov.au |
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My Fickle Garden |
This year it is the Year of the Pig, but not to me, it’s not—2010 is the year of the green leafy vegetable. Silverbeet, purple and green pok choi and rocket are abundant. Last year it was the Year of the Thai Pink Tomato. The year before, much to my husband’s and son’s disgust, it was the Year of the Eggplant (Black Beauty). When I first moved to Broome, I remember, very distinctly a broccoli (Romanesco) year, yet I've never been able to grow a head of broccoli since.
My garden grows in the rural/residential satellite community of Twelve Mile just outside of Broome.
The concept of my garden grew from a vision my friend had all those years ago, when we were living in a caravan and building a house in those small spaces snatched between work and rearing children. He suggested putting no-dig garden beds amongst the native pindan bushland—long, snake-like beds meandering through the wattle, bloodwoods, lemonwood, conkerberry and northern karrjongs. |
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Jacquis Garden |
But the agile wallabies soon put a stop to that, nibbling not only the tender seedlings shoots but also the reticulation pipes in order to get to water close to boiling point. My garden is now fenced with an odd assortment of wire from the local tip. Hiding the barrier is a green fence of lemongrass, pawpaws, galangal, yellow passionfruit, sunflowers and gerberas. I am hoping the flowers and paw-paws will self-seed every year.
My garden is a work in progress—every year I add a bed. The beds are made up of cow manure from the yards at the neighbouring cattle station up the road, the algae and weed that I regularly clean out from the fish pond, the much-need nitrogen from the chook pen and the multitude of weeds that flourish during the wet season.
I have enough beds to rotate my crops every year, but I will never have enough space in my fenced area for it to be sustainable. Luckily I have enough friends and we swap, not only vegetables, but also seeds and tubers and handy hints—how to get rid of pests, raise organic seed and innovative ideas.
Just recently, a friend showed me a trick of tying up your tomatoes vines by hanging string from a wire above, weighting one end by a stone and wrapping the other around the stems of the tomato vine. You can keep pulling the rock over the wire as the plant fruits, pulling it up and keeping it off the damp ground, free from insect attack.
My fickle garden is like my son, always full of surprises. It rarely behaves, throws me plenty of challenges, delighting me one day, frustrating me the next. I wouldn’t have it any other way. My gardening life would be boring and predictable otherwise, and I would never learn the things that it patiently teaches me year after year.
Jacqui 
We would love to know about your garden - if you could write a small article and have some photos so we can see your hard work please contact Tan at fusionherbs@westnet.com.au or PO Box 5865, Cable Beach, WA 6726 Thanks!
Tan Fowler E News Secretary |
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ORGANIC CANDLES
Some people express surprise that there is such an item as an "organic" candle however this is an apt description given that candles made from beeswax are produced from the most environmentally friendly renewable source of wax there is.Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus "Apis" The wax of honeycomb is nearly white but becomes progressively more yellow or brown by the incorporation of pollen, oils, honey.
Candles made from 100% beeswax are unscented and emit a natural honey aroma without the use of any fragrance. No toxic petrochemical by-products are released during the harvesting, refining processes or burning of beeswax candles. WWF has declared 100% beeswax candles to be effectively carbon neutral, another good reason to support their "organic" claim.
A burning beeswax candle produces negative ions which actually clean the air of odours, pollens, smoke, dust, and other allergens and hazards. The negative ions bind to the positively charged particles in the air and create a heavier particle which falls down and can be removed from home surfaces by dusting or vacuuming. According to lab measurements beeswax candles produce an average of 72,972 negative ion particles per cc of air. At their peak this increases to 126,800.
In the past the Australian market place has been flooded by commercially produced candles made from paraffin and other waxes mostly imported from overseas countries. The US EPA and American Lung Association reports have listed toxins which can be released from burning these candles. They include acetone, benzene, 2-butanone, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, creosol, chlorobenzene, carbon monoxide, cyclopentane, ethyl benzene, lead, mercury, phenol, styrene tetrachloroephene, toluene, trichloroethane and xylene.
One of the first actions taken by the Commonwealth Government to ensure safe candle burning practices in Australia was the publication of an unsafe goods notice under section 65C5 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (TPA) banning the supply of candles with wicks containing lead. This temporary ban was later replaced by a permanent ban on candles with wicks containing greater than 0.06% lead by weights and 0.06% lead by weight.
Following up on this it was gratifying to see a further unsafe goods notice issued by the Commonwealth Government on 22nd June 2010 banning the supply of "objects that are designed to hold or decorate a candle, which when subjected to flame or heat emanating from a candle being so held or decorated, ignite and continue to flame for a period of five seconds or more after ignition". This means that many of those decorated and painted candles you see on shop shelves may be considered unsafe goods. Perhaps, at last, we see progress towards the regulation and banning of dangerous candles.
Not so, the unadorned 100% beeswax "organic" candle which is environmentally friendly and sustainable. And of course, supporting the case for the use of beeswax in candles is the quality of our beautiful West Australian beeswax which is protected by industry strict quarantine controls restricting apiary products from entering Western Australia.
Rewa Ward |
| Welcome to our e-newsletter |
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Welcome to the Organic Association
of Western Australia's August's 2010 edition of our paper-free
electronic newsletter. We will be publishing a newsletter
monthly and welcome articles, contributions and advertising
from members and friends. (Please send to Tan) Please
ensure that we have your updated email address as
our database has many invalid addresses where people
have changed their details and not advised us. To subscribe
or unsubscribe please contact Sue enews_editor@ogawa.org.au
Your email account must be set to receive emails in
HTML format to read this newsletter alternatively there
is a link to view the page on our website |
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