permaculture

[Alia Tsang <alia@dietrick.org>]

Yes, oleander is poisonous, but only if you eat it. Honey made from
oleander isn't bad if it's just a couple plants, it'll get diluted quite a
bit by the other nectar the bees are bringing in. It's probably more of a
problem where there are massive contiguous plantings of oleander (like
around the highways in California).

So as long as it's just a couple plants and out of the reach of children
(or pets)/the children know not to eat random plants, it's probably not a
problem :)

As far as dosage, I found: "It is thought that a handful or 10-20 leaves
consumed by an adult can cause an adverse reaction, and a single leaf could
be lethal to an infant or child."

For what it's worth, I remember seeing it a lot around playgrounds and
parking lots when I was growing up and I never heard of anyone actually
being poisoned by it (although I think I remember someone telling me it was
poisonous).

A

On Mon, Sep 15, 2014 at 10:31 PM, DONKA RADEVA via permaculture <
permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:

> Hi Lawrence,
>
> Thanks a lot for the information about the poison oleander, it's a pity, I
> was so impressed by its beautiful flowers :-)
>
> About soil posts - pls. when it is convenient for you, send me some
> infos/links via email. It is not urgent, I haven't started deeply with the
> topic, yet.
>
> Yes, Greek food and Bulgarian food, and also Turkish food - they all have
> many similarities - sarmi, moussaka etc. In the last years we only visit
> the Greek sea in the summer, as our beautiful Bulgarian Black sea is so
> "concreted" from the construction works and hotels on the resorts ...
>
> About Romanian and Bulgarian folk music I didn't know there are so many
> similar things especially in the dress - very interesting! I'm not good in
> folk dances and music, but my little 5-years son is beginning now his
> kindergarten at a new school specialized in folk dances, so I hope, he'll
> be better than me :-)
>
> I think, I have passed the idea of a Romanian study center in the emails.
> I would help the French teacher, but actually I don't know a lot about
> Romania and the possibilities to do such a center in this country. If I
> could help with something, pls. give me a sign.
>
> My work in Bulgaria - it is in progress now. I have sent my project to the
> British Ecological society and if they like the ideas, with the help of our
> National Agriculture Advisory Agency, I will realize the ideas of promoting
> of permaculture to our farmers. I have planned also an internet-site, which
> will connect the project with my university and with local farmers, also a
> small library would be available. For now, this is only a project, let see
> if it occurs.
> Academic projects - this point is still in progress, but ideas - there
> are! Also, a couple of exams for the 1st year of my PhD-study.
> At the end of month I will travel to Italy, Naples - science project on
> agriculture/food and competitiveness with countries like Italy, Turkey,
> Czech.
> Does anybody have an idea, if near Naples there are organic farms on
> permacultural principles which it is worth seeing?
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Donka Radeva, Bulgaria
>
>
> On Monday, September 15, 2014 3:55 AM, Lawrence London <
> lfljvenaura@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 6:39 PM, DONKA RADEVA via permaculture <
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:
>
> Hello from me,
> >
> >Sorry to stray from the subject, but is this oleander really so poison? I
> was so happy to bring it successfully from Greece to Bulgaria  and now I
> have it on my balcony in a small flowerpot.
> >The oleanders are so beautiful and they are everywhere in Greece /I think
> also in Turkey/ - in the gardens, along the streets etc. - don't the local
> people know if it is so toxic?
> >
> >
>
> Hello again Donka!
>
>
> Yes, I would hope they know it is toxic. Here are several references about
> that:
>
>
> From MLM NIH Medline Plus
> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002884.htm
> Oleander poisoning
> Oleander poisoning occurs when someone sucks nectar from the flowers or
> chews
> leaves from the oleander or yellow oleander plant. Poisoning can also
> happen if you eat honey made by bees that used the oleander plant for
> nectar.
> This is for information only and not for use in the
> treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an
> exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or
> the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.Wikipedia entry for
> Nerium Oleander
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerium
> Nerium oleander  is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family
> Apocynaceae, toxic in all its parts. Oleander is one of the most poisonous
> of commonly grown garden plants.
>
>
> I am so glad to have you in the Permaculture list. In the past year I have
> become interested in the Eastern European and Southeastern European
> countries and the culture of those regions;
>
> especially the music, homesteading and gardening.
>
>
> Did you read the post from the Permaculture teacher in France who wants to
> create a Permaculture study center in Romania? Would you be able to help
> him with that?
>
> How is your work going in Bulgaria? Are you making good progress
> convincing the government and academic authorities that natural methods and
> materials produce much better results, especially environmental ones, than
> conventional? I have posted very many articles to the permaculture list
> about soil quality and how to create it. I have all these articles and more
> on my computer (in English) so if you need any of this maybe I can find a
> way to get it to you via email or website download. I could do my own
> search to try and find most of them with links so you could go directly to
> them in the Permaculture list archives.
>
>
> Tomorrow I will get a lot of work done in my garden for Fall and Winter
> planting. Right now I am digging up many raised beds. After that I will
> applu granular seaweed, chicken manure, rock phosphate, greensand and
> azomite, then plant all the beds.
>
>
> Are there a lot of similarities between Greek and Bulgarian food?
>
>
> I am watching these music videos now:
>
> Folk music from Bulgaria - Rachenitsa by Arany Zoltán
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKSqVZ9AAs
>
>
> And this one, wow it is fantastic - I love the dynamic music and the
> incredible photography!
>
> Bulgarian folk music - Sharena gaida by Arany Zoltán
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A7beekR_80
>
>
> Traditional Romanian folk music is very beautiful and lively!
>
>
> Maria Luiza Mih
> Maria Luiza Mih   Lasa, nu i bai, Vasali
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDY1BnZPO9w
>
>
> Cheers and good luck with your work,
>
>
> Lawrence London
>
> Chapel Hill, NC, USA, 27516
>
> 919 260 5953 Cellphone
>
>
>
> >Wishes,
> >
> >Donka Radeva, Bulgaria
> >
> >
> >On Saturday, September 13, 2014 2:45 AM, Lawrence London <
> lfljvenaura@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >Wikipedia
> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey
> >
> >Traditional medicine
> >
> >Historically, honey has been used by humans both orally and topically to
> >treat various ailments including gastric disturbances, ulcers, wounds, and
> >burns.
> >
> >Honey was used medicinally by ancient Greeks and Egyptians and has been
> >traditionally used in Ayurveda <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda> in
> >India and in Traditional Chinese Medicine
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_Medicine>.[34]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-Pe.C4.87anac--34>[78]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-Altman2010-78>
> >
> >The Quran <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran> mentions honey as
> medicine.[
> >39]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-.27Abdullah_Yusuf_.27Ali-39
> >[
> >78] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-Altman2010-78>
> >  Juice of Parrot tree and honey an Ayurvedic curative
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda>
> >
> >Medieval Islamic and Christian scholars described the use of honey in
> >medicine of that period.[78]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-Altman2010-78>
> >
> >Per traditional yoga practice, daily consumption of honey mixed with warm
> >water is said to strengthen the circulatory system, and is therefore
> >recommended.[79] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-79> A
> honey
> >and warm water mixture is also recommended by yoga practitioners for
> >asthmatics.[80] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-80
> >[*dubious
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disputed_statement> – discuss
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Honey#Dubious>*]
> >
> >
> >Health hazards Botulism
> >
> >Infants can contract botulism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism>
> from
> >honey.[96] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-NHB_botulism-96>
> >
> >Infantile botulism shows geographical variation. In the UK, only six cases
> >have been reported between 1976 and 2006,[97]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-FSA_botulism-97> yet the
> U.S.
> >has much higher rates: 1.9 per 100,000 live births, 47.2% of which are in
> >California.[98]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-CdcBotulism-98> While the
> >risk honey poses to infant health is small, it is recommended not to take
> >the risk.[99] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-ENY128-99>
> >Toxic honey
> >Main article: Bees and toxic chemicals § Toxic honey
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bees_and_toxic_chemicals#Toxic_honey>
> >
> >Honey produced from flowers of oleanders
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleander>, rhododendrons
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron>, mountain laurels
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalmia_latifolia>, sheep laurel
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_laurel>, and azaleas
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea> may cause honey intoxication
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grayanotoxin>. Symptoms include dizziness,
> >weakness, excessive perspiration, nausea, and vomiting. Less commonly, low
> >blood pressure, shock, heart rhythm irregularities, and convulsions may
> >occur, with rare cases resulting in death. Honey intoxication is more
> >likely when using "natural" unprocessed honey and honey from farmers who
> >may have a small number of hives. Commercial processing, with pooling of
> >honey from numerous sources, is thought to dilute any toxins.[100]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-FDA-100>
> >New Zealand
> >
> >Toxic honey may also result when bees are proximate to tutu
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutu_%28plant%29> bushes (*Coriaria
> arborea*)
> >and the vine hopper insect (*Scolypopa australis
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolypopa_australis>*). Both are found
> >throughout New Zealand. Bees gather honeydew produced by the vine hopper
> >insects feeding on the tutu plant. This introduces the poison tutin
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutin_%28toxin%29> into honey.[101]
> ><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#cite_note-NBA-101> Only a few areas
> in
> >New Zealand (Coromandel Peninsula, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the
> >Marlborough Sound) frequently produce toxic honey. Symptoms of tutin
> >poisoning include vomiting, delirium, giddiness, increased excitability,
> >stupor, coma, and violent convulsions. To reduce the risk of tutin
> >poisoning, humans should not eat honey taken from feral hives in the risk
> >areas of New Zealand. Since December 2001, New Zealand beekeepers have
> been
> >required to reduce the risk of producing toxic honey by closely monitoring
> >tutu, vine hopper, and foraging conditions within 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of
> >their apiary.
> >
> ><>
> >
> >[A LONG article]
> >Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. Apr 2011; 1(2): 154–160.
> >doi:  10.1016/S2221-1691(11)60016-6
> ><http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2FS2221-1691%2811%2960016-6>
> >PMCID: PMC3609166
> >Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity
> >Manisha Deb Mandal
> ><http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Mandal%20MD%5Bauth%5D>1 and
> >Shyamapada
> >Mandal <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Mandal%20S%5Bauth%5D>2,*
> >
> >http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
> >Abstract
> >
> >Indeed, medicinal importance of honey has been documented in the world's
> >oldest medical literatures, and since the ancient times, it has been known
> >to possess antimicrobial property as well as wound-healing activity. The
> >healing property of honey is due to the fact that it offers antibacterial
> >activity, maintains a moist wound condition, and its high viscosity helps
> >to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection. Its immunomodulatory
> >property is relevant to wound repair too. The antimicrobial activity in
> >most honeys is due to the enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide.
> >However, another kind of honey, called non-peroxide honey (*viz.*, manuka
> >honey), displays significant antibacterial effects even when the hydrogen
> >peroxide activity is blocked. Its mechanism may be related to the low pH
> >level of honey and its high sugar content (high osmolarity) that is enough
> >to hinder the growth of microbes. The medical grade honeys have potent *in
> >vitro* bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing
> >several life-threatening infections to humans. But, there is a large
> >variation in the antimicrobial activity of some natural honeys, which is
> >due to spatial and temporal variation in sources of nectar. Thus,
> >identification and characterization of the active principle(s) may provide
> >valuable information on the quality and possible therapeutic potential of
> >honeys (against several health disorders of humans), and hence we
> discussed
> >the medicinal property of honeys with emphasis on their antibacterial
> >activities.
> >*Keywords: *Honey, Antibacterial activity, Wound healing property, Glucose
> >oxidase, Non-peroxide effect, Medical-grade honey, Antimicrobial agents,
> >Medicinal property, Antimicrobial property, Immunomodulatory property
> >
> ><>
> >
> >Last Updated: Tuesday, 8 June 2004, 23:15 GMT 00:15 UK
> >
> >
> >Harnessing honey's healing power
> >      By Angie Knox
> >
> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3787867.stm
> >*Honey has been known for its healing properties for thousands of years -
> >the Ancient Greeks used it, and so have many other peoples through the
> >ages.*
> >
> >Even up to the second world war, honey was being used for its
> antibacterial
> >properties in treating wounds.
> >
> >But with the advent of penicillin and other antibiotic drugs in the
> >twentieth century, honey's medicinal qualities have taken a back seat.
> >
> >But that might be about to change - thanks to one New Zealand based
> >researcher.
> >
> >Working in his Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, in the
> >central North Island, biochemist Professor Peter Molan has identified one
> >particular type of honey with extraordinary healing qualities.
> >
> >Professor Molan has shown that honey made from the flowers of the manuka
> >bush, a native of New Zealand, has antibacterial properties over and above
> >those of other honeys.
> >
> >*Mystery ingredient*
> >
> >He said: "In all honeys, there is - to different levels - hydrogen
> peroxide
> >produced from an enzyme that bees add to the nectar.
> >
> >"In manuka honey, and its close relative which grows in Australia called
> >jellybush, there's something else besides the hydrogen peroxide.
> >
> >"And there's nothing like that ever been found anywhere else in the
> world."
> >
> >That "something else" has proved very hard to pin down. Even now, after
> >more than twenty years of research, Peter Molan admits he still has no
> idea
> >exactly what it is.
> >
> >But he has given it a name: unique manuka factor, or UMF.
> >
> >And he has found a way to measure its antibacterial efficacy, by comparing
> >UMF manuka honey with a standard antiseptic (carbolic, or phenol) in its
> >ability to fight bacteria. The results are astonishing.
> >
> >He said: "We know it has a very broad spectrum of action.
> >
> >"It works on bacteria, fungi, protozoa. We haven't found anything it
> >doesn't work on among infectious organisms."
> >
> >*Resistant strains*
> >
> >   A satisfied user
> >"I got bitten by an Alsatian. It grabbed my hand and gave me a five-stitch
> >bite. So I went off to the doctors, and they solely used manuka honey,
> >nothing else, no other treatment. I've got barely a scar now, and that's
> >only three weeks ago. Now in the medical kit I carry in the truck, I have
> >manuka honey and bandages, and that's all."
> >*Chris Graham*
> >  In fact, he says UMF manuka honey can even tackle antibiotic resistant
> >strains of bacteria - a growing problem for hospitals around the world.
> >
> >"Staphylococcus aureas is the most common wound-infecting species of
> >bacteria, and that's the most sensitive to honey that we've found.
> >
> >"And that includes the antibiotic resistant strains - the MRSA - which is
> >just as sensitive to honey as any other staphylococcus aureas."
> >
> >Clinical trials at the Waikato Hospital have shown that even out of the
> >lab, UMF manuka honey has amazing healing properties.
> >
> >Nurse practitioner Julie Betts has successfully used honey to treat leg
> >ulcers and pressure sores. And she says it helps healing after surgery -
> >particularly for diabetic patients.
> >
> >"It has an anti-inflammatory effect as well, so if I want to do several
> >things apart from actually controlling the bacteria in that wound, then
> >that's when I'll use honey."
> >
> >*Cancer treatment*
> >
> >Cancer specialist Dr Glenys Round has also found honey to be an effective
> >treatment.
> >
> >  The honey is exported widely
> >  "We've been using honey to treat fungating wounds, where the cancer has
> >broken through the skin," she said.
> >
> >"The results in that situation have been excellent."
> >
> >Most recently, she has had success in using honey dressings on patients
> >with wounds or ulcers resulting from radiation therapy.
> >
> >"Most of these patients in the past had tried various other conventional
> >treatments without good success, and that is the reason why at least
> >initially honey was tried."
> >
> >Most patients seem happy to try the honey treatment.
> >
> >"They don't have a problem with it at all," said Julie Betts.
> >
> >"Humans in general have a fondness I think for natural remedies, so
> they're
> >quite happy to use them."
> >
> >"I think the problem we encounter is when people don't understand how it
> >works.
> >
> >"They think that sourcing any honey will achieve the same outcome, and
> >that's not always true."
> >
> >*Worldwide export*
> >
> >That's a view shared by beekeeper Bill Bennett a few kilometres up the
> road
> >from the hospital.
> >
> >He and his wife Margaret run the Summerglow Apiaries, one of just a
> handful
> >of registered suppliers of UMF manuka honey in New Zealand.
> >
> >They produce between eight and twelve metric tonnes of manuka honey every
> >year, and sell it across the world.
> >
> >The honey is rigorously tested three times during production for that
> >elusive unique manuka factor; only then can it carry the label "UMF manuka
> >honey".
> >
> >"It just seems that manuka from a few areas within New Zealand produces a
> >nectar that has this special property," said Bill Bennett.
> >
> >"There is a lot of manuka honey out there that doesn't have this special
> >property. That's why it's so important to look for the name UMF."
> >
> >Now, a New Zealand natural health products company Comvita is taking UMF
> >manuka honey one step further.
> >
> >*Dressings*
> >
> >Comvita has set up a new medical products division to take hi-tech honey
> >dressings developed by Peter Molan to the international market.
> >
> >The new dressings have been designed to take the mess out of honey.
> >
> >"It's like a sheet of rubber, you can touch it without it being sticky at
> >all," he said.
> >
> >Comvita has high hopes for the new product.
> >
> >"Previously untreatable wounds of many types are now found to be treatable
> >by honey," said Comvita's Ray Lewis.
> >
> >"The global market for wound care is in the range of two to six billion US
> >dollars. So if we can capture just a small percentage of that, we will
> >obviously be doing very well."
> >
> >--
> >Lawrence F. London
> >lfljvenaura@gmail.com
> >http://www.avantgeared.com
> >https://plus.google.com/+Avantgeared
> >Skype: lawrence.f.london
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> >Permaculture: -- portal to an expanding global network of landtech
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> >while designing ecological, biointensive land use systems with integrated
> elements for synergy, sustainability, regeneration and enhanced
> nature-compatible
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> --
>
> Lawrence F. London
> lfljvenaura@gmail.com
> http://www.avantgeared.com
> https://plus.google.com/+Avantgeared
> Skype: lawrence.f.london
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> Permaculture: -- portal to an expanding global network of landtech
> pioneers practicing and teaching permaculture
> while designing ecological, biointensive land use systems with integrated
> elements for synergy, sustainability, regeneration and enhanced
> nature-compatible
> human habitat --
>