2021 ODPG Conference Report: The Fabulous Five

by Janette Perrett (ODPG Chair) | Photos by Jenny Erickson

On March 21^st and 22^nd the Organic Dairy & Pastoral Group held their annual conference at Waitawheta Camp in Waihi. This year the subject was ‘Physics in Agriculture’. Physics connects chemistry and biology, and the field was brought into perspective by host presenters Steve Erickson, Ewan Campbell, Dale Speedy, Glen Atkinson and Tracey Simpson, the ‘Fabulous Five’.

Steve Erickson revealed the work of Phil Callahan, an Entomologist one of many who worked with the energy systems we are surrounded by; magnetism, ferromagnetism, electromagnetism, infrared radiation, paramagnetism and diamagnetism. Callahan identified paramagnetism as essential for growth and the LLE (low level energy) can be found in good soils.

Energy around us creates a force that we see as a mass, and that mass is made of atoms continually in motion. It is energy that’s responsible for the ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) waves with which insects communicate. Phil Callahan believed we could manage the frequency insects react to, providing a protective shield for crops and pasture. There are many frequencies and humans can only see or hear a very small percentage.

Smell also has a frequency. The low brix plant emits an attractant frequency for insects just as a weak animal is susceptible to disease. The farmer plays a part in the communication system as well. The farmer’s hair, bones, blood and skin are antenna, made of mini magnets provide the link to their environment.

Ewan Campbell took ‘Physics in Agriculture’ to the next level, introducing paramagnetism and electromagnetism as missing links in the farming world. Electrical currents in the earth are linear, that is travelling from east to west or north to south. As the currents are measured closer to the poles, the voltage increases. North Wales can measure up to 1.5 volts running through the soil with plants themselves running on electricity being able to turn on an invisible switch as spring arrives. Ewan has documented the currents going up trees but has yet to find all the answers.

Silica can play a major role in the land’s fertility. The silica on a sandy beach creates the heat we all feel as well as electricity. It is silica’s properties that contribute to the breaking down of seashells, not the pounding of the surf and silica can retain a memory of its exposure to chemicals. It is lost from soils when it is exposed to the aluminium in conventional phosphate fertilizers.

All biological organisms hate chemical sprays, but nature compensates by providing fungi capable of breaking down toxins. Fungi under plants are very beneficial but Ewan warned farmers to be careful choosing the type of plant introduced because each one will bring its own fungi family.

Ewan introduces cyanobacteria to his farm. It is a valuable ingredient capable of living in deserts and at the poles where it comes back to life when the ice melts. Our oceans are another resource, containing a large population of organisms beneficial to our environment with many still to be discovered.

Dale Speedy grounded everyone with his demonstration of C.A.R.E (contact approach to real ease). Over years of trial and error he developed a unique method to release pressure from the bone in both animals and humans. Dale describes it as a combination of judo and osteopathy with his martial arts experience being the foundation. Dale’s motto is ‘Accept what is, now do the good’. A blocked blood flow is indicative of injury and the bone structure conforms tissue. The body naturally defends vulnerable parts and a bone full of pressure will pull you in. The principle of Dale’s technique is to drop pressure from the bone allowing full blood flow, wellness and growth.

There were several demonstrations on both animals and attendees in the short time Dale was able to spend with the group, and he left with many inspired to try it on their own stock. Dale provides on farm training for those wanting less mastitis, increased milk production, a reduction in calving difficulties and quieter stock.

Glen Atkinson introduced everyone to physics in biodynamics on the second day. He made reference to the last five years of Rudolph Steiner’s life when Steiner shared his principles for medicine, education and biodynamics through understanding the energies around us. These principles are evident today with the Steiner schools an example.

A trusted principle is observation, but ‘we shall never acquire any real understanding of plant life unless we realise that everything on earth is only a reflection of what takes place in the cosmos’ Glen quoted. The cosmos is not chaotic, it is organized, and there are as many stars as there are grains of sand on earth. Each of those stars are sending energy our way. We are not independent from this energy, we are influenced by it daily.

The earth is bombarded by different magnetic forces from the planetary field. It also receives different ‘tones’ called the harmony of the spheres not to mention all the cosmic dust being sent out by the sun; 100,000 tons per year.

There are four kingdoms of nature; mineral, plant, animal and human. We are all a manifestation of the universe. We are one large interactive electronic being with a collective consciousness influencing each other. Thoughts are things being sent out via our energy fields.

Tracey Simpson described how she developed her passion for homeopathy through success and failure, and how she still wants to know more. She feels we are still looking for the symptom picture and not so much the cause, and it is important to account for immunity and susceptibility as well.

Homeopathy is an energy based type of medicine. It can change the interaction between the immune cells and the micro-organisms. Its high dilutions are water structures that mimic the original solution and anything past 12c cannot be tested for structure. Homeopathy can be used as preventative or curative. ‘Field studies have shown that treatment of the mother can change susceptibility of the next generation to certain infectious agents’ Tracey quoted.

Tracey works with small and large animals, as well as people. She is finding there is a greater demand for homeopathy as more drench resistance is being observed. She has several prescribing options; nosode, therapeutic, sarcodes, constitutional, single remedy and organic support.

ODPG’s two-day event concluded with a visit to Ewan Campbell’s and Steve Erickson’s properties within minutes of the events venue.

It is amazing how a gathering of like-minded people can energize the atmosphere and recharge everyone. After listening to the Fabulous Five I now see this is more than just a feeling, it is real and measurable.