by Catherine Haug
The downturn in our economy, coupled with the impact of climate change, are causing people to rethink where they spend their dollars. According to a February 16, 2009 article in the Flathead Business Journal, a new grassroots group called “Buy Local Flathead” has organized to promote local businesses, and “raise awareness about the positive effects that buying locally has on our community.” (more…)
by Catherine Haug
The Sustainable Food website (from change.org) has a new post titled “4 Reasons Why ‘Modern’ Agriculture is Bad For You.” I suspect our ESP community is already aware of most of these reasons, but you might want to check out this post and the referenced articles anyway. Here’s the 4 reasons; for more detail, read the post.
While these are all certainly important (and scary) reasons, we can find even more important (and hopeful) reasons much closer to home: (more…)
by Catherine Haug
Bill Clanton, a Kalispell gardener, shared some of his expertise with the DIL for their May 2, 2009 issue. I include the highlights from these articles and also one from the Washington Post on Floating Row Covers, in the same issue. (more…)
by Catherine Haug
(Updated Sept 24 to add a third local dairy: Kalispell Kreamery).
For the most part, your local supermarket, Costco, Wal-Mart and Whole Foods do NOT carry pasture-fed meats, eggs and dairy. These sources are all part of the modern monoculture food system which thrives on low-cost, factory-style food production, cheap transportation costs to ship their products around the country, and stressed-out consumers who don’t have the time to fix healthful “slow-food” meals at home.
Instead, if you want healthful pasture-raised animal food products, you need to go to a local producer or local shops that specialize in locally produced meats, eggs and dairy products. (more…)
by Catherine Haug
When you garden as part of a community, you not only provide food for your table, but also food for your soul. Perhaps because of a return to healthful fresh foods, or because of the current state of the economy, community gardens are springing up all over the Flathead.
Kalispell Community Garden
This group is starting a container gardening project (kick-off event was April 25). See Kalispell Community Garden (ACGA site) or Who is Your Farmer (Farm Hands) for more info about this garden.
Nourish the Flathead
This is a non-profit organization in Whitefish, is starting with a community garden in Whitefish. They can help you start a community garden in your neighborhood (Contact Diane Grove for more information; dianneg44(at)gmail.com; email disguised).
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church
ESP is assisting the church in Ferndale to develop a Community Garden on their property. This year will be busy readying the soil, fences and water for next year’s gardens (2010). (more…)
by Catherine Haug
This is a synopsis of a long article from Scientific American, April 2009 magazine, by Diana Cox-Foster and Dennis vanEngelsdorp: Solving the Mystery of the Vanishing Bees” (original title: ‘ Saving the Honeybee’). See also a sidebar to this article: Wild Pollinators Are Ailing, Too.
To me, CCD is the canary in the mine: warning of a dire future if we don’t pay attention. Our monoculture ag system is at the root of the problem and should be discarded if our planet is to survive.
“The mysterious ailment called colony collapse disorder [CCD] has wiped out large numbers of the bees that pollinate a third of our crops. The causes turn out to be surprisingly complex, but solutions are emerging.
Key Concepts
- Millions of beehives worldwide have emptied out as honeybees mysteriously disappear, putting at risk nearly 100 crops that require pollination.
- Research is pointing to a complex disease in which combinations of factors, including farming practices, make bees vulnerable to viruses.
- Taking extra care with hive hygiene seems to aid prevention. And research into antiviral drugs could lead to pharmaceutical solutions.”