Emergency! Pathogen New to Science Found in Roundup Ready GM Crops?

Well, I borrowed the title from a forum I visit. Here is the meat of it. That "RoundUp" spray people buy as an herbicide to make gardening easier. Well, there is a new pathogen that kills found inside of it. This is not a joke.

USDA senior scientist sends “emergency” warning to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on a new plant pathogen in Roundup Ready GM soybean and corn that may be responsible for high rates of infertility and spontaneous abortions in livestock Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

Please distribute widely and forward to your elected representatives

An open letter appeared on the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance founded and run by Judith McGeary to save family farms in the US [1, 2]. The letter, written by Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University, to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, warns of a pathogen “new to science” discovered by “a team of senior plant and animal scientists”. Huber says it should be treated as an “emergency’’, as it could result in “a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies.”

The letter appeared to have been written before Vilsack announced his decision to authorize unrestricted commercial planting of GM alfalfa on 1 February, in the hope of convincing the Secretary of Agriculture to impose a moratorium instead on deregulation of Roundup Ready (RR) crops.

The new pathogen appears associated with serious pervasive diseases in plants - sudden death syndrome in soybean and Goss' wilt in corn – but its suspected effects on livestock is alarming. Huber refers to “recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%.

People, this is major, think before buying Roundup or heck, anything this gardening season. Here is more information for you.

Those seeds you buy to feed your cows, lamb and what not. Well, if you buy Monsanto seed, and it damages someone elses property, YOU are liable now, not Monsanto.

Farmers like genetically modified (GM) crops because they can plant them, spray them with herbicide and then there is very little maintenance until harvest. Farmers who plant Monsanto's GM crops probably don't realize what they bargain for when they sign the Monsanto Technology Stewardship Agreement contract. One farmer reportedly 'went crazy' when he discovered the scope of the contract because it transfers ALL liability to the farmer or grower.

Here is the paragraph that defines Monsanto's limit of liability that shifts it to the farmer:

"GROWER'S EXCLUSIVE LIMITED REMEDY: THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE GROWER AND THE LIMIT OF THE LIABILITY OF MONSANTO OR ANY SELLER FOR ANY AND ALL LOSSES, INJURY OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OR HANDLING OF SEED (INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, PRODUCT LIABILITY, STRICT LIABILITY, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL BE THE PRICE PAID BY THE GROWER FOR THE QUANTITY OF THE SEED INVOLVED OR, AT THE ELECTION OF MONSANTO OR THE SEED SELLER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SEED. IN NO EVENT SHALL MONSANTO OR ANY SELLER BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES."

No wonder our health care bill is so dangerous, its hurting corporate money to be healthy! As if this wasn't bad enough. Across the giant lake down in Australia, a farmer this week lost his Organic Farm Status forever.

That's right, forever. Not being sensational here, it really happened. The organic farmer had his crops pollinated by a neighbors field that used Monsanto feed and now the organic food is now Genetically modified. The farmer is suing Australia, his neighbor, and the seed company. I for one hope he wins.



Stay Green, Stay Positive, it's the only way to effect true change.

Medical Marijuana and its role in Permaculture

Recently I was subject to moderation of my 1st Amendment of freedom of speech on the Internet while trying to ascertain knowledge regarding the use of Medical Marijuana in the role of permaculture on someones permaculture forums. It was the forum owners right to moderate his forums and use them as he wishes. I honor him for trying to keep a drama free forums.

Sadly, what was truly lost was knowledge due to the angst of one individual, or was it? I refuse to let doors of knowledge close since I treat everyone on the square. So everyone, here is a small window into some knowledge that just came to light.

Medical Marijuana, is the plant C. Sativa both legally and scientifically inter & nationally. There are 4 sub species, but none of these are a sub-variation that can be called "Hemp" or even "Industrial Hemp." They are one in the same plant.

Now with that understanding, it is YOUR legal obligation to seek counsel on weather or not it is legal for you in your area via what ever means. For people here in Oregon, it can only be ascertained via a legal medical prescription verified by the State of Oregon Department of Home Services (DHS). The plant is 100% legal in some other countries, Mexico for example, and decriminalized in others, Amsterdam, Holland would be the most common example.

Here is what I know about Medical Marijuana / Hemp and its use in Permaculture. First off, it was common in Europe to use it as a border plant for the garden to help protect cabbage from White Cabbage Butterflies.

"Hemp, we know now, has a protective effect on plants grown near it because the volatile substances it excretes inhibit growth of certain pathogenic micro-organisms"
-Source "Carrots Love Tomatoes" by Louise Riotte.

in another part of the book she goes on...

"Hemp grown in the neighborhood of potatoes helps protect against phytophthora infestans, the cause of late blight."

That's huge! There is definitely a lot of areas to research regarding that little tidbit of information. There is ever expanding room for further permaculture research using this plant, be it plant guilds or making rope to move logs.

Also, don't fret, the last 4,000 years of information on this plant has not been erased, & information on it is constantly being upgraded and quantified from doctors like Dr. Frank Lucido who is helping educate both law enforcement, and the medical community.

Currently in Coquille

Currently

28.4 °F Clear

Humidity:	98%
Wind:	Calm
Visibility:	10.0 miles
Dew Point:	28 °F
Precipitation:	21% Chance of Rain
Pressure:	29.75 in
UV:	0

It seems the weather channels around here had no idea what was going on till it happened and not even with some radio & tv channels. Yesterday before the snow hit I planted elephant garlic in the new "Love Garden" aka the double mandala ring biochar garden beds made a few weeks ago.

I am going for a walk and taking photos, this beauty outside is too hard to pass up!

Have you started veggies?

Given the current state of oil world-wide, and the rising prices of food I decided to do something about it; Grow food of course!

I have, and I do admit I am a bit behind with starting my seedlings, however, given the wacky state of our weather as of late, maybe it was a good thing. Here is what I have started, and what I will continue to start through mid-March.

12 Broccoli

12 Cabbage

100 Onions

12 Turnips

12 Beets

2 Cherry Tomatoes

12 Paste Tomatoes

6 Slicing tomatoes

Plant peas and fava beans in ground

Started mustard / oriental greens in cold frame along with

12 Spinach

12 Radish

12 Parsley

50 Leeks

6 Cabbages started weekly through mid-March.


What's growing at your home? Are you starting you Victory Permaculture Garden?!

The Best Lesson in Family Self-Sufficency

The other day I was with some friends that hunt deer & elk, and more. They also fish and talk about thier wives gardens and the problems that have due to this dying and that bug, or this Eco-freak made it so they can't hunt on reserved lands. I soaked it all up listening, not saying a word.

My mind then started thinking about what it really means to be self-sufficient. Is it the Earthships made in Taos, New Mexico.. the ultimate in 100% self-sufficient recycled beautiful housing? They generate thier own electricity, collect more then enough water for home use, passive heating and cooling, completely cleaning of grey & black water. Or is it the Cob Homes of Europe, and New Zealand that have lasted longer then many countries.

Well, in permaculture you take any home & land you have, and you add a permaculture food forest around the home. Imagine if you will a home garden that provides all your food and medicine year round, and has done so reliably not for decades, but centuries! Would that be something that interests you, your family, your friends?

Well, take a look at this.

Wow have I been busy...

52°F

Current: Overcast
Wind: S at 12 mph
Humidity: 76%

...and now the rains come. Bit of a bummer on the one hand, but personally, I would like proper weather patterns back anytime.

Well, In addition to what I am calling my "Love Garden" of veggies and herbs being built I also terraced a small part of the property, built a fence in an Asian wabi sabi style, and lastly also began work on a 4 nest box chicken tractor.

Those things are all great, but the one thing I am really happy is an order came in from Germany, speciffically from the town of Regensburg. I got some true Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis) seeds as well as Tea (Camellia sinensis).

Growing instructions
These perennial seeds germinate very irregularly over a long period. Sow early spring indoors. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as the first true leaf appears and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Comfrey will be used as living mulch plants around the garden. The Tea will be used for making green tea, as well as black and oolong tea. All 3 are made from this perennial plant.

Growing instructions
Tropical shrub or tree. The hard seed coat should be carfully filed or nicked a little to improve watering, then soaked in warm water for 24 hours. Sow in moist and warm slight acid soil. It usually germinates in 1 - 3 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or indoors. Prefers the partial shade of a light woodland. Tea is not hardy in colder areas, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10 °C. It prefers a wet summer and a cool but not very frosty dry winter.

Being that Tea is harder to grow, they will be put under some grow lights I have for seedlings in a shed. When older they will be put outside, but more on that when the time comes.

Biochar Double Mandala Garden

Mouthful isn't it? Follow me making it here.

No rain for another week?

39°F

Current: Clear
Wind: SE at 5 mph
Humidity: 65%

I got up at 6am and started working today. Inside chores are done, animals are fed, human is not, but I started already pitching horse manure some more for the garden. I am worried about the lack of rain a bit while everyone else is out enjoying the great sunshine we have had now for 2 weeks.

No work yesterday...

Yesterday was the first and I had to go to town for some provisions. :)

Currently:

36°F

Current: Clear
Wind: S at 8 mph
Humidity: 70%

Amazing sunrise this morning for the lucky people who actually got to watch it. Amazing that we have warm temps while the rest of the country is being pummeled by storms.