6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in
6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in 6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in
THE GRAPEVINE | News the grapevine Environmental news and updates compiled by Jo Immig Organic farming tax credit now law in Hawaii In a first for the USA, Hawaiian lawmakers have introduced a state-funded tax credit for certified-organic food production designed to complement existing programs by offsetting the financial barriers to organic certification. The new tax credit covers a wide range of costs associated with organic farming not covered under existing cost-share programs and will extend to items such as equipment, materials and supplies necessary for organic certification. During the legislative debate, speakers recognised the need to support a new generation of farmers to grow food and jobs into the future. Speakers noted a vibrant organic farming system is a vital component of a healthy, sustainable food future. centerforfoodsafety.org innovation across the food industry. Forum organisers propose the next 15 years will be decisive for people and the planet. If we are to address the enormous challenges we face, such as climate change, we need to muster innovative solutions that cut across current silos of knowledge and power. While organisers praise international agreements and policies already in place, they cite the lack of action, implementation and accountability as the missing ingredients to getting us to where we need to go. Alessandro Demaio, a participant of the forum and blogger for the Huffington Post, summarised some of the key game-changing ideas that emerged from EAT Stockholm. Accept complexity. The world is complex and interconnected in ways that are beyond our imagination. We don’t have endless time to get to grips with the complexities of everything before we act. This thinking leads to a paralysis and endless discussions about complexity. Rather, we need to embrace it and thrive in a complex environment. Seek simplicity. It seems ironic but within the complexity and endless noise of “super-wicked” problems such as climate change, focusing on inter-linkages presents opportunities for converging solutions. Since things are interconnected, it’s likely there are common opportunities to address multiple problems. Simple goals such as “zero waste”, for instance, encapsulate multiple, complex challenges, but set the compass in the right direction and the rest will follow. Leverage connections. The food system is a complex network of farmers, processors, marketers, retailers, transporters and consumers. An action done in one link of the chain has effects elsewhere. We need to work with the whole food system if we are seeking to fundamentally change it. We are 7.4 billion people on the planet who eat every day, so our collective impact is big. Similarly, Can food save the world? This was the question on everybody’s lips at the EAT Stockholm Food Forum 2016, the third in a series of forums designed to bring together experts across multiple disciplines to consider how to shift food systems “towards sustainability, security and equity within the boundaries of our planet”. The forum zeroed in on consumption and production patterns, cities, accountability, technology and CanStockPhoto, Johan Lygrell 10 | Good Organic Gardening
News | THE GRAPEVINE small changes taken up by millions of people can amplify solutions. Cutting back on meat consumption, wasting less food and cutting out single-use plastic bags, if done by enough people, will have a significant effect. Finally, it’s time to move from the contemplative phase into action. Food is our most powerful narrative, so vote with your fork. Start today, there’s no time to waste and you will make a difference. Psst. Pass it on. eatforum.org Plants’ fungi and their ability to slow climate change An important piece of scientific research has quantified what has long been suspected: that some plants take in extra carbon dioxide levels. Due to human activities, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are increasing and creating a planet-wide greenhouse effect, stimulating plant growth. Plants are currently absorbing about 30 per cent of human CO 2 emissions. If the levels of CO 2 keep rising, can plants keep absorbing it? Scientists from the Imperial College London in the UK have revealed the answer lies in understanding the microscopic fungi that associate with the roots of a host plant. According to the findings, plants fall into two categories: those that take advantage of ectomycorrhizal fungi, ECM plants, and those that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AM plants. ECM plants can take advantage of the higher carbon dioxide levels, whereas AM plants cannot because the fungus affects how much nitrogen a plant can access from the soil. Grassland plants typically associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, so have a limited role in taking up excess carbon dioxide, while coniferous forest plants typically associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi and can take up more carbon dioxide. The incorporation of mycorrhizae in global carbon accounting is feasible and will more accurately project ecosystem responses and feedbacks to climate change. science.sciencemag.org/ content/353/6294/72 Did you know? The Environmental Toothbrush TM is a simple solution to help save our planet. In Australia we put over 30 Million Plastic toothbrushes (1000 tonnes) into landfill each year. The plastic they are made from will not break down in your lifetime nor in the lifetime of your children. Made from bamboo, they are biodegradable and environmentally sustainable. Available in Adult Soft, Adult Medium and Child Soft A better way to do the washing! We all know that laundry detergents are toxic, for us and for the environment. But, did you know that Soap Nuts will do an outstanding job cleaning your washing with no need for fabric softeners or other additives? Or use them as soap for personal use, or an outstanding general cleanser. Say goodbye to those skin allergies caused by your detergents! From 100g to 1kg Good Organic Gardening | 11
- Page 1: grow naturally, eat fresh, live sus
- Page 6 and 7: CONTENTS 18 16 Contents 8 Editor’
- Page 8: grow naturally, eat fresh, live sus
- Page 13 and 14: With melissa king | THE SEASONAL GA
- Page 16 and 17: CLEVER CROP | Gourd Oh my gourd Her
- Page 18 and 19: PLANT PROFILE | Capsicum CanStockPh
- Page 20 and 21: PLANT PROFILE | Capsicum — but so
- Page 22 and 23: POWER PLANT | Rosemary wine o’clo
- Page 24 and 25: FAMILY HEIRLOOMS | Zucchini Top per
- Page 26 and 27: FAMILY HEIRLOOMS | Zucchini fruit t
- Page 28 and 29: GARDENING FOLK | Ann & Steve Robert
- Page 30 and 31: GARDENING FOLK | Ann & Steve Robert
- Page 32 and 33: GARDENING FOLK | Sean Morrow wildli
- Page 34 and 35: GARDENING FOLK | Sean Morrow which
- Page 36 and 37: GARDENING FOLK | Frank & Anita Vell
- Page 38 and 39: GARDENING FOLK | Frank & Anita Vell
- Page 40 and 41: TIME TO PLANT | Celery - in the - v
- Page 42 and 43: TIME TO PLANT | Parsley Words Jenni
- Page 44 and 45: TIME TO PLANT | Scarlet runner bean
- Page 46 and 47: TIME TO PLANT | Taro - in the - veg
- Page 48 and 49: TIME TO PLANT | Honeydew melon - in
- Page 50 and 51: WEEKEND GARDENING | Water wisdom WA
- Page 52 and 53: WEEKEND GARDENING | Water wisdom I
- Page 54 and 55: WEEKEND GARDENING | Summer shade TH
- Page 56 and 57: WEEKEND GARDENING | Summer shade Su
- Page 58 and 59: PEST PATROL | Beneficial insects We
THE GRAPEVINE | News<br />
the grapev<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Environmental news and updates compiled by Jo Immig<br />
<strong>Organic</strong> farm<strong>in</strong>g<br />
tax credit now law<br />
<strong>in</strong> Hawaii<br />
In a first for the USA, Hawaiian lawmakers<br />
have <strong>in</strong>troduced a state-funded tax credit for<br />
certified-organic food production designed to<br />
complement exist<strong>in</strong>g programs by offsett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the f<strong>in</strong>ancial barriers to organic certification.<br />
The new tax credit covers a wide range<br />
of costs associated with organic farm<strong>in</strong>g<br />
not covered under exist<strong>in</strong>g cost-share<br />
programs and will extend to items such<br />
as equipment, materials and supplies<br />
necessary for organic certification.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the legislative debate, speakers<br />
recognised the need to support a new<br />
generation of farmers to grow food and jobs<br />
<strong>in</strong>to the future. Speakers noted a vibrant<br />
organic farm<strong>in</strong>g system is a vital component<br />
of a healthy, susta<strong>in</strong>able food future.<br />
centerforfoodsafety.org<br />
<strong>in</strong>novation across the food <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />
Forum organisers propose the next 15<br />
years will be decisive for people and the<br />
planet. If we are to address the enormous<br />
challenges we face, such as climate change,<br />
we need to muster <strong>in</strong>novative solutions that<br />
cut across current silos of knowledge and<br />
power. While organisers praise <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
agreements and policies already <strong>in</strong> place,<br />
they cite the lack of action, implementation<br />
and accountability as the miss<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>gredients<br />
to gett<strong>in</strong>g us to where we need to go.<br />
Alessandro Demaio, a participant of<br />
the forum and blogger for the Huff<strong>in</strong>gton<br />
Post, summarised some of the key<br />
game-chang<strong>in</strong>g ideas that emerged<br />
from EAT Stockholm.<br />
Accept complexity. The world is complex<br />
and <strong>in</strong>terconnected <strong>in</strong> ways that are beyond<br />
our imag<strong>in</strong>ation. We don’t have endless<br />
time to get to grips with the complexities of<br />
everyth<strong>in</strong>g before we act. This th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g leads<br />
to a paralysis and endless discussions about<br />
complexity. Rather, we need to embrace it and<br />
thrive <strong>in</strong> a complex environment.<br />
Seek simplicity. It seems ironic but<br />
with<strong>in</strong> the complexity and endless noise of<br />
“super-wicked” problems such as climate<br />
change, focus<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>ter-l<strong>in</strong>kages presents<br />
opportunities for converg<strong>in</strong>g solutions. S<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs are <strong>in</strong>terconnected, it’s likely there are<br />
common opportunities to address multiple<br />
problems. Simple goals such as “zero waste”,<br />
for <strong>in</strong>stance, encapsulate multiple, complex<br />
challenges, but set the compass <strong>in</strong> the right<br />
direction and the rest will follow.<br />
Leverage connections. The food system is<br />
a complex network of farmers, processors,<br />
marketers, retailers, transporters and<br />
consumers. An action done <strong>in</strong> one l<strong>in</strong>k of<br />
the cha<strong>in</strong> has effects elsewhere. We need to<br />
work with the whole food system if we are<br />
seek<strong>in</strong>g to fundamentally change it. We are<br />
7.4 billion people on the planet who eat every<br />
day, so our collective impact is big. Similarly,<br />
Can food save the<br />
world?<br />
This was the question on everybody’s lips at<br />
the EAT Stockholm Food Forum <strong>2016</strong>, the<br />
third <strong>in</strong> a series of forums designed to br<strong>in</strong>g<br />
together experts across multiple discipl<strong>in</strong>es to<br />
consider how to shift food systems “towards<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ability, security and equity with<strong>in</strong><br />
the boundaries of our planet”. The forum<br />
zeroed <strong>in</strong> on consumption and production<br />
patterns, cities, accountability, technology and<br />
CanStockPhoto, Johan Lygrell<br />
10 | <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Organic</strong> <strong>Garden<strong>in</strong>g</strong>