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Australia is currently experiencing a long and exhausting drought. Farmers are struggling. Many of them have been forced to sell their family farms. Those that remain face tough times ahead. During times of difficulty such as this, it’s often simpler to look for quick fix solutions rather than to focus on the more sustainable long-term options. Biological Farmers of Australia Standards Chairman, Dr. Andrew Monk warns against adopting quick fix solutions. Instead, he emphasises the importance of focusing on natural farming systems which emphasise biodiversity and encourage sustainable practices. Dr. Monk says biodiversity can reduce the vulnerability, and boost returns of crops, particularly during trying seasons. “Biodiversity makes...

The surface of the earth is approximately one quarter land with the remaining three quarters consisting of liquid water and ice. To function efficiently, the human body must maintain approximately three quarters of its volume as water. There’s no escaping the fundamental importance of water for maintaining the integrity of the planet and for those individuals seeking a healthy, organic inspired lifestyle. Popular health books tend to concentrate on the nutritious foods we must eat, the dietary supplements, and the exercise required to keeps us fit and alert. Unfortunately some of these fail to emphasise the importance of water. We’ve all encountered individuals who spend a fortune on their organic produce, supplements, and gym subscriptions...

There are two common methods for defining an individual’s skin type. Medical practitioners evaluate the distribution of pigmentation, and subsequent susceptibility to sun damage caused by ultra violet radiation. While all skin types will eventually be damaged by extended sun exposure, some individuals have more protection on account of their genetic makeup. Let’s take a look at the five skin types referred to by medical practitioners. Type 1 skin affords the least protection against the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays. Commonly, individuals with pale skin, freckled complexions, light coloured hair and eyes exhibit this skin type. These characteristics are generally found among individuals of Northern European and Celtic origin. This pattern...

New medical students are frequently surprised to learn that, excluding the digestive tract, skin represents the largest organ of the human body and is responsible for such a diverse range of functions. Most individuals take their skin for granted, rarely considering its importance, unless forced to, perhaps by consequence of health or cosmetic reasons. In healthy individuals, it is responsible for securing the internal environment. It provides a barrier of protection against many external elements including heat, cold, pollution, and disease. While constantly maintaining its essential barrier function, skin also plays a vital role in the production of vitamin D and regulates the activity of several hormones. It is also important for determining...

Sustainability is a term that conjures up a range of meanings, dependent on one’s perspective. Gordon Conway makes this point in ‘The Doubly Green Revolution’, which considers the political and practical dimensions of international food production and distribution. While his text does not address the perspective of the organic sector in general or the organic agriculturalist in particular, it would be reasonable to consider these fitting within both the environmental and socially responsible categories. For the majority of cases, organic growers perceive sustainability as an approach which enables sufficient food production without degrading the fertility and integrity of natural resources. At the same time sustainability is linked...