Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture Greener Eggs and Ham

The Benefits of Pasture-Raised Swine, Poultry, and Egg Production. this is so fitting to what we are talking about right now, a bit of insite on the difference of field fed and the ever so popular CAFO'S.


check it out http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/sustainable_food/greener-eggs-and-ham.html

Is there a new DDT out there?

Domoic Acid is naturally occurring toxin produced by microscopic algae that has a spike in its toxins and it is killing many sea birds and animals because it gets into the blood stream and poisons them. Beaches are littered with dead birds, seals, dolphins, otters, and in Santa Barbara a 29 foot sperm whale washed ashore and it is getting worse. The brown pelican in California is the most effected many of these birds will die while flying because of the high levels of the poison. Why the spike in the algae? Is this going to be the new DDT? We need to do something otherwise the brown pelican in California my not be here for the next generation or other animals for that matter.

Here's a real stinger...bees are hurting too!

This is an article on how honeybee colonies are collapsing. The introduction of parasitic mites and diseases as well as changes in the environment are stressing the bees. Even though bees can be annoying (and boy does it hurt when they sting!) they are an important part of the environment. Learn more at www.extension.umn.edu/honeybees/components/03-26-2007_whycollapsing.html

Species of special concern

This article is about endangered species of whales, turtles and tuna in fiji. It talks about why they are important to protect and why they are becoming endangered. I found it interesting because the turtle takes over 3000 years to reach childbearing age. If the number of turtles is lowered any more it may be impossible to bring the species back. At the end of the article it talks about what we can do to protect these animals. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=61613

Endangered Croc Gets Four Blind Dates

There is an endangered species of crocodile in Malaysia that is getting set up with four different females. The Department of Wildlife is doing this with hopes to re-populate the crocodiles. Check out more.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18306381/

Minnesota for sustainable agriculture

I like the fact that Minnesota is involved with diversified crop rotation. They also stress buying locally and I think Minnesota farms have an awful lot to offer especially in late summer when the corn crops get harvested. I also like a lot of the fresh tomatos and other produce available in August. I know we can't get everything we need from local farms but it's worth it to do what you can. You get a better product and you can help preserve the environment.

2007 Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is up for reform this year, and though it may sound like it doesn't have anything to do with you, it does. The Farm Bill affects us all, even how the US deals with farmers in other countries. It affects land conservation, wildlife conservation, organic and local food production, access to food, biodiversity, and even food stamps are a part of the Farm Bill. Perhaps it should be called the Food Bill instead. Below is a way that you can have a say in what kind of food you may have access to in the future as chefs.

Taken from the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture:
Minnesotans are being asked to contact Rep. Collin Peterson to support funds for classical plant and animal breeding in the Farm Bill.

GET SEEDS & BREEDS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL MARKUP
CALL Reps. HOLDEN (PA) AND PETERSON (MN) ASAP!
(Markup is May 1 -- they need to hear from everyone NOW!)

TELL THEM TO:
1) Put SEEDS AND BREEDS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL MARKUP
2) ADD Classical Plant and Animal BreedingGaramond TO THE N.R.I. LIST OF PRIORITIES

Call Rep. Collin Peterson at: 202-225-2165
Call Rep. Tim Holden at: 202-225-5546
Please email Liana@hvc.rr.com to tell us who you have contacted.




QUICK BACKGROUND:In recent decades, public resources for classical plant and animal breeding have dwindled, while resources have shifted toward genomics and biotechnology, with a focus on a limited set of major crops and breeds. Unfortunately, this shift has significantly curtailed the public access to plant and animal germplasm, and limited the diversity of seed variety and animal breed development. This problem has been particularly acute for organic and sustainable farmers, who seek access to germplasm well suited to their unique cropping systems and their local environment.
Without renewed funding in this arena, the public capacity for plant and animal breeding will disappear. Yet the concern goes far beyond the needs of sustainable and organic farmers, and raises nationwide food security concerns. If we lose the capacity for classical plant and animal breeding, we also lose our ability to maintain a diverse set of plant and animal germplasm that is well adapted to changing environmental and climatic conditions.
By relying on an ever-narrowing pool of seeds and animal breeds our food supply is placed in a precarious position, as it exposes us to greater harm in the event of large-scale shift in climate or pest populations.

What Should be in the FARM BILL: (What to say when you call your Rep.)
• Amend the National Research Initiative (NRI) to list for competitive research grants, and modify term limitations for NRI research grants to reflect longer-term nature of breeding programs.
• Reauthorize the ARS National Genetic Resource Program and increase support for the collection, preservation and evaluation of germplasm collections. Direct ARS to accelerate long-term research in this arena.
• Enact a successor to the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, and include classical plant and animal breeding as a priority.

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, NY 12566
845-361-5201
www.sustainableagriculture.net

For more talking points:
http://www.msawg.org/key-farmbill.html
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_061011.htm
http://www.crk.umn.edu/tws/MN/downloads/FINAL-MTWS-Farmbill07.pdf

Raft: Renewing America's Food Traditions

Do you like to try new things and experiment with new product? If you answered yes, than were on the same page. I read this article called Chef Collaborative, which is and organization working to conserve the future flavor of food and diversity of America's food. I think this is a great idea, because there are so many different style cooks and recipes out there. Some which we are familiar with other were not. I myself like to try new foods just so I can have a different taste or texture than what i'm use too. As a chef i like to use the things i like in a dish that i've tasted and incorparte those thing in dishes of my own. This organization also embraces seasonality, perserves diversity and traditional pratices, and supports local economies. WOW! Not only are the helping out other economies, that might need it, their keep the recipes traditional, which is very big to me. I think this group of individuals is working toward a better way of life and equality.

https://www.chefscollaborative.org/

Climate and Weather Changes

We need to really begin to take this thing seriously. Our kids and grandkids and so on and so forth are going to be in big trouble if we don't increase our awareness now. The ozone layer is being destroyed greatly by our use of CFC's and other toxic materials. The weather is becoming increasingly hotter and soon we won't be ablt to leave our own homes. What are we going to do to change it? Some say it's too late and the world is slowly coming to an end but I think we still have a chance................do you?

The challenge facing local food

This article extols the virtues of eating, buying, and serving locally produced food at a big business level. The concern is that the local food movement may get "watered down" as the organic movement has, by big business pressures to be more economically competitive. A large food service provider called, BAMCO has made local food a priority and has a farm to fork program. "BAMCO's Farm to Fork program, which connects small local producers to the cafe chefs, guarantees that an average 20 percent of sourcing for all meals must be local. "But that's not the upper limit," Ganzler(BAMCO's Director of communications) says. "Some accounts go up to 70 or 80 percent during harvest season." The article stays postive that the local food movement will be sustainable.

Looking for a CSA???

Class,

Are you interested in finding out more about Community Supported Agriculture? Here's a great link for you!

http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html#guide

-Jay

The evil Wal-Mart trying to be a steward to the environment?

Every time I make a beer run to Wisconsin on Sundays, I always see Walmart trucks on the road. Not just one truck but many trucks. Semi-trucks create a lot of pollution. Walmart says they will try to be stewards of the environment by attempting to be more energy efficient. Do you think they will succeed? You can read more about Walmart's attempt to help the environment. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9815727/#storyContinued

China to top US in greenhouse gasses this year

This article discusses the fact that this year china will become the leader in CO2 production. According to china this is due to the growth of their country. They refuse to put caps on their CO2 emmissions because it is an unfair cap cause they are still developing there country. Their second reason is because they wont do it until the US decides to do it. In 25yrs china will produce more CO2 than the rest of the world.

www.treehugger.com

Artic National Wildlife Refuge

This article talks about the loss of many different speceis if people got to the "American Serengeti" in search of oil. we would obtain little oil compared to the massive amounts of species we would loose if we did send oil tankers and crews and tons of equipment to disturb this natural habitat.




to learn more and posibbly help see this site
www.savearcticrefuge.org/learnmore.html

Eco-prize winners shared vision: Protect home

Dont think only you can make a difference? well here is an article that may change your mind on how just the will of a few people can change the world with an idea, save life, and really get rewarded for your efforts without even knowing.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18271454/

The tables turn

You know a lot of people never appreciate what they eat. Well in Bejing, the tables have turned. A 12 year old boy jumped the fence at a zoo over to a pool where shows were held with crocodiles. The boy and his 3 friends were hitting the animals with stickes when one crocodile came up and grabbed the boy's shirt. The boy was dragged into the water and eaten by a swarm of crocodiles. It was later confirmed that the remains were that of the boy's.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267741,00.html

BEIJING - Global warming could wipe out large areas of glaciers in the Himalayas and surrounding high-altitude regions, threatening dire consequences for China and South Asia, climate scientists said in Beijing on Monday.

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41527/story.htm

Taking the waste out of organic recycling

Being able to take our peeling and turn it in to compost would be a great thing. This is something that they are looking on doing this. They are doing a testing on this theory through a pilot recycling project in Carver County. Were you can put your organic peeling and other food into a recycling ben and taken to a compost center.

China's farmland at risk from pollution

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070409/sc_afp/chinaenvironmentpollutionfarm_070409075917

If this article is to be believed, China is pretty well on it's way to our industrial revolution mistakes. Well, actually, I think they are all ready there.

"More than 70 percent of China's waterways and 90 percent of its underground water are contaminated by pollution, according to previously released government figures, but the impact on soil has never been measured."

The study they are talking about isn't completed yet, however.

Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?

This article talked about the differences between conventional farming and Organic farming and how they differ. Conventional farmers apply chemical fertilizers and organic apply natural fertilizers. conventional use chemicals to manage weeds and organic rotate crops and hand weed to control weeds. Overall organic seems to be the way to go when trying to focus on the environment.

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/NU/00255.html

GMO Alfalfa Will Devastate Organic Dairy Industry

Organic Valley farmers are coming together and going up against the Monsanto's and other companies that like them, to keep GMO's off and out of the markets illegally. For more information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop

organic production and certification

This was a very interesting article about what i means to be organic, how to grow organic, and a little about the advantages of eating organically grown food. Organic food is food that is grown with as little or no chemicals as possible. It into detail about how farmers have to do certain thing in order to start growing organic foods. I learned a lot of things i never had known before. I think that organic is the way to go if you are conserned about all of the unknown things that are in your foods.

ozone and climate change

This article is about how the earth's climate is changing. The ozone layer is being depleted and how the temperature of the earth is rising. This temperature change is causing many negative effects to the earth. The most important to me is that the polar caps are melting and could start flooding every coast around the world. It also said how the ozone layer got this way and what can be done to correct it . I have heard about this for a while and this article makes me feel like we are all doomed some day. Unless all of humanity changes there ways it doesn't look good for the upcoming generations.

Navy Showers: Water Saving Goes Hardcore

Navy Showers: Water Saving Goes Hardcore
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 04.22.07
Design & Architecture
Here’s yet another post that came to us via the ever diligent community at Hugg (thanks jerryjamesstone!). While water-saving shower heads can cut back our ecological footprint drastically (which is why Simran was promoting them on Oprah last week), there is an even easier, though perhaps not as luxurious, option - the navy shower. This is the term used for a water saving technique for showering, popularized (well, invented at least) by the navy to save precious on-board rations. The basic idea is to get yourself wet all over, as soon as you turn the shower on, and then turn it off while you soap up before, finally, rinsing off. Apparently, a typical shower takes as much as 230 L (60 US gallons) of water, while taking a navy shower can use as little 11 L (3 US gallons); one person can save 56,000 L (15,000 US gallons) per year!
This author has actually been sporadically using this technique for some time, without ever realizing it had a name, and it’s not as uncomfortable as it sounds. The only drawback is having to contend with a weird reaction from your spouse when they ask what you are doing in the bathroom, and you tell them you are taking a shower, despite the complete silence.
OK, we’re pretty sure this isn’t going to catch on with everyone, but for those of you who are deeply concerned about your water use, and willing to try something new, check out this info over at Wikipedia for full instructions. For those not willing to part with their ten minutes in hot-water heaven, you can also see our guide to greener showers here, and here.

Intentional food poisoning

On April 9th in Bejing, China many patents of a hospital became ill and one 77 year old died. Curiosity became and issue and the vomit of some of the patients was tested. Believe it or not, there were traces of rat poison in all of the ill patient's vomit. Not much later did investigators find out that the poisoning was done on purpose. It is still said that this is one of the best and biggest hospitals. Want to read more? Visit http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Apr12/0,4670,ChinaFoodPoisoning,00.html

Dairy: Organic vs. Wholesale

Chefs are some of the best proponents for organic dairy farming due to the better quality and taste of dairy products with no pesticides, antibiotics, or synthetic hormones. On the same token the cost of organic food can be up to 20% higher than other forms of dairy farming. Most chefs decide on a happy medium with a good mixture of both dairy varieties even though the supply of organic dairy has been dwindling in the past few years. For more information the link is.

https://www.chefscollaborative.org/uploads/CC_Dairy_Communique_Oct_06.pdf

Ozone and Climate Change

We are slowly ensuring the demise of the human race as well as our planet as we know it. Global warming has been an issue since the 1970's when scientist first suggested that man made chemicals could cause the ozone to break down. Our global temperatures are slowly rising and with that will come an increased use of air conditioning which will increase our dependence on electricity.

Who's Next?

We've been destoying the environment for hundreds of years. I went back in time to see all the species we huans have destoyed. we can't take credit for the dinosaurs, but we can for the dodo, the tasmainian wolf, the blue pike, and many other species.

http://bagheera.com/inthewild/extinct.htm

Organic Gardening from Harrods in London

Harrods, a department store in London, is now offering gardening services. More and more people are renting allotments (government parts of lands available to rent on a monthly basis) within the city in order to create their own garden to grow their own organic fruits and vegetables. Some people have to wait up to 10 years before there is an allotment available for them to rent. From the article "the upmarket London department store, Harrods, have begun offering a gardening service for allotment owners who don't want to get their hands dirty." I thought it was interesting that the demand for the land space is so high to grow their own fruits and veggies instead of just finding them at a grocery store.

www.treehugger.com

Safe Food?

Food safety is a matter for public concern, millions of cases of food poisoning occur each year. Not only from fast food or restaurants, but from the grocery store food also. Its all Food politics now, more than just washing hands or cooking to a higher temperature, its about political power. The link is http://www.foodpolitics.com/pages/safefood.htm

Earth Day: Oh, What is the Point of it all?

This articale talks about how to many people are half-assing it when it comes to playing a part in changing our planet. For example, we put in a energy saving light bulb only to build coal burning plants like crazy, or we turn off the water while we brush our teeth, but only on Earth Day.


www.treehugger.com

The Government Makes You Fat

My article is about how it is beacoming easier and cheaper to by junk food such as twinkies rather than buying heathly items such as carrots. And how govornment programs such as the farm bill are making it simpler to buy a bag of unheathy calories rather than veggies or fruits.



www.treehugger.com