Merri Bee Organic Farm goes to the Nannup Food Bowl festival

Friday 25th of October was a good day for many students from South West schools when they visited the Nannup Food Bowl, and Merri Bee Organic farm was there, albeit on the fringe, with Giz Watson,  Greens MLC. We took our alpacas and 3 little pigs down to the town. As usual I forgot my camera. The pigs seemed to enjoy the social occasion but I can't say the same for the alpacas who seemed to be working up spit balls fairly often.

We are there this morning with divine GREENS food calendars and  a food for thought spiel :

 We at Merri Bee Organic Farm are into Permaculture.  On our very small patch (27 acres) we’ve been developing Permaculture for 25 years, building soils and establishing food forests which bring rain and oxygen  to our region and soak up carbon.  We are increasing biodiversity  on our land by simply letting it be, and by importing the best food and fibre plants from all over the globe. With every passing year we introduce many new plants and see and hear new insects, birds and animals. Like a deepening soil, the better it gets, the better it gets, and more complexity means greater resilience , true wealth and  abundance..... like 13 new muscovey ducks all of a sudden.

Our beautiful planet, strangely enough the only one known to be habitable out of the millions discovered out there in the universe, needs Permaculture’s simple ethics now: care of people and all Earth’s ecosystems,  Due to the activities of a rampant human  population, ( a small 20% of which  use 80% of the world’s resources,) in my half -century lifetime there’s been  a huge loss in vegetation and biodiversity coupled with an unprecedented fossil energy use. This has lead to excessive atmospheric carbon and to climate change just as predicted in my teenage years when it was “a minute to midnight”. Now flood, drought, pollution and continual loss of soil threaten all lives on Earth.

We join others whose mission it is to keep open pollinated seed stocks alive. We are saving and selling seed of hundreds of useful plants which may not always be readily available due to current practices such as genetic engineering and the irradiation of imported beans and grains. Seed catalogue here: http://merribeeorganicfarm.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/merri-bee-organic-seeds_3190.html

We have campaigned long and hard to maintain the moratorium on GM crops in WA, as for one thing canola is a brassica related to dozens of  common vegetables we grow, and GM canola will eventually contaminate seed stocks of plants like broccoli , kale  and radish. www.madge.org.au and www.foodwatch.net.au

We have well proven you don’t need synthetic fertilizers and that food tastes indescribably better with natural fertilisers like compost and mulch. A typical fertiliser (urea) factory emits 3.5  million tons of carbon into the air and uses 12 gigaliters of water per annum.  We have proven that with a bit of health building exercise you don’t need  fuel driven tractors, NPK granules, herbicides or pesticides and when you have the help of animals like earthworms, pigs, ducks  and chooks doing the  fertilizing, weeding  and pest control for you ( and lovin’ it), the environment stays clean.  By growing you own food or buying fresh food  from local organic farmers you reduce the 37% of Australia’s GHG emissions which result from Agriculture: the growing, transport , packaging  and  refrigeration of food. And btw, the health of those who eat as nature intended is usually excellent.

So we are here in Nannup,  growing  and preserving hundreds of different delicious organic  fruits, veg, nuts and herbs. We produce quality eggs, pork, lamb and beef dairy and freshly ground whole meal sourdough breads. We do regular deliveries to the southwest towns of Nannup Busselton, Bunbury and Perth, and have been mentioned favourably in many a publication: Spice magazine, 2009 edition of The Food Lovers Guide to Perth, Vogue Gourmet  Traveller, Scoop magazine to name a few.

  Keep your eyes out for the   Merri Bee Organic Food  van or tent  at events this year such as   Nannup Music Festival and Balingup Small Farm Field Day. We glow with pride to hear comments such as “This food rocks” and “My kids wouldn’t eat eggs until they tasted yours, now they eat 2 a day”. And “Ive just had one of your meals and it was like a religious experience”. No wonder we love festivals.

I thank the Universe for the forests that surround Nannup, our beautiful country, for my wonderful partner Stewart and son Lee, and the help of some terrific young ones who come to our corner to learn about Permaculture and help us on the big task of revegetating the world and truly nourishing people. If you would like to join us on an internship please email me here beewinfield@westnet.com.au

Do yourself, your family  and Mother Earth a favour ….  contact us for the best and  tastiest  fresh produce. Your support enables our work.  Good health and daily wonderment to you!

Milking again. Hooray!

Well had a rough  calving season. The sad result  is  10 new cows  on a new property in Karridale became 8. Yes, and we were right there 4 out of 4 difficult calvings.  Seems like there may be too much grass leading to too big a calf? We have had 3 deceased calves,2 deceased cows and 2 only just saved. There were a couple of cases of what we suspect was grass tetany. With one cow  Stew was right beside her. We  had a vet attend  but he would  would not provide the  magnesium solution we believe  would have saved her life.  Even at home here in Nannup the cow pictured above, Jersey, came very close to death with this dramatic disease which is caused by a magnesium deficiency. Any stress, like a difficult birth, can trigger off convulsions and muscle spasms , cow goes down and struggles to get back up, head arches back, teeth grind together audibly, frothing at the mouth, rapid breathing. Treatment  consists of a solution of magnesium  in a bag delivered by subcutaneous injection. 20 minutes or so after the solution enters the cow they usually get up and are OK., that is if they don't require another bag. In Jersey's case she did need 2. We once again   called the vet ( a different one) but in the hour long wait for help to arrive she deteriorated and came very close to death. She moped around for 3 days after that refusing to eat the garlic and raspberry tea I made her. She was touch and go but finally came good and was back to being bossy. She adopted a new calf we obtained from our very helpful dairy farmer friends . PREVENTION is the name of the game for this disease and "milk fever" or otherwise named "calving paralysis" which is similarly dramatic and deadly disease but is caused by a lack of calcium.   Magnesium and calcium naturally occurs in a rock called dolomite. We have spread ground up dolomite lime  on the paddocks here in Nannup 4 years ago but indications are we need to do it again. Mean while we will put a magnesium oxide dust on the paddocks at Karridale and in the water troughs today to try and prevent any cows yet to calve having these difficulties. After all our trevails it is really nice to report that Jersey and Moon the calf are doing well and we , the pigs , chooks and the cat and dog are loving the  milk. I am going to pasteurize some and see if the animals reject it.Update! Our dog and cat proved only one thing: that they like milk. They didn't care if it was heated or raw, they clearly enjoyed it either way and had no preference. Sorry if that disappoints you.

Moonie a few moths later with his "Aunty Jane".

 Jersey has stopped bothering to kick after a week long  a battle of wills. I seem to have won , and the result is one and half buckets of milk every morning . With lashings of thick cream and a plethora of eggs It is truly a land flowing with milk and honey in spring. I feel  ice cream  production is next on the agenda. Made with honey this will be very special food for invalids and babies , full of vitamin A and D as Dr Weston Price ordered.  Nearly finished Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston Price. One of the most profound  books I have ever read. Will be doing  a book review soon. His message is of monumental importance and is very very different to current trends. There could be nothing more important for teenagers to hear, as the health of the next generation is being formed by the diet of parents- to- be way before conception.

Merri Bee Organic Seeds

Merri Bee Organic Seed Catalogue
  

The seeds we sell are produced on our  organic farm from plants we have found particularly good . They are the result of a long search for a great tasting vegetable that will grow in the hot  dry / cold wet conditions we experience here. If we can maintain them they must be tough! So these are seeds of productive, drought and disease resistant  plants, the plants that  have fed us over 3 decades  Nannup ( W.A., not Washington, in the Southwest of Western Austraila). 
We pride ourselves on the freshness of  short viability seed such as carrot and parsnip. 

These are open pollinated non hybrid seeds….meaning you can continue on the tradition by saving seeds for yourself. Select the best all round plant which has the traits you desire.

At Merri Bee Organic Farmacy we have over 100 species of fruit and nut growing in our  food forest so we are well placed to provide  the seed diversity necessary for a truly sustainable and self-reliant food system. We wish to supply urban and rural organic agriculture movements with an alternative to  industrially produced, corporate-owned seeds. It  is our hope that many gardeners will look to Merri Bee as a source for local seed sovereignty.

The seed revolution is underway as communities do what comes naturally — grow food, save seeds, and share the harvest. We're seeing the rebirth of seed saving as an essential part of home gardening and local resilience.

 If you have discovered a really useful Permaculture plant and saved its seeds, we want to hear from you!

The brassica  family include a  long list of vegetables, ( broccoli, cabbage,  kale, rocket, radish, pakchoy to name some) , and you will notice they include  the most nutritious vegetables you can eat, claimed particularly effective at preventing cancer. It is possible for Genetically Engineered canola, which is permitted in WA,  to hybridize with brassica vegetables by the agency of pollinating  insects. We will continue to keep vigilant regards this concern, but it is difficult and expensive to obtain testing kits. For further ( hair raising) information on the dangers of eating genetically engineered plants and their Round Up residues please visit 
Food Watch W.A.  
We aim to set up a donation button on this page in order to crowd fund for a test kit, which so far have only been obtainable  in large numbers with short expiry dates! Ridiculous!
Terry Redman, former leader of the gov and Minister for Agriculture, gave farmers the “choice” to grow GM canola ………and contaminate our state with a Monsanto owned patented seed . He said that GM was just another tool in the farmers toolbox. If you would like a "Biggest Tool In  Monsanto's  Tool Box  bumper sticker featuring Mr Redman, please add $2.00 to your seed order.

Merri Bee Organic Seed Catalogue

Orders through the contact page please! Or post a letter to Merri Bee Organic Farm, PO Box 337, Nannup 6275.  We can only send to anywhere in Australia, not O.S.

Cost is $3.50 per packet,  plus $7.50   postage and handling  (no matter how big the order). Hint, it is cheaper per packet to order lots of seeds.

Species	Variety	Botanical name	Description
Grain  Amaranthus	grain		An annual plant that can be eaten raw or cooked and the seeds can be popped. High in vitamins and minerals. Both the amaranth plants make good high protein animal fodder. Easy to grow. Plant in Spring-Summer. (400 seeds/packet)
Amaranth	Leaf	Amaranthus gangeticus	A nutritious vegie. Steam the whole plant, stem and all. Throw into any dish at the last minute of cooking. An annual plant growing to 1.5m. Rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. (450 seeds/packet)
Asparagus	Mary Washington		Plant seeds in spring in a garden bed. The following winter dig up these “one year old crowns” and transplant to permanent position in rich soil. Do not harvest delicious shoots until 3rd Spring: Cease picking mid November and let ferns develop to feed the root system.
Artichoke	Globe Imperial Star	Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus	Perennials that produce a delicious edible flower buds over a long season. Plant Autumn and Spring
Basil	Thai	Ocimum sp.	Widely used in Asian cooking with its anise-flavoured leaves. Produces a bushy plant, best grown in a warm, sunny location.
Basil, Sweet	Italian Genovese	Ocimum basilicum
Bean, Broad	Aquadulce	Vicia faba	Sow late summer to winter. Heirloom, early, prolific beans. Tall plants with long pods. (20 seeds)
Beetroot	Detroit	Beta vulgaris	Sow winter - autumn temperate climates, spring - autumn colder climates, all but wet season in tropical climates. High in vitamin C, folic acid and potassium. Can be steamed, boiled or grated and eaten raw in salads, try dressed with fresh orange juice. (120 seeds/packet)
Bean	Blue lake climbing bean	Phaseolus vulgaris	One of the best eating beans we have found. Green stringless round pods. Matures in 60 days, crops for many weeks. Climbs forever! Needs a tall trellis.
Bean	Adzuki	Vigna angularis	Ever so popular in Japanese cuisine, where it is cooked with sugar to create sweet dishes. Adzukis are a bush bean which fixes nitrogen. They can be left to mature a crop of high protein, small red beans. Good Chook fodder.
Bean	Lab lab	Dolicos lab lab	A rampant climber/ scrambler that fixes nitrogen very well and is drought tolerant. A great soil improver. Chooks enjoy the dried beans. Sown in late summer, you could transform a barren tract of land into a vegie garden. Frost will kill off the plant but in frost free areas whipper snip the vine off at ground level and plant seedlings into the resultant mulch in spring.
Bean	Snake		A super prolific bearer of long skinny beans that look like a green snake with a pink tail. If    not harvested daily they soon turn dry on the vine and provide you with abundant black beans for winter soups.
Bean	Mung and garbanzo ( chick peas)		Small green dried mung beans used for sprouts and chook food. Like many other pulses, seeds and brown rice, mungs are grown overseas and irradiated to enter Australia. Want nutrition from dried beans? Be self reliant or buy organic. Chick peas are a cool season crop.
Bean	Idyllwild Dwarf bean	Phaseolus vulgaris	Prolific bean of fine flavour. Matures earlier than climbing bean.
Bean	BROAD	long pod	sow autumn. Egyptians live on these and bread. Soil improver too.
Cabbage	sugarloaf	Brassica oleracea var capitata	Sow early spring to autumn, temperate & cold climates; most months in warmer climates. Sweet and tender, excellent in coleslaw, kimchee, sauerkraut or cooked.
Cabbage, Chinese	Pak Choi	Brassica Rapa	Sow Pak Choi seeds during late summer or early spring. If you plant it in late spring it is liable to bolt. Like coriander, it is best to plant going into shorter days. A classic in stir fries and used to make a popular Korean ferment called Kim Chi
Calendula	English or pot marigold	Calendula officinalis	An annual plant whose flower contains antiseptic . Just mush up the flower and apply to infected sores with a bandage. “Calendula extracts may have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties.” Very bright golden attractive flowers will cheer you in winter. They will go on and on if you pick off the old flowers. Plant in autumn.
Chilli	Fluro orange	Capsicum chinense	Heat about 8 in dry conditions. You have been warned. Plant seeds in August under glass, ( wash hands thoroughly afterwards and avoid inhaling dust and touching your sensitive parts, as chilli burns) , Transplant after danger of frost is passed. Chilli spray is effective in crop defence against elephants and other pests.
Capsicum	MIXED	Capsicum annuum	A surprise packet of all sorts of delicious sweet capsicums and just a few hot chilis. sweet, fleshy little capsicums, high in vitamin C . Adds a piquant flavour to meals Great roasted and skinned to remove the lectins.
Carrot	All season	Daucus carota var sativa	Chunky orange Carrots are 15cm long, with high yield. Delicious and nutritious
Carob		Ceratonia siliqua	The female carob tree bears great quantities of sweet chocolate favoured pods, with B vitamins. Good stock fodder. Make carob powder with a coffee grinder.
Honey locust		Gleditsia triacanthos	Can be a thorny tree, but many seedlings are not. Nitrogen fixing and  vital light shade for stock and crops in summer. Deciduous, drought proof,and a source of stock fodder as sweet pods ripen over autumn months.
Celery	Tendercrisp	Apium graveolens var dulce	Stringless variety well suited to the home gardener. Very hardy and can handle cold weather.
Chamomile	German/True	Matricaria chamomilla	This sweet  herb makes a relaxing herbal tea with proven nervine properties. Plant in spring and autumn in a sunny position.
Chives	Garlic/Chinese	Allium tuberosum	Garlic flavoured chives, with edible leaves and flowers.
Corn	Cheif Seattle	Zea Mays	Ever so pretty corn ( the pinky one pictured above) . A real surprise packet as to what colours you might get. Good for high protein chook food with those small size niblets on small size cobs. Usually 5 cobs per plant.
Pop corn			Ahh,  the smell of popping  organic popcorn. Popcorn and pesto. Lolly cobble blissbombs  OH yeah!
Corn	Aztec and Hopi Blue	Aztec pictured above	Hopi, a navy blue edged with aqua, and the marigold colours of an Aztec sunset, these are almost too pretty to eat ....but corn is one of the most nutritious foods around with the right "nixtamalization" process.  Let it dry on the cob and later grind into corn meal for tortillas or polenta.
Common Guava			Yellow tropical fruit with salmon coloured flesh which is very rich in Vitamin C and banana flavours.  Born in profusion on an attractive evergreen small tree. Frost tender.
Coriander	Slowbolt	Coriandrum sativum	Widely used herb - use leaves for asian cooking and fresh salads, use seeds for curries. Reported to help chelate mercury.  Annual plant to 50cm with small white flowers. Self-sowing. Plant in spring-summer in moist ground. Many medicinal uses.
Cosmos	Crimson pink and white	Cosmos sulphureus	This flower blooms heavily until the first frost. It grows fast and lives for one year. Cosmos can grow up to 1 metre and it prefers average to dry soil.
Dill			Popular medicinal and culinary herb traditionally served with fish. Soothes colic .Seeds can be also used for flavouring, aka dill pickled   cucumber and pumpernickel bread. Plant Autumn and Spring.
Corn	Sweet corn Golden Bantam	Zea Mayssaccharata var. rugosa	A wonderful sweet corn which often produces 2 cobs . Heavily composted and watered it may produce 3 tasty cobs with old fashioned corn flavour
Corn	Aztec	Zea mays amylacea	Great fun field corn which occurs in an infinite variety of colours. Dry the cobs on the plant and make your own tortillas after nixtamilisation ( you can google that)
Cucumber	Lebanese	Cucumis sativus	Smooth skinned variety grown on a small bush. Picked at 20cm with great flavour and low acid. (40 seeds/packet)
Egg plant	black beauty and MAUVE	Solanum melongena	Plant in August under glass , transplant seedlings after danger of frost has passed. Called Brinjal in its native India, the egg plant will often live for 2 seasons given a mild winter.  These aubergines need no salting  to remove bitterness and are delicious when lightly steamed then fried in a small amount of olive oil.
Flax	Common flax or linseed	Linum usitatissimum	One of the super foods for human and animal alike. Easy to grow, harvest , thresh and winnow. Sow in Autumn and spring. Flimsy plant at first. Small Pale blue flowers turn into round seed heads
Fennel	Florence, Romanesco	Foeniculum dulce	Produces white stems used in fresh salads, and as a cooking vegetable. Seeds taste like black jellybeans! Great in home made salami. Plant direct into ground from winter to autumn.
Kale		Brassica oleracea var acephala	A Mediterranean vegetable used like cabbage Rich in Vitamin A, folate and calcium. Plant in drained, sunny soil in late summer to autumn. Frost hardy. Frost sweetens flavour in fact  (150 seeds/packet)
Japanese Raisin tree		Hovenia dulcis	Is a hardy deciduous tree to grow in sunny positions on moist sandy or loamy soils. The fleshy fruit stalks are very sweet in late May /June, like raisins. The tree grows quite fast and provides hard wood for structural uses and fine furniture. As well as promoting fauna diversity, the tree is not antagonistic to other flora and assists in improving soil fertility through humification.[7]
Jacaranda	Blue Beauty	Jacaranda mimosifolia	A deciduous light shade tree. In summer it is magnificently clothed in delightful blue violet flowers. Drought tolerant, N fixing.
Jujube	Chinese date	Ziziphus zizyphus	Desert tree, deciduous with attractive shiny leaves, bears very sweet dry fruits in Autumn, looking very ornamental like small shiny red pears. Some cultivars may have small thorns
Larkspur			Gorgeously coloured  flowers on tall spikes .Pinks, purples and mauves
Lettuce	Festival	Lactuca Sativa	Our fave lettuce. Slow to bolt, slow to bitter. Keep it well watered for masses of cut and come again leaves
LAb Lab bean			Soil improving perennial scrambler
Mustard	Red	Brassica  Juncea	This is a Japanese type of  mustard which has large savoyed maroon coloured leaves. WARNING! As hot as wasabi if you eat it raw. Cooked in stir fries they are tame. Great plant for disinfecting soil but may become a weed so collect seed or harvest before maturity
Nasturtium	Mixed	Tropaeolum majus	Sow spring, summer; autumn after frosts, temperate & subtropical. Edible flowers, high in Vit. C, believed to repel borers & aphids. Annual. (12 seeds/packet)
Onion	Cream gold	Allium fistulosum	Good keeping onion of strong flavour. Use one home grown onion instead of 3 artificially grown onions!  Annual. Plant in Autumn in seed trays. ‘Plant seedlings in winter into well weeded and mulched soil. Matures around December. Harvest when tops are dried off and hopefully before the globes get sunburnt.
Perennial pasture seed	Autumn and spring sowing mixes.	Full 70 gm packets for $7.50	A special mix of at least 17 great fodder species including perennial rye, cocksfoot, phalaris, fescue , kangaroo grass, prairie grass, 3  different lucernes, chicory, dandelion, serradellas , plantain major& minor, vetches, clovers etc.Spring mix includes cow pea,  buckwheat, and much more.
Onion, shallots	Japanese Bunching/Green Bunching	Allium cepa var. aggregatum	Perennial, can be propagated from offsets once established. Sow spring, autumn, winter. Suitable for temperate, subtropical & tropical zones. Mild, sweet spring onion without bulb. Best for stir fries and salads. (75 seeds/packet)
Parsley	Curled	Petroselinum crispum	Parsley is a medicinal plant that is rich in iron and vitamins A,B and C. Sow parsley outdoors in early spring, however this plant can be grown in pots indoors. Seeds will germinate within 3-4 weeks. (550 seeds/packet)
Passionfruit	Nellie Kelly	Passiflora edulis	The one we have grown for 26 years. Feed the soil, water the plant, protect from frost while young. Nowadays passions can’t handle the full fierce sun, so trellis on an east facing wall. Delicious purple fruit with yellow pulp. Divine!
Parsnip	Hollow Crown	Pastinaca sativa	Sow Parsnip seeds in sandy-loam soil from March to Mid-May. Start harvesting at the start of late autumn and the yield will continue until winter. Parsnip is a good source of vitamins and minerals, and tastes of coconut to me (300 seeds/packet)
Pumpkin	Brocky sweet	Cucurbit moschata	Firm orange flesh. Grows well in warmer climates. Excellent flavour. (22 seeds/packet)
Pumpkin seeds	Pepita	Cucurbita pepo var. styriaca,	Check out wonderful Wikipedia on the amazing properties of pumpkin seeds, from parasite cleanse to diachromatic oils….fascinating
Pumpkin	Queensland Blue	Cucurbita maxima	Sow pumpkin seeds 20mm deep and must be positioned in full sun. To contain growth, pinch off the ends of the vine if more than 2 metres long and has   ample flowers. (16 seeds/packet)
Radish	French Breakfast	Raphanus sativus	Oval-shaped scarlet radish 7cm long with white tips. Resistant to cold and ready to eat in 4 weeks. Plant Autumn-Spring. (225 seeds/packet)
Rocket	Salad or Aragula	Eruca sativa	A great peppery salad green leaf. Plant early spring or late summer. Ready to eat in 30 days. (550 seeds/packet)
Sesame Seed			grows like a snapdragon during frost free months.
Spinach, English	Giant of Winter	Spinacia oleracea	Hardy with large glossy leaves. This leafy plant can be eaten cooked or raw. Plant in autumn-winter. (60 seeds/packet)
Silver beet	chard		Red, yellow orange or white stems make this silver beet pretty enough to put in a vase. Nutritious plant, high in folate and magnesium. Should be cooked to neutralise oxylates
Sunflower	Giant Russian	Helianthus annus	A large yellow flower on a 2m tall stalk. Great for human and animal food. Vitamin E !!
strawberry  and pineapple guava			Strawb guava has delicious small crimson aromatic fruits on an evergreen small tree. Pineapple or FEIJOA has delicious dark green oval fruits in Autumn too. Both fairly  drought resistant .
Tomato		Lycopersicon esculentum	A solid, juicy tomato of medium size. EARLY ripening. Produces great tomatoes but they do   require staking.
Tomato	Green grape	Lycopersicon esculentum	A tall vine tomato, producing many sweet and delicious cherry tomatoes. Excellent in salads and cooking. (70 seeds/packet)
Tomato	Dennis	Lycopersicon lycopersicum	Very popular tomato for the home garden. Large red tomatoes with great flavour. Usually requires staking. (60 seeds/packet)
Tomato	Pecorinio	Lycopersicon lycopersicum	Small cherry tomato in bunches with good   flavour. (60 seeds/packet)
Water Spinach	Kang Kong	Ipomea aquatica	Very nutritious leafy greens , grows in or near water during warmer months
Vetch	Purple flowered		N fixing annual self seeding autumn sown soil improver.