Archive for the ‘Post Topics’ Category

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GMO Alert: GMO Salmon, Russet Potatoes Approved

Saturday, November 21st, 2015
Frankenfood

Frankenfood

by Catherine Haug, Nov 2015 (Image, right, from Organic Consumers Assoc., used with permission)

The latest GMO foods to be approved by the USDA/FDA include:

  • Russet potato  ‘Innate’ (for baking or deep frying) from J.R. Simplot Co. approved by USDA without mandatory labeling.
  • AquAdvantage farmed Salmon developed by Aqua Bounty Technologies, approved by FDA who recommended, but did not require, labeling of these fish as GMO.

For more information about the GMO salmon and efforts to fight back and mandate GMO labeling on GMO fish, see the Center for Food Safety’s site: centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/309/ge-fish. They are considering suing the FDA over this approval without mandatory labeling.

(more…)

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Posted in GMO | No Comments »

Event Notice: Northwest Montana Beekeepers Group, Nov. 24, 2015

Wednesday, October 28th, 2015
Honeybee

Honeybee

From Jason Moore, Polson, 10/27/15 (Photo, right, from Bug Guide (1))

Northwest Montana Beekeepers Group meets:

  • 4th Tuesday of each month, at 6:45pm; upcoming November meeting will be 11/24/15
  • Montana Co-op, at at 401 Main St, Polson. (SE corner of 4th ave. and Main st.)
  • potluck followed by a meet and greet.  Come with your ideas and questions.
  • Current and prospective beekeepers are welcome.

For more information, contact Jason Moore, info@montanacoop.com, Montana Co-op,  35849 Mud Lake Trail, Polson, MT 59860.

On a related topic, see a 2010 posting about Flathead Beekeepers (2).

References:

  1. bugguide.net/node/view/3080 
  2. Flathead Beekeepers Club (article): essentialstuff.org/index.php/2010/06/12/Cat/flathead-beekeepers-club/

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Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Events: Other | No Comments »

CFL and LED bulbs: how to dispose/recycle them

Wednesday, October 21st, 2015
Incandescent, CFL and LED hanging bulbs

Incandescent, CFL and LED hanging bulbs

By Catherine Haug, Oct 21, 2015 (Photo, right, from Recycle Nation (4))

We’ve all been encouraged to use CFL(compact fluorescent light) bulbs because they save on energy consumption. But CFLs contain mercury, the most toxic substance known to man, which means you should not put them in your trash. Also, you cannot put them with your regular recyclables, so what do you do when they burn out?

Is there a better alternative?
(more…)

Posted in Ecology, Energy, Recycle | No Comments »

Another reason to avoid plastics

Thursday, October 8th, 2015
Garbage Can with Lid

Garbage Can with Lid

By Catherine Haug, Oct 2015 (Photo, right, from US Plastics (1)

It is now well known that we should avoid the plastic BPA or BPS because they can cause cancer. But I have long believed that all plastics are bad for our health – not just as a cause for cancer. Recently, my belief has strong scientific support.

Most plastics are not biodegradable, but they do break down in a different, harmful way. They form micro-particles/fibers that make their way into our waters and eventually to the oceans where their pollution of the water is analogous to pollution of our air by micro-particles. Remember how your lungs, sinuses and throat felt this summer from breathing the micro-particles in smoke from forest fires? (more…)

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Posted in Ecology, Health, Home & Ranch, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Event Notice: Jeffrey Funk’s Annual Cider Press Event, Oct 10, 2015

Monday, October 5th, 2015
Jeffrey & Betsy Funk

Jeffrey & Betsy Funk

By Catherine Haug, October 5, 2015 (Photo, right, by J. Helps, 2010)

Although ESP is no longer holding our annual Tamarack Time! Cider Press event (because we can no longer use Jeffrey’s press), Jeffrey will be holding his own Annual Cider Press Event on Saturday Oct 10, 2015. You are all welcome to participate. Here’s the info:

  • When: Saturday, Oct 10, 2015, 11 AM and on
  • Where: 990 McCaffery Road, Bigfork, Montana, 59911
  • Contact Jeffrey: 406-837-4208 or metafunk (at) cyberport (dot) net [address disguised for security]

Here’s links to our documents about cider:

Posted in Community, Events: Other, Food-Nutrition-Health | No Comments »

Kitchen Hint: keeping cleaning sponges fresh with real soap

Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
Kirk's Castile bar soap

Kirk’s Castile bar soap

By Catherine Haug, Sept 30, 2015 (Photo, right, from Amazon (4))

Do you use sponges in your kitchen and bathroom for cleanup jobs? Synthetic sponges tend to get rather smelly after only a few uses, even if you rinse them well. That smell comes form bacteria living in the sponge. A NSF International survey of sponges in U.S. homes found 77 percent of the sponges and dish cloths contained coliform bacteria, 86 percent had yeast and mold, and 18 percent had Staph bacteria. These are what produces the smell.

Another NSF International study in Michigan found that kitchen and bathroom sponges are the ‘germiest’ places in the home. Next in line in the study: toothbrush holders, pet bowls, kitchen sinks -especially the drains, and the coffee reservoir where you pour the water to be heated (5). What’s the best cleaner to rid these places of bad germs?

This hint is from Cat; read on for more. (more…)

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Posted in Kitchen Hints | No Comments »

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