by Catherine Haug, January 5, 2012
If you are truly concerned about the invasion of GMOs in our food supply, please consider becoming active. A good place to start is the Tipping Point Network (TPN). A conference call for interested Montanans is being organized for Tuesday January 8. When I have more information, I will post it as an event notice.
Read on for more about the TPN, and about Montana Organic Association’s new GMO page. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, December 16, 2012
Now that I’m retired and have much more time to cook from scratch (than when I was working 10-12 hours a day), I tend to take this blessing for granted. For those who are still working long hours, I know it is difficult to buy local and cook from scratch, so a short list of packaged/processed foods that are quick and easy to make from scratch, might be welcome.
The following list is from Dr. Mercola, who ‘borrowed’ the first 5 in the list from an article on Grist.org. He explains why the processed versions are best avoided. I’ve added my own comments/ideas as well. (more…)
Frankenfood
by Catherine Haug, November 14, 2012
By now I’m sure you heard that California’s Proposition-37 (the Right to Know Act that would mandate labeling of GMOs in foods) was defeated after a massive outpouring of money from GMO companies like Monsanto and DuPont. But you might be surprised to know who else contributed funds to oppose our right to know.
With the holidays coming up, here are some items you may wish to avoid:
Curious about more? Interested in boycott? See Companies Fighting Prop-37 and OCA: Boycott Organic-Brand Parent Companies. Below are familiar companies and a few of their brands you can find in our local grocery stores, just in case you want to avoid or boycott them. NOTE: almost all are processed foods and fast-food restaurants. They are not necessarily GMO today, but could be tomorrow. Even some ‘Organic‘ and ‘Natural‘ brands are in the list (indicated as bold-black text), because they are owned by a larger company that supports the use of GMOs.
Janet pushing apples through grinder
by Catherine Haug
Once gain, ESP will have a cider press available during Tamarack Time! on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
Who: All are welcome, and it’s FREE. You don’t need to buy the Tamarack Time ticket to get your apples pressed. However, donations to ESP are welcome, to help support our activities during the year.
What: Bring your rinsed apples and jars or bottles. 1 bushel of apples (48 pounds) makes about 3 gallons of cider, according to Jeffrey. Please bring extra bottles/jars, if you have them.
No groundfall, please (County requirement).
Helpful Handouts:
Check out photos and more:
When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 from about 11 AM until all the apples are pressed. (Date IS confirmed)
Where: The deck of Mosaic (formerly La Provence), 408 Bridge St. in Bigfork
Jeffrey & Betsey Funk
Come help with washing, grinding, pressing and bottling; it’s tons of fun! For more information or to volunteer, contact:
Check out the Gathering Summary: Cider Press 2009 to read about all the fun from last year, with photos, or for cider recipes.
by Catherine Haug, Sept 12, 2012
If you missed all the fun this last weekend, there’s a great 4-minute video of the races by GravityShots.com, featuring ground and aerial shots. Check it out at 2012 Dragon Boat Races on Flathead Lake, Montana.
What a beautiful day it was for the races, and a nice turnout of spectators as well as boaters.
Dryland Farming-Palouse
by Catherine Haug, August 11, 2012
(Photo, right, from Wikipedia)
We’ve all heard about the disastrous drought in the high plains and midwest portions of our country – from Nebraska to Texas; Colorado to Kentucky. Just the other day, the Daily Interlake carried an article about the drying and heating up of rivers in Nebraska and Iowa, a problem that is cooking fish to death as the streams exceed 90° F.
While we haven’t yet felt the drought here in NW Montana (and the rest of the Pacific NW), that doesn’t mean that we won’t feel it in future years. Yes, it’s hard to look at the high water in our reservoirs and lakes, and think that a drought could happen. But our part of the state did experience drought during the dust bowl years.
As the drought conditions spread to more states, including ours, how will we cope? How will we feed and water our livestock? How will we nurture our gardens? Will our water supplies hold up? Where will our food come from? (more…)