The Apple Club Newsletter

Spring 2007

Unlike last year, when we had a slow spring, this year has seen an early one, with our apples now finished flowering. Once again the newsletter is a little late, but I hope that you enjoy it. I hope to do better next time, and get the summer newsletter out before the autumn!

More new trees

In the past few weeks we have been planting again, and this time it is two new plum varieties called Jubileum and Voyageur. While I have never tasted the latter, Jubileum is a plum with excellent flavour. Last year, when John and Sally McKenna of the Bridgestone Guides called in, I gave them one of the first of these, which had been grown on a trial tree that was planted on the farm a few years ago, and they were completely amazed by the flavour.
Unfortunately, I can't expect any fruits of Jubileum from the trees planted this spring for a number of years yet, but in the meantime, I am happy to report that we will have the wonderful Opal and Victoria plums in abundance from the middle of July onwards.

Apple juice with added calcium

We have just added a new juice to our range, which will be very suitable for people who are intolerant of dairy produce, or who do not consume a lot of milk or milk products.
It is identical to our normal apple juice, but with calcium added. The form of calcium added is called calcium citrate malate and is one of the most absorbable forms of calcium available. This calcium source combines calcium carbonate (i.e. chalk) with citric acid (from citrus fruits) and malic acid (from apples), all of which help to increase calcium absorption and improve bone density. It is well known that typical western diets are low in calcium, and studies in post-menopausal women over the age of 55 demonstrate that this form of calcium results in 70 percent less bone loss when compared to a diet without calcium supplementation and 40 percent less bone loss when compared to a diet with ordinary calcium carbonate tablet supplementation.
One 250ml glass of our apple juice with calcium contains as much calcium as milk, and provides about 1/3 of the recommended daily amount of calcium for adults, and up to of the recommended daily amount for children. Why not try a glass next time you are at the farm, or take a bottle home, and improve your calcium intake.

Dramatic drought affects Australian fruit growers.

The Murray-Darling river system covers one-seventh of the Australian land mass and provides water for the most significant agricultural area in Australia. Most of the river basin is flat, and receives little enough rainfall; usually less than half of what typically falls in the driest parts of Ireland annually, and the rain that does occur usually falls in winter. For this reason, dams were built on the river system, so that water could be provided for usage during the long and dry summer months.
The river basin has much of Australia's most productive farmland, and produces 40% of the nation's food, including fruit crops such as citrus, apples, pears, plums and grapes. In all, about 55,000 farmers tend the land and earn a living in the Murray Darling river basin.
Since November 2006, the late-winter to mid-spring rainfalls have failed. In general, the average rainfall has been the lowest on record since 1900, and the situation has been worsened by temperatures being the highest on record since the 1950's. As a result, most Australian mainland capital cities are experiencing a major water crisis with less than 50% of water storages remaining, and water restrictions applying.
Agricultural production has been badly affected. Australia's cotton production area has fallen to one third of normal, and the crop has been half its usual size for three of the past five years, resulting is hardship for the 10,000 people employed in the cotton industry.
In early 2007, senior weather forecasters had hoped that the drought might ease along the east coast with a return to average rainfall from late February 2007. Forecasters suggested that the El Ni o effect that had been rampant during 2006 and 2007 was ending. However very little rain has fallen since then and April 2007 has become the second driest on record.
Once again above average temperatures have been recorded, particularly in the country's south east, and unhappily, there is no indication of a return to above average or even average rainfall in the near future.
Climate experts are attributing the lack of rainfall to global warming, and the models show that, as global temperatures continue to rise, Australia will be one of the first countries affected by droughts such as this one. These experts warn that similar climatic catastrophes will become more common throughout the World, unless radical action on greenhouse gas emissions is taken in the immediate future.
Prime Minister John Howard announced on April 19th last that unless substantial rain occurs in the next six weeks no water will be allocated to irrigators such as farmers and growers in the Murray-Darling basin for the coming year. According to Doug Meill of the irrigators' council, if
the farmers get no water allocation: "you are talking about the decimation, completely, of our wine grapes, our horticultural industries, our stone fruits, citrus, and even olives. Farmers, their crops and
animals simply will not survive the rigours of a long, hot, dry summer".
Everyone agrees that the result of this would be catastrophic for farmers and the economy in general. The Australian Prime Minister has urged Australians to "pray for rain".

Another election

As the years pass by, we get an opportunity to vote for candidates of our preference every now and again, in the various elections that take place.
This year, it is a general election, and I look forward to doing my little bit towards having a small say in the future of our country.
In my experience, there are a number of ways to make a change via the democratic process. One is to go out and vote for a candidate whose policies you agree with. Every one of us is offered this opportunity, and I have yet to miss voting in any election, as I feel that using my vote is a duty that should not lightly be put aside.
Another possibility is to have a talk with the election candidates that approach your door, and to try to persuade them of the importance of some issue that is of relevance to you. If you are the only voter to mention the issue, it may not carry much weight, but if many people mention the same issue, the message quickly gets back to those who run the country, that something needs to be done. And while it is not always easy for the politician to solve the problem, at least if they are aware of it, something may happen. I often find it handy to have a list of issues stuck up inside the front door, so that I won't forget them, as I can be forgetful at the best of times.
The third possibility is to go out and canvass or volunteer to work for a particular politician or political party. If enough people become involved, it increases the chance of the party entering government, and
improves the likelihood of the policies of a particular party being implemented.
I am a member of the Green Party, and joined because of my concerns for the environment, especially the global environment, which is badly threatened by global warming. I believe that the overwhelming threat to the future of human society is that presented by global warming, and that the existing political parties cannot be trusted to take meaningful steps to tackle the issue, as more immediate problems have always received higher priority.
And so I would like to take a moment to canvas you, the reader, to support your local Green Party candidate with your No.1 vote. Even if the candidate is not elected, every extra green vote propels the message to whoever forms the next government; that now is the time to tackle global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Not only that though, the Green Party has excellent policies on everyday issues too.
So, wherever you are in Ireland, please vote Green.
See www.greenparty.ie for more information.

Old Age, By Willem Traas

In the last newsletter I wrote about music. This time I will write about old age.
Now officially, old age begins at 66 years old in Ireland. In Holland it starts at 65!
Although this page is mainly written for young people, you can still read it because you will be old one day, and might like to know how it will be.
Now the bad news first:
Of course there are problems. Most of my hair is gone, and what is left is grey. I need glasses for reading, and I lost some of my teeth. And I don't sleep soundly anymore like a child.
And there could be more problems if you are unlucky. With your kidneys, or worn out joints and so on. And then you could have trouble with your heart or lungs, especially if you smoked.
Now that is about your body, and your mind could be affected too. I notice that my grandchildren are quicker at games than I am. Only soccer and cycling can I still do better.
Now comes the good news:
I am 70 years of age now and as happy as ever I was. I can do most things I used to do, only slower. I don't have to work any more, but if I like to do it I can. Picking fruit is a great job, and I am looking forward to the new season.
When I work I am very conscientious, because I like my work. I am like John Anthony Hally, who bales our straw and hay. He makes every bale like it was the first one he ever made. I do the same when I prune a tree.
Financially, I am well looked after. I get a pension, and I have a medical card. I can travel free on the train or bus, and I get some free electricity, and also a TV license. I have a house and a car.
When I was young I had more worries. I needed to be good at school. I wanted to be good at sports, and I wanted a family.
I have all these now, and I have been lucky. I have had an interesting life, and I very likely will live on for another while.
Now if you are reading this, you might wonder what older people would like from you. I think it is nice if young people have good manners and are patient with me.
Of course I am old now and will die. Like many of my neighbours and friends have died already. I could make a list of them.
But the thought of dying does not worry me that much. I live today and tomorrow is another day. Anyway, when I read the death notices in the papers, I read that most people die peacefully.
So I hope we now will enjoy the summer.


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