Organic Food/Organic Farming

Location

I am looking at starting a farmer's market in my community. I've got a small environmental group together already called Pangea, but we simply do not have enough people as we would like, or as it would take to actually begin this project. If anyone is interested in joining the group or helping with the projects that we do, it would be much appreciated.

We are called Pangea because it is the single continent that scientists believe existed before recorded time began. We are looking to bring the world back to that state of unity and respect for the earth that we all walk on and the creatures that we cohabit with. We deal with animal rights and environmental concerns. Some of our ongoing projects include starting a farmer's market booth and putting on a fundraiser for The Cove dolphins, the dolphins being slaughtered in Taiji Bay.

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.

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