Nature provides us with an abundance of extraordinary foods. Flax, or Linum Usitatissimum, is a perfect example. It has been grown in Europe for centuries, prized for both its practical fibre and oil rich seed. The oil in flax seeds contain Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) which cannot be manufactured by the human body so we have to obtain them from a dietary source.

Flax seeds are one of nature's richest sources of Omega-3, a type of EFA contributing to brain development and healthy joints.

As well as Omega-3 and 6, flax seeds also contain lignans, (plant nutrients). Lignans combine with bile acids to reduce cholesterol and speed the passage of food through the body. A smart seed for a healthy body and mind.

To find out more, click on any of the links under the Related well-being topics heading in the adjacent left hand column or download one of our Product Information sheets.

I grow Flax in certified organic fields on the rich alluvial plains of Canterbury, New Zealand. We sow during the spring as soon as the soil starts to warm up and we harvest in late summer when 90% of the bolls (or seed pods) have turned brown.

After cutting, we leave them to dry naturally for about a week before separating the bolls from the stalks.We underplant with companion pasture species such as clover, grasses and herbs and rotate crops to minimise cultivation and weed growth so we can increase crop yields naturally. It's a constant challenge and very satisfying when we get it all right.