A toast to your health [via Mother Nature Network] Although tonics and bitters made of herbal extracts, spices and the bark of exotic trees have faded from pharmacy shelves as elixirs, they live on in cocktails, grandfathered into drinks in splashes and dashes to create some of the most memorable and enduring cocktails imaginable. Here are recipes for six cocktails with medicinal roots. Gin and Tonic Quinine-based tonics helped the Brits build an empire by warding off malaria in the sweltering topics. Sipped over ice, the classic gin cocktail has a spiky edge to it. Prep…
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Most Topular Stories
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Cocktails with Medicinal Roots
Organic.org21 May 2013 | 8:15 pm -
WAWA: Quinoa gains momentum in the baby food market
Organic and Wellness News28 Apr 2013 | 9:53 pmBy Adriana Michael When Sienna, daughter of entrepreneur Viviana Soruco turned 11 months and was introduced to more solid foods, she experienced severe gastroenteritis and asthma. In spite of consulting several ... -
Monsanto’s Roundup-Ready GMO Alfalfa Gets Court Support
OrganicAuthority.com - Organic Blog22 May 2013 | 1:52 amThe U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a lower-court ruling stating that the USDA correctly categorized Monsanto's GMO Roundup-ready alfalfa as not needing regulation. -
Fertilizers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-year study
ScienceDaily: Organic Farming News29 Apr 2013 | 6:46 amIn a Kansas study, 50 years of inorganic fertilization increased soil organic carbon stocks but failed to enhance soil aggregate stability —- a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and the soil’s resistance to erosion. -
March Against Monsanto
OrganicFoodee.com » News20 May 2013 | 1:16 pmThese marches are in every State in the USA. Take a look at their listings page for details of a march in your area… Express your opinion peacefully, and come together on Saturday for a wonderful and important day of non-violent marching, and enjoying our democratic right of freedom!
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Organic and Wellness News
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WAWA: Quinoa gains momentum in the baby food market
28 Apr 2013 | 9:53 pmBy Adriana Michael When Sienna, daughter of entrepreneur Viviana Soruco turned 11 months and was introduced to more solid foods, she experienced severe gastroenteritis and asthma. In spite of consulting several ... -
RSPO launches Smallholders Fund, environment group attacks palm oil
28 Apr 2013 | 8:15 pmBy O.W.N. News Network The RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), an international multi-stakeholder organization and certification scheme for sustainable palm oil, has announced the RSPO Smallholders Support Fund (RSSF) for ... -
Strong outlook for OrganicsBrazil
28 Apr 2013 | 12:20 amBy Warren Beaumont Tracking exports annually from 74 member companies OrganicsBrazil has been an export promotion project, geared to assist Brazilian companies develop this channel, says executive coordinator, Ming Liu. In ... -
Cabolqui celebrates International Year of Bolivian Royal Quinoa
27 Apr 2013 | 10:25 pmBy Adriana Michael The United Nations has declared 2013 the “International Year of Quinoa” and its official launch took place on February 20th at its headquarters in New York City. Several ... -
Sustainable practices give Primeal an edge
27 Apr 2013 | 12:26 pmBy Warren Beaumont The Ancient Grain and gluten-free trend shows no signs of slowing down in natural and organic retail markets worldwide as consumers increasingly choose ancient super foods like chia, ...
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Organic.org
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Cocktails with Medicinal Roots
21 May 2013 | 8:15 pmA toast to your health [via Mother Nature Network] Although tonics and bitters made of herbal extracts, spices and the bark of exotic trees have faded from pharmacy shelves as elixirs, they live on in cocktails, grandfathered into drinks in splashes and dashes to create some of the most memorable and enduring cocktails imaginable. Here are recipes for six cocktails with medicinal roots. Gin and Tonic Quinine-based tonics helped the Brits build an empire by warding off malaria in the sweltering topics. Sipped over ice, the classic gin cocktail has a spiky edge to it. Prep… -
5 Tips to Cut Your Electricity Bill
16 May 2013 | 9:34 amFrom Expert David Johnston Cutting back on your energy usage is one of the best ways to bring down your electricity bill. But did you know that making simple changes to not just your wattage consumption but the way your home retains and expels air can dramatically transform the way you experience your spaces and use electricity? Joining us this week to share 5 Tips on how we can better green our homes is green visionary and sustainable pioneer David Johnston who focuses on easy changes you can make with your appliances, air exchange, insulation and even windows that will pave the way to… -
Are “Natural” and “Organic” Cosmetics Necessarily Better for You?
13 May 2013 | 4:22 pmNavigating the beauty industry isn’t unlike watching an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County—you’re equal parts baffled and alarmed, there are flashes of self-loathing, and although you have a sneaking suspicion that it’s bad for you, you can’t help but breathlessly indulge. Throw in abarrage of mostly meaningless buzzwords like “natural” and “organic,” and it’s no wonder most of us are at sea. Mia Davis, former organizing director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and currently the safety lead at Beautycounter, is at the front line of a new revolution to… -
Your Healthy Gardening Guide
13 May 2013 | 12:40 pmThere's nothing like heading into your yard on a warm spring day and getting your hands dirty -- in a good way. "Gardening can be great for reducing stress," says Alexis Chiang Colvin, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "You're out in the fresh air and sunshine, getting your daily dose of moderate exercise." But you want to do it safely, without bug bites and back pain. Follow these ground rules to enjoy the growing season in good health. Add Herbs Get more from your patch of green by planting these… -
Stevia: Good or Bad?
13 May 2013 | 12:23 pmSugar is one of the most dangerous ingredients on the market. It’s addictive, added to almost every processed food, and will make you overweight, depressed and sick if you eat too much. In fact, Americans eat close to 130 pounds of the stuff per person per year (4 times more than the recommended daily allowance), likely because it is so addictive. That’s why it’s exciting to know there are alternative sweeteners made in nature, like “stevia,” that don’t wreak havoc on your health – or do they? That’s what I went on a quest to find out. Here’s what happened… What Is…
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OrganicAuthority.com - Organic Blog
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Monsanto’s Roundup-Ready GMO Alfalfa Gets Court Support
22 May 2013 | 1:52 amThe U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a lower-court ruling stating that the USDA correctly categorized Monsanto's GMO Roundup-ready alfalfa as not needing regulation. -
Kroger Distribution Center Fueld by Food Waste
21 May 2013 | 1:10 amKroger, one of the world's largest supermarket retailers, with more than 340,000 employees, has unveiled a clean fuel system generated by food waste that its Los Angeles' City of Compton distribution center will run on. -
USDA to Invest in Growing Organic Food Segment
20 May 2013 | 12:34 pmUSDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the agency would begin focusing more attention on the growth of the organic industry, reports Food Safety News. -
Statins Block Effects of Exercise in Overweight Patients
19 May 2013 | 10:04 amStatins-drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease—may be interfering with an ability to lose weight, according to new research. -
Philadelphia Eagles Coach Bans Junk Food
18 May 2013 | 1:29 amChip Kelly, the new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles thinks what his players eat has a profound effect on how they play football. The once popular "Taco Tuesdays" and "Fast Food Fridays" were cut from the team's diet and replaced with fresh, whole food meals.
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ScienceDaily: Organic Farming News
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Fertilizers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-year study
29 Apr 2013 | 6:46 amIn a Kansas study, 50 years of inorganic fertilization increased soil organic carbon stocks but failed to enhance soil aggregate stability —- a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and the soil’s resistance to erosion. -
Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution
23 Apr 2013 | 1:19 pmScientists create the first model of legume iron transportation aimed at maximizing nitrogen fixation, even in poor soil. -
Organic labels bias consumers perceptions through the 'health halo effect'
1 Apr 2013 | 9:15 amIn a new study, researchers show that an organic label can influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labeled "organic". Certain people also appear to be more susceptible to this 'health halo' effect than others. -
Fruit flies fed organic diets are healthier than flies fed nonorganic diets, study finds
26 Mar 2013 | 9:17 amFruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet, according to a new study. Researchers found that fruit flies raised on organic foods performed better on various health tests. Flies on organic diets showed improvements on the most significant measures of health, namely fertility and longevity, according to new research. -
Improving climate protection in the agricultural sector
28 Feb 2013 | 9:41 amAgriculture is responsible for around 10 to 12 percent of all greenhouse gases attributable to human activities. This raises the question of how these emissions could be reduced. A recent study has investigated -- for the first time -- the full range of factors that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, namely soil and climate conditions, the agricultural model and the farming intensity on both organic and conventional holdings.
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OrganicFoodee.com » News
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March Against Monsanto
20 May 2013 | 1:16 pmThese marches are in every State in the USA. Take a look at their listings page for details of a march in your area… Express your opinion peacefully, and come together on Saturday for a wonderful and important day of non-violent marching, and enjoying our democratic right of freedom! -
Good Bee News!!
29 Apr 2013 | 10:23 amEurope will enforce the world’s first continent-wide ban on widely used insecticides alleged to cause serious harm to bees, after a European commission vote on Monday. The suspension is a landmark victory for millions of environmental campaigners, backed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), concerned about a dramatic decline in the bee population. The vote also represents a serious setback for the chemical producers who make billions each year from the products and also UK ministers, who voted against the ban. Both had argued the ban would harm food production. The vote by the… -
UK’s Sainsbury’s and M&S end ‘Frankenfeed’ ban
15 Apr 2013 | 9:17 amPhoto by Ysanne Spevack / Words by Sean Poulter Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op yesterday ended bans on giving ‘Frankenstein Feed’ to farm animals producing meat, milk and eggs. The three retailers were the last of the big food chains to be holding out against the use of controversial GM crops on their farms. The change means that the vast majority of meat, milk and eggs sold by Britain’s supermarkets will come from animals raised on a GM diet. Alarmingly, none of these products will be labelled as coming from GM-fed animals in what critics call a disaster for consumer… -
Fast Food a ‘Threat to Humanity’
21 Feb 2013 | 1:54 amBolivia’s President Evo Morales slammed western fast food as “a threat to humanity” as he accused multinational firms of seeking to block the development of his country’s staple food. On February 20, 2013 Morales said US companies had led a campaign to stop the United Nations declaring 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa, which the Bolivian leader and UN chief Ban Ki-moon launched at the UN headquarters. Grain-like quinoa is packed with vitamins and proteins and has been grown in the Andes for 7,000 years. But its cultivation was long banned by European… -
Woman and Home Magazine
23 Nov 2012 | 11:14 amOrganicFoodee has just been voted one of Britain’s 100 Best Food Blogs! It’s in the special Christmas December issue of ‘Woman and Home’ magazine. Very excited and chuffed, thank you to everyone who voted for us! On a personal note, I’m delighted to be welcomed back to Britain with this lovely award. The timing is absolutely fabulous… xx Ysanne
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Natural Health & Organic Living Blog
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What is Bupleurum?
21 May 2013 | 1:49 pmBupleurum Chinese is an herb native to East Asia and central Europe; its presence has even spread across the United States. Although the plant has long, thin leaves that resemble dill and small yellow flowers that develop into fruit, the root contains the plant’s most beneficial compounds. In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s known as the “harmony herb” because it supports balance and synergy. This designation has lead to its inclusion as an overall support agent within many herbal remedy formulas. Why is Bupleurum Effective? Bupleurum root contains several active compounds,… -
The Health Benefits of Mimosa Pudica for Hemorrhoids
21 May 2013 | 1:39 pmMimosa Pudica is a small evergreen that grows in Brazil, Asia, Africa, and India. The plant has a number of nicknames, including shameful plant, touch-me-not, and sensitive plant. Mimosa Pudica earned these names because of an interesting quality- its leaves close when they’re touched. In Ayurvedic medicine, Mimosa pudica is known as lajjalu and its inclusion within the system is not because of its dancing leaves, but the therapeutic benefits the compounds within the plant offers. Many hemorrhoid sufferers have experienced relief as a result of this special plant’s pharmacological profile… -
What is Witch Hazel?
21 May 2013 | 9:36 amHamamelis virginiana, better known as witch hazel, is a tall shrub native to the United States and Canada. It has a long history of use by the Native Americans as a traditional phytotherapy for hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and other circulatory system problems. Subsequent research has shown that the benefits of this special plant are the result of compounds and antioxidants contained within its leaves and bark. [1] How Does Witch Hazel Work? You may have seen witch hazel listed as an ingredient for facial cleansers and skin toning products. This is because witch hazel contains tannins, which… -
New Documentary: Psychiatric Drugs Can Kill Your Child
16 May 2013 | 1:32 pm“I woke up around 2:30am and realized he should have been home an hour ago. I called his cell phone and it went straight to voicemail. I kept calling and leaving messages for him to answer the phone. I fell asleep and woke up around 6:00am. He wasn’t home. I got ready for work but couldn’t function. I told my boss I had to go home. I got home and the phone was ringing.” The man on the other end said, “I’m looking for the family of Matthew Steubing.” I said, “This is his mother, who is this?” He said, “I’m calling about the… -
ANNOUNCEMENT: Dr. Group will be on Natural News Talk Hour this Sunday, May 19
16 May 2013 | 12:31 pmWe are excited to announce that Dr. Group will be a featured guest on the Natural News Talk Hour with Jonathan Landsman this Sunday, May 19th. The show will be available for viewing from 9:00am-9:00pm EST right here: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/talkhourshow.html Jonathan Landsman and Dr. Group will reveal a MAJOR COVER UP about ADHD and the dangerous prescription drugs associated with it. Learn how to protect your children from being wrongly accused of “mental disorders” and forced to take mind-altering medications. Why should attention deficit drugs be met with skepticism? Attention…
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Tiny Farm Blog
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Early lettuce heats up
20 May 2013 | 9:30 am[From 10-May-2013] Couple hundred not-so-early early lettuce, toughing it out in the semi-sauna-like greenhouse, along with seedlings that should be out in the field soon. This year, we went from chilly late winter conditions to summer-ish heat, with absolutely no mild spring in between—one day to the next. Always exciting (never dull)! Early lettuce heats up -
Seas of seedlings
8 May 2013 | 10:29 amAn endless sea of sweet pepper seedlings, out from under the fluorescent lamps, getting used to the sun. Well, not endless, a few hundred plants, mostly red, yellow and orange bell type. If all goes well, that should be…plenty! Posted from WordPress for Android Seas of seedlings -
Toothpick timekeeping!
5 May 2013 | 1:49 pm[From 4-May-2013] Toothpick timekeeping system. Two toothpicks means two days hardening off in the sun. Simple and, I suspect, sustainabls – a single box of toothpicks could probably be made to last a lifetime. For when you’re not doing everything at once… Toothpick timekeeping! -
Tape time!
18 Apr 2013 | 4:18 pm[From 15-Apr-2013] Tape time again, measuring out this year’s market garden. I’ve come up with various schemes to do away with this step as an annual thing, but end up wanting to move things around, or accidentally tilling under a critical stake or two left from the year before. The method is pretty primitive: walk around with a 200′ reel tape measure, trying to keep things square (the 3-4-5 trick!), staking an outline that can be used later to easily line up smaller sections as needed. That’s Rochelle at the other end, doing this two-person is the preferred way to… -
Ice storm
15 Apr 2013 | 8:19 pm[From 11-Apr-2013] Ice storm. Some strange, quick mix of rain and freezing cold that puts a thick coating of ice on everything, and creates thick little icicles wherever water drips (like, above, from the 3-point hitch that’s attaching the rototiller to the tiny tractor. Quite amazing, and a little alarming as well when you pass under big trees drooping and sagging under the extra weight. Massive branches falling and whole trees toppling are taking out power lines all over, it’s already been out for 12 hours in places around here, and the radio’s saying it might not be…
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Down to Earth
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Warm ... Fortunate ... Thankful
22 May 2013 | 11:15 amI had a great time yesterday sewing and organising myself and my work room. You know that I'm visiting my sister, Tricia, next week and I want to take a few things down for her grandson, Johnathan. He is six months old now, they're just coming into winter in a very cold region, so that presents me with many wonderful options to knit cosy cardigans and sew fluffy fleece sleeping bags. I love -
Too many eggs?
21 May 2013 | 11:48 amIf you're keeping chickens in the backyard, often you'll reach a point when you have too many eggs. Luckily, eggs are always easy to give away but they're also very easy to use up. Two of my favourite egg-based meals are quiche and creme caramel. Both recipes can be made many different ways, this is how I make them. Quiche Don't be put off by making your own pastry. Like everything else, -
Visiting the Lockyer Valley
19 May 2013 | 12:39 pmA couple of years ago, Queensland experienced severe flooding in many areas. I still remember the shock and sadness I felt when I watched TV coverage of the floodwaters rushing through Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley in 2011. Ordinary life was being lived in Toowoomba one minute, the next, a wall of water shot through the city centre, carrying with it everything in its path. That wall of water -
Weekend reading
16 May 2013 | 10:46 amI'm looking forward to conducting simple living workshops at Stockyard Creek in the Lockyer Valley this weekend. I love meeting people who are open to new ideas and change. I think I'll enjoy it a lot. I'll take photos so you can see what we got up to. I hope you enjoy your weekend too. Thanks for your visits this week and for leaving comments that we all read. Commenting is another way of -
Choosing happiness - revisited
15 May 2013 | 11:12 amI originally wrote this post in 2008 and have resurrected it hoping that you'll find it interesting and helpful. I'm too busy to write this morning, I'm teaching myself how to edit a video on my computer. I'll be back tomorrow. :- ) At my sister's house. Recently Kathleen sent me a magazine article called Grin and Tonic. I don't know what magazine it's from, there was a time when I knew
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Culinate Main Feed
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Soil biodiversity — Why it's so important
22 May 2013 | 11:48 amEverybody knows that diversity is generally a good thing, right? Your financial planner is always telling you to diversify your portfolio. Your gastroenterologist would love it if you would diversify the friendly bacteria in your gut. And, as Jim Robbins recently reminded us in the New York Times, the dirt under our feet needs to stay diverse.Why all the love for diversity? Because it reduces risk. Your portfolio isn’t exposed to any one stock too much. Your stomach is happy with all those probiotics. And the soil our crops rely on — not to mention the water we drink and how fast the… -
Michael Pollan's latest — On microbiomes and food politics
21 May 2013 | 10:24 amMichael Pollan’s latest New York Times Magazine feature, "Some of My Best Friends Are Germs," documents the current science on the complicated relationship between humans and bacteria. This science isn’t totally new — Michael Specter wrote about what scientists call "the human microbiome" last fall in the New Yorker, and Moises Velasquez-Manoff recently explored bacteria's role in weight loss for Mother Jones — but Pollan emphasizes the connections between our bacteria and our diets:Few of the scientists I interviewed had much doubt that the Western diet was altering our gut… -
Quick pasta — Frozen green chiles to the rescue
20 May 2013 | 12:33 pmA couple of weeks ago, I had the most rewarding book tour — to the Pacific Northwest, for Vegetable Literacy. Tours can be grueling, but this one wasn’t at all; it was interesting and truly fun. I met people doing things that encourage the best in us, made new friends, and saw old ones. I got to know Portland and Seattle a little better. I ate really excellent food and visited astonishing farmer’s markets — truly astonishing, since we were still in winter mode back home in New Mexico when I started the trip. The hardest part — especially after visiting the Portland Farmers Market… -
Eco-packaging — Plastics replacers
20 May 2013 | 10:21 amThe world of food packaging is changing. Sure, there’s still plenty of planet-destroying plastic out there, but takeout containers are often recyclable and/or biodegradable, and bags, while still troublesome, are often compostable. (They’re also frequently made, somewhat problematically, from corn.) And as a recent New Yorker article by Ian Frazier noted, now there’s a Styrofoam replacement made from fungi:In widespread commercial use since the 1950s, Styrofoam is now everywhere. . . . Foamed polystyrene breaks down extremely slowly, in timespans no one is sure of, and a major chemical… -
Bowls around town — Check it out — literally
16 May 2013 | 12:15 pmLibraries are for books, right? Hardly. Public libraries offer plenty of other material for checkout, ranging from the fairly obvious (movies) to the technologically adept (book downloads) to the downright surprising (tools, art, musical instruments, even therapy dogs).Here in Portland, Oregon, there’s a small library (Kitchen Share SE) that only checks out kitchen tools. And right now the county library is promoting an unusual project: checking out a wooden box with a ceramic bowl and a blank book.The project — held in conjunction with a bowl-focused exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary…
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ScienceDaily: Organic Chemistry News
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Detecting mirror molecules: New technique reliably tells left-handed from right-handed variant of a compound
22 May 2013 | 10:12 amPhysicists have developed a novel technique that can detect molecular variants in chemical mixtures -- greatly simplifying a process that is one of the most important, though time-consuming, processes in analytical chemistry. -
Carbon capture: Making use of minerals
22 May 2013 | 10:10 amAmmonium salts could provide a viable way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via carbon mineralization, studies suggest. -
Bacterial spare parts filter antibiotic residue from groundwater
21 May 2013 | 4:40 pmResearchers have developed and tested a solar-powered nano filter that is able to remove harmful carcinogens and antibiotics from water sources -- lakes and rivers -- at a significantly higher rate than the currently used filtering technology made of activated carbon. -
Engineers devise new way to produce clean hydrogen
21 May 2013 | 12:39 pmEngineers have developed a novel method for producing clean hydrogen, which could prove essential to weaning society off of fossil fuels and their environmental implications. -
Single-cell transfection tool enables added control for biological studies
21 May 2013 | 10:22 amResearchers have developed a novel tool for single-cell transfection, in which they deliver molecules into targeted cells through temporary nanopores in the cell membrane created by a localized electric field.
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FoodieTots.com
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Postcard from Dane County Farmers Market, Wisconsin
19 May 2013 | 10:12 amThis weekend I was in Madison, Wisconsin, on cheese business. (Yes, really!) Of course a visit to the Dane County Farmers Market, on the state capitol square, was on the agenda. The nation’s largest producer-only farmers market, the square was bustling with people browsing cheese curds, fresh baked goods, local meats, and ample spring produce — even though winter only ended about a week ago up here. The mountains of rhubarb were most impressive, and it was hard to resist the urge to pack a suitcase full of it to bring back home. Isn’t that lovely? I settled with some black… -
Sunday Farmers Markets Open in Alexandria, Arlington
5 May 2013 | 8:57 amMay brings the opening of the seasonal markets to Washington, DC and the suburbs, including two of our favorite, family-friendly Sunday markets: the West End Farmers Market in Alexandria (8:30am-1:00pm) and the Westover Farmers Market in N. Arlington (now 8:00am-noon). Yes, Westover was open through the winter but the full slate of vendors is now back for summer, with quite a few additions since last year. New vendors at Westover include Cibola Farms (Virginia bison and free-range pork), Spring Valley Farm & Orchard of West Virginia, Shells Yes! with Eastern Shore crab, GrohNola, and… -
Happy Earth Day!
22 Apr 2013 | 9:04 amHappy Earth Day! Hope you’re celebrating with some healthy, organic greens today. We spent some time finally cleaning up the garden this weekend. After a freezing cold March, April has been busy. Note to self: suck it up and get things started before Little League starts next year. What have you planted this year? -
Spring in Jerusalem (#KidsCook Ottolenghi)
17 Apr 2013 | 8:05 pmA confession: my dinner menu hits quite a rut in the last long, cold stretch of winter. Tired of heavy foods but without fresh spring produce, it’s a struggle to find inspiration in the kitchen. When the weather does finally turn warm (or jumps straight to 90 degrees, as it suddenly was this past week), the produce at the farmers markets still isn’t quite ready. Fortunately, I received some new cookbooks for Christmas that I finally cracked open to plan our recent holiday meals. I’m particularly smitten with Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. -
When Meatless Isn’t By Choice {Coconut, Kale and Sweet Potato Stew}
8 Apr 2013 | 5:29 pmI’ve said before that one of the reasons we participate in Meatless Monday is to allow our budget to accomodate better meat when we do eat it — local, grassfed meats are significantly more expensive than your average supermarket selection but it’s something I believe very strongly in. After all, I believe the farmers who grow and raise our food deserve to earn a fair living so they can feed their own families. Today, though, I’m joining other bloggers to once again raise awareness of the critical need for food assistance for far too many children and families in our…
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Cooking Up a Story
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The Yamhill Valley Wine Region of Oregon (video)
21 May 2013 | 4:00 amOriginally published on Cooking Up a StorySeries SamplerIn this video sampler, the first in the Yamhill Valley Wine Series (see below for more details), we provide a brief glimpse of some of the upcoming stories that will be published over the next 5 weeks.You may not be able to precisely locate the Yamhill Valley Wine Region of Oregon on any state map, but it unofficially resides within the larger Willamette Valley, the most fertile agricultural zone, and the largest wine producing area, in the state. There are approximately 200 wineries within the Willamette Valley, a geographic territory… -
Value Added Marketing: Wool Yarn into Apparel (Video)
16 May 2013 | 4:00 amOriginally published on Cooking Up a StoryJeanne Carver describes how she and her husband’s ranching business had to come up with a new marketing approach to address declining markets and competition from overseas. As you see in this short video, their new approach was to create and market a value-added product, turning their sheep’s wool into valuable yarn.Their strategy revolved around four key activities: Identify the product and its market potential.Determine the type and level of processing needed for your product.Create a marketing package and message.Develop a plan for how to… -
Douglas Fir Snow Cone Intermezzo
14 May 2013 | 4:00 amOriginally published on Cooking Up a StoryThis is an extra video from the original Food.Farmer.Earth story about Kathryn Yeomans and her pop up restaurant event titled The Chef, The Farmer, and the Pop-Up Restaurant. It’s the first time that I saw a Douglas Fir snow cone freshly made (or for that matter, anything edible made from the Douglas Fir tree), and though simple enough to make, it seemed unusual, and somehow appropriately festive for the occasion.For those who may be interested, the USDA has some interesting information (Douglas Fir Plant Guide) about Native American use of the… -
Produce Safety and Preventive Controls: FDA To Lay Down Law on Food Pathogens
13 May 2013 | 4:00 amOriginally published on Cooking Up a StoryPart 3: In my previous post, I skimmed the surface of the massive regulations which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed to reduce human exposure to pathogenic organisms originating from fresh fruits and vegetables.The draft Produce Safety and Preventive Controls (for handling facilities) regulations are the first steps towards implementing the Food Modernization Safety Act (FSMA) of 2010. When finalized, the FSMA will provide FDA with unprecedented authority to regulate produce farmers, handlers and distributors operating… -
Symphony of the Soil: Interview with Deborah Koons Garcia-2
9 May 2013 | 4:00 amOriginally published on Cooking Up a StoryThe Creative Filmmaking ProcessPart 2: Independent filmmaker, Deborah Koons Garcia talks about her latest film Symphony of the Soil, and how she brings together animation, watercolor images, and original music to provide a better understanding about soil, and draw the audience closer to nature.Garcia believes that people are naturally interested in how things work. Despite this inherent curiosity, there’s an artistry involved in the filmmaking process, for a film to successfully engage an audience on a deeper, emotional level.There’s a certain…
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About.com Organic Gardening
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Ten Easy Vegetables To Direct Sow in Your Garden
20 May 2013 | 11:36 pmSince, for many of us, gardening season is now in full swing, I thought I'd offer a few suggestions today for easy veggies to direct-sow. Here are my top ten favorite easy veggies:...Read Full Post -
Gardening Tip: Avoid Tree Roots by Building Raised Beds with Bottoms
27 Apr 2013 | 1:58 amThis great tip comes from my friend Anthony, who gardens in New Jersey (zone 6) and blogs at The Compost Bin. Anthony says: "After pulling a few giant piles worth of roots out (of my raised beds) yesterday, I made an executive decision. Whenever I build a new bed, a bottom will be a mandatory feature. I don't think I'll use a sheet of plywood for the floor as suggested in the book (Square Foot Gardening), but at a minimum, I'll load the bottom up with landscape fabric. Usually, I'd layer newspapers to stop weeds and because I know they'll break down and feed those earthworms. But since I want… -
Garden Quote: Carol Deppe on the Imperfect Garden
16 Apr 2013 | 1:00 amCarol Deppe's fantastic book, The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times , is currently one of my favorite books about gardening. If you're determined to grow a good portion of your own food, it's definitely worth a look....Read Full Post -
Weekly Garden Link-Up
4 Apr 2013 | 11:42 pmHere are some of the things I've enjoyed reading over this past week: Margaret Roach over at A Way to Garden featured an absolutely stunning sunflower on her blog. The silver-leaf sunflower, Helianthus argophyllus, is now on my "must grow!" list. If you love silver foliage, you need to see this plant. Over at Growing the Home Garden, Dave reviewed The 20 Minute Gardener. It looks like it might be worth a look -- especially for those who wonder how to fit gardening into their already-busy lives. Susy over at Chiot's Run shared a homegrown meal, featuring fresh lettuce from the garden,… -
Plant of the Week: African Violets
2 Apr 2013 | 9:48 pmI am still waiting for the first crocus to bloom in my garden (really, I go out and check the front garden every morning. No crocuses yet. Sigh....) So, I am desperate for blooms. Luckily, my African violets have been blooming the last few weeks, spurred on by the increased light they're getting in the kitchen window. The pretty one pictured above is blooming now. Unfortunately, I don't know which variety it is -- it was a NOID purchased on clearance at my local nursery....Read Full Post
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Pleasant Valley Farm
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Almost Open
21 May 2013 | 5:31 pmThis is generally the time of year when I usually start to panic. As I write this, I only have 3 days left to prepare to open the farm stand for the year, and there is still so much to do! The grass needs mowing, I have 2 cows worth of beef to pick up and organize in the freezers, a pig to butcher and sausage to grind and package, and I'm roasting coffee tomorrow. A farmer gets used to never having a day off, but it's a lot, even for me! I tend to let myself get overly stressed this time of year, as I often feel like I won't have enough things to fill the tables. -
Thoughts on Heirlooms
11 May 2013 | 12:22 pmThere seem to be two schools of thought when it comes to heirlooms...one being that they are a culinary delight, and should be prized above all others, the other being that they are, as one farmer put it, “yesterday's favorites for a reason”. While praised for flavor, these varieties are also often criticized for their low productivity and susceptibility to pests & diseases. Horticulturists have been improving varieties every year, so why not take advantage of the newest, most productive and disease-resistant varieties available?My completely biased opinion is that… -
The Boys are Back (for now...)
30 Apr 2013 | 12:46 pmIf you've ever been to the farm, you've seen the (really) free range critters here. The front yard is usually graced by a combination of chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, kitties and a pair of peafowl. We like letting them run loose, as long as they stay on the farm. The poultry do a great job of eliminating insects from the yard and garden if given a chance! We pen things up when they get too comfortable playing in the road, or when we have issues with predators.Most of our peafowl are in a pen with a net roof, as they are good fliers. This shocked me at first,… -
Gabi's Garden
20 Apr 2013 | 10:09 amAbout a week ago, I got a tough phone call. My college roommate's father called to pass along the sad news that my friend Gabi had passed away. Though deeply saddened, it didn't come as a surprise. It also has led me to some soul-searching thoughts as I think about my friend, dead at just 34. Her father asked me if I ever thought I'd go back to social work, as Gabi and I went through the Master's of Social Work program together at Pitt. Although I spent quite a bit of time & energy attaining that degree, my reply was no. I really… -
High Speed
13 Apr 2013 | 8:30 amIt's spring! So much is going on! Babies are here...we've got calves, lambs, and chicks, with lots more chicks to come, as well as turkey poults. The garden is plowed, but there is much work to be done to get it ready for planting, and we're also looking to plow more and put in some field corn for next winter's animal feed. I'm tending tiny tomato seedlings, with plenty more sprouts to start, and we've planted salad greens and spring onions in the greenhouse, and the garlic, oregano, chives and other perennial herbs are green and growing. The pasture & hay…
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Das Leben ist Poker - Forum
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Aktuelle Themen •
18 May 2013 | 9:51 amDas sind alles schöne Worte, aber wirklich! Solche Situationen passieren doch in den Filmen, ich denke nicht, dass es so sein kann, sonst wäre sie selbst darauf gekommen. Also ich denke, dass es leider etwas im Busch ist – ich würde dir aus gutem Herzen diesen link empfehlen – da kannst du manches tolle Equipment finden, mit welchem du die bedien ausspionieren kannst. Trotzdem hoffe ich für das beste und dass ich mich irre! Statistik: Verfasst von leffelero — Sa 18. Mai 2013, 16:51 -
Aktuelle Themen •
18 May 2013 | 2:41 amGibt es denn keine andere Erklärung? Hast du nicht Geburtstag oder so was in nächster Zeit? Vielleicht hat er das geplant mit deiner Mitbewohnerin? Oder er wollte, dass sie ihm hilft, einen Verlobungsring auszusuchen? Was meinst du? Statistik: Verfasst von xkindlorows — Sa 18. Mai 2013, 09:41 -
Aktuelle Themen • Er besucht meine Mitbewohnerin!
17 May 2013 | 2:32 amLeute ist das zu fassen? Also ich habe den tollen Freund, mit dem ich immer Spaß habe, der mir immer sagt, dass er mich liebt und so, und ich dachte, dass ich einen Volltreffer mit ihm gelandet habe, aber leider sehe ich jetzt, dass es nicht stimmt! Es ist doch so – mein Freund betrügt mich! Er besucht heimlich meine Mitbewohnerin, wenn ich an der Uni oder bei der Arbeit bin, und das kann ich nicht fassen! ich hatte mal eine Vorlesung weniger und ich wollte schneller nach Hause, weil ich so hungrig war und da habe ich von weitem gesehen, wie er aus der Wohnung kam, da rief ich ihn schnell… -
Gesundheit und Fitness •
12 May 2013 | 8:51 amVieles hängt davon ab, was denn für dich billig bedeutet. Somit wird für den einen ein Zahnersatz in Polen einfach billig sein und für den anderen nur ein bisschen günstiger. Egal aber wie man es sieht und was man alles dazu rechnet, es lohnt sich.Statistik: Verfasst von Cialis Pas Cher — So 12. Mai 2013, 15:51 -
Gesundheit und Fitness •
11 May 2013 | 7:58 amIch habe auch die Zusatzkosten mir dazu gerechnet und es war für mich immer noch günstiger, also denke ich, dass da nichts übertrieben ist.Statistik: Verfasst von Hefsweereeger — Sa 11. Mai 2013, 14:58
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Honest to Goodness - Organic Food Sydney, Healthy Food, Wholefood, Home delivery Australia
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GIVEAWAY: ‘Wholefood Baking’ Cookbook by Jude Blereau
19 May 2013 | 5:18 pmWholefood chef Jude Blereau is launching her latest addition to her Wholefood Cookbook series, ‘Wholefood Baking.’ This is a bible to any keen home baker. Jude shares her years of knowledge and experience using wholefood ingredients, breaking it down into easy to understand tips, facts and tools. As with all of Jude’s cookbooks, the recipes are so impressive and make you look like a baking pro! We are so lucky to have a few extra special copies to giveaway to one of our lucky readers!! Wholefood Baking Competition WIN: A copy of ‘Wholefood Baking’ by Jude… -
Biodynamics Sydney
8 May 2013 | 6:10 pmCalendar – May 2013 Dear members and friends, There are some interesting workshops and events during May which offer ecologically sustainable ways of helping your garden and the earth. They will be fun, interesting and free! • Sunday 12 May- “Workshop on Weeds” – Edible weeds with Diego Benetto Why weeds grow/ what can you do with them/ soil imbalances- Diane Watkin of Biodynamics Sydney Inc. Venue: Glover’s Garden, Glover’s St Leichhardt. • Saturday 18 May- Bd film “The Real Dirt on Farmer John”, entertaining/informative, a ‘must see’ Venue: 307… -
EVENT: Honest to Goodness Biggest Morning Tea, 23rd May
2 May 2013 | 11:45 pmThis year celebrates the 20th anniversary of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, and Team Goodness will be hosting our very own Biggest Morning Tea event at our Alexandria HQ this month to raise money for the Cancer Council. H2G Biggest Morning Tea Alexandria Showroom, Unit D1, 46-62 Maddox St, Alexandria Sydney Thursday 23rd May, 9am – 12pm We will be donating 10% of all sales and all proceeds from our hamper raffle (prize worth $150) to the Cancer Council. We want to share with you how to enjoy a healthy morning tea using wholefoods! Enjoy some of our most popular snacks and treats… -
OATS – the original super grain
23 Apr 2013 | 9:17 pmTomorrow is Anzac Day, such a significant day in our countries history for many of us. Whether you are marching in a parade, attending a service or just catching up with friends and family, no doubt there will be one common theme and that is the Traditional Anzac Biscuit! With the key and absolute ingredient being wholesome oats, we thought we would share why we LOVE oats here at Honest to Goodness and why no “super” tag is needed on this wholegrain. Oats have long been a staple of most Aussies diets, and something found in everyones pantry (or should be!). These low GI… -
Cooking with Legumes
11 Apr 2013 | 11:57 pmAutumn is a lovely time of the year to start bringing in some lentils and beans into your meals. They are nourishing, warming and versatile so suit many dishes during the mild days and cooler nights. Lentils and beans can be added to any salads, as well as soups, casseroles, slow cooked dishes and even baking! How to prepare and cook with dry whole legumes is definitely one of our most frequently asked questions by our Honest to Goodness family of customers. So we thought a quick legume how to prepare and cook guide would be a great way to bring in Autumn this year! What are legumes Legumes…
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simple.green.organic.happy.
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Pure Natural Diva Botanicals (Why All-Natural Perfumes Matter)
3 May 2013 | 8:15 pmA woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting. -Christian Dior What does yours say about you? *Note: this post prompted by my road testing of natural perfumes sent to me for review purposes.* Because fragrances are considered a trade secret, companies aren’t required to let consumers know what ingredients they contain— and that can mean dozens or more unregulated, synthetic chemical compounds. Why should we care? Because fragrance “safety” testing doesn’t account for respiratory, neurological, or systemic… -
Loggerhead Turtle Love: Loggerhead Apparel Giveaway
26 Apr 2013 | 12:59 pmThe oceans are the planet’s last great living wilderness, man’s only remaining frontier on Earth, and perhaps his last chance to prove himself a rational species. -John L. Culliney Feeling a little out of place at a wedding reception at the Camden Aquarium, I made friends with a loggerhead turtle. This is why I am not anti-zoo or anti-aquarium. For most of us, this is the only chance we have to interact with some of the world’s majestic creatures, and we need those connections to strengthen our commitment to saving them. I would never have guessed that one of… -
A Post for Boston and an Introduction.
16 Apr 2013 | 10:07 amNothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. -Marie Curie I’ve been working on a new blog to house my fitness stuff and fury stuff and fashion stuff and basically everything that doesn’t quite fit here. It’s called Honey Badger Mom and I wrote about Boston over there today. There’s cursing. I didn’t know how to get it all out without cursing. So if you have a delicate constitution it’s probably not for you. If you enjoy a bit of badass— the devil on your…
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livingmaxwell: a guide to organic food & drink
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Oprah Winfrey Reveals Her First Move into the Organic Food Business
20 May 2013 | 11:02 amCourtesy of People Magazine Last year, there was a ton of buzz about Oprah Winfrey’s rumored entrance into the organic food industry when she filed for the trademarks “Oprah’s Organics” and “Oprah’s Harvest”. Speculation was swirling about exactly what she was up to – would it be salad dressings, prepared foods, personal care products. No one really knew, and I wondered if she would be making a cameo appearance at Natural Products Expo West this past March at the Anaheim Convention Center. (She never showed up.) Well, now we are getting the… -
A National GMO-Labeling Bill Gets Introduced in Washington – Now What?
13 May 2013 | 5:24 pmSeveral weeks ago, a very important piece of legislation got introduced in Washington, D.C. – a national GMO-labeling bill. Sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), this piece of legislation is the first time that any GMO-labeling bill has been put forth in the Senate. And to be honest, it is way overdue. More than 60 countries around the world require GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) to be labeled, such as China, Brazil, India, Japan, Australia, Russia, and all nations in the EU, but the U.S. does not. 26 states around the country have… -
Sealand Birk is the The Next Coconut Water, FREE Giveaway
5 May 2013 | 6:20 pmWhen I was at Natural Products Expo West recently, I came across a drink that wowed me in a major, major way. It easily would have made my Top 5 Organic Food Products of the show, but I knew that I wanted to dedicate an entire post to it, given how special it is. Never seen before on U.S. supermarket shelves, Sealand Birk comes from Denmark, where it has been a beverage for thousands of years. So, what exactly is Sealand Birk? It is the juice that is tapped from a birch tree, and harvesting takes place only once a year, from April to May. The birch tree naturally purifies over 100 liters of… -
Are You Consuming This Very Controversial Organic Ingredient?
2 May 2013 | 5:21 pmThere is an incredibly controversial ingredient in the organic industry called carrageenan. If you’re not familiar with it, carrageenan is a common food additive extracted from red seaweed that is often used as a thickening agent (chocolate milk, soy milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream), a substitute for fat, and a stabilizer for beverages that separate and must be stirred or shaken (the carrageenan makes stirring or shaking no longer necessary). It can also be found in deli meats and prepared poultry items. Carrageenan adds no nutritional value or flavor to foods or beverages but… -
Back to Juicing with This Green Combination
27 Apr 2013 | 5:54 pmYou may have noticed that I haven’t been posting any pictures of juice lately. The main reason for this is that I have been waiting for replacement parts for my Green Star juicer. Well, they just came in and I immediately put the machine back to work. The first combination that I made was kale, celery, broccoli sprouts, and lime. In the past, I have written about juicing with broccoli sprouts and use them because of the tremendous amount of nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that sprouts provide. So, I went with the broccoli sprouts and also added a touch of lime juice,…
