The Nourisher - Editor’s Blog

Photo of two mothers wearing robbers masks, sneakily milking a cow.

A local group of health enthusiasts want to collect their own milk from their own cows to circumvent pasteurisation laws which deem it illegal to provide consumers with Real Raw Milk.

The local Community Supported Agriculture initiative, Byron Region Herdshare, hope to set up a Real Raw Milk Herdshare to be distributed through the Byron Bangalow Farmer’s Market. They are hosting a film and discussion night December 8, to raise funds and awareness for Community Supported Agriculture.

Joanne Hay, editor of Nourished Magazine and representative of Byron Region Herdshare says, “Unpasteurised milk products, straight from the cow, have been used in cultures the world over for at least 30,000 years. Pasteurisation became mandate in the West early last century due to unsanitary conditions in urban dairies housing unhealthy cattle fed slops from whiskey brewing. The conditions of these €˜swill dairies’ lead to proliferation of dangerous pathogenic bacteria causing widespread sickness throughout the cities they served.€

“Our local cows produce clean, health giving milk because they’re grass fed and not confined. We want to support our local farmers and save on food miles as well as nourish our children on this nutritionally superior milk€ Joanne said.

Real Milk Australia, an alliance working with government agencies to regulate Real Milk says unpasteurised milk is “superiorly rich in enzymes and essential bacteria. It is vitamin and mineral rich and has powerful immune-boosting properties€¦the pasteurisation process significantly reduces the levels of vitamins and minerals in the milk. Furthermore, the delicate enzyme proteins and essential bacteria are denatured and destroyed.€

Margie O’Sullivan, a Real Milk fan says “I can’t digest pasteurised milk, I’m lactose intollerant but raw milk, with the Lactase enzyme intact, is fine. Locals line up for Cleopatra’s Bath Milk at local health food stores, but it runs out every week.€

The Byron Region Herdshare hope to raise funds to set up their herdshare at a screening of “The Real Dirt on Farmer John€ a documentary about farming hardships and redemption through Community Supported Agriculture. This beautifully honest and quirky film which Al Gore calls, “unbelievably special€, has won accolades and awards at film festivals around the world.

The night will feature delicious local organic food, excellent entertainment and a panel of local practical visionaries discussing the future of Community Supported Agriculture, localism and sustainability in the Byron Region.

Saturday December 8 at the Byron Community Centre, 6pm. Tickets available on the night or from www.nourishedmagazine.com.au/farmerjohn.

Joanne Hay of “Nourishing Australia€ a non-profit organisation fostering soil health, nutrient dense foods and strong local communities, wants to see local farmers doing better.

Drought conditions Australian farmers currently face has prompted the Government to announce in September that it would double the exit grants available to farmers to $150,000, plus an offer to cover up to $20,000 in training and moving expenses. But will this improve the lot of rural people? Joanne says no.

“Rural people have very valuable skills which will be lost to us if they leave their homes. Families who’ve work the land for generations deserve to continue to live the life they were born into. Even though most of the North Coast is not drought sticken, our farmers contend with other climate related problems like insect problems and the recent hailstorm mess. Farming is hard enough without losing whole crops. Why not reduce the risk of financia loss by supplying local people, cut out the middle men and be paid up front to boot?€Joanne Hay said.

Community Supported Agriculture is revolutionising the way food is produced and distributed around the world. CSA is a partnership between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct economic and social link between the production and consumption of food.

Robert Pekin from Food Connect, a Brisbane based CSA group says, “Although CSA’s take many forms, the essence is that supporters cover all, or part, of a farm’s yearly operating budget by committing to purchasing a share of the season’s harvest - up front. There is no agent or distributor between the customer and the farmer.€

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a story of great loss and unprecendented redemption. John Peterson lost his family farm to debt and almost lost his life to depression. However, with a little ingenuity and lots of creativity he revolutionized his farm through biodynamic community supported agriculture. This beautifully honest and quirky film has won accolades and awards at film festivals around the world.

It has even garnered fans in the corridors of power, with former Vice President Al Gore calling it “unbelievably special,€ celebrity chef Alice Waters declaring it “a charming, wonderful and important movie€ and master documentarian Albert Maysles describing the film as “genuinely beautiful . . . a cause for hope.€

The screening to be held at Byron Community Centre, Satudary Dec 8, 6pm, will raise funds for our own CSA initiative, the Byron Region Herdshare. The night includes refreshments supplied by local organic producers, excellent documentary entertainment and a panel of local practical visionaries, discussing the future of CSA in the region.

Panel attendees include John Dolman from Santos, Richard Patton from Red Dragon Inn Ginger Beer, Don Rescei from Byron Farmer’s Market, Robyn Francis of Djanbung Permaculture centre and Joanne Hay, local member of the Weston A Price Foundation.