What does Organic mean in 2010?

My Nature’s Path Organic Chocolate Chip Granola Bar is labeled organic by the USDA. But what does organic mean if it now includes mass produced-individually wrapped items? How does this benefit the environment? So here I am again posting about a GIANT topic in less than 1000 words.

A little background on the key terms or methods associated with food production.

You can produce in a conventional method, meaning the use of a chemically based, often  capital heavy, means of production. Think CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) or as they are most often called- feedlots, giant corn producing farms, chicken breeding facilities like Tyson Chicken, and any farms supported by my favorite agricultural villain, Monsanto.

Then there is organic, by definition “of or pertaining to, or involving animals, produce, etc., raised or grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or drugs.” Examples are Earthbound Farms and Organic Valley and, depending on where you live, the vendors at your local farmers market.

Two other categories that you should know about but I won’t go into here are called beyond organic and biodynamic. One example of beyond organic is Polyface Farms (featured in the film Food Inc. and in Michael Pollan’s The Omnivores Delimma) beyond organic farms do not seek certification from the USDA nor do they receive any federal financial support. But they practice a version of organic that is absolutely amazing.  You won’t get his produce or meat unless you live within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia or are willing to travel several hours.   They don’t ship produce or meat either.   Building a farming empire is the opposite what beyond organic is about.  It strives to heal the land and provide the freshest food imaginable.

Biodynamic agriculture, which focuses on the holistic relationships between soil, plants and animals, often include the use of an astronomical sowing and planting calendar.  This method is a little new to me so for this post I’ll focus on the first two mentioned.

What does it mean to be organic in 2010? You’ve seen organic tv dinners, heard about organic high fructose corn syrup and perhaps enjoyed asparagus out of season but how should I view organic produce from Argentina?

An industrial organic farm is still an industrial farm in size but follows different rules.

National guidelines established by the USDA outline all the do’s and don’ts that large scale organic farms must follow.  Typically organic farmers use methods such as crop rotation, integrated pest management controls to prevent invasive pests, natural fertilizers such as manure and compost to supply the soil with nutrients and give animals organic feed to minimize health risks.    While industrial in size the large organic farm operations are able to remove unimaginable amounts of chemicals from our daily food, they reduce pollution levels and conserve water along with soil.

Yes, it’s still expensive but so is health care.  I’d rather spend an extra couple of dollars on quality food than battle with my health.  The cost are due to the more expensive farming techniques, in some cases hand weeding, lack of government subsidies…etc.

I’m a promotor of organically grown on any scale. While the researchers battle it out in theories and various articles funded by the food industry giants, I take a proactive stance and decide to be cautious with what I consume.  And that bunch of asparagus you’re holding in your hand that’s organic from Argentina well if it’s not available locally and you have to have it, best is organic.   And remember, you don’t have to be perfect everyday.

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Newspaper – a simple change

I haven’t been very good at posting on a regular basis.  In lieu of a large topic condensed into 230 words I’m going to give you something simple you can do to make a difference.

Newspaper, it’s one of the easiest items to recycle. Recycling newspaper one would think is simple to do and yet each morning I watch as my fellow train commuters trash their morning papers.

Even if you live somewhere without an established recycling program there are alternatives.  Shred into strips for use in gardens, worm or regular compost bins, full sheets can be used for wrapping paper, packaging paper, and  bird cage liners.  My boyfriend uses it as a lint free alternative to paper towels or rags.

Here are a few facts about newspapers:

• Each time you recycle a yard high worth of newspaper you save a tree.
• An old fact but still makes a valid point.  In 1993, U.S. paper recovery saved more than 90,000,000 cubic yards of landfill space.
• If all our newspapers were recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!

So if you already recycle your paper GREAT! Keep going, but if you are wondering where to start, here is a good place to begin.  Don’t feel overwhelmed.  You have a lot of support out there.

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Bay Area Monthly Produce Guide is on it’s way…

A couple of years ago I realized I was spending too much money on food products that were just that – products.  They were designed and developed, not grown on a farm, but in a lab.  They were high in sodium and low on nutrition, unless you consider 8 different corn bi-products nutritious.  I couldn’t pronounce most of the ingredients I was eating, it was time for a change.

Our food travels an average of 1500 miles to reach us.  Grain from the Midwest, strawberries from Mexico, grapes from Chile, apples from New Zealand, fancy cheeses and oils from Europe, and spices and teas from half a world away.  While it may be hard to quit our fancy cheeses and spices from far away, certainly something as simple as an apple doesn’t have to come 6000 miles to our plates.  We live in California, one of the richest sources of fruit and vegetable goodness and variety in the world.

Celebrate food in season – don’t settle for something picked three weeks ago 3000 miles away.  Eat in season, visit your local farmer’s market, enjoy things while they’re fresh and discover a new world of  flavor and variety that you never knew was just a few hours away.

The Eat Local Monthly Produce Guide focuses on what is available within 150 miles of  California’s Bay Area.  The guide is a simple reference to keep with you when you are at the market, planning a meal or as an educational tool when you are at a large grocery store.  Release date coming soon!

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It itches…alternatives to laundry detergents

In my quest to lower my environmental footprint I started looking at  laundry alternatives.  From Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home

“Some contain synthetic surfactants, which are slow to biodegrade and can release carcinogens and reproductive toxins during manufacture.  May contain nonbiodegradable petroleum-based detergents.  Artificial colors and fragrances may aggravate chemical sensitivities.”

Okay that was enough for me.

What are my options? Will they work and will my clothes still smell fresh?

So I started first by going from scented products to unscented.  Then moved from the name brands, Tide, Cheer, and All to Trader Joe’s unscented Next to Godliness.  Then I stumbled upon soapnuts!

soap nuts

Soap nuts grow on trees and are actually berries. Found mostly in India, the husks of the soap nut contain saponin.  It’s a natural chemical that has been used for centuries.

It works!  My boyfriend came home from a snowboarding trip (I don’t think I need to go into detail about how the clothes smelled after 6 hours of mountain sports).  They were going to be perfect for this little experiment of mine.  I dropped a cotton bag containing four soap nuts and set the washer on cold.  When the wash was finished I grabbed the article of clothing with the most potential pungent smell (a sock) and inhaled deeply.  It was clean and smelled, well it smelled like a sock that had gone through a wash without fragrances, fresh.

So if you are looking for alternative laundry detergents try soap nuts.  Not only can you use them for detergents but you can also make a “tea” and use it as a household cleaner.  In the bay area you can find Maggie’s Pureland Soap Nuts at Whole Foods Markets.  There are more competitors out there now but I have only used these so far.

If you think you’ll save money and grow your own soap nut tree (like I did) do some research ahead of time.  It takes scarifying the seed, a process nature takes care of much better than I did with a nail and 50 grit sand paper.  Then you have to soak it in hot water for 24 hours.  Plant it and wait, this will be when you know if you broke the seeds tough shell enough for the seedling to break through.  It could take up to 3 months before you see results.  If you replant as the tree ages you might see soap nuts in around 10 years.  Me, I’ll just let those that have mature trees continue to supply me with them.

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Rats, my personal food testers

Specially bred rats have been kept as pets at least since the late 19th century.  Pet rats are as safe as having cats or dogs in the house, and in the case of my three rats they can even be potty trained.

Rats are used as laboratory animals for many reasons, quick reproduction times, short lifespans, and an amazing level of intelligence.  Studies state that rats are more closely related to humans than originally thought.

Without even knowing it I think I’ve had a food experiment going on.  I had Charlie and Milo in 2003.  When I got them I fed them store bought bags of rat food.  Mix of grains, seeds and corn (which depending on the quantity consumed is deadly for them).  Within a year they had growths that needed to be taken care of.  Several hundred of dollars later, medications, and worry I had Charlie for another year and Milo just a few months more.

With the three rats I currently have, Diddl, Dexter and Catbait I’ve been feeding them whole wheat flakes, freeze dried organic peas, apricots and freeze dried bananas, unsweetened coconut, wheat cheerios, vegetarian dog food, flax seeds, raw pumpkins and then the occasional fresh fruits and veggies.  An amazing diet that not all humans can say they eat.  Their health is good by rat standards and I expect that they will live a longer life than my others.

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Apologies

To the few supporters reading the blog you might be wondering if I’ve forgotten, lost passion or had something else happen.  The good news is that I’ve found a position at a sustainability consulting firm.  I’ve been busy getting into my new role and have had to postpone blogging for a time.  My new goal is to have one powerful post each month.  Stay tuned…I’m still here!

You’re ruining my day man!

This past weekend I went to an amazing event, the Santa Clara Valley Model T club endurance race.  I’ve been in love with cars, design and such for quite some time. Last year I was able to watch the start but this year I had an opportunity to ride in the low land tour (the Model T’s and Model A’s).

The race took place on June 14th, Flag Day.  I climbed into my first Model T and began waving my flag, smiling and waving to the passerbys.  Approaching an intersection we passed a bicyclist with flags on the back of his bike.  I waved hello and I waved my flag at him.  When we stopped he said, “you know I had to pull over because you guys are polluting so badly.”

Wait a minute, how many “products” do you own that last 100 years or more?  Do you see Model T’s and Model A’s on the road EVERY day? No.  This is a special event that happens at most twice a year (don’t quote me on that I don’t know the actual occurance times).

No they are not hybrids, no they are not electric vehicles but these cars are working parts of history.  Reminders of a simpler time.  Would you rather us drive them straight to the landfill?   Right that’s better. Thanks biker man for your feedback.

Amazing scenes- Home, a movie by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

A friend sent me a link to this movie.  Amazing synopsis of our world today.  Our home.  Here is a description of the movie:  We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth’s climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you : share it! And act for the planet.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

To view the trailer click here.

Who will feed the World?

A couple of years ago I started paying more attention to the food and drinks I consumed.  Since then I’ve cut out some of my favorite things, Snapple Lemon Iced Tea, Snickers, and (sigh) Rice a Roni. I really miss those boxes.  They were quick, cheap and unfortunately I could eat a whole box by myself.

Capay Valley Grown

Since February, I’ve been working with Capay Valley Farm Shop.  It’s a partnership of family farmers who have united their products under the title of Capay Valley Grown.  It’s been an amazing experience and has helped my commitment to eating local and learning more about my food.  It’s taken me a while to write  something on this topic because I get overwhelmed by the strong feelings I have against corporate farms, industrial agriculture,  feed lots…or whichever label you want to get them.

They scare me.  Not knowing what has gone into my food scares me.  Reading the labels on products scare me.  In the US we are supposed to trust a government agency to tell us that the food in front of us is okay to eat. This agency is probably underfunded, understaffed, over influenced by other organizations and over tasked.

Recently I watched a great documentary called The Future of Food. The movie discusses local farms trying to stay in business and how  giant corporations and the current farm practices are killing us.  You are introduced to Monsanto, the creator of Round Up.  Here are two quotes from the worlds largest seed company:

“Monsanto is an agricultural company. We apply innovation and technology to help farmers around the world produce more while conserving more. We help farmers grow yield sustainably so they can be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture’s impact on our environment.” – Monsanto

Okay sounds good…

“Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food, our interest is in selling as much of it as possible.  Assuring its safty is the FDA’s job.”  – Phil Angel, Director of  Corporate Communication Monsanto, New York Times, October 25, 1998.

What?

Monsanto is a gigantic biotech firm that sells genetically altered seeds (corn, soy bean, cotton and 24 varieties of vegetables), fertilizers, and is a business first and foremost.  Although they try to sell themselves as a “benevolent and even charitable force for lifting the globe’s miserable billions out of want” (- Grist.org, Tom Philpott September 2008) their lawsuits against small farms past, present and pending say otherwise.

Here is a video of two heavyweights in the food discussion.  Hugh Grant, CEO of Monsanto and Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food.

Europe has requirements to label GM (genetically altered) food.  The US does not.  Think about where your food is coming from the next time you shop.  Where is it from? Who does my purchase benefit? Who does my purchase harm?

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Pest Control

I live in an apartment with a paved driveway/garage area where I do all of my gardening in pots and planters.  In this environment ants are EVERYWHERE.  I move one pot and a whole colony quickly descends on my feet.  I’ve recently put down Terro’s Ant Killer around the garden.  I started thinking about my attempt at an organic garden while killing insects with chemicals.  Terro uses borax, which has a low toxicity rating when you compare it to other insect repellents but there are still other inactive ingredients that are not listed.  What are these chemicals doing to the soil?  Are other animals affected?  What are my natural alternatives?

In the 50’s copious amounts of deadly pesticides were used on fields, bodies of water and trees.  Chemicals such as  DDT (now banned toxin),  Aldrin (a neurotoxin), even Arsenic were used in the smallest amounts to kill the intended targets.  But the chemicals must not have read their own instructions.  Once airborne or waterborne, these chemicals effected entire food chains.  The fish in the water would absorb the toxins, birds would eat the toxins, reproduction rates would dwindle (the decline of the American Bald Eagle is an example) and yet the pests would some how live on.   Funny, didn’t they do laboratory tests? Manufacturer’s tests were conducted on rats, dogs and other typical lab animals, but not wildlife in controlled or artificial conditions (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson).  Beneficial insects and animals died while humans developed cancers and also had pesticide related deaths.  The natural alternatives took too long or cost too much but they could have saved generations of species while removing the pest.

My garden is not a field of crops or a body of water and as far as I know I don’t know if my three baits will kill the ant colonies or local birds.  I’d rather not take a chance that my inconvenience will harm more than just ants.  If I could make a difference by changing my Terro bait to perhaps an all natural method then I will be patient and focus on doing as little to no harm as possible.  Here are some of the methods I’m going to try:

Get Rid of Ants Forever (this sounds promising)

DIY Amazing Non toxic Organic Ant Killer

Or I’ll have to co-exist.

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