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Stop Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Protect Organic Food!
GE Alfalfa “threatens the very fabric of the organic industry.”
- George Siemon, Organic Valley cooperative CEO
Dear Farm Friends,
Today is critical for protecting organic agriculture!
The USDA recently released a draft of its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Genetically Engineered “Roundup Ready” Alfalfa, and if we don’t speak up, it’s clear they intend to approve its commercial use. We can’t let this happen.
You may not think about alfalfa much when you’re drinking organic milk, but organic alfalfa is important to organic farming, as a nourishing animal feed that’s also a nitrogen-fixing soil enhancer. Once GE alfalfa is introduced, its contamination of non-GE plants – including organic – is all but inevitable. And because alfalfa is fed to dairy cows and other livestock, contamination puts organic dairy and meat at risk, too! Learn more
In their EIS, the USDA states “There is no evidence that consumers care about GE contamination of organic alfalfa.” We know that you do care. Let’s not be Monsanto’s guinea pigs!
Now is your chance to be heard. Tell the USDA to protect organic food and farmers from GE contamination, and NOT TO APPROVE Monsanto’s GE Alfalfa. The comment period ends TODAY, March 3, at 5pm Eastern time.
There’s been a lot of response already from concerned Farm Friends – thank you! – but USDA still needs to hear from as many people as possible. Tell your friends! You CAN make a difference. Tell the USDA that you care about GE contamination and your right to GMO-free organic foods.
Learn more and get talking points on our website. Then take action at the Center for Food Safety, or submit comments online to the USDA directly. (USDA link is http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480a6b7a1)
After you write, let us know at rootstock@organicvalley.coop.
Thanks for all your support for family farmers and a sustainable organic future for all!
Sincerely,
The Farmers and Staff of Organic Valley Family of Farms
As before any fasting period, I purchased a load of canned beans this week.
You might remember that I am a Lazy Bean Lady.
But that was right before I read this from the article The Top 10 Toxic Products You Don’t Need at Eco Child’s Play:
3. Canned food: It’s probably shocking to find a food item on a toxic product list, but it’s no mistake. Food cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains bisphenol-A (BPA). Most experts believe this is our main source of exposure to BPA, which has been linked to hormone disruption, obesity, heart disease, and much more. Eden Foods is currently the only company with BPA-free canned foods (other than the canned tomatoes, which they haven’t found an adequate substitute for given the acidity of the tomatoes). Opt for fresh, frozen, dried or jarred foods. (Click here to read the FDA’s January Update on BPA)
Now I guess I have to stop using canned foods. It will definitely help me to save money, but not time. If I can just remember to soak the beans the night before, I’ll be ok. It is going to be learning experience for me.
I feel that if I claim to be a somewhat “green” person, then when I find out about things like this, I need to follow through. For now, I will use up what I have in the pantry, but afterwards, I will only buy frozen, jarred or fresh. I’m going to have to keep my eye out for good deals now, too.
I hope you can feel compelled to join me on my new path toward
a can-free lifestyle!
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Please enter my giveaway!
I only have one word to describe all of the wonderful products that Newman’s Own Organics sent to me: incredible!
We are officially in love with Newman’s Own Organics!
A little bit about the company: Newman’s Own Organics was established as a division of Newman’s Own in 1993, and became a separate company in late 2001. Paul Newman has given over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide since 1982.
A little bit about their products: “Great tasting food that happens to be organic.” They focus on the kinds of products they loved as kids, but take them one step further by using the highest quality of available organic ingredients.
My Favorite: Cinnamon Hermits!
My Mom’s Favorite: Creme Chocolate Creme Newman-O’s (I’ve gotten her hooked!) By the way, as I was typing this, my mom just grabbed two more from the pantry. How funny is that?!
The Kids’ Favorite: Dried Apples and Mighty Mini Pretzels.
Why I Love Most About NOO: I love that their products not only taste good, but they are good for you. Many are low in fat and calories and contains lots of fiber. Even better, they are made of organic ingredients! I love that I don’t have to feel guilty about giving some of their goodies to my children because, compared to other brands, they are lower in sugar and made of much healthier ingredients.
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We enjoyed sharing these products with friends and family,
and now I want to share some with you!
GIVEAWAY
Giveaway includes the following:
- Soy Crisps: Gluten free, they are made with organic soy and organic rice. The Crisps come in four varieties: Cinnamon Sugar, White Cheddar, Lightly Salted, and Barbecue, and have between 7 and 9 grams of protein depending on the variety.
- Ginger Mints: Organic mints in four flavors have been added to Newman’s Own Organics’ product line and carry the USDA organic seal on the back ingredient panel.
- Dark Chocolate: The new Signature Series line of Chocolate Bars is formulated with some of the finest Certified Organic chocolate, made from cocoa beans grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms.
You have until midnight on Sunday night to enter this contest.
Receive an extra entry for posting about this giveaway on your blog.
(Leave a second comment saying that you did.)
The winner will be announced on Monday morning!
My children have sensitive skin, especially Spunky, so I am always looking for gentle and natural products.
I discovered Little Twig while scouring the internet for an organic bath soap, and Little Twig was kind enough to send me a full size sample of their Body Wash and Diaper Cream plus a bunch of samples to give away to one lucky reader.
NURTURING FAMILIES ORGANICALLY
I’ve used both the wash and the diaper cream, and we all love them both. Spunky and Punky loved the scent of the bath soap (it is Tangerine). I loved the fact that the diaper cream was thick and rubbed into the skin very cleanly and easily. Spunky is always getting diaper rashes (one of the major reasons she wears cloth all the time), and I think Little Twig Diaper Cream is going to be a life saver for her little bottom.
Best of all, Little Twig’s products are manufactured with 100% organic natural ingredients. Little Twig is pediatrician tested, made in USA, not tested on animals, hypoallergenic, Phthalate free, Paraben free, SLS free, and made with no artificial colors or synthetic fragrances. And the products are packaged in PET #1 recyclable bottles.
Want to Win Some Samples?
- Visit the Little Twig Website
- Leave a comment on This Post with the product that you like best
- For an extra entry, blog about this giveaway
(just make sure you leave a second comment)
This giveaway will be open until midnight on Tuesday, November 10th
and the winner will be announced on Wednesday!
Do you have ginger, garlic, honey, turmeric, pepper or cloves in your home?
If so, you have 6 Natural Remedies that SimpleMom has shared.
For a long time now, I have been trying to steer clear of BPA.
I’ve gone as far as buying Bunky only glass bottles
(not that he will take them… but that is for another post.).
Janice recently commented on my blog
and linked to an article that talks all about BPA
and the bottles that are better for your baby.
You may know that I am a BIG fan of Charlie’s Soap.
A while back, the company sent me some full-sized samples.
The bag of laundry detergent is finally running out
(I have definitely gotten more than 80 loads out of it, too!).
So I went to the site to purchase some more
and found this great deal they have going on!
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All this is only $45.75 TOTAL (free shipping) plus you can get another tote if you use the coupon code freetote when you check out.
Just the laundry soap and cleaner retail for a total of $46.46.
And you can use the soap at either full strength, half strength or quarter strength by diluting the product to fit your needs– great way to save money!
I am going to put the Portable Emergency Stain Treater in my diaper bag.
Seventh Generation has created Science Lesson Plans and Classroom Activities for elementary, middle, and high school students on indoor and outdoor environments.
All curricula are designed to increase students’ awareness around personal and environmental health and enrich their time in the classroom. Teachers and administrators can download PDFs of the curriculum at www.seventhgeneration.com/give/lesson-plans-fall-2009
Curriculum is available for elementary, middle, and high-school instruction and includes the following:
- Hands-on activities with an emphasis on the applied sciences requiring minimal materials and preparation
- Discussion guides about indoor and outdoor environmental health and conservation
- Carbon Calculator to determine a family’s carbon footprint
Seventh Generation’s lesson plans are equal parts fun and relevant, allowing students to transfer what they learn at school into life at home and beyond.
Our pediatrician recommended that I give the children local honey every few hours and before bedtime. In a study done by Penn State School of Medicine of 105 children ages 2-18 with upper respiratory tract infections, nocturnal symptoms, and illness lasting less than seven days, it was found that local honey is a more effective cough suppressant then the dextromethorophan (DMX) used in cough syrups. View the Study
The study showed “significant differences in symptom improvement were detected between treatment groups, with honey consistently scoring the best and no treatment scoring the worst. Parents rated honey most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child’s nocturnal cough and sleep difficulty due to upper respiratory tract infection.”
Why Local Honey?
Honey contains bits of pollen from the ecosystem in which it originates. If you are eating local honey, chances are that the honey contains bits of the very same pollen that may set off your allergies.
Thus, if you eat local honey, allergens are delivered almost like a vaccine in small doses and can actually help to reduce allergy symptoms. (from Eat Local Honey)
How to Use Honey to Remedy of Cough:
- Give a spoonful of honey before bedtime to decrease night-time coughing.
- Mix 6 oz. liquid honey, 2 oz. glycerin with juice of 2 lemons. Bottle and cork firmly. Use as required.
Here are some other great benefits of honey:
- Blocked noses- Place a dessert spoon of honey in a basin of hot water and inhale fumes after covering your head with a towel over the basin.
- Sore throats- Let 1 teaspoon of honey melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat.
- Diarrhea- honey has a bactericidal effect on various gut bacteria known to cause diarrhoea and dysentery.
- Constipation- A spoon of honey mildly heated with a small quantity of wheat husk added after it is cooled & administered to the patient, gives immediate relief.
- Allergies- Raw honey is an excellent treatment for 90% of all allergies.
- Stomach Ache- Take 1 teaspoon of honey, juice of ½ a lemon with a hot glass of water.
- Headaches & Migraines- Take 2 teaspoons at meals to prevent an attack. For Migraines, Take 1 spoon of honey dissolved in half a glass of warm water at start migraine. Repeat in 20 minutes if necessary.
- Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)- Honey dissolved in equal quantity of warm water. Apply, when cooled, as lotion or eye bath.
- High Blood Pressure- Take mixed 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon ginger juice and 1 teaspoon cumin powder 2x a day
- Infertility- Honey consumed with milk increases human sperm count to an astonishing degree.
- Anemia- Honey is the best blood enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey the more minerals it contains. Take 1 ripe banana with 1 tablespoon honey 1-2x a day
