Archive for the ‘Agriculture’ Category

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Organic Label Standards in Peril

Monday, August 4th, 2014

organic labelby Catherine Haug, Aug 4, 2014 (image, right from Organic.org)

This post offers a summary of an article in Montana Organic Association’s Organic Matters newsletter, including quoted text. The original article is by Barry Flamm, Former National Organic Standards Board Chair and MOA Lifetime Member. You can read the full article on the MOA Website (1). It’s a long article; even my notes are long. Here’s what it all really boils down to:

  • “Does the organic community and public want a strong NOSB (National Organic Standards Board) as prescribed by OFPA (Organic Food Production Act of 1990)?
  • Does the organic community and the public believe and want the implementation of the overall principle of OFPA that for any product to be labeled organic it must be produced and handled without the use of chemicals with only temporary exemptions allowed and then only after stringent review?” (1)

If you have strong feelings in response to these questions, please contact your legislators and/or the White House (see our page: Government (Contact)). To contact the Secretary of Agriculture see US Secretary of Agriculture Contact Page.

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Posted in Agriculture, Organics | Comments Closed

Event Notice: Organic Farm Tour at Terrapin Farms, Aug 16, 2014

Monday, August 4th, 2014

by Catherine Haug, August 4, 2014

  • What: Cover Cropping Tour at Terrapin Farms in Whitefish, and MOA’s Fabulous Farm Feast Fundraiser Dinner (optional) after the tour.
  • When: August 16, 2013 at 2:30 PM; Dinner: Hors d’oeuvres and drinks served at 6 PM with dinner to follow at 6:30 PM.
  • Where: Terrapin Farms, 6505 Farm to Market Rd., Whitefish 7 miles west of Whitefish or 18 miles northwest of Kalispell; see their Facebook page (facebook.com/TerrapinFarm) for directions:
  • Who: Farm tour is free and open to the public; children are welcome, but please keep your four-leggeds at home. Pre-registration not required but is greatly appreciated. Visit ncat.org/tours or contact Jeff (see below). Fund-Raiser Dinner: suggested donation of $45 would be appreciated; reservations are requested, with your dietary preference. Contact Nate Brown (see below) to reserve dinner.

Contact information: 

  • To pre-register for farm tour: Jeff at jeffs (at) ncat.org [email disguised for security], or (406) 494-8636
  • To reserve dinner: Nate Brown, g.nathanbrown (at) gmail.com [email disguised for security], or (406) 579-6439

Additional Information

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Posted in Agriculture, Events: Other, Home & Ranch, Local Food System | Comments Closed

2014: International Year of Family Farming (& Gardening)

Monday, April 7th, 2014
Veggie Landscape Garden

Veggie Landscape Garden

by Catherine Haug, April 2014 (Photo, right, from Mercola: Who Knew Vegetable Gardens Could Be So Revolutionary?)

Did you know the UN has designated this year, 2014, and the International Year of Family Farming, to bring attention and recognition to the family farmers that are helping to nourish the world? This includes all of us who have gardens in our front or back yards.

Read on for:

  • You can garden ‘even if’;
  • Food for your garden

(more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Community, Compost, Ecology, Gardening, Landscaping, Shop Local | Comments Closed

Organic Gardening: The Problem of Contaminated Manure

Sunday, March 23rd, 2014
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

by Catherine Haug, April 23, 2014 (Image, right, used with permission from the Organic Consumers Association)

We all want to eat plant food that is healthful, not only for us but also for the soil in which it is grown, for the water that quenches its thirst, and for the air which provides the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.Yet most of the food in grocery stores and supermarkets does not meet that criteria. Instead, it contains GMO ingredients and as a consequence is contaminated with plant-killing chemicals like glyphosate (Roundup) and animal-killing chemical pesticides.

So we turn to foods that are raised organically – both plant and animal foods. Some of us raise our own. However, in our quest for organic, healthful food, we may be shooting ourselves in the foot. For example: (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Compost, Ecology, Gardening, GMO, Home & Ranch, Organics | Comments Closed

PBS Videos: The Lexicon of Sustainability

Wednesday, March 12th, 2014
Chickens at feed

Chickens at feed

by Catherine Haug, March 2014 (photo, right by Keith Blaylock)

Check out a very informative and entertaining series of short videos that explores new vocabulary associated with farming, food security, and other sustainability topics. From the Lexicon of Sustainability home page:

“For the past three years we have conversed with the foremost practitioners of sustainability in food and farming. They have shared their insights and experiences… and contributed their words to our rapidly growing Lexicon of Sustainability. To spread their knowledge our photography project has grown to include short films, study guides, traveling shows, a book and lastly a website where people can add their own terms to this ever-evolving lexicon.”

Read on for more about, and links to the videos. (more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Community, Compost, Ecology, Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening, GMO, Livestock, Organics, Shop Local | Comments Closed

Why do doctors advise avoiding GMO foods?

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

by Catherine Haug, March 5, 2014 (image, right, used with permission from Organic Consumers Association)

The following text is written by Jeffrey Smith of Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) for the Huffington Post ‘Food for Thought’ blog on 2/17/14. His email to IRT subscribers gives permission to ‘enjoy it, share it, “like” it, and help spread the word.’ In publishing it on The EssentiaList, I’m doing just that.

His article opens with these questions, “Why are thousands of physicians advising patients to avoid eating GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) and how did these high-risk foods get onto the market in the first place?”. He then presents documented facts about the harm of GMO foods for humans, livestock and pets.

 

Here is his article. Please read, then pass it on. (more…)

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

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