Archive for the ‘Gardening’ Category

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Fresh: the film about moving toward sustainable food supply

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, February 26, 2012

Dr. Mercola featured this documentary film in his newsletter today. You can view it on his website FOR FREE through March 3, 2012. It’s a little more than 1 hour in length. Go to Polyculture vs Monoculture: Fresh, the Film. Mercola writes:

The documentary “FRESH” celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.

The film demonstrates how we can collectively transform the current “industrial agricultural paradigm” into a healthier, more sustainable way of feeding the world, while restoring the health of our ailing planet.

You can also view the trailer for this movie: Fresh (the movie): Trailers. And you can support the film by purchasing a copy or making a donation.

If you miss the free viewing deadline, you may be able to Find a screening in our area, or host a screening. If you choose to host a screening and would welcome ESP members, let me know and I’ll publish an event notice.

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

Scary Foods (or why we should support local food producers)

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

by Catherine Haug, January 26, 2012

Supporting local food producers (gardeners, CSAs, farmers, orchards, ranchers, dairies, etc.) is not only an excellent way to build a strong community, but also the best way to ensure the quality and healthfulness of the foods you and your family eat. A side benefit is a cleaner, sustainable environment and  reduced energy consumption. You can effect food production practices by voting with your dollars.

Given the basic truth of “you are what you eat,” I am astounded at the toxic and unhealthful junk so many of us eat without giving it a second thought. Big Ag and its control of our media have certainly done a good job at getting us to make unhealthy choices voluntarily and enthusiastically. The problem is endemic in our society and affects all aspects of our diet.

(more…)

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening, GMO, Health, Home & Ranch, Livestock, Shop Local | Comments Closed

Urban Gardening: Ideas for growing edibles in small spaces

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

by Catherine haug, January 21, 2012

Thanks to Edd for the article on Care2.com upon which this post is based: 5 Ways To Kick-Start Your Own Urban Vegetable Garden, by Beth Buczynski (1). You don’t need a lot of space to grow a veggie garden, and many options are fairly portable, too.

The 5 ways are: (more…)

Posted in Gardening | 3 Comments »

Growing Your Own Food, All Year Long

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, January 9, 2012

I just happened upon an interesting website: Landscaping Revolution. It is primarily about permaculture, but has a section on Growing Your Own Food All Year Long. Here’s a list of topics discussed, by page: (more…)

Posted in Food-Nutrition-Health, Gardening, Landscaping, Permaculture | Comments Closed

Preparing for, and Surviving our Future

Monday, November 14th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, November 11, 2011

From the Organic Consumers Association or OCA (1):

“Surviving the Approaching Storm

We are fast approaching a tipping point in terms of climate disruption, food production, financial meltdown, and Peak Oil.

To survive and thrive in turbulent times we will need to organize ourselves at the grassroots level to carry out a series of Organic Transitions – not only in terms of food and farming, but also in transportation, housing, health, and education.

While remaining engaged in pressing governments and businesses to green and revitalize the economy and stabilize the climate, OCA believes that we must “dig in” and prepare ourselves locally and regionally to become as “organic” and self-reliant as possible.”

We at ESP are at the forefront of this transition, by working locally to prepare for the approaching storm, and living more healthfully and happily in the process. See Surviving the Approaching Storm for the rest of the OCA article which focuses on the premise that “Organic can feed the world”. (more…)

Posted in Community, Fermentation, Culturing & Curing, Gardening, Permaculture | Comments Closed

Certified Naturally Grown Produce Label

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

by Catherine Haug, October 29, 2011

If you sell produce at local farmers markets, and use organic methods to grow them, listen up.

Earlier this week, the produce manager at Bigfork Harvest Foods mentioned he buys from several small local growers that use organic methods but are not Organic certified (such as Loon Lake Gardens), and he wished there were an easier certification for them.

My response: There IS! It’s called Certified Naturally Grown (or CNG). I wrote about this last year (Natural vs Organic), but it is worth discussing again.

Why this label is important

The CNG label is a certification available to local growers who use Organic methods but don’t want to incur the high fees and paperwork required for true Organic certification.   (more…)

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

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