When you become a FIG member you receive weekly email updates of what’s happening, produce tips, etc, however this week we simply had too much to share! Once again there is information and also some events happening which Figgies like to know about, so here are a few of them, in this, the
National Organic Week!
(Updated Friday evening 8th Oct)
The co-op is not in the business of telling anyone what and how to eat!
However, we do encourage the eating of more vegetables and fruit, grown, of course, minus the chemicals! Whether you’re a vegan, raw foodie, you eat meat twice a day or twice a year, or prefer cooked food and only eat an occasional salad, the consensus amongst many in the health profession seems to be that the more fresh plant food we can consume, the better. We’re finding all sorts of information, all the time, and even found this: a short clip of former USA President, Bill Clinton, whom has experienced heart problems in the past with by-pass surgery highly reported in the media world-wide and more to insert some stents, and who has now been following the advice of two medical doctors, Esselstyn and Ornish, and eating a diet rich in plant-based foods.
We encourage you to make your own enquiries about your health and to learn what’s best for YOU and your family.
One FIG member is a Naturopath and she has given us the following information on detoxing for Spring...
A Spring clean!
I wonder if you would like to inform your people, through your newsletter, of the importance of this spring season to start cooking up their organic garlic and lemons... The formula is 30 cloves of organic garlic and 5 whole lemons: chop as small as possible or use a food processor, then add 1 litre water; bring to the boil and turn off. You may eat as is or strain off. 30 Mls for adults to consume daily and 10-20 mls for children. Keep in the fridge once cold, and take a dose each day anytime. In 3 weeks, one''s blood and arteries may be unblocked and as well the lungs being clearer of mucus as the liver also gets assistance of blood purifying from the sourness combined with the pungent, to clean us out. Repeat this process again in Autumn.
Three weeks is usually enough however, if you wish to do again, break a week after the 3 weeks and cook up again another batch for another 3 weeks, especially if you are suffering from high cholesterol.. This detox does not interfere with any medication, nor does it leave any bad odour or garlic smell as the boiling process with the lemons skins and all make it taste rather nice, with no after taste or smell of the garlic on the breath.
From your friendly local naturopath, Catherine.
(Note: FIG has ordered extra garlic and lemons for this coming Monday if you want to try this, and will do so in future weeks on request).
Permaculture Central Coast, Tuesday, 19th October
Ecological Thinking and Action - Healthy Living Soils = Healthy Living People
Peter Rutherford will be talking about the health of soils and the food we grow in those soils directly in relation to the health of us. Promises to be a fabulous talk, and begins at 7pm in the Tuggerah Hall, 9 Anzac Road, Tuggerah. Entry by donation.
The topic for next week's Insight program on SBS will be on Organic produce – 7.30pm on Tuesday 12th October, repeated at 1.30 Friday.
The Sydney Food Fairness Alliance presents two lively and thought provoking Q&A style forums as part of the Sydney International Food Festival!
When food systems collide
When Food Systems Collide is a Q&A style forum, moderated by Daily Telegraph restaurant critic Simon Thomsen, that will explore the costs and benefits of our current food system and examine the value of alternative models of production and distribution. The audience is invited to ask challenging questions of a panel of experts including CEO of Garden Organic UK, Myles Bremner; new Green member of the NSW Legislative Council, Cate Faehrmann; Woolworths Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Andrew Hall; and Founder of the Organic Traders' and Consumers' Network, Catriona Macmillan.
When: 6.30pm on Wednesday 13 October 2010
Where: Sydney Mechanics School of the Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
Cost: $15 or $10 for members or concession (cash only on the night)
Helping Ourselves
Restaurant critic for the Daily Telegraph Simon Thomsen will moderate this Q&A style forum that will explore the innovative ways that people are providing for themselves and debate how to best work to foster access to enough, healthy food for all Sydneysiders. Audience members are invited to asks questions of a panel of experts including The Reverend Bill Crews from The Exodus Foundation; Ronni Kahn from Oz Harvest; and Simon Gregory from Food For Life community supermarket.
When: 6.30pm on Thursday 21 October 2010
Where: Sydney Mechanics School of the Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
Cost: $15 or $10 for members and concession (cash only on the night)
Refreshments from Agape Restaurant, Iggy's Bakery and B-d Paris Creek Farm will be served at both these functions.
Think Global, Eat Local
TAFE Outreach, Wyong, is holding a 6 week course from Thurs 28th Oct until 2nd Dec, 9.30 - 2.00pm. Learn more about Permaculture, and how it can provide some solutions to living more sustainably. Have you always wanted to grow your own vegies? The focus will be on local food production, and developing practical skills to create your own vegie and herb garden. For bookings in this FREE course, ring 4350 2370.
Woytopia Festival
Woy Woy's festival of Sustainability, Arts, Music & Community
Where: Woy Woy South Primary School - Woy Woy - Entrance via Waterloo Avenue
Date : Sunday 31st October 2010
Time : 10am - 4pm
Junkbusters!
The marketing of unhealthy food to children has been recognised as a probable causal factor in childhood overweight and obesity. With one in four Australian children and adolescents either overweight or obese it is time to take action. Cancer Council NSW has launched Junkbusters, a one stop shop to help parents navigate the complex food marketing regulations. Junkbusters helps concerned people take action against inappropriate food marketing targeting children. The Junkbusters website will collect information reflecting public concern about food marketing to children, and record outcomes from formal complaint processes. This information will provide an independent indicator of the effectiveness of current regulations and identify if there's a need for national statutory regulation to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food marketing. Be a Junkbuster!
Aussie kids aren't guinea pigs, label GM Now
Independent testing conducted by Greenpeace has discovered that some of Australia's leading brands of infant formula are contaminated with traces of genetically modified (GM) organisms. These GM organisms have never been proven safe for people to eat; and have certainly never been proven safe for babies to eat. Because these products carry no GM label, Australian parents currently have no idea they are feeding GM to their babies. Please help stop this from happening. Demand that all GM foods be labelled. Visit http://www.greenpeace.org.au/gmbaby and take action now!
Vegie growers concerned about imports:
Organic farmers try to get a bite of the apple
“Rural Australia is really hurting. And the cuts to services really hurt. Health services are cut, banks close, schools close, farmers suicide. Areas have 21% unemployment. We are bleeding people in the country… Yet organic farming is a sunrise and success story going against the trend,” said Andre Leu, a tropical fruit farmer from northern Queensland, chair of the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) and vice-president of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). Read the full article here, http://blogs.crikey.com.au/rooted/2010/08/27/organic-farmers-try-to-get-a-bite-of-the-apple/ which also includes: “Moving from conventional to organic farming takes a few years, but results in more drought hardy soil with better water absorption, thanks to increased humus content. Carmel Righetti, a Victorian sheep farmer who supplies organic wool to luxury fashion labels Metalicus and Gorman, says “conventional farmers need to be freed from the burden and oppression of big multinationals”, who often control supply, debt and pesticides used by conventional farmers. Australia has more hectares of land used for organic production than any other nation in the world. Global organic sales are worth $50 billion annually, and the beggest markets are the US and Europe, although the Asian market is growing 15-20% annually.
Free workshops in the Lake Macquarie district
New Waste Not Want Not Workshop
Find out ways to reuse and recycle in more ways than you thought imaginable! Create something new from reclaimed items
When: Friday 15 October 2010
Where: Charlestown Mulit-purpose Centre
Time: 11am - 2pm
Cost: Free
Delightful Decomposition
Come and learn how to break things down with worms and compost, only to build things up again in a no-dig vegie patch
Workshop 1
When: Wednesday 3 November 2010
Where: Charlestown Swim Centre
Time: 8:30am -11:30am
Cost: Free
Workshop 2
When: Saturday 13 November 2010
Where: St Luke's Church Belmont
Time: 8:30am -11:30am
Cost: Free
Last but not least, a few words from Dr Max Gerson: "Our modern food, the 'normal' food people eat is bottled, poisoned, canned, color added, powdered, frozen, dipped in acids, sprayed--no longer normal. We no longer have living, normal food, our food and drink is a mass of dead, poisoned material, and one cannot cure very sick people by adding poisons to their systems.”
And he said that a few decades ago! Time to revert to a natural way of eating, methinks...
Thanks to our members who have submitted some of the information and links for this post today… See you at the co-op!
