Video - Sustainable Agriculture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqNBeSp1MRw

Thoughts on the empty nest

Well, it finally happened; my youngest daughter graduated from High School this year, and last week she headed out to college. Although I had prepared them (and myself) for this moment, it still felt strange. Turning 50 did not feel half as strange as this. They're great kids, all three of them, and I'm very proud of them, but it doesn't make this venture into adulthood any easier for their parents.

Strangely enough, they feel proud of me as well - it was quite an accomplishment for a technophobe like myself to be creating websites, writing songs, and the like. Have I actually been an inspiration to them? Wouldn't that be cool?

Shucks, even their food choices have improved. Their favorite meals are baked salmon, asparagus, roasted lamb chops, couscous, homemade squash soup, and similar delights. Or maybe they just enjoyed my cooking. At any rate, some of our fondest memories have revolved around food and family. I suspect that it's the same for many of you.

Well, I'm so glad that I unloaded. I feel better already...

Important questions that can supercharge your life

With summer vacations drawing to a close, it's sometimes difficult to find the motivation when you return to work. Sometimes we need to re-align priorities and focus on what's most important. If you do, there's a great list that I discovered recently that helps you ask all the right questions. Sometimes finding the right answers is all about asking the right questions. You can go to the post by clicking here.

I like this website, and recommend it for its many insightful articles covering various practical topics. Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration.

Nuturing your inner activist

No doubt many of you, like me, can easily spend hours on the internet, searching for information and getting updates on all the events that concern us today. There's a nice website which utilizes the power of Web 2.0 to bring user-generated content about the environment, health and wellness, organics and food safety, politics, etc. Here, I've met like-minded individuals who care about alot of the same things that I care about. And unlike other such sites, users have many opportunities to take action by clicking a mouse or signing a petition. What could be simpler? Click on the link below to check it out:

www.care2.com

It's a growing community of over 7 million people the world over. Chances are you'll find information that is of interest to you, and you can catch up on some much-needed reading. There's nothing like a little armchair activism.

Big Pharma makes me sick

I'm sick to death of all the TV drug advertisements that I see on cable. I really don't want to be paying for cable TV so I can listen to people talking about erectile dysfunction, restless leg syndrome, bone density medication, hair regrowers, etc. Just listening to all these commercials, which come on every 5 minutes or so, is enough to make me sick.

Recently, a bill was passed which further illustrates how Big Pharma and the FDA are in bed together, allowing them to charge the highest possible prices for pharmaceuticals. If you want to read the article, you can click on the link below:

FDA drug safety bill passes in the U.S. Senate; health freedom advocates outraged at betrayal of American consumers

This is one of the primary reasons why the "healthcare economy" has taken on a life of its own in the U.S., with the highest expenditure per person in the world. Unfortunately, that price tag does not provide us with the best care in the world. And it's certainly not producing healthier citizens. This escalation will have to crash somewhere. I certainly behooves us to live as healthy as possible, lest we be held captive by "Big Pharma."

Why I've become a vegetarian

Just recently, I made the conscious choice to become vegetarian. As a die-hard consumer of seafood and dairy, it's a decisiono that didn't come easy. However, it was hard not to make switch, in light of all the information I've gathered while writing about organics. The older I get, the more committed I become to being a better steward of our resources.

Much has been written about the negative impact of beef processing on the environment. But I'm not much of a beef eater anyway. But factory farming is a concern with regard to chicken and pork, as well. Animal cruelty is not something I endorse.

Just as important is the impact on my waistline. High cholesterol, diabetes,and heart disease run rampant in my family. Our diet of steaks, bacon, and pork chops no doubt contributes. That and the fact that, as I grow older, my digestive system slows down, making these heavy meals harder to digest. I feel that lighter, high fiber fare would improve myhealth on many fronts.

So what to do? The good thing is that vegetarians have a myriad of optionsfor cooking and dining. I myself have cooked many vegetarian dishes (some of which I might share here), and have found them most satisfying. More and more restaurants carry vegetarian options, and there are even ready-made entrees available. So I don't feel that I'm missing anything. Being vegetarian is about more than tofu.

These stories make it clear food handling is not what it should be

More stories have appeared in the headlines regarding such things as botulism and e.coli, two nasty little bugs. It bears repeating that concerns about food safety continue to command the limelight.

The first story, which appeared on msnbc.com, relates the story about a canned food recall related to outbreaks of botulism poisoning; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19891614

E. coli in beef continues in places like Tennessee, N. Carolina and Pennsylvania. It does not instill confidence in the way beef is being processed. Although e.coli could be found in organic meats as well, it would be smart for consumers to cook their meats thoroughly, as this will destroy the bacteria. As for the canned food, it's not common for canned food to be tainted. Hopefully, tainted food can be recalled before too many people become ill.

Beware the "all natural" claims on food products

More and more companies have been using the term "all natural" on their products. For those of us who are looking for healthier choices, this may seem confusing. After all, how can everything suddenly become "all natural"? And what does that term mean?

I found a great article on the subject on the website Newstarget.com that I wanted to share. Please read it by clicking below:

http://www.NewsTarget.com/021937.html

Now more than ever, it behooves us to become good label readers. For those who suffer from food sensitivites, it becomes really important. I'm reminded of the time when I purchased sugar-free cookies because they did not contain aspartame. It wasn't until I developed diahhrea that I checked the label again, and learned that it contained sorbitol. No more sugar-free for me!

More points for organic farming

There are many forces that are doing their best to detract from the benefits of farming organically. Prominent among them are companies that have the least to gain - gm companies, pesticide and synthetic fertilizer companies.

Well, according to an article in Planetark.com, a study conducted by Ivette Perfecto from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment showed that organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming, in developing nations, without the need to increase the land base.

Consider the fact that organic farming methods encourage biodiversity, which helps to cut down on harmful pests. Crop rotation also helps to maintain good soil quality, while compost replenishes the soil. These methods mitigate the need for toxic chemicals and monoculture farming, which depletes the soil and leaves crops more susceptible to stress and disease.

I'd say that, from a consumer standpoint, it's a no-brainer. Organic farming is better for me and the planet. Take that, Monsanto.

Keeping up with the news

It can be hard to stay on top of the latest news regarding food safety, organics, and agriculture. The Farm Bill is being revised, food irradiation is being questioned, the honey bee mystery continues, and the FDA is considering making supplements less readily available. What next? You can read a little about all these topics, and more, by going to http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organic-news-information.html. It doesn't matter what your political leanings are. Taking charge of our food choices is what's at stake if we remain complacent, instead of educating ourselves and taking action. Power to the people!

A word about the Live Earth concert

Today, LiveEarth.org sponsored an all-day concert to raise awareness about global warming. I watched part of it on Bravotv.com, which included appearances by celebrities, including Al Gore.

It's unfortunate that, with Al Gore's participation, an event like this should have become politicized. It took away from the spirit of unity that was undoubtedly wished for by many. I sincerely hope that the performers offset their carbon "emissions" due to all that traveling! It also would have been nice to have heard new songs created specifically for this event. After all, what does "loosening up my buttons" have to do with global warming?

Seriously, though, it does demonstrate that people can come together when something is important enough. I only hope that "green living" and environmentalism is not attached to the rich and the famous, who are the only ones used as spokespersons these days.

Something we "health nuts" don't know - right?

If you've seen the front page of the most recent "Time" magazine, you may have noticed the article entitled "Herb Remedy's Potential Dangers." You can go the article here.

I'm tired of reading about the "dangers" of herbal remedies written by fearmongers who possibly intend to scare consumers aware from using herbs. I myself have responded very well to herbs, from St. John's wort to Licorice root, with no ill effects. I do not abuse them, of course. I do not take conventional medications because they are dangerous. Have doctors and reporters unaware of the toxicity of most prescribed medications, including nausea, vomiting, liver toxicity, kidney damage, blood clots, and even cancer? These are far more dangerous than any herbs that the average consumer might take.

Even more dangerous is the related Time article, "Save Us From Alternative Medicine", which you can read by clicking here. In the article, the author proposes that we eliminate the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which allows herbal supplements to be sold without Federal regulation. His argument is compelling; the FDA is obligated to "protect" us from snake oil salesmen who are robbing us blind. The whole idea is an insult to my intelligence. The FDA has certainly done a bang-up job protecting consumers from pharmaceutical companies that are out for a buck. I'd rather use my own judgment, thank you. I don't need to be "saved." Do you?

Take action to take charge of your food choices

In another attempt to control our food choices, Monsanto is participating in an attempt to insert legislation in the new Farm Bill to eliminate the state's right to regulate genetically modified organisms and gm crops. This would hit California hard, as it has banned production of genetically modified organisms.

If you want to do something to stop this assault, go to the Organic Consumers Association weblink here. Cast your vote and make a difference in the fight against the co-opting of our food choices.

Stupid Republicans, "junk science" and pesticides

Just when I think stupid Republicans couldn't go any lower; an Oklahoma Republican, Coburn, vowed to block a resolution that would honor Rachel Carson, the author of "Silent Spring", on what would have been her 100th birthday. Coburn, a doctor, must have received his share of donations from chemical manufacturers. In the Washington Post article that can be read here - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201574.html, he mentions Ms. Carson's "now debunked" book...just who are his sources? Clearly he hasn't read her book; his reference to "junk science" is laughable. Pesticides to cure malaria? Perhaps he is not aware that while DDT is banned in the United States, it continues to be exported to other countries -- and pesticides have never "cured" anything. It should be a crime for public servants who are supported by taxpayer dollars, to spew such nonsense. Or perhaps it's just because she's a woman. Thank you, Rachel Carson, for your insights and you valuable contribution! We salute you.

Looks like the campaign against gm alfalfa worked

I'd previously posted a notice about Organic Valley's campaign against genetically engineered alfalfa. On May 3rd, a judge ruled against Monsanto's "Roundup ready" alfalfa, calling it illegal to plant it in the U.S. This is good news for organic alfalfa growers, as well as organic milk producers. Read about it at the Center for Food Safety's press release page.

It's never to late to change

On a personal note...I thought I'd mention that I didn't always advocate environmental friendliness, organics, etc. I was pretty much like everyone else -- eating at McDonald's occasionally, although I did cook often at home for my kids. And I never had soda in the house. i like to think that it's paid off for them. I feel that those first few decades have taken a toll on my body, with fibroids, parathyroid adenomas, weight gain, and other ailments. But it's never to late to change one's lifestyle, to exercise more, eat better, and support worthy causes. So here goes. My children are proud.

2007 Farm Bill not all it's cracked up to be

This year, the USDA's Farm Bill expires, and new guidelines are being developed that will impact farmers in the U.S. and abroad. OXFAM is asking you to take action to help prevent legislation that will harm poor farmers, while supporting monoculture and genetically modified organisms. Visit their take action page at http://www.oxfamamerica.org/farmbill.

The USDA has created forums that help to explain the pros and cons (if you can believe any of it!). That page can be found at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdafarmbill?navtype=su&navid=FARM_BILL_FORUMS

Citrus peels and ethanol

The ongoing saga continues to find original ways to produce biofuel ethanol. Below is a story about citrus waste that I found interesting:

Citrus peel waste may be used to generate earth-friendly fuel

Counterfeiters substitute toxic syrup for medicine ingredient

More troubling news which implicates China in the export of a toxic substance...Apparently, ethylene glycol (the sweet-tasting poison found in antifreeze) has been found in products that use glycerin - a more expensive, and common, ingredient in cough medicine, toothpastes, and many other products. And people have died as a result. And while the FDA states that there's no danger to U.S. residents, a poisoning incident like this one which took place decades ago resulted in the creation of the FDA. For now, I'd read labels and avoid cough medicine, folks! The entire article can be found at http://www.newsobserver.com/110/story/571380.htm

Plastics found to be clogging oceans, fish

A recent article reported by BBC News noted that plastic bags, those wonderful, non-biodegradable petroleum-based products, have been turning up in dead fish. "Mermaid's tears" (pieces of plastic resulting from physical break-down in seawater) have turned up on beaches and in marine life, where its chemicals are probably released. This could pose a real danger to the safety of our food chain. For the complete report, go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6218698.stm.

Given the fact that more and more cities (San Francisco, Boston) are banning plastic shopping bags, it would behoove us to find other alternatives. Of course, there are ethylene-based plastic bags, but why not carry canvas bags when we go shopping? Or we could ask for paper shopping bags from those who still carry them. In fact, let's encourage our city councilmen to ban plastic bags in our city.

Organic Valley family campaign against FDA ruling

Another "secret" ruling in the ongoing push to develop genetically modified organisms has gotten Organic Valley into the fray. Now, genetically modified alfalfa is being approved for mass production, which could upset the production of organic milk. Organic milk farmers rely on organic alfalfa to feed their cattle. The very meaning of "certified organic" may be jeopardized by this ruling. To read more about it, go to http://organicvalley.coop/newsroom/article.html?cat=1&id=447.

The truth about ethanol

Theories abound about the benefits about developing the biofuel ethanol. While developing alternative fuels is a good thing, it's important to weigh the pros and cons before going full speed ahead with mass production of corn and ethanol conversion. One argument against the mass production of ethanol is given here; http://www.energybulletin.net/28610.html.

This is really funny!!

Are you a Star Wars fan? Well, there's a great short film called "Store Wars" which stars our favorite vegetables. In it, the "organic revolution" is being led by the produce department! I highly recommend it. To view, please go to http://www.storewars.org/flash/index.html. You'll find links to other movies there. Who says organics lovers don't have a sense of humor?!

Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is coming soon, on April 22nd. There are many simple, feel-good ways to celebrate it. Go to http://www.organic-nature-news.com/earth-day-celebrations. Or why not celebrate Arbor Day on April 27th? (http://www.arborday.org). You don't need to be a treehugger to plant a tree, become a sponsor, or read about those who are. We only have one planet.

Startling news about certified organic coffee growers

A recent article in Salon caught my eye the other day, and I found it disturbing. It was written by Samuel Fromartz, the author of "Organic, Inc: Natural Foods and how they grew" (very informative). In the article, he described a "quiet" change made by the USDA to change the way organic coffee coops will be inspected. The change will make it more costly and time-consuming for South American and African coffee coops to obtain organic certification. This came about as a result of an infraction by a grower in Mexico. The summary can be found at the following link at the USDA website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop, by clicking on compliance, and then the Appeals Summaries for Sept05-Mar07. Many feel that this decision is an extreme reaction to one grower's mistake. The public (this means us!) can send a response to this decision at the USDA's NOP webpage. If we don't speak up, the availability of organic and fair trade coffee may very well be in jeopardy.

Why not grow a little?

Yesterday, I yearned to get my "hands dirty." I trotted over to Home Depot, purchased some MiracleGro organic potting soil, and took it home to finally plant those oregano and curly parsley seeds I've been saving. The pot is sitting near my kitchen window, and I must say, it felt good. I don't know about you, but those dried, bottled herbs that you get in the supermarket are rather tasteless, to say the least. And as for the fresh ones they sell - who knows where they've been? I sure won't need to use pesticides on my kitchen counter.

For those of you adventurous ones who'd like some information, visit http://www.organic-nature-news.com/growing-organic-herbs.html. It may make a believer out of you.

Menu Foods contaminated pet food

Most cat and dog owners are familiar with the recall of moist pet food by Menu Foods due to contamination. The latest news: testing by the FDA found traces of melamine in the wheat gluten used to make the food. Traces of this chemical were found in the kidney of a sick cat. Melamine, used to make plastics, is also used as fertilizer in other countries. This story will no doubt continue to unfold. There's more information available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine. No doubt, pet owners are a little concerned about the 60 million pet food containers that were recalled, and have switched to dry pet food. It sounds like a good time to go organic; visit http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organicpetfood.html for suggestions.

Google Dining is the peak of freshness

I learned recently about Google's famous on-campus eateries (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/03/01/FDG32H9OF61.DTL&type=printable) and I thought I'd comment on a phenomenon that I hope will catch on with other businesses. The newest eatery, Cafe 150, is so named because of its practice of utilizing only locally grown foods within a 150 mile radius. (That would rule out foods like shrimp and tropical fruit.) Many people swear by this philosophy, and some feel that it's more important than buying organic. (See the article in Time, March 12, 2007, entitled "My Search for the Perfect Apple" by John Cloud. He visited the Google cafe.) What makes Cafe 150 and the other four eateries so special is that they are responsive to employee needs, as well as purveyors of good nutrition. Charlie's Cafe, for example, serves Southwest and Indo-Pakistani cuisine. No-Name Cafe serves made-to-order salads, house-cured meat, and vegan items. Pacific Cafe serves Asian dishes. Their beverage options include such things as wheatgrass juice and kombucha. And employees eat free! Google claims to spend about $8.00/employee, and they love it. I wonder if they're hiring...

Global warming

With all the talk about environmental issues these days, I thought I'd interject a little information that I came across on the internet. For those of you who did not see "An Inconvenient Truth", or who did not see Mr. Gore at the Academy Awards, the movie really is a must-see. You can learn a little more about it at http://www.climatecrisis.net. Ben & Jerry's ice cream is also getting involved with environmental issues; learn about their efforts at http://www.lickglobalwarming.org. There's a great fact sheet that defines global warming and climate change in a way that any layman could understand. It can be found at http://www.thegreatwarming.com/pdf/ClimateChangeFactSheet.pdf. Enjoy!

World Water Day

While enjoying the Dasani that I purchase everyday, I happened across an ad in the New York Times about World Water Day. According to the ad, over 1 billion people worldwide to not have access to clean, pure water. Of these people, one child dies every 15 seconds from water-bourne illnesses. It's a sobering thought for those of us who take clean water for granted every day.

Visitors can visit http://www.worldwaterday.net for more information about this international event, and what you can do in your area. Or you can visit http://www.ge.com/en to learn how General Electric is developing technology to provide clean water for all. If you are interested in taking action in other ways, please visit http://www.organic-nature-news.com/take-action.html. It's a small price to pay for doing good -- and feeling good!

Read the label!

With all the food sensitivities cropping up lately, it behooves us to learn how to read those pesky food labels. Today, food items like trans fats must be listed on the label. At the Center for the Science in the Public Interest website (http://www.cspinet.org), you can read a list of food additives that are safe and which ones we should avoid. I learned the hard way, for example, that too much sorbitol (a sugar alcohol used in sugar-free products) resulted in loose bowels (yuck!). Unfortunately, most chemicals introduced into our bodies accumulate in our fat cells, and they don't go away. It's something to think about the next time we reach for a Twinkie.

The truth about genetically modified organisms

I've recently encountered a new book written by Denise Caruso that talks about genetically modified organisms, and I thought I'd share it. The title is "Intervention", and it dispassionately examines some of the facts behind the push to introduce GMO's, or transgenic crops, into our lives. "Intervention"'s scrupulous refusal to sensationalize only makes the alarms it raises more compelling. "Intervention" outlines a better approach to assessing the risks of new technologies. Under this process, interested experts from different fields assess risks from a broad perspective, asking questions rather than deliberately ignoring our lack of knowledge because they lack information.

Visitors can read a little more about gmo's on our website, by going to http://www.organic-nature-news.com/genetically-modified-organisms.html.

The Whole Foods conundrum

There's been plenty of talk about the Whole Foods empire over the past week. The first item was good news for finicky foodies; both Whole Foods and Wild Oats refused to sell products coming from clones animals. The second -- Whole Foods has plans to buy Wild Oats and reconfigure its stores, in another one of many takeovers by the natural foods giant. Stock prices, unfortunately, have fallen over the past year by about 30%, prompting many to comment that perhaps Whole Food's CEO has taken on more than he can chew. Is Whole Foods growing too big; are they selling out? We'd like to hear from you.