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| Pictures taken at permaculture property in November 2013. The proteas (on left) are native to South Africa but grow strongly in Australia. |
Recently I
had the good fortune to spend a few days on a permaculture property, eighty acres
in size. Spending time on this property was a real restorative and eye opener
in so many different ways.
However,
I’ll begin at the beginning. As a young child I grew up with parents who
believed in growing as much of their own produce as possible. Our small
suburban block was filled with seasonal vegetables, berries, some herbs and an
array of fruit trees. My memories are filled with days playing in the rich loamy
soil, grabbing a handful of fat worms and watching their antics as
they attempted to get back into the darkness of the world they inhabit.
At the end
of the growing season my father would dig deep into the earth and enrich the
soil with animal manure, hay and other nitrogen enriching substances. I watched
him make his own sprays (non-toxic) to prevent pests from decimating his crops.
Overall it was an enriching experience watching small plants grow from seed and
mature into large plants bearing abundance, season after season.
Best of all
was the delicious taste of homegrown tomatoes, strawberries and a multitude of
produce that was harvested every year. In some ways this experience has
resulted in my taste buds being ‘fussy’, wanting only quality organic produce
and finding the mass produced non-organic fruits and vegetables sold in
supermarkets a poor and inferior tasting product.
In her book
“Green for Life” Victoria Boutenko
cites scientific research that shows the mineral and trace element differences
between organic and conventionally grown produce. The differences are
astounding, with organic produce having significantly larger amounts of the
essential nutrients our bodies need for optimal health and functioning.
A clear
example of the nutritional differences is found in spinach.
Organic
spinach contains 28.56% total mineral ash, whereas conventional spinach
contains only 12.38%. Calcium in organic spinach is 96.0 compared to 47.5 in
commercially grown spinach. Trace amounts of iron in organic spinach are 1584.0
compared with 49.0 for conventional spinach.
Organic
tomatoes contain 1938.0 trace amounts of iron per million dry matter compared
with 1.0 in commercially grown tomatoes. Need I say more?
The whole
continuum of minerals and trace elements in organic produce differs
significantly from commercially grown produce. It is not just that organic
tastes better, it actually contains more nutrients and health giving
properties.
I hear many
people say they can’t afford to buy organic as it’s too expensive. My question
is, “Can you afford not to?” because ultimately poor diet has been shown to
severely affect health.
I’ve
learned that eating organic foods means:
(1) less food is needed to feel satisfied; (2) the body’s energy levels
are increased; (3) feelings of wellbeing increase; and (4) ultimately the
body’s immune system is strengthened resulting in fewer doctor’s visits, which
in turn saves heaps on medical bills.
If you are
unable to afford to buy all organic at least ensure you purchase these organic products,
as the commercial produce is heavily contaminated by pesticides and herbicides and in the
industry are referred to as the ‘Dirty
Dozen’ – apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, bell peppers,
nectarines, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and hot peppers.
Investigative
reporter Phillip Day (www.credence.org) has extensively researched the
scientific and medical data and presents clear information on the correlation
between wellness and healthy diet. He cites countless instances where severe,
even life threatening illnesses have been healed due to individuals changing to
consistent healthy eating habits.
If you
aren’t yet aware of the dangers of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our
food chain then I encourage you to click on the link below and see what David
Suzuki has to say about their harmful effects on health and on our environment.
By the way,
organic foods are GMO free. Labeling of GMOs in commercially grown produce is
not mandatory, and I can guarantee that no food manufacturer wants to see GMO
labeling on their produce because they know it’s harmful to human health.
Permaculture
– a sustainable agriculture
When I
spent time on the permaculture property I witnessed some powerful agriculture
practices.
1. The land was free of noxious weeds
due to the owner’s diligence in farming practices to ensure that the natural
landscape was in no way denuded. Trees that had fallen down were left to decay,
providing nourishment to the surrounding environment.
2. Non-arable land had been converted
to lush, productive growth using permaculture principles.
3. Animal waste (from goats, ducks and chickens)
provided natural manure to enrich soils and promote healthy plant growth.
4. Animals were allowed to roam over
vast tracts of land – ensuring that fertilizer and soil enrichment processes
were ongoing.
5. Garden beds were planted on top of
the ground, and a mix of fruit bearing trees were planted to provide shade
where needed.
6. There was no mono-cropping (which
promotes pests and plant diseases), instead a mixed variety of vegetables and
herbs were grown side by side.
7. No herbicides, pesticides or toxins at
all were used.
8. Love, joy and enthusiasm were
evident in all the animal husbandry and growing practices I observed.
What can
you do?
Even if you
don’t have a backyard or an inclination to adopt permaculture practices it’s
possible to make some changes to support the Earth and your local environment.
1. Buy organic as much and as often as
possible.
2. Buy produce from local growers.
Often they don’t spray their crops but cannot afford the horrendously expensive
costs associated with being able to label a product ‘Organic’.
3. Experiment with growing plants in
tubs or in small garden beds. There is nothing quite like the taste of eating
freshly hand-picked organic tomatoes. Yes, ensure that you use organic seeds
for your produce!
4. As you become more adept at growing
your own produce then begin collecting seeds for next season’s garden.
5. Read, study and experiment as much
as possible. I love dehydrating my excess produce, making herbal concoctions,
healing salves, etc. Often I have lots of success, other times I learn big time
from my ‘mistakes’.
6. Avoid processed and refined foods as
much as possible. Make meals from scratch using organic ingredients at every
opportunity.
7. Try raw meals for a change. Feel the
difference in energy levels and see how your skin glows. When more than 50% of
your daily diet is raw you are feeding your body the essential amino acids
needed for good health. Personally I prefer 75% or more of daily food intake to
be from organic raw foods.
Benefits
of Earthing
‘Earthing’
is the new term for connecting your body with the earth. As a young child I
spent a great deal of time outdoors, rolling around on the ground and
connecting with the earth. Nowadays most children and adults spend their
days inside, eyes transfixed on a technology device. This means a great deal of
the benefits of earthing are being missed.
Did you
know that walking barefoot for up to an hour a day has tremendous health
benefits? Ailments such as back, knee, hip and joint pain disappear and the
body realigns itself naturally when walking barefoot. In addition, the toxins
accumulated from exposure to ‘dirty electricity’ (electromagnetic frequencies
from wi-fi etc) are released from the body and absorbed into the earth.
If you are
interested in learning more about Earthing I recommend “Earthing” by Clint
Ober. Websites containing extensive information and earthing tools include www.earthing.com, www.earthinginstitute.com and www.rawpleasure.com.au.
Reverting
to natural growing practices and reconnecting with the healing properties of
our amazing planet are a couple of ways of restoring wellbeing and optimal
health.
The owner
of the permaculture property exuded excellent health. Her body is robust and
strong. Her skin glows. Her eyes are clear and strong. Her mind is sharp. As a
senior she shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, she attests her wellness to
living a simple, natural and wholesome life, connecting with the Earth and
spending a lot of time being outdoors doing physical work.
