Archive for the ‘Agriculture’ Category

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Aquaponic Food Production

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

by Catherine Haug

Some time ago, Steve E. sent this article to me; my apologies for taking so long to share it with our readers. Backyard Fish Farm by Carla Wintersgill, from Canada’s Globe and Mail is about aquaponics, a combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (raising produce). From the article:

“In the symbiotic system, fish provide fertilizer for the plants, and the plants clean the water for the fish, eliminating water waste and making it the ultimate sustainable food source.”

If this interests you, check out BackYardAquaponics.com to learn more about this method.

I must note, however, that farmed fish have been proven to be nutritionally inferior to wild fish, primarily because the fish are not grazing for native food in their native habitat, much like the difference between feedlot beef and pastured beef or between eggs from factory hens and pastured hens.

See also my earlier post  on growing grain feed hydroponically: It’s a Small World – Hydroponic Sprouts (Apr 27, 2010)

Posted in Agriculture, Home & Ranch | Comments Closed

The Future of Agriculture

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

by Catherine Haug

Across our nation, small family farms have been disappearing, either to subdivisions as in our valley, or by merging into large corporate farms. These large farms do not use the natural, organic methods of our grandparents. Instead, they use GMO seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, and copious irrigation, all of which lead to depleted soil and toxic ground water.

But what if we could reverse this trend? How could we enable these large farms to revert to small, organic farms and at the same time make the land more productive while ensuring healthy soil and clean water for succeeding generations? (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Energy | Comments Closed

Cow Whisperer

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Cat's cow-share cow

(Article and photo by Catherine Haug)

While mainstream food production becomes more toxic and inhumane, many farmers and ranchers are looking for a better way. Today the DIL featured an AP story by Matt Volz, about Curt Pate, a 49-year-old Montana cowboy who consulted on the 1998 Robert Redford film “The Horse Whisperer.”

Mr. Pate now turns his talents to showing ranchers a low-stress method of managing cattle. He recently did a demonstration of the old-time, but mostly forgotten technique at the Sieben ranch north of Helena.

You can read the article: Cow Whisperer Aims To Improve Livestock Handling online on the CBS News website.

The article suggests renewed interest among ranchers in this technique was sparked by the online video of cattle abuse on an Ohio dairy farm. You can view this video and learn more at Mercy For Animals. Warning: The video is graphic and greatly disturbing.

As consumers, it is our responsibility to purchase foods from farmers and ranchers who practice humane and life-affirming methods. To do otherwise risks our own health and spiritual well-being. Buy from local food producers you can trust; check out Farm Hands: Who Is Your Farmer? for local, Flathead Valley producers. And demand that local grocers carry more local, humanely-raised foods.

Posted in Agriculture, Livestock, Shop Local | Comments Closed

Toxic Food

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

by Catherine Haug

As time goes forward, we learn more and more about the sad state of mainstream food production. The online video of cows being mistreated and abused at an Ohio factory farm signals perhaps a turning point, as it wakes up the minions to the sorry state of affairs in American Ag.

Dr. Mercola featured a video interview of Dr. Shiv Chopra on August 14, 2010. The topic is a review of food safety and how things have gone so awry in the US, Canada and around the world. He cites five toxic substances currently in the mainstream food supply:

  • Hormones, by direct treatment and by including in the animals’ food supply;
  • Antibiotics, by direct treatment and by including in the animals’ food supply;
  • Drug-resistant bacteria (as result of overuse of antibiotics);
  • Recycled rendered slaughterhouse waste (fed to other animals);
  • GMOs. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Montana Organic News & Action Websites

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

by Catherine Haug

Did you know that the OCA (Organic Consumers Association) has a news & action website for each state? Or that Montana has it’s own Organic Association (MOA)? Check these out. I’ve added the links for both organizations to our home page, in the right hand column under “Local & Organic Links.” (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Food-Nutrition-Health | Comments Closed

Why Is It So Hard to Find Locally-Grown Foods in Montana: a Video

Friday, June 4th, 2010

by Catherine Haug

This video asks the question:

“Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry. So why does most of the food Montanans eat come from so far away? …  Up until the early 1950s, Montana produced nearly 70% of the food Montanans ate. … Today, Montana’s agriculture provides only about 10% of the food Montanans eat.”

Watch this 11 minute video to find the answer. It’s available on the Grow Montana website: www.growmontana.ncat.org or on YouTube: Grow Montana – Montana Food System Notes

Support your local grower/producer.

Eating locally produced food is not only more healthful, but it also builds our local economy and creates jobs.

Home-grown Montana projects like the Mobile Poultry Processing Unit are giving local producers a step up towards this larger goal.

Interested in starting a farmers market? Check out Starting a Farmers Market in Montana.

See AERO-MT, Buy Fresh Buy Local (& Food Routes), and Grow Montana for more information.

Posted in Agriculture, Community, Shop Local | Comments Closed

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