<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Ryan Fortune</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ryan.fortune2012@gmail.com">ryan.fortune2012@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Jul 13, 2018 at 5:46 PM<br>Subject: Brazilian food forests take root in Australia, helping growers save water and control pests (ABC News)<br>To: Ryan Fortune <<a href="mailto:ryan.fortune2012@gmail.com">ryan.fortune2012@gmail.com</a>><br><br><br><div dir="ltr">

<h1 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:31px;margin:25px 0px 9.5px;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);background-color:rgb(249,249,249);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Move over biodynamic and organic farming — there is a new farming technique on the block, in which fruit and vegetable crops are grown in conjunction with trees.<br></h1><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text m_-2217059681011703837gmail-article-text m_-2217059681011703837gmail-clearfix" id="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text11" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:720px;line-height:1.333;font-size:15px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(249,249,249);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Known as syntropic farming, it is a<span> </span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-07-23/what-is-regenerative-agriculture/4812268" title="" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600" target="_blank">regenerative agricultural cropping</a><span> </span>method developed in Brazil that aims to mimic the way forest plants work symbiotically to grow in abundance.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Jane Hawes and her husband Neil are among about 20 syntropic growers in Australia.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">They used to run a flower farm on their property at Tolga on Queensland's Atherton Tablelands, but gave it away when their crops were wiped out by successive tropical cyclones Larry and Yasi.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"We had lost quite a few million dollars and I was just gutted and I just went 'I gotta do something better than this'," Ms Hawes said.</p><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-embedded-float-right" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px;margin-bottom:10px;float:right;margin-left:1.5em"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-view-wysiwyg" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px;margin:10px 0px;padding:1.133em 0px"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text m_-2217059681011703837gmail-clearfix" id="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text12" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px"><h2 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;margin:0px 0px 0.8em;font-size:24px">Rural news in your inbox?</h2><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/newsletters/" title="" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none;font-weight:600" target="_blank">Subscribe</a><span> </span>for the national headlines of the day.</p></div></div></div><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">The horticulturalist stumbled on syntropic farming when she began researching to figure out what to do next.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">However, she said she initially scoffed at a suggestion to plant eucalyptus trees alongside fruit trees.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"My brain just went into conniptions. It went 'Eucalypts, no way. They're hungry, they're thirsty, they're mongrel things'.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"I had to tell my brain to shut up."</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Ms Hawes ended up taking the advice and has not regretted the decision.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"As we're using them [eucalypts] in the system, they actually act like a water nutrient pump," she said.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"They're able to access nutrition and minerals that are right deep down in the soil and bring them up, and through pruning it then releases it into the sub-soil."</p><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-view-image-embed-full" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:720px;margin-bottom:0px;clear:both"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-lightbox" id="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-13" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:720px"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-view-richTallCaptionByline m_-2217059681011703837gmail-linked" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:720px;margin-bottom:10px;display:block;min-height:100px"><figure style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;margin:0px"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-07-13/syntropic-farming-food-forests-take-root-in-australia/9986016#lightbox-content-lightbox-13" class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger-anchor" title="Open lightbox" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-component m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-image m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block"><img src="http://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/9986072-3x2-thumbnail.jpg?v=2" title="Syntropic farm tolga" alt="Syntropic farm tolga" class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lazyautosizes m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lazyloaded" style="box-sizing:border-box;border:0px;vertical-align:middle;display:block;width:720px"></div></a><figcaption style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:13px;line-height:15px;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px;width:720px"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-07-13/syntropic-farming-food-forests-take-root-in-australia/9986016#lightbox-content-lightbox-13" class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger-anchor" title="Open lightbox" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline">At a syntropic farm on the Atherton Tablelands, avocados have been planted alongside limes, bananas, paw paws and eucalyptus trees.</div></a><span> </span><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-byline" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline;color:rgb(119,119,119);font-size:11px">(Supplied: Petals in the Park)</div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><h2 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:9.5px;font-size:24px">Using forest concepts in food production</h2><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Intensive pruning of large tree species is among the key principles of the syntropic farming system.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">It is the brainchild of Swiss farmer Ernst Gotsch, who purchased 480 hectares of degraded farming land in Brazil in 1984.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Mr Gotsch spent some time observing his natural rainforest surroundings and learning from the native indigenous people, before using his newfound knowledge to grow his own crops.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Byron Bay farmer Thiago Barbosa has worked with Mr Gotsch on successive syntropic farming projects in Brazil and is a forerunner of the technique in Australia.</p><aside class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text-blockquote m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-embedded-float-full m_-2217059681011703837gmail-source-pullquote" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:table;width:auto;overflow:hidden;margin:0px 0px 20px;min-height:60px;border:0px;float:none;clear:left;padding:0px 10px;background:none"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-quote" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:none;border-left:none;padding:5px 20px 0px;min-height:60px;font-size:1.14em;line-height:1.333;text-align:center;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0.3em 0px 15px;padding:0px;color:rgb(4,88,147);font-size:18px;line-height:22px;font-weight:400;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">"The most abundant system that we have on the planet is the rainforest, and with crops we are trying to move to abundance," he said.</p></div></aside><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Other methodologies taken from the forest include the maximisation of photosynthesis through controlled access to sunlight, natural ground covers and natural succession.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"One plant's always nurturing the new generation to come so there are always young plants under big trees and these big trees are always nurturing the forests of the future," he said.</p><h2 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:9.5px;font-size:24px">The garden that Jane grew</h2><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-embedded-float-right" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px;margin-bottom:10px;float:right;margin-left:1.5em"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-lightbox" id="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-17" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-view-richTallCaptionByline m_-2217059681011703837gmail-linked" style="box-sizing:border-box;width:360px;margin-bottom:10px;display:block;min-height:100px"><figure style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;margin:0px"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-07-13/syntropic-farming-food-forests-take-root-in-australia/9986016#lightbox-content-lightbox-17" class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger-anchor" title="Open lightbox" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-component m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-image m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block"><img src="http://www.abc.net.au/cm/rimage/9986020-1x1-thumbnail.jpg?v=2" title="syntropic farming plan" alt="A pencil drawing of different crops and trees with arrows pointing to the varieties and the scale of the planting." class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lazyautosizes m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lazyloaded" style="box-sizing:border-box;border:0px;vertical-align:middle;display:block;width:360px"></div></a><figcaption style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:13px;line-height:15px;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px;width:360px"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-07-13/syntropic-farming-food-forests-take-root-in-australia/9986016#lightbox-content-lightbox-17" class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger-anchor" title="Open lightbox" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:transparent;color:rgb(49,0,153);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-lightbox-trigger" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline">Syntropic farms are meticulously planned and mapped out before crops are planted.</div></a><span> </span><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-byline" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:inline;color:rgb(119,119,119);font-size:11px">(Supplied: Thiago Barbosa)</div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">On the Atherton Tablelands, Ms Hawes is growing avocados, citrus, bananas, paw paws and leafy greens in the same plot.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Custard apples, coconuts, mangoes, zucchinis, ginger and turmeric have also been part of the trials.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Before learning about syntropic farming, Ms Hawes had never considered taking the light-control methods of hydroponics outdoors.<span> </span><br style="box-sizing:border-box"></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"The plants are really happy because they're not being exposed to heavy light when they shouldn't be, so we can grow a wide variety of plants," she said.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Other benefits she has noted include natural mulches that are created within the system, the reduction of water use by 80 per cent, and natural control of nasty bugs.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"I planted fresh greens underneath these eucalyptus rows and when the bugs hit they actually attacked the eucalypts and left my fresh greens," Ms Hawes said.</p><h2 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:9.5px;font-size:24px">Long-term benefits outweigh high start-up costs</h2><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">The fewer inputs required when the system is established is considered the major benefit.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">However, Ms Hawes said starting out took some money and planning.</p><aside class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-rich-text-blockquote m_-2217059681011703837gmail-comp-embedded-float-full m_-2217059681011703837gmail-source-pullquote" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:table;width:auto;overflow:hidden;margin:0px 0px 20px;min-height:60px;border:0px;float:none;clear:left;padding:0px 10px;background:none"><div class="m_-2217059681011703837gmail-quote" style="box-sizing:border-box;background:none;border-left:none;padding:5px 20px 0px;min-height:60px;font-size:1.14em;line-height:1.333;text-align:center;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0.3em 0px 15px;padding:0px;color:rgb(4,88,147);font-size:18px;line-height:22px;font-weight:400;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:left">"The mapping and the planning takes a little bit of time and the initial cost, because there are so many plants going into the system, is a reasonable amount," she said.</p></div></aside><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"Beyond that point there's very little cost."</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Ms Hawes believes the system also makes harvesting easier.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"The workers are out working in the shade rather than the hot sun," she said.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"And rather than bringing in harvesters just for a short period of time for seasonal produce, you can actually keep good workers on the ground all the time because you've got such a diversity of crops."</p><h2 style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:ABCSans,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:inherit;margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:9.5px;font-size:24px">Tropical climate not a prerequisite</h2><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">Due to her location, Ms Hawes has used tropical rainforest techniques to grow her crops, but the system is in use across Australia's eastern seaboard.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">She said the principles of syntropic farming could be used in any climate, even the desert.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"In the desert they're using eucalyptus but they're also using things that can regenerate the soil, like cacti that grow in those environments," she said.</p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 15px;padding:0px">"Now they're becoming lush growing areas."</p></div>

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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: <a href="http://commonstransition.org" target="_blank">http://commonstransition.org</a>  </div><div><br></div>P2P Foundation: <a href="http://p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a>  - <a href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net</a> <br><br><a href="http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation" target="_blank"></a>Updates: <a href="http://twitter.com/mbauwens" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/mbauwens</a>; <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens</a><br><br>#82 on the (En)Rich list: <a href="http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/" target="_blank">http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/</a> <br></div></div></div></div>
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