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February 2011 |
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OGAWA
e-newsletter is published at the beginning of each
month except January. 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 |
Hi Everyone,
Happy New Year to you all. I am certainly ready for a new start this year; with a new greenhouse and lots more room to grow lots more potted herbs and vegetables.
I assume everyone has heard about Steve Marsh (Certified Organic farmer in Kojonup) and his fight with a GM grower. Steve has lost his Certification because his next door neighbour's GM crop contaminated his property. This is going to be a long court battle for Steve and he will probably have to sell his property. The GM farmer has the backing of Monsanto so they can draw the court proceedings out for as long as they want. Steve and his family need our help to fight this battle. There is a link below on where you can send a donation to help Steve's fight for the Organic Industry in W.A.
On a lighter note, the "Trust Organic Festival" is now being held on April 2nd 2011. We thought we would do something different this year and hold our Festival at Subiaco Farmers Markets. We will be holding the "Trust Organic Festival's" at different Farmers Markets every year, so if you have a favourite market let us know and we will have a look at it for next year. This is the first of two Festivals the Organic Association will be putting on every year. More details will be available as the time gets closer. Hope you all fared well in the cyclone we just had.
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Leesa Caldwell
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We have a few reports missing from our enews this month. There are still some people on holidays and a couple of our groups don't have meetings in summer. Stay cool, if you can, and I'll catch you all next month.
Cheers
Leesa Caldwell
www.thegreenhouseorganic.com. |
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Steven is currently on leave and will return next month
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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| The Organic Association of Western Australia holds meetings in suburban and regional locations. Below is a list of some of our groups. Please contact the coordinator or e– mail Leesa for more information. |
| FREMANTLE |
OGA
Freo next meeting:
| when: |
10th February 7.30pm |
| where: |
contact for details |
| price: |
members free $5 non members |
| speaker: |
Len Edwards |
| topic: |
Achieving sustainability from mulching
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Natrakelp |
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Message from May-Ring |
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Our guest speaker for February is Len Edwards. His talk is going to be about "Achieving sustainability from mulching".
Len will also talk about Natrakelp which is a certified organic liquid seaweed fertiliser. Liquid fertilisers offer a quick response. The nutrients are almost immediately available to be absorbed through the roots or leaves, correcting nutrient deficiencies quickly or giving the plant a general boost through the growing season. The great benefit of liquid organic fertilisers is as well as adding nutrients they stimulate beneficial bacteria and fungi as well as some organic matter that helps improve your soil.
Len has had a lifelong interest in gardening and has spent the last 23 years in the horticulture industry. He was a landscaper for 15 years and has been at Vital Organics for the last 8 years.
May-Ring and Margaret
mayr_chen@hotmail.com
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| ROLEYSTONE |
OGA
Roleystone next meeting:
| when: |
March 2011 |
| where: |
Roleystone Family Centre |
| price: |
members free $3 non members |
| speaker: |
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| topic: |
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Using Herbs in summer. |
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Message from Lisa |
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The next meeting for Roleystone is in March for more information please contact Lisa 9399 2312.
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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: |
$3 |
| speaker: |
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| topic: |
contact Ralph |
Seed in scheduled the the middle of March |
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Message from Ralph Darlington |
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Hello everyone,
I hope that you all had a great festive season, and that this year is fantastic for you.
The end of year meeting was an informal get together, at one of our members homes. It was a lovely night, the weather was good and so was the company. Much discussion and eating took place as we whiled away the hours. In all a great evening.
The committee have been working on our programme for this year and, will include all our regular workshop/get together like our 'seed-ins'. This will be scheduled for the middle of March to get our winter Vege seed in to trays etc.
Our weather has not been very kind to our gardens, and the coming 40 degree days have me looking for shade cloth to help susceptible plants cope. I would love to know how you all cope with this situation?
Hope that all goes well until the rain comes,
Cheers,
Ralph Darlington
darlington@bigpond.com |
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| GWELUP |
OGA
Gwelup next meeting:
| when: |
meeting last Saturday of month |
| where: |
- phone for details |
| price: |
$3 |
| speaker: |
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| topic: |
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Linda's dual rainwater tanks |
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Message from Charles |
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Meeting held 29th January 2011 at Linda's House.
On the steaming hot cyclone imminent Saturday those that were not tying down the precious and projectile like items gathered in the cool air-conditioning at Linda 's place. Shortly after sitting down the first storm came through but with a little rain and thunder it was gone, and the temperature was back up and the sauna in full swing.
Alun and Conny had been away for a few weeks during the school holidays and had subjected their garden to a "hardy test" that is, despite efforts by the house sitter the plants did not fare so well. Bananas, water cress and the small pot-pond had died, however that great summer salad green Fat Hen was thriving.
They had planted some peas, which surprised everyone but after discussion we all agreed you may as well just try continual crops and catch a window in the crazy Perth weather that he peas like, after all its all nitrogen fixing green manure even if you don't get a crop. The worm farm had also been house sit but like all good pets they had been over feed and were revolting due to anaerobic and heat issues.
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Linda discussed trying the following recipes on the Ants. Borax and Icing Sugar for the sweet tooth ones and Borax and Parmesan for to carnivorous ones. She also said Sugar and Baking powder was good for Roaches, as she had used it occasional to control them in the worm farm. And as good conversations roll that went on to suggesting feeding worms porridge or wet quick oats to fatten them up and get them breeding. Linda had set up a fog pond made out of a bath tub as can be seen in the picture, and water features is well worth having in the garden for so many reasons. Tadpoles can be sourced locally if you ask around friends and water based businesses in your area. While it's not recommended to grab any tadpoles those that are very local to you are the safest for not spreading disease and likely survivability. Linda was hoping they might get busy and control the mole crickets she has everywhere.
Mike said his sheet mulched area under the cloths line had produced a great crop of potatoes but that he had not overlapped the paper enough and the grass had got through. He now has exceptionally healthy grass that is gradually being dug out. This is when the discussion hit rats, basically Mike has been slaving away in his garden only to feed rats. Any organic solutions other than cats would be most appreciated from the readers out there…..
Wendy new to the group and new to the multitudes of advice and knowledge that comes with delving into organic gardening is madly taking notes at our meetings and asking lots of questions. Mushroom compost was discussed as she has access to it. Mushroom compost can have alkalinity (high pH) issues as mushrooms are grown at high pH, and given a lot of Perth's sandy coastal soils are already high pH this kind of mulch exacerbates those problems. Using some of it as part of a blend would be OK.
Jenny has finally moved and got to her new house only to find she has purchased a Ant Farm !!!! Concerned that the constant undermining and pest farming antics on ants will give much grief she is on an ant's crusade. Once again all suggestions for extermination techniques for black and coastal brown ants, any would be appreciated to charlesotway@hotmail.com.
Then to me, and I am looking outside smelling rain and looking at the time again, I have been busy building a 2 story cubby for my kids for weeks. The garden is looking surprisingly well, I certainly swear by some form of these wicking beds, holding in water and nutrients addresses all the issues of sand assuming one adds lots of manure and compost. I have started to taste the summer salad delights of new plants and seedlings in the garden, Moringa trees are waist high (edible leaves), Mallow, Plantain (Broad Leaved), Ashwaganda, English Dandelions, Kan Kong, Malabar Spinach, Oxalis Tuberosa, Sorrel and Pawpaw are just some of the healthy salad greenery on the plate this summer. Other plants newly growing include Pedata Edulis and Explodens, Chilicayote, Sea Buckthorn, Plum Pine, Edible Hibiscus to name a few. It's not much of a veggie garden its an edible plant ark and its only time that stops me from getting more diversity into Perth's gardeners sadly deficient food bowl diversity.
NEXT MEETING
26th February October at Jenny's new abode in Illuka, for address or more about Gwelup Gardening Group contact Charles Otway on 0466633275 or charlesotway@hotmail.com
For address or more about Gwelup Gardening Group contact: Charles Otway on 92044629 |
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| BROOME |
OGA
Broome next meeting:
| when: |
13th February 9.00 |
| where: |
12 Mile Café |
| price: |
members free $3 non members |
| speaker: |
Josh Bryne |
| topic: |
Waterwise session and forum |
Waterwise garden sessions |
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Message from Tan Fowler |
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Free Waterwisegarden sessions.
We all need to do our bit to save water this summer. And despite
the heat you can still enjoy a beautiful Waterwise garden.
The best way to find out how is by attending a free Waterwise garden session hosted by ABC TV's Josh Byrne – with lots of tips and hints on how to create a beautiful Waterwise garden in the north west climate.
Broome's garden sessions.
Each session is free and you can attend either session, or both.
Below are the details for each session:
Part 1. Shopping Centre appearance
Josh Byrne will be on hand to answer all your water efficiency questions, give free sustainable gardening advice and provide information on the H2ome Smart program.
Date: Friday 11 February
Time: 11.15am – 12.15pm
Venue: Broome Boulevard Shopping Centre
Address: Frederick Street, Broome
Part 2. Community Forum and Sustainable
Gardening Workshop
This community discussion will focus on Broome's current water scenario, water saving tips for inside the home, how
the H2ome Smart program works and how you can be involved.
The garden workshop will provide you with lots of hints and tips on how to create a Waterwise garden including: garden
design, plant selection and water efficient irrigation.
Date: Sunday 13th February
Time: 9.00am – 11am
Venue: 12 Mile Cafe
Address: Lot 20 Yamashita Rd, 12 Mile, Broome
Read the PDF flyer for this event
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Sultanas
We are very lucky to be enjoying a bumper crop of sultana grapes on our pergola this year mainly due to the expert pruning of my nephew Tim from Margaret River. Some years there are more than we can eat - if the rodents don't get them first as was the case last year when they ate every last grape overnight the day before we were going to pick them! We had none!
This year I am drying the grapes for sultanas for my morning muesli and cooking. I am using an electric food drier but it would be more economical to dry the grapes on mesh trays in the sun. Drying is usually overnight but I leave them on a tray with a cloth over to keep flies away. There are many foods that can be dried when in abundance and used throughout the year.
Crepes with sultanas and apples
1 ¾ cups plain flour, 3 eggs, 1 ½ cup milk/water, 2 teaspoons oil.
Mix altogether in a blender and rest. Spread a thin layer in a crepe pan and turn with a spatula.
Sultana mixture
1 tablespoon butter oil mixture
½ cup sultanas
3 apples, peeled, cored and cubed
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
¾ cup water
Melt butter oil mixture and sauté apples, add sugar and sultanas – caramelise and then add water to simmer.
Spoon onto crepes and serve with cream or yoghurt.
A touch of brandy or liqueur adds to the deliciousness!
Sue Warrington
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| Gardening report from Linda Mitchener from The Green Life Soil Co. |
Summertime in the Garden – Slip, Slop, Slap!!
Happy New Year! This early part of the year brings some challenges for gardeners in Perth. Its that time when we want to be picking fresh salads daily, however keeping a productive veggie patch can be tough with soaring temperatures and drying winds.
We have found the way to help survival is to keep plants healthy. If you topped up your beds with lots of organic matter in spring, and mulched heavily, you should be having an easier time keeping moisture in the ground. Check that your mulch is still effective, and is thick enough. You should be able to scrape it away and find soil that is cool and damp underneath.
If water repellency is still proving to be an issue, treat with a wetting agent (use one with organic surfactants and humectants, which don't harm long term soil health as their chemical equivalents do) or a bentonite based product like our Sand Remedy to hold water in the soil. |
mulch your garden
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Ensure plants are getting adequate water. Even with restrictions we are still able to water by hand. Planting densely provides protection and shelter all around, and means that watering can be concentrated and efficient. When using a hose, use a gentle flow and keep the hose fitting close to the soil surface to avoid disturbance.
If your salad veggies (especially lettuce and cucumber) are tasting bitter, the cause is lack of water. Giving them more to drink will ensure they stay sweet tasting.
Remember wind is a major cause of evaporation in the garden. Providing shelter from sun and wind will save major stress to your delicate plants. (There is a fantastic article on making simple and temporary plant shelters in the latest Organic Gardener Magazine – definitely worth a look.)
Have fun this summer in the garden – remember to slip, slop, slap for you AND your plants. Until next time,
Linda Mitchener
The Green Life Soil Co. |
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Hi everyone,
As you may have already heard Kojonup Organic farmer Steve Marsh has become the fist victim of GM canola contamination. His neighbour was growing the GM crop up to his fenceline and his swathed canola has blown onto Marsh's property. This has resulted in roughly 70% of the farm becoming contaminated.
As a NASAA member Marsh alerted the group, as well as the Agriculture Department, and after tests the contamination has been confirmed. National Organic Standards clearly state that there is 0% GM tolerance in organic products, and consequently Marsh has been decertified.
Now the battle really begins as the GM farmer is protesting that he followed the guidelines (i.e. he allowed a 5m buffer zone) and Monsanto has declared that it will help his legal fight.
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RUINED: Organic farmer Steve Marsh on
his farm at Kojonup, about 300km
southeast of Perth, which has been
contaminated by GM canola seeds.
Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow
article
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How can this have happened? Marsh took all precautions to declare his farm GM free; he sought out legal help to alert his neighbours of the potential of contamination and the legal consequences if contamination should occur. He now has to fight the largest GM seed and chemical company in the world to seek redress for the loss of his certification and livelihood because of something that he tried to protect himself against.
The Organic Community should be alarmed at this as Marsh will surely not be the only victim if steps are not taken to stop the spread of GM contamination. His loss of organic status will affect his buyers, their customers, and the repercussions will spread.
Up until this event I have observed that some people have been thinking that GM crops will not impact on them if they continue to grow and eat organically, biodynamically or locally. This event now exposes these ideals as vulnerable and impossible.
GM contamination will affect all of us if we do not unite and make the State Government and particularly Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman know that we will not tolerate any watering down of our organic standards. We should demand protection for all farmers that seek to farm GM free and call for strict liability for contaminated farmers so they will not have to take their fight to court like Marsh.
If the Organic sector does not unite as one in this instance there is little hope for its future.
To make donations to the Marsh family go to www.nasaa-wa.com.au
Cheers,
Janet
GM Free Consumers Network jan60gro@yahoo.com for more details |
| Please Donate to Support Steve Marsh in his fight against Monsanto
Bendigo Bank
Account Name: NASAA WA Inc GM Contamination Fund
BSB: 633000
Account Number: 141944298
If you wish to send a cheque then please post it to
The Manager
Bendigo Bank
114 Avon Terrace , WA , 6302
08 9641 2609
You can read more about Steve at the NASAA WA Links page
or email him via mail@nasaa-wa.com.au |
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19/20th March - Chilli Festival - The Esplanade - Fremantle (www.araluenbotanicpark.com.au)
2nd April - Trust Organic Festival - Subiaco Farmers Market, Bagot Road, Subiaco
7th-11th April - Garden Week - Perry Lakes (www.gardenweek.com.au)
17th April - Perth Sun Fair - UWA (www.perthsunfair.com.au)
7th May - Mosman Park Fair - St. Luke's Anglican Church, Mosman Park
22nd May - Agriculture and Environment festival - Swan Hill Farm, Northam (for more information contact ( jane.elise.ferro@gmail.com) |
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| Organic Store for Sale - Established for nearly 3 Years, plentiful client base. Well known as reliable with competitive prices and friendly service. for more details contact 9399 9747 or 0417 685396
Expressions of Interest in a Semi-Rural Self-Sufficiency Eco Development. To learn more contact Sally on 9302 2563 or sal.gt@westnet.com.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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