Category Archives: diet

The Economic War of Israel

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Edward Teller has one of the best posts up I’ve seen on the situation in Israel. There are ways of waging war that don’t require planes dropping bombs…

Max Blumenthal explains in the 2nd video  how control of food is tantamount to control of people.   A poignant point he makes was the destruction of the herds of Buffalo to starve out the Native Americans.  They were forced to adopt the grain-based diet including fry bread, which we now know is very unhealthy, especially if one is gluten intolerant.  As Blumenthal highlights, the Native Americans now have issues with diabetes.  I would go a step further and say this also may be linked to alcoholism….as I believe there is a link with diet and alcoholism.

Henry Kissinger’s words flashed in my mind as Blumenthal spoke of the Israelis destroying chickens, and other livestock so that the Palestinians could not provide for themselves.   More quotes of Henry Kissinger.

I skipped over the first video to see his take on the market.   When I viewed it, I was stunned, to say the least.  American rightwing talking points about President Obama not being a U.S. citizen, of being a Muslim, and calling him a n***er, etc.  Wow.  Just wow.   And the gal who said she was “politically aware” but didn’t know who Benjamin Netanyahu was? For real?

The Pee and Poo Show **edited

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The title is funny, but the subject is serious — flushing human waste into clean drinking water just doesn’t make sense.  I was thinking that you could only utilize a composting toilet in the country, where you could have room to separate compost piles by year.  But I was wrong, as this  brilliant couple illustrates.

I love how they have utilized their space to raise vegetables and fruit and bees and collecting rainwater.  Absolutely sustainable.

Who knew we could save the world through poop? 😛

If you look at the comments, someone has added a link to the humanure website.  They also question separating the pee and poop–I think this gal wanted to use the urine right away for the nitrogen to fertilize her vegetables and such, but everyone has different goals, so separating it may not be a big to-do for them.

From Joe Jenkins, author of the Humanure Handbook:

Of course, there are those who question this without reading it.  If they did, they would know that the pathogens are broken down by microbes that eat them — that’s why on organic farms, e.coli is not a problem, but on factory farms, e.coli is rampant–too much in a small space for the ecological system to do its natural work of breaking them down.  **edited to add:  the chemicals on non-organic farms also interfere with microbes.  What kills the insects also kills the microbes.

Saving the local farm

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This posted from the organic farmers group:

From: “Lindsey Lusher Shute, National Young Farmers Coalition” <info@youngfarmers. org>
  Date: September 24, 2013 12:51:34 PM CDT
  Subject: National Day of Action to Save Local Farms
  Help us mobilize to change FDA food safety rules.
 
 
  Dear Supporter,
 
  The FDA’s proposed food safety rules—written for large, corporate farms—threaten to shut down small farms and cut off America’s access to local food. Think: waiting nine months to harvest after manure application or grazing; water testing once a week; spending $5k-35k extra to comply. The list goes on and on.
 
  We have only a little over a month to submit comments to the FDA and win new rules that will protect food safety, local farms and organic agriculture.
 
  On Sunday, October 20th, we ask you to join a National Day of Action to Save Local Farms. To make it a success, we need you to sign up to host a letter writing party, tell us how the new rules will affect your farm and help us spread the word! Get started now:
 
  The FDA will only consider personal responses to their draft rules – no form letters or petitions – so we need you to help us deliver a huge stack of hand written letters to DC.
 
  Sign up now to host a letter writing party! All you have to do is gather your friends and neighbors to sit down and write to the FDA on or around October 20th. When you sign up to host we’ll mail you posters, plain language summaries of the rules for reference, ideas about how to respond, and some party planning advice. We’re also available to help you troubleshoot, reach NYFC’s network and talk through the details on two upcoming Google Hangouts.
 
  Visit the Food Safety action page or contact Tracy at tracy@youngfarmers. org to get more info and to sign up.
 
  To help NYFC respond to the FDA as a network and to help everyone understand how the rules will affect real farms, we need your input.
 
  Please take a few minutes now to take our farmer survey.
 
  Let’s work together to ensure the Food Safety rules protect a healthy food system, not compromise it.
 
  Events
 
  PROVIDENCE, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – September 24th
  Join other young farmers for a tour of City Farm in Providence, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
 
  ARUNDEL, ME: Southern Maine Young Farmers Coalition Kick-off Mixer! – September 28th
  Come learn how to build a high tunnel at Frinklepod Farm at 12pm and join us for a potluck celebration with Allagash beer, Green Bee Soda, live music, a bonfire and fellow young farmers! 5pm at Neverdun Farm in Arundel. Click here for more info.
 
 ATLANTA, GA: Southeast Young And Beginning Farmer Alliance Lunch Mixer – September 28th
  Join us for a series of monthly post-market lunches on Saturdays. The first one is at the Wrecking Bar Brewpub in Atlanta, GA.
 
  FRANKFORT, KY – Kentucky Beginning Farmers Conference- October 5th
  A one-day statewide event for beginning farmers, including workshops, great food, and networking opportunities. Stay tuned for more details!
 
  OKANOGAN, WA: Washington Young Farmers Mixer – October 6th
 Fourth annual WAYFC Mixer, to be held at Filaree Farm, in Okanogan, WA. Details to be released soon. Visit the Washington Young Farmers Coalition website for more information.
 
  BURLINGTON, VT Vermont Young Farmers Coalition Tractor Maintenance Workshop and Mixer at the Intervale Center – October 6th
  Join VYFC in gathering for a tractor maintenance workshop and mixer. Starts at 3pm. Email Brittany at bdooling@uvm. edu to get involved.
 
  SEBASTOPOL, CA: North Coast Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 8th
  Join other farmers from the North Coast for the monthly Guild meeting at GrowKitchen, 245 Ferguson Rd. Sebastopol, CA.
 
  JOHNSTON, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – October 10th
  Join other young farmers for a tour of Tour of Freedom Food Farm in Johnston, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
 
  PALISADE, CO: Beginning Farmers and Ranchers of Mesa County Hoe Down and Harvest Party – October 13th
  An end of season celebration with the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers of Mesa County! Food donated by Field to Fork CSA and Roan Creek Ranch. Wine provided by Mesa Park Vineyards. Apples for bobbing, pumpkins for picking. Live music, fun and games. Contact Brooke at pricebrooker@ aol.com for more info.
 
  WILLITS, CA: Mendocino County Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 15th
  Get together with other young farmers in Mendocino County for this inaugural guild meeting! At the Willits Grange Hall.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: Texas Young Farmers Coalition Meetup – October 16th
  Blackstar Coop. Come join us for our monthly- 3rd Wednesday farmer meetup! Beers and conversations abound. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: Texas Young Farmers Coalition Farm Tour – October 19th
  Join us as we head to A+S Farm and Ranch for a skill building workshop on sheep. Sean will cover grazing,processing and shearing topics among others. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info.
 
  JAMESTOWN, RI: Young Farmer Nights Farm Tour – October 22nd
  Join other young farmers for a chicken processing training with Pat’s Pastured at Windmist Farm, Jamestown, RI. Contact youngfarmernight@ gmail.com for details.
  CONNECTICUT: Farmland Access and Affordability Forum – October 25th
  The purpose of the forum is to brainstorm strategies to address farmland access and affordability in Connecticut and to engage an expanded coalition of key individuals, businesses, organizations and agencies in developing a common agenda around these issues. For more information contact Susan Mitchell, New Connecticut Farmers Alliance, at smitchell123@ yahoo.com.
 
  SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA: Young Farmers Mixer – October 26th
  In the Harrisburg area, details TBA. Contact Emily at emilycgb@gmail. com to get involved!
 
  SONOMA COUNTY, CA: Sonoma County Young Farmers Guild Meeting – October 27th
  Get together with other young farmers in Sonoma County for this inaugural guild meeting!
 
  FALKVILLE, AL: Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network Young and Beginning Farmer Potluck – October 27th
  Join other young and beginning farmers for ASAN’s potluck! Click here for more info.
 
  AUSTIN, TX: First Annual Moontower Agricultural Coop Harvest Party – November 9th
  Grab your ticket and join farmers and farmer friends alike for a dinner and homebrew beer feast. Other events include Farmer Olympics and a panel discussion involving inspiring people in the Texas farming and food community. Contact info@texasyoungfarm ers.org for more info on tickets.
 
  In Solidarity,
 
  Lindsey, Wes, Sophie, Kate, Eleanor, Tracy & Debbie
 
 
  follow on Twitter | friend on Facebook | follow on Google Plus
 
  Copyright © 2013 National Young Farmers Coalition. All rights reserved.
 
NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS COALITION
  PO BOX 292, Tivoli, New York 12583

When is a public forum not a public forum?

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When it involves ag committees who don’t allow the public to speak, but allow a corporate representative to spew their biased views.

Note how the Monsanto rep said she wanted a discussion but opponents to GMO’s were not allowed to speak.  They were characterized as “emotional”….now, how can they preemptively dismiss them if there has been no discussion?    From what I saw on the video, these folks were being respectful.  There were no reports of them disrupting the meeting, or interfering with the Monsanto toadie, so where do they come off saying these folks were emotional?

…and what, exactly, does “emotional” mean?  A definition, please…

Grow your own groceries…

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Link.

This is recommended by organic consumers, but I can’t say that I’ve tried it firsthand.  Margery Wildcraft is a master gardener, however, and it does come with a 60 day money back guarantee, so I feel comfortable putting it up here.

One of the things that folks had during the Great Depression was the ability to grow their own food.  With this un-Depression, folks aren’t as likely to either know how or have the space…to which container gardening or empty city lots come in handy.    I think it is a great idea in that you know your food is grown without chemicals.  It’s local, which they say is better because it doesn’t cost $$ to transport AND there is some evidence that in geographic areas, the food has unique qualities that are beneficial.

 

David Vs. Goliath

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….or in other words, everyday farmers versus Monsanto.

It makes no sense whatsoever that farmers who want nothing to do with Monsanto are being charged with patent infringement when their fields become contaminated.  If anything, they should be able to sue Monsanto for trespass.

 

Forcing chemo

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This is outrageous.  The child does not want it.  The parents do not want it.  But a gov’t bureaucrat has once again decided they know what’s best for someone else better than they do.

I would want to know their genetic background–most Amish came from Dutch/German stock…so it is possible that this family has the dreaded gluten intolerance and her immune system might be unable to fight off the cancer due to an inflamed gut.  Not to mention whatever chemicals she has been exposed to from industry and farming.

But…no…the medical nazi’s will force her to take a highly toxic chemical that may or may not cure her of cancer.  And they will turn their heads if by chance she is cured of this cancer, but later on develops yet another, more aggressive form of cancer due to the toxic chemicals they are putting into her now.

Like I have said many times–if I am stricken, I won’t go the chemo route, but try to fight it naturally and let nature take its course.

No one should be forced to take any medical treatment.  Ever.