"Pure Opinions"
Organic Chinese Peanuts
A salmonella outbreak in the US has sparked a debate about the nature of organic Chinese peanuts. It seems that the salmonella has been traced back to products made from these peanuts.
Suggestions are being made that because Chinese peanuts are grown and fertilized with untreated excrement, that they are more likely to cause salmonella. But this seems to lack any scientific basis. I use horse manure on my garden without any ill effects.
Peanuts are also grown in our part of the world - in Australia. We understand that these are dowsed with pesticides at all stages of their growing and storage. But Australian non-organic peanuts are favoured here over organic Chinese.
This issue seems to highlight a problem set to dog us in the future - can we trust organic labeling? The alternative - products loaded with pesticide - are not especially tempting.
Personally, I prefer to throw in my lot with the organics. International bodies (the United Stated Dept of Agriculture and the like) are working hard internationally to make sure organic farmers obey the rules.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 9th November, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: peanuts, Chinese peanuts, organic peanuts
Black Gold
Ever looked at your section and wanted to grow a vegetable garden, or a bigger garden? Well the power is there at your finger tips. There is some elbow work involved of course, but one of the secrets of successful vege garden is compost.
The beauty of making your own compost is that you don't import seeds of weeds and other problems into your garden, and you can use up household refuge - food scraps, newspaper, anything organic - and turn it into 'black gold'. And once you've made it, you can dig it into your garden before planting, and add it around plants once they get going.
It's great for all vegetable and general plant growing, and replenishes the soil.
What to compost: kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, weeds, except for persistent weeds like oxalis, dock, buttercup or couch (spray free). leaves except for leaves from walnut and pine trees and rhubarb (spray free), animal manure- particularly horse and chicken - fish scraps and crushed shells (cover these well to reduce smell), seaweed, sawdust, shavings and ashes from untreated timber (in small amounts).
7 EASY STEPS TO MAKING COMPOST
1. It's very important to find the right site for a compost heap. It should be in a level, sheltered place with easy access and out of direct sunlight.
2. Start with 10-15cm thick layer of coarse, twiggy plant material to ensure good drainage and ventilation.
3. Place organic material in layers no more than 15cm deep.
4. Keep the heap covered to prevent smells.
5. Sprinkle a handful of garden lime over the compost every few layers to encourage earth worms and micro-organisms.
6. Keep the heap moist in summer but don't drench it.
7. When the heap is one metre high or your container full, cover it and leave to mature. If your heap is just out in the open not in a container we recommend covering with old carpet, straw or black polythene.
TIP: Turn your compost in the heap every month or so to speed up the composting process.
Compost will take 3-4 months to mature. And don't stop with one, keep 2-3 going all year around - that way you always have compost ready for your garden.
Happy Composting!
Posted by Robert Glensor on 24th October, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: compost, water retention
Water Conservation
Evidence is mounting for an approaching water crisis. Big questions loom: will there be enough safe drinking water for the planet's 884 million people, for agriculture and flourishing biodiversity, for sanitation and waste disposal? But most importantly how can we ensure there is?
Internationally water issues are hotting up. India is proposing a dam on the Barak River that would substantially reduce water into Bangladesh - potentially drying up two rivers with drastic environmental effects. And Iraq is worried about the effects of a huge dam on the Turkish side of the Tigris river. Control of water resources has become a potential future flashpoint.
At home the Kapiti Coast District Council have finally started thinking about water conservation. The 2007 local body elections delivered a new council who have inherited a blank slate on the subject. Years of procrastinating and denial about water conservation on the Kapiti Coast have only produced such advise as not using sprinklers at certain times of the year and not lighting fires...
The Kapiti Coast is historically one of those areas with high winter and spring rainfall, but not much rain in summer. That precious water pouring out of the sky as I write, needs to be collected.
Which is why every new house design must include a blue water (rainwater) collection tank for drinking water and/or the garden before building consent is granted, and a grey water (polluted or used water from washing machines, dishwashers, showers etc) system too.
KCDC are in the process of developing education programmes, and we think this should be extensive - pertaining to all the areas of water use in our lives: the bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and the outdoors - and as detailed as how we wash our hands or our cars, water our plants, and mulch our gardens.
We can only hope our councils and governments are looking after the big picture, but we can certainly be conscious of our own water use and adjust it as necessary.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 12th October, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Kapiti Coast, water conservation
Food Guidelines in Schools
It was a great day someone had the commonsense to try addressing New Zealand's obesity epidemic at the source. Such was the thrust of the School Food Guidelines introduced by the Labour Government on 1st June 2008.
It was much complained about by some schools but adopted by most. According to an Education Review Office report more than 90 percent of schools had been meeting the guidelines.
And what sensible piece of legislation - where food and beverages are sold on schools' premises, only healthy options were to be made available.
Once National came into office in October 2008 work began on scrapping the Food Guidelines despite advise from the Ministry of Health on 30 January 2009:
"Numerous studies have shown poor nutrition and health adversely affects educational achievement, and Maori and Pacific students are especially vulnerable in this respect. For example in a recent sudy of seven South Auckland secondary schools, 58% of students were found to be overweight or obese. The same study reported that tuck shops were the primary source of lunch for around half these students."
The Guidelines were duly scrapped - schools are free to sell junk food - fizz, highly caffienated energy drinks, potato chips, donuts, pies and sausage rolls - and many are.
Love or hate the Labour government, it is true to say that they weren't afraid to take leadership on issues such as this one. We clearly need our goverments to set the tone for issues and behaviours - schools can't seem to manage it on their own.
But National don't care - and with the effect of such a move being most detrimental for Polynesian students, I'm almost tempted to read racism into it.
So where does that leave us? It means that more tax payers money gets tied up on this obesity problem as the hoard of ambulances arrive at the bottom of this large and heavy cliff.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 17th September, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: food guidelines, schools, junk food
Disinfected and antiseptic?
 Are we going too far?
These products pour into drains and land and waterways all over the country - scouring soil, plant and insect life, and fish as they go. And some bacteria are actually necessary. Here on the Kapiti Coast we mostly have septic tanks. You daren't put any of these commercial products into your septic tank as they kill the bacteria that do all the good work breaking everything down.
Some old fashioned common sense and housekeeping methods are what's needed. I'm not thinking carbolic acid or the like but just some elbow grease and soap or vinegar and water if you are cleaning windows..
We are being hoodwinked into believing that all these chemicals are necessary to keep ourselves and our houses disinfected and antiseptic. It's Hygiene Fanaticism! Let's rethink these behaviours. Question Everything!
Posted by on 10th September, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: water, Kapiti Coast, hygiene fanaticism, septic tanks
Where did the night sky go?
 The milky way galaxy
These days we are lucky if we can see any but the brightest stars let alone the Milky Way. And it's not because the stars have dimmed in any way - its because the Earth has become a whole lot brighter. Air pollution has made the sky less transparent and more reflective, and lights from town and cities wash out the stars overhead - a phenomenon called sky glow.
I recently drove at night from Gisborne down the East Coast. From forty or fifty miles away I was amazed to see the glow in the sky of Wairoa - a small New Zealand town with a population of 9,000 poeple.
I know we light our towns during the night for safety reasons but perhaps this is something we have to rethink - because of course not only does this glow in the sky obscure the night sky, it uses plenty of electricity to light what are for the most part empty streets. Perhaps street lights could have motion sensors - movement of cars or pedestrians in the street would activate the lights to turn them on. That might even provide a deterrent for crime.
Recent thinking in architectural circles is that night lights around public buildings don't prevent illicit activities like grafiti but actually encourage them. Night lights provide the spray painters or night workers or burglers with light to do the job.
In Arizona there is an organisation called the International Dark-Sky Association. The IDA lobbies for dark-sky regulations and working with manufacturers to improve lighting products. In 2007 they gave an award to a newly built mall on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, that had considered the impact of its night lighting. It avoided "glare bombs" - fixtures that cast their shadows sideways over pedestrians.
Tucson's street lighting code limits the brightness of exterior fixtures and requires use of lights that are "fully shielded" - meaning that they cast no light above themselves. Calgary, Alberta, cut its electricity expenditure by more than two million dollars a year in recent years, by switching to fully-shielded, reduced-wattage street lights.
In these times when we are rethinking many of our accepted assumptions and behaviours, here's another one to add. But with a great spinoff - we get to gaze at the wonder of the night sky.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 31st August, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: night sky pollution, rethinking street lighting, saving electricity
Can we trust the New Zealand Food Safety Authority?
 A selection of organic grains
“The method of reporting of pesticide residues detected in the TDS hides the fact that most composite regional food samples contained pesticide residues, with several having significant multiple residues. It is time for food without pesticide residues – this means organics,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.
“Analysis of the Food Residue Surveillance Programme results for celery and spinach, showed 100% of the celery samples, and 75% of the spinach samples contained pesticide residues, with many samples containing multiple residues.”
Because celery contains a lot of water, it is known to absorb toxins in the soil. The celery and spinach were mostly contaminated with chlorothalinol (Bravo) or dithiocarbomates respectively, and sometimes with both. Other toxic pesticides were also found.
Of the celery samples, one had 6 different pesticide residues, one had 3 and three had 2. Fourteen spinach samples had at least 2 pesticide residues.
“The Total Diet Survey, far from giving our produce a clean bill of health has highlighted two persistent problems” said Dr Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Tucked away at the back of the document are tables showing that almost all products made with grains such as wheat contains residues of the neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide pirimphos-methyl; and the majority of fruit and vegetables contain dithiocarbmate insecticides.”
“Pirimphos-methyl is used to fumigate grain silos, and there is no chance of removing it from the grain. Organic grain is not treated with this chemical”
“The dithiocarbamate insecticides which turned up in 16 out of 26 of the fruit and vegetables tested, is a perennial problem. It has become very clear that New Zealand simply has to stop using these particular pesticides if we are very going to stop the residue problem,” said Dr Watts.
Dithiocarbamate fungicides and chlorothalonil are on the Pesticide Action Network International list of Highly Hazardous Pesticides for global phase out.
Dithiocarbomate fungicides (eg mancozeb, maneb, thiram) are severe central nervous system toxicant, carcinogen, and endocrine disruptors. They also cause sterility and birth defects, affect the liver, kidney and respiratory and cardiac systems. Chlorothalonil is carcinogenic, mutagenic and an environmental toxin. It is thought to be responsible for aggravating the health effects of other pesticides.
A study of cancer patients by Massey University’s Centre for Public Health Research found increased leukaemia risk among horticultural workers, with risks to market gardeners and nursery growers, especially women, being higher than those to the general public.
In a separate study released by US government health staff in a recent issue of the American Society of Hematology journal, Blood, it was found that exposure to certain pesticides, including dieldrin and chlorothalonil (Bravo) increased the risks 5.6 fold and 2.4 fold respectively, of a blood disorder that can lead to multiple myeloma.
“Considering that dieldrin was banned in agriculture in New Zealand in 1968, and from other uses in 1989, the commonly used fungicide Bravo (chlorothalonil) as found in most non-organic celery, may be a significant culprit in New Zealand cancers. Soil & Health urgently wants studies to focus on Bravo,” said Mr Browning.
These chemical cocktails are increasingly being shown to be dangerous - and we wonder why we have such high cancer rates in New Zealand. What this all points to is the need for to boost organic agriculture in here. Organic produce has to become mainstream so that we can all afford to buy it.
And thank goodness for watchdog groups like NZFSA and PAN who pay attention to the details and implications of these reports. The Food Safety Authority are so clearly willing to gloss over them.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 22nd August, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Pesticides Acition Network of Aotearoa New Zealand, Total Diet Survey, Soil & Health Association of New Zealand
Whakanuia Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori 2009
Maori Language Week was established in 1975 to foster and encourage the speaking of te reo Maori. And while a week seems like a small gesture for a much larger issue, MLW can take some of the credit for the acceptance that te reo now enjoys.
But mainstream media can also be applauded for embracing MLW. National Radio for example made a big effort during last year's MLW, and many of the presenters have continued their greetings in te reo throughout the year. This year whole programmes in te reo have been featured on air.
And John Campbell on TV3 makes 'kia ora' and 'ka kite ano' seem so normal and natural - and as it should be.
The theme for this year's Maori Language Week is Te Reo i te Hapori - Māori Language in the Community. It invites us "to help te reo to live and grow in our communities," says Chief Executive of the Maori Language Commission Huhana Rokx.
And at a basic level, let's all work on our pronunciation. It's very easy - unlike the English language - as the vowels always make the same sound:
a as in ask
e as in egg
i as key
o as in for
u as in you
Kia kaha ki te wiki o te reo Māori!
Posted by Robert Glensor on 1st August, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: te reo, Maori Language Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori 2009, pronunciation te reo Maori
Dealing with Dairy Effluent
 The Hypond
An innovative dairy effluent storage system has been given an award at the recent Environment Southland Enviro Awards. The Hynds Hypond system won a Rural Award for David Hughes of Ballyhooley Dairies, and the Environmental Innovator of the Year title won for John White of Hynds Rural.
The system consists of large storage tanks made from precast concrete panels, one pump and an irrigator monitor. One of the appeals of the system is its flexibility - any number of concrete panels can be used to determine the circumference of the tank without changing the depth of it.
Effluent disposal is big and tricky issue for dairy farmers. Ponds are one solution. Effluent is channelled into the pond and later sprayed on paddocks. This has to be carefully managed so that it doesn't make its way into waterways and doesn't clog eco-systems with an oversupply of nutrients.
The Hypond system allows for a shallow sealed pond with a three day effluent storage and a monitor to check the liquids being applied to the land. It's easy to clean because its concrete and the storage capacity means there isn't the pressure to dispose of effluents when conditions aren't right eg when the paddocks are already sodden from high rainfall.
So this is all good news, and excellent to see that better practices are being developed and applauded.
Over and out from your weekly dairy monitor.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 15th July, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: dairy farming, effluent
More on the Folic Acid Debate
 Spinach is very high in folate
Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a Vitamin B found naturally in many foods including green leafy vegetable, whole grains, and legumes (peas, beans).
As discussed in a previous blog, the government are proposing to 'fortify' commercial bread with the addition of folic acid. One of the reasons to do this, is that low folic acid in the diet causes birth defects such as spina bifada.
However adding folic acid to bread is not a simple solution to this problem as research now shows. Folic acid is the subject of Issue 21 of Cancer Research Update, the American Institute for Cancer Research's newsletter:
"Shortly after folate was identified in the 1940s, folic acid was given to children with leukemia. Surprisingly, their cancer worsened. The discovery led to a folate-blocking chemotherapy still used today. Then in the 1980s and 1990s a steady stream of studies linked high folate levels to decreased risk of colorectal cancer."
These two pieces of research seem to contradict each other but what scientists have discovered is that it is all about timing. If you give folic acid to patients in the very early stages of cancer, it can be very beneficial.
But if folic acid is taken when cancer cells are present, it is extremely dangerous. As Dr Young-In Kim, MD, an Associate Professor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, has recently written “giving folic acid to cancer cells is like putting oil on the fire” - it actively fertilizes and aids in the multiplication of cancer cells.
In 2007 Dr Joel Mason, Associate Professor at Tufts University, discovered a correlation between the introduction of the American government's folic acid fortification programme and increased rates of colorectal cancer.
Dr Kim and other experts agree that more research on folic acid fortification needs to be undertaken before any definite conclusions can be drawn. But clearly it is a risky business and one soon to find it's way here.
The good news is that the same concerns are not held for the natural forms of folate. All evidence suggests that a diet rich is natural folates is beneficial.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 6th July, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: folic acid, colorectal cancer, folate
Bio-diversity is the new black
 Nga Uruora volunteers
Nga Uruora was found in 1997 in Paekakariki. The success of the possum and rat eradication programmes on Kapiti and Mana Islands has seen a huge increase in the bird populations on both islands - Kapiti even has a number of takahe - and on the adjaacent coastal areas of Kapiti and Porirua.
Inspired by these successes Nga Uruora 'adopted' a string of conservation areas along this coast, and have been assisting with the creation and management of others. The idea is to link natural eco-systems on the islands with the mainland so that seed-carrying birds help regenerate the habitats they need on the mainland.
Pest control has been a major focus as once there are enough bird-safe habitats, the birds will return. Nga Uruora's flagship project is a 6km stretch of coastal escarpment above Centennial Highway between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay. It contains original kohokohe forest, spring fed wetlands, rare species, flax fields and large areas of regenerating bush.
Their vision is to create a continous ribbon of native forest running between Waikanae and Porirua through private and public land, and to link up and develop existing projects like Hemi Matenga, Nga Manu Bird Sanctuary, Poririua Scenic Reserve, and Ahi Kaa Roa Landscape Project at Kuku Beach.
The development and maintenance of projecs like this are of course beneficial to us all - bush areas, and the survival of native and rare plants, and the encouragement of bio-diversity generally will ensure the ecological balance of surrounding land including farmlands.
And of course the birds return, and what a joy is that dawn chorus!
 Kakariki on the Kapiti Coast
Posted by Robert Glensor on 20th June, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Nga Uruora, dawn chorus, Kapiti
The Folic Acid Debate
 A 3-d model of Folic Acid
It is now official - the National Government has passed a standard requiring bread manufacturers to 'fortify' bread with Folic Acid.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority website has this to say: "Bread manufacturers have been given two years to start adding Folic Acid to bread. From September 2009, most bread in New Zealand will be legally required to contain Folic Acid. Fortified bread will contain around 135 micrograms of Folic Acid for every 100 grams of bread, that’s about 2-3 slices. Organic bread will be exempt from mandatory fortification with Folic Acid, providing consumers the option to purchase unfortified bread as well."
Market research survey has found that 87% of those surveyed do not want mandatory 'fortification' of bread with Folic Acid. I love that use of 'fortification' - it's so reassuring. Not.
Luckily as bakers of organic bread we are exempt from this law AND we think it's a bad idea. Remembering how much bread I ate as a teenager it worries me that teenagers amongst others, will be ingesting too much Folic Acid. And some research suggests that Folic Acid causes colon cancer.
And how does the government plan to police it, I wonder? What are your thoughts on the Folic Acid debate? Let us know.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 14th June, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: folic acid
World Environment Day
Today, June 5, is World Environment Day, formerly known as Arbor Day. This year it is being hosted in Mexico.
On one lonely day of the year, the UN 'stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action' - reminds us to consider the environment. Throughout the rest of the year, we can go back to pretending we live in a clean green country.
Sadly for us, we listen to our own hype. Clean green? One of the main factor in our veneer of 'clean green' is the size of our population. If a much bigger population had been allowed to live with our wastefulness and carelessness, 'clean green' would be a nonsense.
And we have been prepared to believe to this nonsense rather than make real change to our attitudes and our decisions about the environment - we've brushed environmental issues under the carpet. Landfills are a good example - it's great we are thinking about landfills but we also have to consider the farm land that is damaged every time a new one opens...
But it's never too late to rethink these things, to Get Real. We have to support organic agriculture which values the land, and values real sustainability. So here's to fresh thinking on World Environment Day.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 6th June, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: world environment day, organic
Encouraging organic milk
As you know from reading this blog, we are interested in cows and milk. And in researching this subject, the Fonterra website revealed that they are discreetly encouraging farmers to produce organic milk - I say discreetly because information about this was buried several layers down in the website structure amongst organic product information.
Apparently Fonterra offer an incentive to dairy farmers of $90 per cow over three years to switch their practices to organic ones. The website wasn't specific but offered email addresses throughout the country for anyone wanting to become a Fonterra organic supplier. This is all good news!
And coincidentally Country Calendar came to the party with "Of Milk and Honey" an episode on the Williams family, South Island high country farmers who farm organically - cows, bees, vegetables, sheep. Unfortunately the interviewer missed good soundbite opportunities with the Williams son running the dairy operation.
Before being asked what his mates thought about him farming organically (who cares), he did manage to say that organic dairy farming was ultimately healthier for the cows.
What we already know - but it's great to hear it on prime time television!
Posted by Robert Glensor on 30th May, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: milk, Fonterra, animal welfar
May for Music
 Ukuleles rule!
But if you don't feel like braving the cold, feel to concerned about what's left of your hearing, or too old to go to a live act, have you considered learning an instrument yourself? Everywhere I go lately there are people who have taken up the ukulele.
Why the ukulele? It's so easy - really - which makes it perfect to sing along with, and singing and playing is such fun. I know, I sound like a convert but go on, give it a whirl and see for yourself. There is bound to be a ukulele group near you giving lessons.
A friend recently went to the South by South West Music Festival in Austin, Texas. She reported back that in every nook and cranny and back alley of Austin, could be found someone playing something. Wouldn't it be great to have that much music here?
Instead of having to tolerate other people's musical tastes at parties and social gatherings, we could be playing the music ourselves. Utopian dreams, I know. But music - especially playing it and singing it - soothes the soul. Let's make music month ours.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 22nd May, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: New Zealand Music Month, ukulele
Water water everywhere...
At Pararoa Bakery water is important. We have a special system to filter sediment and chlorine, as well as what is known as a living water system based on bio-dynamic principals.
On the Kapiti Coast where Pararoa is based, water has recently become political. The Kapiti District Council propose a water usage charge based on water metering. Yes, Kapiti Coast residents may have to pay for the water they use.
Perhaps if we have to pay for water we will become conscious and considerate of water wastage. And if we have to pay for water, we might also demand to know about the true quality of our water - are their metals or toxins in it?
Against water metering is the argument that larger households are inevitably disadvantaged, while those who can afford to buy it, can probably also afford to waste it. And would a water charging regime signal the beginning of fully commercialised water?
In regions like the Kapiti Coast with a plentiful supply of rain, the real issue is long term water storage, water conservation education, and household assistance with filtered water collection.
How does water work in your region? Tell us what you think: is water a right, free for all? Or should we pay for it?
Posted by Robert Glensor on 16th May, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: water, Kapiti Coast, Pararoa Bakery, living water system
More Cow Talk
 Leave me my tail
Essentially the industy follows one dairy farming model - a model based on a milking shed with a concrete floor. After each milking (in season twice a day) the floor of the milking shed is hosed down to clean all the cow shit out. All that water then makes its way outside into the paddocks, and from there into the streams, and you know the rest.
All this water makes the paddocks soggy and as the cows walk through these soggy paddocks backwards and forwards to the milking shed, their feet get constantly wet. Damp hooves make for foot infections. These foot infections are treated with antibiotics. Guess where these antibiotics end up... in the milk I'm thinking.
Posted by Robert Glensor on 20th April, 2009 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Animal welfare, dairy farming
A tale of a tail
I needed to walk one of my cows up the road the other day to see a boy. Twas a lovely hot Te Horo day and a few flies were present.
Was really great to see the tail action of 'Cardie' which very effectively stopped the flys from stopping in one spot.
It was then I realised again how awful and frustrating and I believe cruel that many of our dairy farmers cut
the tails off to make life easier and cleaner for themselves.
I say we BAN this barbaric selfish behaviour.
What do you say?????
Posted by Robert Glensor on 9th March, 2009 | Comments | Trackbacks | Permalink
Tags: Animal welfare, dairy farming, SPCA
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