After a much-needed 3 week break, we’re back and raring to go for 2012.
I went to a friend’s farm near Heidelberg for the holidays, and got to experience shopping the old-fashioned way. Driving, queues, and a very, very limited range of greens at the local shops. I am extremely grateful for the wide range of fresh produce we offer, all of it organic or biodynamic, and all delivered to my door.
At the end of last year, our server, my cellphone, my spare cellphone, my laptop, my backup drive and my car (amongst other things!) all decided to wind down a little earlier than planned. I took the hint, and spent most of the holidays completely disconnected from everything. They’re (mostly) all back on track, but I know some messages and emails went missing, so if you are still waiting for a response, please accept our apologies, and let us know how we can help.
I thought I was browsing through the 50′s science-fiction section of the DVD-store when I came across the title. But no, it was a serious headline in one of the green publications I follow. Apparently, according to a respected doctor, genetic modification has unleashed a micro monster that could kill us all.
There’s a tendency to use fear as motivation. To assume that the only way we’ll act to change things is if we’re terrified of the alternatives. There’s a good reason to think so. If, while I was swimming in the sea, someone said there was a great white shark coming towards me, I’d be out in a flash. But if, instead of telling me about the shark, I was told about a killer kraken and the risks of being swept over the edge of the flat earth in a great waterfall, I may not be quite as worried.
Stories like the micro-monster assume the more ludicrous and fear-inspiring the claim, the better the result. They take a complex situation, dumb it down and send it out into the world.
Unfortunately, it backfires, as supporters of GMO’s just have to look at a headline like this to dismiss all opposition as Luddite nonsense.
The story referred to some interesting findings about plants genetically-modified to be glyphosphate resistant, the resultant extreme use of glyphosphate and its impacts on the soil, and a microbe that’s been found to enjoy these nutrient-deficient soils. The microbe has been associated with various plant and animal health risks. With the companies responsible for the GM seeds being responsible for testing and oversight, there’s been little rigorous testing, but it’s enough to raise more warning bells.
The model of farming used in genetic modification is wrong. With 94% of all soya and 70% of all maize grown in the US now genetically-modified, it may look like GM has things sewn up. But Monsanto has only ever have only ever commercially released two traits. Producing a pesticide or being resistant to a herbicide. And both are failing. “Weeds” have developed resistance to the herbicide, resulting in farmers having to apply (and spend) more and more, or use cocktails of herbicides to get the same results. And now insects are developing resistance to the pesticides.
With private companies regulating themselves and funding their own research, there’s a clear conflict of interest, and the industry is lobbying governments and agricultural departments around the world to keep it that way. A bad idea all around that has nothing to do with feeding the world.
But micro monsters are not going to kill us all.
Last week for orders
It’s our last week for orders before we head off on holiday, while a few of our regular collection points have already headed for the beaches and won’t be open this week. We want our shelves to be as empty as possible while we’re away, so there are quite a few specials this week, from chocolates to nut butters.
We’ll be open for orders again on the 12th of January, for delivery on the 19th.
Have a great week, and a safe and blessed holidays,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head on over to www.ethical.org.za to place your order before Tuesday 2pm, and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
This week saw the complete failure of COP-17, the climate summit hosted in Durban. While some have described it as a modest success, the result sees no binding commitments until 2020, which means nine more years of burn baby burn.
Searching for articles on the topic now, the first one I came across highlights the problem. A list of “winners and losers”, the “us and them” mentality is exactly what’s wrong. There’s no shared vision – countries and the corporates behind them dominated proceedings, and by defining a win in the same way as a fisherman beating his competitor to take the last fish from the sea is a “win”, we all lose.
Seeds
We have a new batch of certified organic seed available, and there are now 66 varieties available for sale. There’s a lot that can be planted in December and January, so if you’ve been putting it off, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
Oils
After a long break, November saw us reintroduce SOiL‘s certified organic range of essential oils, hydrosols and carrier oils. Hydrosols can be used as room sprays, linen sprays or as a face and body spritz.
Closing for the holidays
Remember that we’ll be closing for three weeks over the festive season. Our last delivery will be on the 22nd of December, and our first delivery next year will be on the 19th of January. Our last week will probably see quite a few regular collection points closed, as they’re also taking a well-earned holiday, so make sure you get your orders in in time.
Have a great week,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head on over to www.ethical.org.za to place your order before Tuesday 2pm, and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
A friend forwarded this story recently – many of you may have heard a version of it before, but it’s worth a reminder.
“There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning maize on her farm. Each year, she entered her maize in the national fair where it won top honours.
One year a newspaper journalist interviewed her to learn the secret of her successful farming. The journalist discovered that the farmer shared her maize seed with her neighbours.
“How can you afford to share your best maize seed with your neighbours when they are entering maize in competition with yours each year?” asked the journalist. The farmer replied, “Didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening maize and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior maize, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my maize. If I am to grow good maize, I must help my neighbours to grow good maize.”
The farmer’s insight shows us the inter-connectedness of life. Her maize cannot improve unless her neighbours’ maize also improves. So it is in the other areas of life. Those who choose to be in harmony must help their neighbours and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well. The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.
Success does not happen in isolation; it is most often a participatory and collective process. So share with your family, friends and everyone you come into contact with. Success breeds success. Peace and Love to you all”
Closing for the holidays
As usual, we’ll be closing for three weeks over the festive season. Our last delivery is on the 22nd of December, and our first delivery next year will be on the 19th of January. Since we don’t like to sit on much stock while we’re away, our warehouse is emptying fast, so make sure you stock up in time for the break.
Have a great week,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head over to www.ethical.org.za and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and http://twitter.com/ethical_co_op
I normally buy all my food from the Ethical Co-op, with one exception. Bananas! We haven’t had for a while as the supermarkets have been taking all the available organic bananas, so I’m very happy that this week they are available again and I don’t have to head off to the aisles. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep a regular supply going.
This week the first of the season’s plums and apricots are also available. Super gold plums, a small, tasty early season variety are available from Tierhoek in Roberston, and plums from Naturally Organic and small cherry plums from Bloublommetjies biodynamic farm in Wellington.
And if that’s not enough, and you’re looking for something a little more green, pak choi (Chinese cabbage) and tatsoi (spinach mustard) are also back. These leafy greens are great for juicing, for salads or for light cooking.
Have a great week,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head on over to www.ethical.org.za to place your order before Tuesday 2pm, and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
There’s snow on the Cape mountains, hail in Cape Town, and heat waves in the rest of the country. The unseasonal hail in particular can cause damage to crops, so we hope we’re able to supply everything listed this week.
Chocoholics and Sea Dogs
Chocoholics are rarely lacking with our offerings, but this week we’re adding two more to the mix. Honest Chocolate’s range of raw chocolates now includes a cracked coffee beans variety (with suitably wide-eyed bush baby on the wrapper), and Kalahari Salt. Each chocolate variety features a wrapper designed by a local artist, and is produced right here in Cape Town. What’s more, we’ve reduced the price on the entire range.
New Plumstead Collection Point
We welcome a new collection point in Plumstead this week – name Heath Shop in Gabriel Road. Remember, if you want to change your default delivery status, or collection point, you can click “Change details” at the top of the page and choose a new default.
Have a great week,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head on over to www.ethical.org.za to place your order before Tuesday 2pm, and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
Kusile
Greenpeace are leading protests today at the construction site of the Kusile coal power station, due to be completed by 2016. Just weeks before South Africa plays host to the next climate change conference, it’s business as usual as South Africa rolls out Kusile and Medupi, two huge coal power stations. The World Bank has funded the coal power stations to the tune of $3.75 billion dollars, while providing a token $250 million dollars for renewable energy projects to try and offset the criticism that it’s supporting dirty coal.
In South Africa, our electricity use means supporting acid rain, toxic air emissions, contributing greatly towards climate change, massive water use, destructive mining.
It’s a tragedy that with so many alternatives, so much funding and so much effort is being funnelled towards continuing to cause so much harm.
Fynbos blue cheese?
Those of you that ordered last week would have noticed a sample fynbos soap from Bloublommetjies. Consisting of 100% natural and biodynamic ingredients, it’s a hard soap made in the traditional open-pot boiling way with wild sage (bloublomsalie), coconut oil and soda-ash lye. Finally, it’s cured for 3 months in wooden moulds.
While it may be great for cleaning, it’s not so good for eating, as as one unfortunate recipient discovered after excitedly slicing off a piece to taste, thinking it was a blue cheese.
Have a great week,
Ian and the Ethical team
To order, head on over to www.ethical.org.za, and remember that you can follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
Sometime this week, living person number 7 billion will arrive. What kind of world can they expect to see? One of greed, of hatred, poverty, more of the same? When we look at what an ideal world could be, most of us automatically think of things “out there”. Corporations causing harm, governments, the United Nations.
Yes, all of these need to change, but it’s important to include ourselves. When our own anger arises, do we blame someone or something else, or do we use it as an opportunity to investigate why this anger arises in us, to practise letting it go to avoid being swept up in the flames. When we feel greed, the nagging sense of lack in ourselves, do we simply work harder to get those things we desire, or do we recognise in our own reaction the same motivations that drives greed in corporations and governments?
Lead Petrol
After 90 years of knowingly poisoning the world, we’re close to celebrating the removal of lead from petrol. There are only 6 countries in the world that still use lead in petrol, and all are on track to remove it entirely by 2013.
It’s one of the few global environmental victories, up there with the phasing out of ozone-depleting gases. Even 90-years ago it was well-known that lead was a poison, and over the years a mountain of evidence has been amassed showing that exposure to airborne lead causes brain, kidney and cardiovascular damage, and is particularly harmful to children, lowering IQ levels and shortening attention spans.
The fact that it’s taken 90 years, even after the nascent environmental movement in the 1960′s and 70′s actively campaigned to remove it, demonstrates how entrenched the greed in our society is. Industry falsely claimed there were no alternatives, and poured funds into discrediting the studies, just as they did with cigarette smoking, and are now doing in all sorts of areas, from climate change to food additives.
There are many other substances in daily use that we know are harmful. Let’s hope they don’t all take 90 years to remove.
Omega 3-6-9
On special this week we have Crede‘s Omega oil blend. It contains six cold-pressed oils, combined to create a 2:1:1 ratio of Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids that’s ideal for many people. There is no universal “ideal” ratio for an oil, as much depends on what else you’re eating, and more important is the quantity of these essential fatty acids. Omega 3 oils are destroyed by heat, and most people are deficient them. Flax oil is the highest in omega-3, and is a good therapeutic choice to restore the balance. For longer-term use, the omega 3-6-9, as well as hemp oil, are good choices.
We’ve been loading up on the new stock the last few weeks, and this week it includes dried shatavari, a species of Indian asparagus. The name has been variously translated as “she who possesses a hundred husbands” for its purported effect on the female libido, or alternatively “curer of a hundred diseases”. Unfortunately my Sanskrit isn’t good enough to speculate on the lexical link between “disease” and “husband”! Besides looking after 100 husbands, in Ayurveda it’s traditionally used for improving production of breast milk, PMS and ulcers.
Asparagus
Unfortunately the week before last our fresh asparagus wasn’t up to scratch. We had a flood of complaints – it appears they weren’t stored properly, and were almost frozen when we got them. When they started to thaw, they deteriorated very quickly, leading to the slimy (and other less complimentary descriptions) asparagus many of you got. Thanks for all the feedback – we do appreciate hearing when something is not working. Remember, although it doesn’t make up for the disappointment, if you’re unhappy with something, please let us know and ask for a credit.
This week we got our batch at about 5pm on Wednesday evening, but it looked like they were going to experience the same problem – they were already thawing, and some of them were starting to go slimy. They were sent back in disgrace, but luckily we managed to get a fresh batch later that night, so to my knowledge the asparagus was good this week.
Novelty X
The citrus season is winding it’s way down, and there are no more naartjies. Last week saw the first Valencia oranges, which are a traditional variety with a pip, not peeling as well as navel oranges, having a tough skin. However, best and easiest are not always aligned, and many find Valencia’s have the best flavour for juicing and taste.
They’re also unusual in that in the high mountains where these come from, they keep on the tree until picked, and don’t fall off when ripe.
This week also sees the first of the Novelty X citrus variety, a species that suffers from a name sounding like it was meant for an 80′s robot, but is actually a tasty easy peeler. It’s a mandarin hybrid, with a taste described as a cross between a navel and naartjie. They’re usually seedless, but these are grown near lemon trees, and many will contain seeds.
Ian Gilfillan 
Newsletter 
No Comments »
