Archive for the ‘Organics’ Category

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Avoiding toxic plastic and other endocrine disruptors

Saturday, June 6th, 2015
BPA-Free Plastics

BPA-Free Plastics

By Catherine Haug, June 2015 (photo, right, from NPR (1))

Mercola (2) has an article about toxic chemicals (not just plastics), most of which are endocrine disruptors. That means that they either mimic the action of hormones from our endocrine system, or they block the cells’  binding sites for our natural hormones so they cannot do their job. It appears that the majority of these toxins affect the sex hormones, resulting in early puberty in boys and girls; low testosterone in mature males, and birth defects. Some also affect our digestive system.

See also my posts:

Read on for a listing of the 12 most common endocrine disruptors, and how to avoid them. (more…)

Posted in Ecology, Health, Organics | Comments Closed

Would you eat this chicken?

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015
Caged, stressed laying hens

Caged, stressed laying hens

by Catherine Haug, May 13, 2015 (Photo, right, from WSPA (5)

Includes: 1. Would you eat this chicken? 2. What about eggs?

Would you eat this chicken? If you buy chicken from your favorite supermarket, discount grocery chain, or most of the fast food chains around the country, you already are (eating this chicken).

NOTE: a popular brand in the Flathead is Foster Farms, which has several farms in Washington State. This brand utilizes the CAFO method (Confinement Animal Feeding Operation) as described in this posting. See also The EssentiiaList: Foster Farms chicken and salmonella outbreak (Oct 2013 posting).

(more…)

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

GMO Alert: New GE Crops to be Approved

Tuesday, August 19th, 2014
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

by Catherine Haug, August 19, 2014 (Image, right, used by permission from Organic Consumers Association)

You have undoubtedly heard that as the growing of Roundup-resistant crops increases, the number of Roundup-resistant weeds increases as well, which in turn requires increased spraying of these GMO crops with Roundup and other herbicides. It’s a vicious circle. It isn’t just herbicides, but also pesticides and GMO species resistant to the effects of these pesticides that are increasing.

Monsanto, et.al., come to the ‘rescue’ by developing new chemicals and GMO varieties resistant to them, so that the toxic load of ag sprays on these crops increases as well. And, of course, these new chemicals and GMOs are approved before longterm studies on their safety can be completed.

Two new GMO crops and related new herbicides are awaiting approval: (more…)

Posted in GMO, Organics | Comments Closed

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.

(more…)

Posted in Agriculture, Organics | Comments Closed

GMOs: Boycott Natural & Organic brands that oppose labeling

Tuesday, May 27th, 2014
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

By Cat, May 27,2014 (Image right from Organic Consumers Assoc., used with permission)

The fight to label foods containing GMO ingredients is making progress, but we have a long way to go. Meanwhile, the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Assoc.) continues to pour money into the fight against labeling.

It’s time to stand up to them, by boycotting ALL their products, including the natural & Organic brands they own (see list, below).

Every time you buy one of these traitor brands, your dollars support the anti-labeling efforts of the GMA, voiding your efforts to label GMOs. (more…)

Posted in GMO, Organics | 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

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