Soils for Life! Compost and compost tea workshop MAy 20 to 22 inclusive.

Through photosynthesis, plants convert CO2 into sugars to power growth. 

Our planet Earth is perhaps named after the substance that all terrestrial life depends on, but that substance is being lost into the ocean at a rate of 75 billion tons per annum.

However a good soil doesn't readily blow or wash away, but then again it should never be ploughed and/ or exposed or it will loose microbes and therefore its quality. A quality soil  is dark and crumbly, full of the entire range of minerals in plant available form and in perfect balance. It has good tilth or structure which means air and water move in  deep and are available to the plant roots, which follow the ever deepening topsoil profile.When you learn that it is the activity of millions of tiny microscopic creatures (the members of the soil food web) that create healthy soil, and that they are killed by pesticides, clearing, ploughing and synthetic fertilizers, it is easy to understand why they are extinct over vast areas of farmland. Food plants are on artifical life support without their friends the microbes. Farmers  are left with disease, pests , weeds and mounting bills for poisonous inputs.  Acidification, aluminium toxicity and non wetting sands are the challenges faced in the wheat belt and many more areas are simialrly turning to desert. The biology's disappearance meanscarbon  has largely left the soil and entered the air. Deterioration in our climate and human health is the understated result . Good soil however produces healthy plants unaided by man, plants which naturally  resist pest attack and disease , and confer radiant health to the animals and people that eat them. The  resources of soil, oxygen,  precipitation and nourishing food are things  made by a diversity of plants in conjunction with a diversity of animals (from the microscopic to the large). "The Soil can Save Us " is the title of a brilliant book by Kirsten Ohlsen, but of course it is the ancient partnership between soil microbes, plants and animals which we need to foster to be saved.
 As
climate change , 6th  X  ( the sixth mass extinction event on Earth currently taking place  due to our use of toxins) peak oil , peak fish, peak phosphorus, peak everything approaches like a  perfect storm we now need to learn about soil. Knowledge of  biological systems, not  financial systems, is now required in earnest . After the oceans, the soil is the earth’s
largest carbon sink – but a plant pumps carbon from the air  into the ground ONLY WHEN it knows bacteria and fungi are there in the soil to trade with!
The activities of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, microarthropods , and all the macro life they support,  enable excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to be combined
with soil minerals and made into stable humus, which locks the carbon  away in soil for likely  thousands of years. Desperately climbing CO2 level in the air is mirrored by diminishing carbon in soil. This situation  has led to the greenhouse effect and global warming, and it is quite terrible as most farmers recognize. From the pioneering work of a few we see that  lush green food forests can grow where once there were  dusty deserts.  Auroville India, Portugal's Tamera community, the restoration of the Loes Plateau in China, re-vegetation of Rwanda and Nigere, Geoff Lawton's greening of the desert near the Dead Sea and Allan Savory's work in Africa are all wonderful examples of what can happen when man applies soil health  principles to the land. 

On our farm we inherited in places the worst possible non wetting sand and on the steep slopes clay with topsoil removed but slowly our whole farm is being transformed from dust to chocolate mud cake soil. Samples of our improved soil were praised by Dr Maarten Stapper at a March 2015 soil Restoration  conference in Boyup Brook with 85 farmers in attendance.  

.

Why you should come to   Merri Bee Organic Farmacy 's

"Soil for Life " workshop:

. 

This will be the distillation of all we've learned from Bill Mollison, Dr s Elaine Ingham, Maarten Stapper, Christine Jones, Walter Jehne and many more luminaries. We will draw also on our own discoveries  from  30 years of farming here in Nannup and many hours of looking down the microscope at soil. 
When I show groups the photos to the left of my friend Haydn who has used compost tea for a few more years than us, most people are dying to ask if Haydn  is a midget. I can assure you he is over 6 foot tall. His strawberry below is as big as a small apple.
 At our workshop lunch and drinks will be included in the price,  and will be just about fully organic  from our  farm.  We want you to taste the difference, feel the difference and leave  knowing  how to  make a difference on your farm or in your garden.

We promise   lots of hands on practical  activities and on farm examples of the soil health principals at work.

  We will focus on water harvesting and quality compost making , with the operative word being QUALITY.  Soils ain't soils, and compost can be mediocre or fantastic, it all depends on how you do it. 
 Learn all about compost tea.....taking a small amount of our quality compost and spreading the millions of beneficial life forms  over broad acres, plus explain the keys to keeping them alive and breeding.
You will  leave with a sample of fungal dominated  aerated compost  to inoculate your compost heap or worm farm. 

You will go home with our Nourishing Soil Manual which is jam packed with information: recipes and photos  of  everything covered , everything you need to do to improve your soil and  reap an ongoing  rich harvest. 
 Quality compost works! See the results of our corn experiment here

 Our ultimate goal is  to be reaching  broad acre farmers with this ecological, safe and cheap system of growing , so please spread the word as far  east as you can! Thanks to the South West Catchment Council NRM, farmers can receive a subsidy to attend . The  full price as follows:

The cost of this  catered 2.5 day intensive soil fertility course  is $314  . You may book by ringing Bee on 0897561408 ( night time best) whereupon bank details will be provided for a netbank transfer of registration cost  or by visting this page:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soils-for-life-tickets-33881408204?aff=es2


Testimonials on our courses and produce can be found
here and here on our events page  where you can read what former students have said about this course.
We hope to see you at Soils For Life, May 20th  2017

Side by side trial.....The corn in front of Stew did not receive compost tea. The corn behind him did.

Please email  today and  register  to learn the powerful secrets of soil :  beewinfield@westnet.com.au 

Time to get the winter garden up and growing.

We just finished the Nannup Music Fest where we had a full on curry and smoothie stall, and what a great time it was.Caught up with lots of friends, flapped our gums for Steve Marsh, made some new friends and caught some wonderful talent on stage, was so nice to swing in the hammock and just listen during my siesta. Do  hope that was the last of the really hot weather though! However with our first cloudy day for what seems like forever I am reminded that soon the days will be short and cold.

Autumn is the busiest time on the farm, next to spring.

Now is a good time to get stuck into the garden, clear and compost the dieseased old tomato and zucchini plants and sow a lot of seeds. Some can be sown  in trays like the brassica family ( broccoli, cauli , cabbage , kale, bokchoy) lettuce, beetroot, parsley, celery. Direct sowing of carrots, parsnips, radish, corriander, peas  and fennel and silver beet would be good also. Up and till now many seeds would not have germinated due to high temperatures.

Sown now, seedings will get a bit of size before the very short days  of winter, whereupon nothing grows and plants may even get smaller due to slugs, slaters and snails.The brassica seedlings might get hit by cabbage butterfly ( its their green caterpillar babies that do the damage) so they may need to be protected by shade cloth or bird net or something. In the hopes of rain soon I will start winter gardens with the water we have left in tanks . I will spend the water on starting plants off because by the time the rain comes it is often too cold for anything to grow. Such is climate change. So sad . It use to be that early rains would bring up heaps of self sown lettuce and brassica veg which we could transplant later as the real rain set in. Now its a matter of pumping water, thankfully by solar power on the farm. And it takes a lot of water to rehydrate extremely dry ad hydrophobic soil. Employ furrows on contour and short bursts of irrigation to fill these with water, wait for it to soak in before re-filling. This may have to go on for days if the soil is low in carbon. The more compost the better to raise the mineral level. Mature compost , or humus, soaks up and holds  vast amounts of water .

 We will be trying to find time to  "dry seed" ( plant in dry soil ) oats, barley, wheat, lupins broad beans and flax in the coming weeks, because when the rain finally comes there is too much to plant all at once. 

Its a good time to make compost. About now  I like to clean the deep litter out of the chook houses  and get a BIG deep layer of new saw dust ,bamboo leaves, wood  chips and shavings into their houses and pens  which will last till next autumn.

Autumn is the time to load up the wood shed with dry wood and sticks for winter fires. Also we must collect and package and label the many seeds currently out there in the garden.
There are many fruits to pick and preserve about now: golden queen peaches, sugar plums, figs, apples , pears, perssimons, grapes,  limes and quinces.

Its last days for sun drying figs, grapes and prunes. Really why would we ever  need to buy sugar?  Have you tried a fig smoothie? Delicious , and a chocolate fig smoothie is extra nice. 

We put sheets of glass over these to keep dew off.

May you have a lovely Autumn with friends and family XXX Bee

Formidable Vegetable Sounds

Hi All,
Howz about you come on down to Nannup this long weekend for a funky good time? Been viewing the huge  line up of artists and Im so excited that not only my mate Ollie and his fabulous West African precussion band  TooBaBoo  will be playing but Charlie McGee and his formidable vegetable sound system will be performing on Saturday and Sunday. Permaculture is a  passion of both these bands.  Charlie  is busy  taking it to the world lately.   We will be cooking up some delicious curries from local grass fed beef  in the main concert venue down by the river. Would love to see you  down here in the forest this Friday and all weekend. Cheers, Bee
FORMIDABLE VEGETABLE

After packed dancefloors at Woodford and Glastonbury Festivals, Formidable Vegetable Sound System has returned home as the world’s most successful experiment in ecological electroswing ukulele. With energetic vintage-style live mashups of speakeasy electroswing-style wonk, glitch-ukulele quirk and horns, this high-energy, garden-obsessed group’s sole aim is to pound simple solutions for sustainability deep into your consciousness without requiring you to get dreadlocks or tiedie your shirt.

From an unexpected first show on the main stage at Eclipse2012 Festival in Australia, Formidable Vegetable Sound System (from Fremantle, Western Australia) has since chalked up an impressive backlog of shows including performances at Glastonbury Festival (UK), Shambhala (Canada), Symbiosis (USA), Rainbow Serpent (Australia) and Woodford Folk Festival (Australia).

“Spearheading a global cultural movement” – Harry Angus, The Cat Empire

Formidable Vegetable Sound System has performed alongside such legendary favourites as Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Dap Kings, JPOD, Spoonbill, Thom Yorke and The Rolling Stones (actually!)

A Taste of Permaculture tour

A taste of permaculture tour  Sun October 17th   2014

from 10 am  to 3.30 pm.  

Join Stew and Bee on Merri Bee Organic Farm,Sunday October 17th 2014 for an introduction to Permaculture . We will learn the principals of permaculture which make for a resilient comfortable life which cares for Earth and people. We will  take a wander through food forests, some 25 years old, visiting many friendly farm animals along the way. On this extensive guided tour you will see more than 90 different mature species of plants that provide fodder, fruit, timber, nuts craft materials or bee forage. Admire the happily grazing free range pigs, sheep, cows and ducks and marvel at the developing bamboo collection. See how nutrients are recycled in this thriving eco system. We may see a chick hatching or a lamb being born if we are very lucky.

Stewart and Bee have  provided most of their own meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts, herbs, condiments, bread and dairy produce for over 25 years and are keen to share permaculture design principals which have really worked with you. We decided years ago to withdraw our support from multinational agribusiness / pharmaceutical corporations by simply refusing to eat their GMOs, pesticides, food additives, nanno particles, hormones, irradiation, antibiotics , heavy metals ect. Industrial food corporations are serving these up to most of us every day adding huge toxic loads to our air, water and soil . But it doesn't have to be that way. Taste the forgotten flavours of compost grown fruit, nutrient dense veges and animal products. We find children really appreciate real food. 

See the passive solar human and animal housing, intensive gardens, nursery, /general plant propagation areas, poultry sheds and runs, compost production, worm farm, wicking bed, swales, mature rare fruit and nut trees, raspberries, wood lots and  lots more. Bring appropriate footwear and clothing for steep hiking in the fresh air of Nannup. Cost $75 .00 per adult and $15.00 per child, which includes lunch and teas   . Please note you are responsible for your childrens saftey on the farm but we will take all care as well. This workshop will assist those looking for  a property. 
We will focus on assessing a block's  potential for permaculture and  the principals of design.  Please email beewinfield@westnet.com.au  after  booking  your spot instructions  here . We look forward to meeting you .

Cheers, Bee

Marsh versus Baxter - GM contamination on trial

Stewart looked after the farm so I could be at the Perth Supreme court  to watch the first day of proceedings in the Marsh versus Baxter case on February 10th. I was interviewed by the BBC in London the following day, so the eyes of the world are definitely on Western Australia right now. This is a landmark case - the first time in the world a farmer has sued someone for loss of earnings due to GM contamination. It is a David and Goliath battle which challenges the farming regime brought about by corporate giant Monsanto.
We heard that Baxter (the defendent)  planted traditional canola in 4 paddocks in the middle of his farm (these were harvested by header) and GM canola in 2 paddocks adjoining Marsh farm. This crop was swathed, in what seems like a deliberate attempt to contaminate. As these allegations of negligence emerged Mr Marsh's barrister highlighted that Mr Baxter had  failed in his duty of care towards his neighbour. Hopefully this sends a message to farmers around the world . Hopefully freedom of choice for farmers and consumers will prevail.  If Monsanto have their way, there will be a greater tolerance for GM material in non-GM and organic crops. But consumers have spoken loud and clear that they want a choice to avoid GM food. Australian organic standards have a zero tolerance for GM. So does the ACCC (Australian competition and consumer commission) who insist that any food labelled as GM free is 100% FREE of GMOs. More than 98% of GM crops hide unlabelled in processed foods and livestock food. 
So how do you avoid GM food? Don't buy processed food or animal products unless they are certified organic or you personally  know the grower/maker as knowledgeable and dedicated to GM free food . Look for Non GM or GM free  labels. 
  Monsanto's takeover of seeds and the food supply is going on very much under the radar of most people as the major news outlets do not report it.

The result of this case will impact on every one of us who eats. It will affect the diet and therefore the health of our pets and livestock .The entire continent of Canada was contaminated with GM canola within 2 years of it being introduced, but  IMAGINE being a farmer who has  no choice of what to grow.   Canadians had to plant patented seeds belonging to Monsanto, there were no other varieties available. Here in WA last year , farmers were offered the "buy 2 and get the 3rd bag free" deal for canola seed ( which was GM but that was only mentioned in jargon in the fine print). There was great support for Marsh over the weekend and again at the court.People came out to say “ I want to eat natural food” like never before. They do not trust the safety claims of regulators who have previous employees of the biotech industry as their chiefs. Polls in Australia indicate that the vast majority of people want GM FREE food,   however proponents of this novel crop tell us that we can't expect a GM free diet, that it is impossible because "Nature doesn’t work that way" . Strange coming from genetic engineers who have no respect for (and no wish to know)  how nature works. In the incisive words of Janet Grogan " If Steve loses his case, food that consumers are demanding will be forcibly replaced" ..Health  ramifications are already huge. , we know 15 times more herbicide is used on these Round Up ready crops. We know from the Seralini studies that this an extremely potent biocide. Unbelievably, the recognised ‘safe limit’ for Round Up has actually been raised to accommodate the increased Round Up residues on GM foods. The dangers of Round Up are largely minimized and/or under-reported but in fact this herbicide is linked to  24 diseases.  Glyphosate disrupts our hormones and induces cancer , infertility, and birth defects . 

Chicken soup day coming

  2014  Merri Bee Hen Harvest and Feast, Nannup

Really hands on, really valuable!!

The hen gives us eggs, which not unlike oxygen from trees, comprise the life breath of any homestead kitchen.  But that is not all she gives.

Join us at Merri Bee Organic Farm as we receive her ultimate gift.

 This class will equip you to:  make an educated guess as to when an old layer in your backyard is past her prime as an egg producer, to catch and kill her humanely,and then to cook the bird expertly.  After the class, you will be glad that the old hen is no spring chicken.

Following a farm tour of our poultry houses which show permaculture design principals,  we will demonstrate  a humane kill, de-feathering and a hand evisceration which harvests the extremely nutritious organs such as liver, heart , feet and  giblets.

We hope each student will  have a go at all  parts of the process , hence the limit of 6 students. 
The chicken carcass will be prepared  for the pot.  As we butcher our hens, two will be simmering in the style of coq au vin for our lunch. We will show you how to create a wonderful chicken dish  based on bone broth , so rich in minerals essential for our  bone density and dental health. The exceptional raw dairy and vegetable produce of Merri Bee Organic Farm will fill out our meal. We believe your time and money to attend this class   will be repaid many fold  to you  over the years in delicious , cheap and nutritious meals . 

Really hands on, really valuable!!

Thus equipped with the knowledge to harvest and cook a hen ( rooster or hen of any age really), you go home with the hen you butchered and various recipes for slow cooked chicken. Each venerable hen  should provide  your family with at least 2 excellent meals at virtually no cost.
We do remember being very scared of this whole process and assure you it gets much easier as you begin to concentrate on the skills involved. Mastering  these  benefits the  hen in your hands and keeps your backyard poultry operation financially prosperous. As every farmer has to learn, there are very few  pets on a farm. . If you keep fowls even just for eggs, the truth is that  sometimes for humane reasons we need to know how to put a creature  "out of its misery" swiftly. 

This day  will run  from 9.30  to 4 pm on a day to be decided by the group,in school  term 3,  2014.

Class attendance is limited to 6.

Tickets for the demonstration, hands-on instruction, reminder notes, meal and take home stock chicken are $175 per person. Please email me, Bee, to register your interest .
Please see our blog page "Payment Policies" here http://merribeeorganicfarm.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/student-sign-up-and-information.html

Student sign up and information

Student Signup Information and Policies

Greetings, and thank you for your interest in Merri Bee Organic Farm's permaculture classes. Below you will find all the“housekeeping” details of signing up for these events.

Payment:

We offer a few methods of payment for our classes. A netbank deposit or sending us a cheque . Please make all cheques out to “Merri Bee Organic farm” and

send them to our address: P.O. Box 337 , Nannup, 6275.

Net bank details

Name of account : B Winfield

BSB 06 6508

Account 10071163

Please put your first name and surname initial plus “cors” in the “to account description” field.

We prefer full payment up front, but if you need to break up payment

into installments, we accept deposits of 50% at the time of class signup.

This will secure a spot in the class(es) you sign up for.

If you choose the deposit payment option, your balance of payment is

due on the day of class. All deposits are non-refundable. If you sign up

for a class within 2 weeks of the start-time, please get the full payment

to us as soon as possible and we’ll hold a spot for you.

Arrangements and Communication:

We send out an email 3-4 days prior to all those who

have signed up and paid (so please make sure you send us your email

address at time of sign-up: email us at

beewinfield@westnet.com.au) , and here we give registered

students final class details (what to wear and bring, our phone

number, directions to the farm, etc.) Please do not be alarmed if you don’t hear from us until this time.

If you are travelling to one of our classes, you may wish to reserve lodging at one of the many accommodation options in Nannup. We recommend Tom and Cindy Percy at Nannup Tiger cottages as good value and close by but see a full list here. http://www.nannupwa.com/pages/nannup-accommodation

You may also enquire about camping on our farm, $30 per person includes breakfast.

Refunds and Class Cancellation:

We understand that extenuating circumstances do arise and may

prevent you from attending a class you’ve already paid for. If you can

notify us at least 10 days prior to the day of the class we can provide a

refund of your ticket price, less an administration fee of 15% of the total.

We may also credit you the full amount toward a future class with us. If

you notify us of your need to cancel within 10 days of your course

commencement, your payment is not refundable. These classes are highly sought after and we often turn down potential students in order to save a spot for you. We are happy to report that we’ve never had to cancel a class that students have signed up for. In the unlikely event that we are forced to cancel a course you will promptly receive notice and a full refund. If you like, we can also record your payment as a credit to any future course.

Many thanks for your interest and we hope to see you soon! Naturally, Stewart and Bee