Organic Food/Organic Farming

We are finishing our film, Urban Roots, about the urban farming revolution in Detroit, and we are discussing the role that small, individually-owned urban farms have in "saving a city." We've run into some opinions that say that the thought that urban farms could save a city is somewhat naive, that, in fact what is needed are large-scale efforts to turn a city around.  "Scale" is needed, and "big profits."  The problem with this thinking I think is that it is stuck in the same mindset as the thinking that created the problem in the first place.  And the problem of saving a city is found in diagnosing the problem correctly. 

The problem of cities like Detroit is that the effort to preserve and grow big entities like corporations requires actions like what we witnessed - moving manufacturing overseas because labor was cheaper, cutting costs where-ever possible to bolster the bottom line and profits. Cutting costs and making profits, growing companies fast and big are what is heralded to be the goal and these things are rewarded by the stock market and by our culture in general.  Now, we are not against profits, but what is not helpful is to run a company, city or country with the bottom line/profits only in mind.  What is left out is the human element, the vitality of a company and a city and a country is the well-being of the people, the humans that live and work in it.  The mindset of our companies and country has so shifted to devalue the human element and value profit and size that we have run the very thing that makes the whole thing work - people - away. Look at Detroit, half the population has left, neighborhoods are empty, weeds grow in the playgrounds, schools have collapsed.  The mindset has killed off the community, has driven the people away. 

Now, out of this situation the remaining people have a choice and some of them have said they want to empower themselves by growing their own food and in some cases selling it to others. These farms are an acre or under, not thousands of acres.  How they benefit the city is that the empower a community, they give people ownership in their lives and each other, it gives them an income stream that cannot be taken away.  Some say scale is needed, but that brings in the same old mindset, put thousands of acres under cultivation under one group and the individual is yet again at the mercy of decisions beyond their control. And if the scale is too large, then yet again, the only way to sustain the size will be to minimize the human element and increase through non-human efficiencies like chemicals, and low wages.  How can small farms save a city?  They can do it one neighborhood at a time, slowly and hopefully with the help of city regulators who so often seek a quick fix and so often end up right where they started or oftentimes they end of worse off. Small farms bring in a new mindset, one of cooperation, barter, community, well-being, slowness but happiness perhaps.  It remains to be seen, we will be watching and we are open to the discussion!

An action from Lisa Hurley:   

She will grow her own food, in place of her lawn, a great way to start making changes...

http://11thhouraction.com/node/3960

I am Richard ROBINSON an independent eco activist from Erode district a small town in the state of Tamil Nadu INDIA, since my infancy I found myself attached deeply towards nature and species this further led me to learn while I walked, without knowing those scientific facts and terminologies, I started from mimicking to the black bird’s ringing, which I lately studied as Asian Koel (Eudynamys Scolopacea) and the imitation I did was bird Ringing and birding, And along with my friends we started to plant trees, further after years in 2004 and likeminded naturalists we formed a non profit organization named JEEVAKARUNYA TRUST, with a motto to Train and implement youth In Sustainable Development work promoting environmental, ecological and humanitarian values and importance,

 

And now, still learning educating and training the younger generation’s to involve individually and collectively in all eco-development activities and decision makings  I have individually conducted hundreds of seminars and converted them to eco-actions,

24 hour x 7 days Snake Rescues along with a trained team,

Free seminars, slid shows and movie for the all local and surrounded educational institutions,

Conservation based weed removal action for Tribal livelihood development trainings

Clean renewable energy solar lamp implementation to rural and tribal those not accessed with power,

And many innovative initiatives like craft from the plant lantana camera which is considered as a weed destroying native forest and farm lands, GREEN CROSS eco action clubs, and more to bring a change in the un-mind full living of the most populace   even though we find very tuff and hard to move every step without any support, I believe that we can make it, I also swear that what ever happens I am not going to quit my duty towards nature, of conserving the only home at least in this 11 hour... 

 

I enjoy growing my own food. We spent very little in getting the garden ready for sowing. We compost regularly and use the nutrient rich compost in our garden. There's very little work involved once you figure out how it works. I encourage anyone to recycle their food wastes. Just be sure to learn what and what not to throw into the compost pile and you'll do just fine. And to save water, be sure to mulch heavily with hay or straw. For arid regions, this really makes sense.

A new action was posted today from India: 

1) Creating awareness among farmers of my own village regarding

a) damage caused by use of chemical fertilisers on soil,

b) their own health,

c) deteriorating condition of the land.

2) Encouraging them to adopt Biodynamic Farming.

3) To encourage them to form a local market in village where the products like wheat, vegetables, rice etc produced by Biodynamic Farming are available.giant lel

4) Emphasis on the use of jute bags or paper bags instead of plastic bags.

5) I am trying to form an association including the educated locals so that this small step can be converted into giant leap....

Madhuban (Dhani) Village-Tajapatti, Tehsil-Abohar Abohar, Distt-Ferozepore. Punjab, 152122 India

One of the more intriguing and revolutionary ideas is coming out of San Francisco, with a company that calls itself My Farm.  MyFarm is a decentralized urban farm. They grow vegetables in backyard gardens throughout the city and so by increasing local food production they are creating a secure and sustainable food system. They also use organic practices that create the best tasting and most nutritious vegetables. For more information go to www.myfarmsf.com

I am so glad to see this site as an exchange for hearing about concerted efforts out there to help heal our world! I happen to be a vegetarian and encourage others to check out the new movie, Food Inc. to see how the food giants shape our behavior. Whether you want to continue eating meat and dairy it's good information to consider for our environment. Making informed choices is what really matters.

 

 

Organic foods are made according to certain production standards. The use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and avoided as a last resort. However, contrary to popular belief, certain non-organic fertilisers are still used. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified.

Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as "organic" within their borders. Most certifications allow some chemicals and pesticides to be used, so consumers should be aware of the standards for qualifying as "organic" in their respective locales.

Historically, organic farms have been relatively small family-run farms — which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide.

 Julie Poupee, BsN | baby safety monitors

Facts About Acai Berry Diet

Acai berry comes from the Amazonian palm tree that has a long history of medical usage in Brazil. This berry is known to contain numerous healthy elements, which is why acai berry diet is one of the most popular diets nowadays.

There is no particular acai berry diet but people who want to lose weight use acai berry in combination with other weight loss diet plans. Acai berry diet is usually paired other nutritional ingredients or a colon-cleansing product that can help in weight loss.
Acai berry is famous for its antioxidant properties that are much higher than that of other foods that are also known to have high antioxidant levels such as red wine and blueberries. People who have tried acai berry diet claim that antioxidants enhance vitality and general well being that greatly affects weight loss.
Acai berry diet has a lot of health benefits, which include detoxifying and cleansing the body, supporting cardiovascular health, boosting the immune system, enhancing vision, increasing mental clarity, slowing down the process of aging and reducing insomnia.


Acai berry diet is best for people who want to lose weight because of the combination of nutritional properties such as amino acids, phytosterols and essential fatty acids that work together to enhance metabolism, improve digestion and lessen appetite.

If you are interested in acai berry diet, you can purchase acai berry supplements that come in powder, juice, puree or capsules. Some scientific studies support several of these health claims for acai berry diet. However, be careful in choosing acai berry products in the market because there are many inferior products that are luring customers for free trials, which can be dangerous to the health.

acai berry

acai berry oprah

As more and more coffee connoisseurs start roasting their own coffee beans from home, many people are confused on how to buy green coffee beans for roasting. Not all green coffee beans are created equal as it depends on the grade and the region that the coffee is grown in. Another important aspect is the freshness of the beans as well. You do not want coffee beans that have been stored on warehouse floors for a number of years.

Before you buy, you need to know what type of coffee it is you are wanting to roast. The most popular green coffee beans for home roasting are Kenya AA, Costa Rican Tarrazu, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Guatemalan Antigua, Mexican Altura, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Brazilian Santos, Sumatra Mandheling, Colombian Supremo and Tanzanian Peaberry. All of these coffee beans have a different storied history, but share the trait that they are all fine, rich, aromatic coffees. These coffees all vary in taste profiles based on the type elevation, soil and climate that they are grown in. Whatever your taste buds crave, there is indeed a coffee matched for it.

Once you have decided what type of green coffee you want to roast at home, you next need to decide on the amount to purchase. Often times the best price breaks are found by buying 5 pounds of beans at a time. This is a perfect amount for any beginner home roaster to begin mastering his home coffee roasting hobby. If 5 pounds is too much, you can then settle for buying 1 pound at a time if you need a smaller amount.

After determining the amount, you will probably need to buy your green coffee beans online from an online home coffee roaster vendor such as the Popcorn Coffee Roaster They have a huge selection of green coffee beans to choose from and all come in 5 pound bags. You can also get tips on roasting at home along with thorough descriptions of each green coffee type. Green coffee beans are usually shipped to you in just a few days and are ready to roast upon arrival.

Buy Green Coffee Beans

 PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...