Food Democracy

It’s Sunday, a day of rest, a day when I traditionally try to stay away from posting anything too depressing. It hasn’t been easy lately. When it comes to our government and our food supply there is a far greater stream of not-so-good news. It often makes me wonder just what God (or Mother Nature) must be thinking. But today I give thanks for people like Don Bustos.

Don lives and farms in northern New Mexico’s Espanola Valley. His land has been passed down from his Spanish ancestors who tilled the same soil centuries before. He went organic 15 years ago when he realized the traditional farming techniques he was using could harm his children’s health. But now, Bustos has found an even safer method — vegan organic farming without any animal fertilizers or byproducts. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you know that the greatest risks from pesticides in your diet come from eating conventionally produced fruits and vegetables? A new pocket guide can help you avoid the highest-risk fresh produce during both the summer season and winter, when a significant share of fresh produce is imported.

Available at www.organic-center.org, the “Organic Essentials” pocket guide presents lists of conventional fruits and vegetables that pose the most significant pesticide-related risks and – therefore – are the most critical produce items to purchase as organic.

Risk rankings are based on The Organic Center’s March 2008 report, Simplifying the Pesticide Risk Equation: The Organic Option.

The following fruits and vegetables present the highest risk: Read the rest of this entry »

Organic milk is significantly richer in nutrients than that from conventional dairy farms, thanks to the cows’ diet, a new study has shown.

Researchers found that when cows were grazed outside on grass and clover, they produced milk with higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins.

The study by Newcastle University showed conjugated linoleic acid (CLA9) – which has been hailed as helping to reduce the risk of cancer – to be 60 per cent higher in organic milk during the summer months.

It also found organic milk has 39 per cent more omega-3 fatty acid and 33 per cent more vitamin E than the non-organic alternative. Both are thought to reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Read the rest of this entry »

Sustainable Table, the creator of the animated short film series, The Meatrix, is going on the road again, headed to this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. Founder/Director, Diane Hatz, and Moopheus, the larger than life, trench-coat-clad cow and superhero star of The Meatrix, will bring festival goers an urgent message—“Eat locally grown, sustainably raised foods to help save the environment.”  2008 is emerging as the year of ethical eating. Local food is becoming an important part of the consumer food market as consumers want to know more about their food — where it was grown, what ingredients it contains, how it was packaged, and the footprint its production left on the earth.

“By purchasing sustainable, local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes directly to the farmer, and your family will be able to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables. Buying seasonal produce also provides an exciting opportunity to try new foods and to experiment with seasonal recipes. And it simply tastes better!” said Diane Hatz, Founder/Director of Sustainable Table.

Read the rest of this entry »

Organic milk is healthier, says a new study from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. Scientists found that milk from organically farmed cows contained 67 percent more antioxidants than milk from conventionally farmed cows.

The study which analyzed milk from twenty-five farms, found other nutritional differences between organic and non-organic milk. The organic milk contained 39 percent more heart-healthy omega-3 oils and 32 percent less of the less-healthy omega-6 oils. It also had 60 percent more conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which studies have shown can reduce tumors, and also about 60 percent more of vaccenic acid, which may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

The researchers found that levels of antioxidants and healthy fatty acids were higher in summer, when cows ate fresh grass. Organically farmed cows get about 80 percent of their diet from grass while cows raised on conventional farms get under 40 percent of their diet from grazing.

 Although organic milk is more expensive than regular, experts say that since organic milk is so high in nutrients, customers wouldn’t have to buy as much to get the health benefits.

“This research confirms what organic farmers and consumers have long believed to be true,” said Peter Melchett, from the Soil Association, which advocates using organic farming methods. “This latest research demonstrates that it is the cows’ organic diet that makes their milk healthier.”

http://www.newsmax.com/health/organic_milk_healthier/2008/06/06/102225.html

A new study by Newcastle University proves that organic farmers who let their cows graze as nature intended are producing better quality milk.

The Nafferton Ecological Farming Group study found that grazing cows on organic farms in the UK produce milk which contains significantly higher beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins than their conventional ‘high input’ counterparts.

During the summer months, one of the beneficial fats in particular – conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA9 – was found to be 60% higher. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you started your organic vegetable garden yet? For most people, the danger of frost is over making this weekend a great time to get everything underway. The following steps help make growing your own as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Planning. Feeling a little overwhelmed? It’s Clyde to the rescue! Clyde’s utilized his skills as an engineer to come up with a pocket sized slide chart (similar to a slide rule – ha!) to show you everything you need to know to prepare and keep your garden on track. Clyde’s Garden Planner shows “at-a-glance” when to plant vegetables, gives frost dates, shows planting depth, distance, harvest dates and much more. Clyde managed to pack a ton of information into this handy little tool. At only $3.50 postage paid it’s a bargain. Clyde even has a four minute video. Check it out at http://cdmplanning.hypermart.net/

2. Soil. Not just any soil. Well balanced soil. Well balanced soil that contains the proper minerals. After growing organic for years we thought we had it down - lots of good compost, some peat moss, manure, and we were good to go. Until last year when our smaller garden had what can only be described as “failure to thrive.” We knew we needed something but what? Not a bunch of store bought chemicals that’s for sure. So this year we got a soil test, (yes, the soil was nutrient deficient), quizzed other local organic gardeners, examined the ingredients in quick fix fertilizers, and then found Michael. Dubbed the soil doctor, Michael Astera from Soil Minerals.com has been researching, amending, and teaching on the benefits of proper soil balance for years. Not only can he perform a comprehensive (and worthwhile) test to determine what your soil needs, he will advise on what and how much to then put in it (organic of couse). Be prepared to not only have great soil and an abundant garden, but a few online sessions with Michael and you’ll have a PhD in soil management. See The Importance of Well Balanced Soil. Read the rest of this entry »

The “greenest” foods are healthy foods. Whether you eat meat or are strictly vegetarian or vegan, these are the foods that are good for you and good for the planet. In 4 weeks you can make the switch to a diet of delicious, whole, organic foods, local foods, artisan foods with fewer pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, genetically modified ingredients or chemical additives.

Check out recipes, advice and ideas for a healthy eating plan that’s earth-friendly at The Daily Green, http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating-plans/

A new ordinance in Montville, Maine that bans the cultivation of genetically modified crops has stirred up controversy well beyond its borders.

A Maine group that represents the biotechnology industry warns that the ban approved at town meeting two weeks ago could put a damper on research and development efforts and harm the state’s economy. Meanwhile, the state Department of Agriculture is seeking an opinion from the attorney general on the legality of the ordinance.

Critics of genetically modified crops say changes in a plant’s molecular biology may have unintended, harmful consequences. Advocates of the technology cite positive benefits such as making crops more resistant to drought or disease.

The controversy over genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, reflects competing visions of agriculture, food safety and corporate power.

Organic farmer Claudette Nadeau worries that engineered seeds could cross-pollinate with her heirloom varieties and change their genetic makeup. She is also distrustful of corporations, recalling past assurances that chemical compounds such as DDT and PCBs were safe for humans and the environment. Read the rest of this entry »

Think you’re pretty savvy when it comes to conservation? Try taking the Earthbound Farm Conservation Quiz.  Get 9 out of 10 questions right, and they’ll send you a free reusable (and recyclable) Earthbound Farm shopping tote that you can use to reduce environmental waste whenever you shop.  Visit here to give it a whirl.