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ANYONE FOR MULBERRIES? COUNT ME IN! HAVE YOU EVER COMPARED THEM TO BLACKBERRIES? THEY REALLY ARE PACKED WITH TASTE AND THEY MAKE A DELICIOUS JUICE TOO. ASK YOUR SUPERMARKET OR SPECIALTY FRUIT & VEG STORE TO BUY SOME IN!

Mulberry Farmer Pioneers Growing Techniques To Revive Ancient Fruit's Popularity

Landline By Jessica Schremmer  14 Aug 2021

Peter Szabo's Innovative Mulberry Harvester

Viticulturist Peter Szabo invented his own mulberry farming model to machine harvest the fruit.

A South Australian farmer is pioneering new methods of growing an "almost forgotten" fruit, to bring mulberries to new generations to enjoy their unique flavours.

A viticulturist by trade, Peter Szabo started growing mulberries at his farm in Kingston on Murray in South Australia's Riverland region from a single backyard tree six years ago.

"All our investments were in vineyards and that posed a real problem when we had a downturn in the viticulture industry and to improve my risk we decided to diversify," Mr Szabo said.

Mulberries have become a forgotten fruit in Australia

After running into trouble selling fresh mulberries, which are prone to grey mould issues, have a short shelf life and a need for handpicking, he decided to invent his own farming model.

"I have taken the mulberry tree and espaliered it onto a trellis system where I can machine-harvest the berries."…

By: Andy Hirschfield Sept 2020

DON'T MISS IT. THIS IS A GOOD INITIATIVE BECAUSE MANY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS START FROM A VERY POOR DIET THAT'S LACKING IN VITAL NUTRIENTS. OUR BODY AND BRAIN CAN ONLY TAKE SO MANY INSULTS BEFORE THEY BREAK DOWN IN SOME WAY. CONGRATS TO THESE CARING WORKERS!

Good Old-Fashioned Produce To The Rescue - Nutrition Pays!

Since 2019, the VeggieRx produce prescription program in Chicago has offered food-insecure residents with diet-related illnesses free local produce every week. Patients receive prescriptions from Primary Care Physicians and Dietitians, and can pick up a weekly bag of fruits and veggies, as well as taking Cooking Lessons.

The program operates in the North Lawndale area of Chicago, where the diabetes mortality rate is 62 percent higher than the national average, and it played a key role in helping residents get access to fresh, whole foods before the pandemic. Over the last five months, however, it has seen a surge in demand.

“Prior to COVID, we had about 35 to 70 weekly boxes across our three locations — and now the sites are [serving] upwards of 130 to 160 boxes per week,” says Kris Delatorre, an urban farmer at Windy City Harvest, the organization that grows produce for the VeggieRx program at three farms throughout the city.…

by Helen Carter, Journalist, Optometry Australia 2020

Another great reason to keep up physical exercise has now been added to the list. Several studies have provided evidence that regular physical exercise reduces the risk of age-related cataracts.

Regular Exercise Proves Beneficial For Eyesight

Australian and Chinese researchers analysed data from six different studies of more than 171,000 people looking at how exercise reduces oxidative damage in the eye. The studies included 19,173 cases of cataract. Participants from America, the UK and Sweden were followed for six to 12 years.

The research found that exercise appears helpful in cataract prevention, as well as being beneficial for other eye conditions including possibly reducing risks of developing glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), plus delaying progression of AMD and diabetic retinopathy.

Researchers found a 10 per cent reduction in age-related cataracts among people who engaged in regular physical activity such as walking and cycling. And they said the risk of developing cataracts could potentially decrease by two per cent for every hour of cycling or jogging.

The researchers from the University of South Australia and Xi’an Jiatong University, China, published their findings in the International Journal of Ophthalmology.…

ABC Rural  By Kellie Hollingworth and Hugh Hogan

Beekeepers are going to great lengths to ensure that the almond pollination season in north-west Victoria is a blooming success this year.

More than 277,000 hives are being transported to the region from across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

John Caseys 1200 beehives Into Victoria

It's the largest movement of livestock in Australia. 

But Tumut beekeeper John Casey needed help from above to rescue 1,200 hives that were stuck north of Condobolin because the road was too wet to access them.

In a rare move, the hives were moved by helicopter at a cost of $1,600 per hour, before being loaded onto trucks and transported to Boundary Bend.

"I've never seen it done," he said.

"It would be cheaper than doing a diff or gearbox on a truck. I think anyway.

Tumut beekeeper John Casey needed a helicopter to rescue 1,200 hives that were stuck on wet ground at Trundle.

"We're going to keep getting rain. It's supposed to rain more next month, but we need to get them out for the almond pollination," he said.

Bees go to work

Merbein almond grower Neale Bennett said the hives would be based at his property for six weeks before they were loaded back onto trucks for the trip home.…

ABC Alice Springs  By Emma Haskin and Alex Barwick 1st August 2021

Thousands of brilliant budgerigars are flocking to the Australian outback thanks to perfect breeding conditions across the country. Mark Carter, Alice Springs bird watcher and trained zoologist, said that the region has not had a budgie event this big in 10 years.

"There was an event in 2016 which was localised to certain areas," Mr Carter said.

Wonders Of Nature – Show Of Budgies – Australia

"This event involves huge number of birds across the landscape," he said.

Mr Carter said it was hard to comprehend how many birds there were out there at the moment.

"If you do the maths on how many budgies are out there across the landscape, it's mind-boggling,"

He said that there are a few factors as to why the numbers have exploded.

Budgies Love To Flock At Dams Water Holes - 2

"It's a combination of things: We had rain at the perfect time here and they bred up in other parts of Australia and gathered here," he said.

Mr Carter said that those budgies subsequently have stayed and continued to breed resulting in extraordinary numbers across the region.

He said that there was an abundance of food thanks to low cattle numbers and the budgies have "cashed in on that".…

Khorasan is an ancient wheat also known as Kamut and is thought to have originated in Egypt. Khorasan is a much larger grain than wheat and is higher in minerals, vitamins and fats and has up to 40% more protein.  This makes it a super energy source plus this gives it it’s unique rich and nutty flavour. Khorasan flour with its gluten ratio is ideal for any kind of baking and along with wheat, it doesn’t lose its texture with freezing. By Jesabe Warner – Naturopath

Khorasan: A Tasty Nutritious Ancient Grain With Benefits To Our Health

A variety of whole grain wheat, kamut (a brand name for khorasan) contains about 250 calories per cup with 7 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. Compared to modern wheat, it is much richer in polyphenols and fatty acids as well as minerals like selenium, which support a healthy immune system. Kamut also offers antioxidant benefits, helping to reduce gut inflammation and reducing pain associated with IBS.

By Natures Path – Pioneers Of The Organic Movement HERE

David Wolfe, A Leading Natural Health Expert And Advocate Has This Information On His Website:

KAMUT: 8 BENEFITS and USES

Kamut (say “ka-moot”) is an ancient grain rich in nutrients and high in energy.…

ABC South West WA / By Jacqueline Lynch May 2021

A WA-first trial of tiny houses for homeless people is being launched in regional West Australia this week, as the state grapples with how to deal with the ongoing issue of people sleeping rough.

Three tiny, transportable houses have been built on a block of land in Bunbury, in the state's South West, to house people who have been homeless for a long time.

See These Beautiful Tiny Houses Made For Homeless People In Bunbury WA

A WA-first trial of tiny houses for homeless people is being launched in regional West Australia this week, as the state grapples with how to deal with the ongoing issue of people sleeping rough.

Three tiny, transportable houses have been built on a block of land in Bunbury, in the state's South West, to house people who have been homeless for a long time.

Accordwest CEO Evan Nunn said the tenants would be able to stay in the units for up to six months while support staff helped them transition to long-term, stable housing.

"Up to 20 people over the next three years will get the benefit of the tiny houses," he said.…

From Very Edible Gardens in Australia

I FOUND THIS ARTICLE TODAY ON THE NET WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GARDENING EXPERIENCE. MY SEARCH WAS FOR WINTER COMPANION VEGGIES AND I FOUND THESE HELPFUL PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO PUT INTO PRACTICE FOR A SIMPLE COMPANION GARDEN THAT WOULD WORK MOST TIMES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE WRITER EXPLAINS HOW TO GET THE MOST BENEFIT OUT OF THE SOIL FOR EACH PLANT WE ARE GROWING. HAVE FUN. SHALL WE GO?

Learning Some Simple Practical Principles In Companion Gardening

There are a lot of books written on this subject, filled with long lists, many of which contradict the other.  We say: don’t get too carried away by matching each plant according to someone’s list.  There are however a some simple rules to grow by.  We’ll expand on each below:

  • Use plants with different nutrient requirements and roots at different depths as they compete much less.
  • Some plants are considered natural growth stimulants for other plants
  • Some plants are certainly natural growth inhibitors for other plants
  • Some plants capture nutrients from deep in the soil profile and make them available for nearby plants
  • You can create suitable micro-climates for one plant by using another (eg.

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By Owen Ibbotson Naturopath

There are many products on the market that promise to relieve, control, manage or attack allergies. These products work by interfering with biochemical responses that happen in the body. One example is antihistamines.

These medications may relieve symptoms by stopping histamine from being released by certain cells in the body.

Though antihistamines are the most common drugs used to treat allergic symptoms, they are not short of side effects. A major side effect is sleepiness. Driving a car or working equipment is not suggested while under the influence of antihistamines.

Further common side effects are dryness of the mouth, nose and throat, blurry vision, faintness, loss of appetite, biliousness, upset stomach, low blood pressure, headache, anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness and loss of coordination.

With all those side effects, you may be looking for other options?

Continue reading to discover my top natural antihistamine foods with benefits…

As a naturopath with 15 years of experience, I have a special interest in the treatment of allergic conditions. I love using natural remedies and food.

Histamine is a biochemical that the body makes on its own. We can also eat diets that are rich in histamine.…

A Return To Nature – Now Referred To As ECO Therapy

Summer often means spending time outdoors, swimming, camping, taking walks, and just enjoying the great outdoors. These leisure activities are fun and good for you.

That's right. They're good for you!

ECO Nature Therapy Is Good For The Soul

Psychologists in the new field of Eco-Therapy believe that spending time outdoors is important for our health. Connecting more with nature can help improve depression, lower blood pressure, improve self-esteem, help with impulse control, decrease post-operative recovery time, and encourage new social behaviors in patients with dementia, according to ecotherapyheals.com and the book Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.

Eco-therapists claim that eco-therapy can be especially beneficial for those with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental illnesses. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, and the incidence of depression has increased every year during the past century. Now, one in six people will experience a depressive episode in their lifetime.

Traditional treatment for depression has focused on medications and individual or group therapy.

Now, Eco-therapists suggest that benefit can be gained with activities such as gardening, walking or other outdoor exercise, or spending time with animals.…