Proactivity is not a recognised feature of the symptom-treating, modern medical machine and we are all paying the price for this lack of foresight. 70% to 80% of us are deficient in a mineral that is directly linked to most of the degenerative diseases that plague us! There are literally hundreds of published papers that quantify these links and yet this widespread deficiency remains and the nutrition neglect continues. Magnesium is profoundly linked to heart health, mental health and disease protection and it is often the mineral most missing in the wellness equation. In this article I will look at the reasons for the shortage, the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the multiple roles of this mineral and exciting new technology to speed the delivery of magnesium and reduce the time it takes to reclaim optimum levels of this critically important mineral in our bodies. (more…)

Zinc is the second largest mineral deficiency amongst Australians (just behind magnesium), but this shortage is not all linked to soil deficiencies. It can also be related to food processing, toxicity (the detox and immune systems are zinc dependent) and through over-consumption of cereal grains (which contain a natural acid called phytic acid which can make zinc insoluble). Zinc is commonly deficient in broadacre soils and foliar sprays are often used to compensate for soil deficiencies. However, most growers involved in intensive horticulture are aware of the importance of this trace element. (more…)

If you own any form of food growing operation, from home garden to pasture property or horticulture enterprise, then you will benefit from the following information as it is highly likely that you have neglected trace mineral nutrition. We know this to be the case because our team of agronomists are involved in thousands of soil and leaf analyses each year and the vast majority of these are lacking trace minerals. (more…)

The introduction of a field day involving farm visits, as an optional 5th day tag-on to the four day Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, has proven a resounding success. This social and educational journey provides the perfect way of winding down from four days of intensive learning and allows for the potential development of relationships that may extend way beyond this experience. Our November seminar featured visits to a ginger farm, a blueberry farm and an avocado/macadamia/custard apple grower. (more…)