Grow Organic!'s topics - tribe.net

Poison Found in Canned Foods... especially Campbells.

2010-01-03T18:57:57Z

http://food.change.org/blog/view/tests_reveal_poison_in_nearly_all_campbells_soup

posted in Grow Organic! - 26 replies

Earth Fare

2010-01-02T03:00:38Z

I am now in nutrition school and a fellow classmate told me about a great grocery store. This company is based in the southeast and has strict requirements about what foods it will sell. All produce must be organically grown and meat grass-fed, among other requirements. So sad we've gotten to this point, but I'm glad at least one company is doing something proactive. Here's the site: www.earthfare.com.
It seems they're popular in the south and in college towns.

posted in Grow Organic! - 3 replies

Wellcome On Dragonmill.

2009-12-30T18:29:31Z

http://dragonmill.net

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

FOOD INc

2009-12-28T19:07:47Z

What I gathered from watching this must see movie..is that organic soybeans will soon be a thing of the past. If over 80% of the crop is controlled by Monsato and they are sueing the pants off of everyone that is still saving seed and not using this round-up chemically created seed that they own and have a patent on thanks to former employee and now supreme court justice Clarence . Why was this issue never mentioned in here?

posted in Grow Organic! - 13 replies

Canadians - open-pollinated seeds sources?

2009-12-16T20:00:23Z

Hi. I'm in B.C. Just wondering if any of the people from Canada, in this tribe, can recommend good catalogue sources for open-pollinated seeds. I want to expand my seed saving.

Seed saving and trading in my region tapered off some years ago, so it'e been hard to get new things fro locals.

I'm interested in corn varieties that mature in short-season climate. Also in veggies of all sorts.

Tahnks.

posted in Grow Organic! - 9 replies

homemade bone meal?

2009-12-07T00:42:41Z

Have y'all tried making your own bone meal? I don't often have a lot of bones in one place at one time but I just cooked this really big bird....

The parts we'll eat are in the freezer, the cats have feasted on the parts we won't eat, I've made a big ol' wad of broth, now I have this pile of bones. Can I make my own bone meal out of them?

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

Cooking with Whole Foods

2009-12-05T02:28:34Z

I've begun nutrition school and want to really focus on growing my knowledge cooking with whole foods, and organic vegetables. I am sure there are plenty of cooking tribes, but wondered if anyone here could recommend one that focuses upon whole foods and organic plant usage? I'm far more discerning today on what I will try... If there isn't one, maybe we could start such a group...

posted in Grow Organic! - 3 replies

Strawberries

2009-11-27T01:47:05Z

So I have been trying to grow strawberries with little success for a couple of years now...I live in the PNW and mulch them with goat manure in the early spring. I have to thin them like crazy because every year they grow lots of foliage, send out runners, but the berries are small, contorted, and not the sweet juicy goodness I expect. They are not in rows, but are the ground layer in an orchard. I have a few vareities and they are all doing about the same, some just have a fuller flavor. Not sure if they have a disease, or if they just aren't getting all the nutrients they need. any advice would be appreciated. How do you grow luscious strawberries organically? Thanks all...

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

HELP! fall is here and i have a multitude of green tomatoes

2009-11-23T09:32:40Z

I hate to just throw them away, but i really dont know what to do with them. In addition to the few plants in the garden, there are also two large volunteer plants that took over the compost pile. a few years ago, I hung the plants in the basement before the first freeze and they did ripen and turn red. They were good enough to freeze and put in stews and chili. I was hoping someone could share their recipes for green tomatoes. I've heard of fried tomatoes of course, and pickles......i'm not a pickle fan, but i will try the fried maters for the first time this year. Any other ideas?

posted in Grow Organic! - 10 replies

Covering weeds

2009-11-16T09:29:22Z

I have managed to pull up nearly all the HUGE weeds in the front garden. Now, I'd like to cover it so the buggers will die (or at least remain dormant) until I'm ready to landscape (= have enough funds to have someone else do it). So, do I use plastic? Polyester landscape fabric? Newspaper? It may be a year or so before I can have work done on the very large area.
Another issue: I'd like to possibly plant wildflowers for spring and then in spring plant a whole field of sunflowers in front. Do I do that on top of plastic, if I use plastic? Was just going to throw down some potting soil and use that...but that's probably not enough for roots...
Ideas, please???
Thanks!

posted in Grow Organic! - 9 replies

Pollination of Veggies indoors?

2009-11-16T03:43:30Z

Hey peeps!

I'm going to grow some tomatoes and peppers, (not to mention herbs) in my apartment with artificial light this winter.

I am wondering if I have to hand-pollinate the flowers? Or will the pollen spread in the air w/o bugs or help? Thanks!

posted in Grow Organic! - 3 replies

Oxalis

2009-11-06T07:19:25Z

To kill or not to kill? My yard gets COVERED in the stuff year after year, but it eventually goes away as it heats up. Should I just let it do its thing? Any harm in that? Yeah, I know it's a non-native...but I'd have to sift through quite a lot of yard to get rid of it. What do YOU do?

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

Powdery Mildew

2009-10-31T17:23:09Z

Even though I'm concentrating on growing vegetables right now, I still have one little patch of flowers. The bed was used as a parking space so I didn't think it wise to grow food there. Anyway, I have some pink scabiosa which is a perennial in CA. The largest of the tree plants has developed powdery mildew. I know this disease is catchy and I'm concerned because close by I've planted peas along the fence. (15 feet of sugar snap peas - three different varieties, 5 feet of snow peas, and five feet of shell peas.) I 'd like to keep the scabiosa if I can because the pink ones are hard to come by. These were bought at a Mom-and-Pop nusery that has now gone out of business. (Actually, both mom and pop were deceased, and it was the daughter that was trying valiently to keep the family business going.) What can I do? I have been dousing the plant with a baking soda solution for three days now, but I don't see any improvement.

Thanks,

Sara

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

Site for organic folks living rurally

2009-10-28T23:31:22Z

Not long ago a friend sent me the URL for a new on-line forum (whole bunch of forums at one site) about "homesteading". Site is attracting more people.

Here's the addy. I recommend checking it out.

www.theruralindependent.com/

Pass it on........

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Oh Yum!

2009-10-23T21:44:52Z

I live in a place where spring is brief and summer's heat has spoiled many a broccoli crop. This year I tried growing a fall crop and the weather has been very cooperative. Today we harvested the first of the broccoli and had it with our supper. Oh my goodness was it delicious! Just like every other veggie, homegrown has much more flavor and color. And I know without a doubt that it's organically grown with no surprises.

Did you all try a new thing in the garden this year? I'd love to hear your experiences.

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

natures promise broke it's promise

2009-10-23T15:39:49Z

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4756

I got that article through the Organic Consumers Association website. And if that's how they do business, I don't I trust them for anything else. Not that it ever made sense to begin with, large corporation like Stop & Shop actually caring...or finding a vast number of organic farms to supply them with low cost organics on most aisles of all their stores.... I dunno, i don't like bearing bad news but this was too much for me.

Their page on the stop and shop (aka giant food) web site :
http://www.giantfood.com/our_stores/offerings/brands/index.htm?brnd=NATURE_PROMISE

Remember, this stuff is labeled "USDA organic" don't trust the label, and remember the revolving door principle: People who regulate, are the people being regulated... which is pretty well documented now days in many industries. Grow Your Own! and make sure those seeds can breed more seeds at the end of your season!

posted in Grow Organic! - 20 replies

star thistle

2009-10-10T02:33:50Z

This stuff is from the depths of hell. Anyone have ideas on how to get rid of it without chemicals (or napalm)?

posted in Grow Organic! - 7 replies

Young Farmers Greening the Thumb. . .

2009-10-09T01:38:50Z

http://www.mnn.com/food/farms-gardens/stories/40-farmers-under-40-readers-choice

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

fireplace ash

2009-10-08T16:30:26Z

What is it good for?

posted in Grow Organic! - 14 replies

Non plastic freezer containers...?

2009-10-07T15:51:30Z

Hello All...I've been trying to convert all my dishware over to stainless steel, glass, and wood or bamboo. Anyways sometimes we like to freeze stuff but we hate plastic. Uggg...it really disrupts the integrity of our wonderful organic food. Anyways sometimes we buy bulk meat and split it into several meals. We have been using plastic to wrap it because we're not sure what else to keep it from freezer burning. Anyways sometimes we recycle containers(plastic) and put leftovers in it, but I don't like plastic at all. My friend says glass can break in the freezer. Of course I know when they're hot it's dangerous. Any suggestions as to an alternative to use...?

posted in Grow Organic! - 15 replies

harvest moon

2009-10-06T12:44:06Z

we have two harvest moons this month--now and the end of september--
peaches are coming off now--i just picked 500 pounds of bartlett pears--my gala apples are just about there--and honeycrisp
tomatoes are hanging heavy--pepper abundance--
Salsa~

posted in Grow Organic! - 8 replies

Does anyone know about growing Quinoa in a container?

2009-09-30T09:43:58Z

A local nusery had seeds on sale and I bought a bunch for this year's winter garden and also for next spring (they're all packed for 2010). One of the seeds I bought is Quinoa. As some of you may know my space is very limited and I mostly have to grow in containers. I do have a very small raised bed but it doesn't get much light in the winter time. Does anyone know about growing Quinoa in a container, or even growing it at all?

Thanks,

Sara

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

The Mouth Revolution

2009-09-24T12:13:36Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nicOP2NLC0

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Organic Heirloom Tomatoes Don't Transport Well...

2009-09-18T19:16:06Z

Does anyone have any tips for transporting heirloom tomatoes. I've got 3 different varieties and all of them aren't very hardy.

posted in Grow Organic! - 3 replies

Legalize Hemp and Cannabis in California

2009-09-18T11:17:25Z

Hi Family,

I hope you all realize that organic vegetables are not a threat to society...

Right now there are two competing signature drives to put Cannabis legalization initiatives on the ballot in California in

November 2010.

One is found at www.taxcannabis2010.org

The other is found at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org

Please look carefully at the text of both laws (the text of each is finalized) and make up your own mind which one you support.

I am supporting www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org because our law will protect Cannabis users from discrimination in

healthcare, employment, and housing. It is a full legalization measure for industrial hemp and recreational cannabis which will restore full human rights to Hemp farmers and Cannabis users all across California. Of course supplying Cannabis to children will remain illegal just as it is today. Driving vehicles under the influence will remain illegal just as it is today. Cannabis users will still be fired from their jobs if they show up to work impaired.

There are two parts to our plan. The first part is to publicly post and personally distribute our "Freedom Lover's Call to Arms" in order to recruit volunteers. This document is available here-

www.imgur.com/dbU83

The second part of our plan is to ask everyone who volunteers to make a pledge for how many signatures they can collect in

the next 30 days or so. 15-30 signatures is a good number. If enough volunteers show this level of commitment we can succeed. You can probably get that number from your family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors without having to solicit in public too much. This is an "out of the closet" movement. We will have to proudly advocate human rights for responsible, honest, hard-working Cannabis smokers in order to convince legitimate people to support us. I can supply stickers equivalent to each persons pledge number. These stickers can be used to generate interest and be given to voters who sign the petition. Here is the sticker design-

www.imgur.com/2cjvb

Feel free to distribute and use these images. Just don't copyright them.

We have 145 days in order to get the number of signatures that we need. Our petition is hot off the press on 9/11 and we

have started collecting the first signatures yesterday 9/12.

We are polling 56% public support for Cannabis legalization in California which menas that this is an initiative which is not doomed. Its time has finally arrived; we are at the tipping point right now. Now is the time to do this and to do it right. We may only get one chance. If a law which is not exactly what we want is implemented then we may lose our critical mass and our ability to set it right.

I believe that less adults will smoke cannabis after it is legal. This is the case in the Netherlands where it has been

available over-the-counter for 30 years yet only half as many citizens (percentage-wise) smoke as do citizens here. My economics professor has taught for years that prohibition has not succeeded in decreasing usage by increasing penalties. Instead it has destroyed lives and families without substantial benefit to society. After legalization hard-drug usage will decrease due to a "separation of the markets," a decline in the price of Cannabis relative to hard-drugs, and the restoration of honesty and common sense in drug education. Violence, thievery, and the incarceration of honest people will decrease as well. I also believe that a well regulated market will decrease the availability and appeal of cannabis to children. In fact teenage Cannabis use in California has fallen steadily since the passage of Proposition 215. Furthermore the adults who smoke Cannabis after legalization will be better able appreciate the majesty of nature in peace and unity without learning to fear and disrespect authority figures. This will be better for their spirits and better for society. Finally the human rights of legitimate medical Cannabis patients will be better protected than they are today. Legalizing Cannabis will create a safer, healthier, and more humane California for us all to live in.

If you want to help us in any way please contact the CCI campaign at www.CaliforniaCannabisInitiative.org or write me at

deep_space_underground@yahoo.com I give you my encouragement to modify this message if necessary and distribute it to anyone who might help on any forum or by any mechanism.

Love,
-Fully Committed

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Are you a mushroom lover...aka mycophile? Here are 6 ways mushrooms can save the world.

2009-09-11T16:54:45Z

While the title may be a bit grandiose, I just love where Paul Stamets is going with his TED talk. Moving ever slowly towards an organically consistent lifestyle.

See video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI5frPV58tY

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

looking for people to help us create our own 'eden' self sufficient organic homestead in France

2009-09-11T16:32:53Z

We are looking for people to help our communal dream become reality...

French Manoir / farm in Normandy with organic kitchen garden, 2 fields of 2 hectares, chickens etc..We now want to create Biosphere/Geodesic dome, full organic self sufficiency aiming towards being carbon neutral and using renewable energy. We are looking for people interested in the technological side of self sufficiency as well as running a small organic kitchen garden. Creative people welcomed, We are both musicians, non smokers, not drinkers. The house contains a studio and we work developing and recording bands and artists..,Ideally we would want to feed ourselves and our clients with vegetables and food from the farmstead. Over the years we have had quite a few WWOOFERS (world organic farming volunteers) which has proved successful but unfortunately most people are only available for a few weeks or months as this organisation is more geared for shorter stays, we are looking for someone, or a couple who would like to become a more permanent part of our team.

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

fall transplants WOOT!

2009-09-07T14:20:51Z

Lowes has fall transplants. While I know they are not organic I can certainly grow them organically and I'm thrilled to find fall transplants for the first time in my area. I got a bunch of broccoli and spinach. I'm planting lettuces and carrots from seed.

Today's plan is to attach the row cover hoops to the raised bed frames and get these babies covered before the bugs move in.

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

Trash Can Taters

2009-09-06T12:58:45Z

Yay! My trash can taters are coming up. Thanks to all those who have discussed this way of growing potatoes.

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

Did an Experiment This Morning. .

2009-09-06T05:44:47Z

I ate an organic nectarine and it was delicious. Then I ate a commercial nectarine and it tasted like sweet chemical crap.
Same store, same ripeness. . .just a test. . .and I couldn't eat all of the commercial nectarine.

posted in Grow Organic! - 16 replies

My seed potatoes got cookedan mice are eating my tomatoes!

2009-09-02T03:03:50Z

So if you've been reading my posts you know that I tried growing potatoes in garbage cans. That was a big success and I put in a new crop two weeks ago using some potatoes from my first batch. Last week we had a couple of days of really high heat. One day it was supposed to be 86 and it turned out to be 101. If I would have known it was going to be that hot I would have moved the cans into the shade. When I dug down to see if they had survived, I discovered that they had been cooked in the soil. I am so bummed about this! Now, I'm going to have to hope I can find some suitable potatoes at a farmer's market and start all over! On top of that, I have a mouse problem in my tomatoes. As soon as one is just about ripe enough to pick a mouse starts eating it. My cat, Bruno, has killed two mice so far, but I am sure there are more because the landlord for the building next to mine recently cleaned up the back yard of his building. It had been quite overgrown with ivy. I am sure the mice moved from there into my tomato patch.

Sara

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

Soil Testing

2009-08-28T17:08:18Z

I completely recommend testing your soil every season! However, I've found out the hard way this year that sometimes doing the home kit isn't enough. I did a test when we bought our house and it was pretty much deficient in everything. So we added appropriate amendments and off we went. At first everything seemed to do great, but then things started to fail. It started with our squash. We had a complete failure. Nothing. Zilch. Zip. Even our zucchini was pathetic. Then our corn started looking pretty ragged. And so it went on. Now our rhubarb is struggling, as is our strawberries and tomatoes. I've tried fertilizing, but got nothing. This is the first year of growing anything at our new place. We used to use raised beds, but now, because the garden is so large, that would be cost prohibitive.

Also, the garden is on a well. My worry is that the well has been infiltrated with salt water. We're not too far - maybe a mile - from the SF Bay (though we are on the delta end, with less sea influence). But at the same time, according to our neighbors and the pump companies we've talked to, we have one of the only running wells on this side of the county. It was a complete pain in the butt to even get someone from a pump company to come out and help us get it running. One company even told us they wouldn't come because no one in our area had a well and it wasn't worth their time, even though they were only a 10 min drive away. Sucks for them.

So at first we considered having the water tested because we noticed white deposits forming on the soil. Turns out the cheapest test is $300 and looks at drinking suitibility. Well, we don't drink it, we just want to find out if it's suitible for irrigation. No one does that. From what we told them they thought it was probably just a calcium buildup issue because the well hadn't been used for so long (at least several decades). That was at the begininning of the season. It hasn't gotten worse, but the plants seem upset. Though I should mention that the ornamentals seem to be doing fine.

So I figured I needed to buck up and get a professional soils test. I'm a landscape architect, so we see soil's reports all the time. They are MUCH cheaper than the water test. I just sent my soil off Monday. According to UPS it has already been delivered. I can't wait to get the results and recommendations! I really think that this is a great idea to do at least once for your yard to determine where exactly you stand on all macro & micronutrients, salts, lime, pH, boron, etc.

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Gonna Grow Some Lettuce Soon. . .

2009-08-28T16:20:38Z

romaine, red leaf, green leaf. . .maybe some chives, etc too. .

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Soil amendments for strawberries

2009-08-25T13:33:38Z

So I've got a teeny little garden in which I've planted: tomatoes, snap peas, basil, zucchini, chives and strawberries.

I've got some companion planting tricks working--I've got nasturtium, onion and marigolds near the tomatoes to discourage bugs--but I only know those tricks for tomatoes. How do I keep bugs (and birds!) from the berries? And what can I add as a mulch to keep 'em happy and productive?
Are strawberries similar to shrub berries in liking acidic soil? Would coffee grounds be good?

posted in Grow Organic! - 13 replies

BAN MIND CONTROL/ DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS TORTURE AND ABUSE

2009-08-21T23:30:18Z

I know this sounds like science fiction or a conspiracy theory, but it's not. It is a complete reality and a huge danger to humanity. Please check out the following petition and sign it. As crazy as this may sound but mind control energy weapons is a reality. Millions of people are suffering from the mental abuse and torture of these weapons that are not openely talked about or known, or "declassified." The abuse is largely sexist and racist and targets people who are of certain ethnicities... primarily who are not white. The abuse is deliberate, cruel, and is done by directing energy beams, via satellite or other means, onto the body/person/ brain of the individuals targeting certain centers of the brain to elicit responses or actions. The companies, military, governments who are doing this also use sound weapons to direct sounds, subtle or not, vibrations and energy in the mind or environment of the victims to harrass, abuse, and control the actions of these individuals. Whether they are able to do control the person or not, they definitely abuse and severely mentally and psychologically hurt the victims.

BAN MIND CONTROL/DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS TORTURE AND ABUSE

To: the President of the United States, Members of the U.S. Senate and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, see more...your Governor, Members of your State Senate, Members of your State House, the President of the United States, Members of the U.S. Senate and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Started by: Soleilmavis L

WE CONCERN ABOUT THE ABUSE AND TORTURE OF THE FOLLOWINGS :- DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS; NEUROLOGICAL WEAPONS; MIND CONTROL WEAPONS; BODY AND BRAIN MANIPULATION WEAPONS; PSYCHOTRONIC WEAPONS; SPACE WEAPONS; NON-LETHAL WEAPONS; COINTELPRO; ANDany other unacknowledged or as yet undeveloped means inflicting death or injury on, or damaging or destroying, a person (or the biological life, bodily health, mental health, or physical and economic well-being of a person) through the use of land-based, sea-based, or space-based systems using radiation, electromagnetic, psychotronic, sonic, laser, or other energies directed at individual persons or targeted populations or the purpose of information war, mood management, or mind control of such persons or populations.Please help to ban abuses and tortures of above-mentioned weapons.
Yours Sincerely,
Soleilmavis
peacepink.ning.com

"Mailtem" members of THE WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST the (secret) Abuse and Torture That Uses Mind Control, Directed Energy Weapons and Manipulation Weapons on Every Living Being.
peacepink.ning.com/forum/to...m-members

1.

This petition ends on Dec 31.

posted in Grow Organic! - 12 replies

"Topsy Turvy" tomatoes - Has any one tried this?

2009-08-21T01:35:07Z

I'm seeing adds for a product called "Topsy Turvy" which is a planter for growing upside down hanging tomatoes and other vegetables. Has anyone tried growing tomatoes this way? If so, what was your result?

Sara

posted in Grow Organic! - 8 replies

~Harvest Moon~

2009-08-18T01:21:28Z

The harvest moons on the way--this will be a fairly fast harvest for our farm--applecart fruit.,
only two thirds of a set on the apples this year-frost got em.,
gonna be some big apples.,fun pickin.,';a fair run on pears comin up
and a light crop on plums--once again.,cold weather
hows your harvest--?

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

Tomatillos

2009-08-13T05:43:28Z

Does anyone know anything about growing tomatillos? We have a tomatillo plant in our garden. It is COVERED with flowers. I also see a lot of new flowers getting ready to open, but I don't see any baby tomatillos. I've seen them in the store and there are very tiny things that could either be new flowers getting ready to open or very small tomatillos.

Thanks,
MP & BB
John
))0((

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

Meet Up Aug 8th Alabama Intentional Community

2009-07-30T02:11:52Z

Meet Up August 8th Alabama Intentional Community

Meet Up - Alabama Intentional Community Get Together Aug 8th. Details: http://bit.ly/CJQ7w or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theedenproject Members & Potential Members Only. Those interested in joining our intentional community/eco-village/co-housing/commune [now forming], please see links for more information, and get involved. We plan to move this project ahead immediately to come together as friends and family to do a wonderful thing together. RSVP after you get the details so we can plan this accordingly. Those coming from out of town can find out about camping or local motels.

We are listed in the directory at IC.ORG

Thanks,

The Eden Project
The Eden Experiment
The Essence Of Eden

http://intentone.ning.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theedenproject
knightsintention@yahoo.com

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

A Matter of Interest

2009-07-29T14:55:43Z

No, this isn't about growing organic, but baking. Turns out a woman in NJ is baking her way out of foreclosure, and area businesses are offering their kitchens so she can succeed. She's already surpassed 500 orders with grandma's organic recipe. How cool is that?

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/32186013?GT1=43001

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

Avocados

2009-07-27T12:40:47Z

We recently sprouted two avocado pits using toothpicks and water in separate margarine containers. The first is doing well as it kept both sides after it split and sprouted roots. It sent up two leaf nodes and has five leaves. I suggested transplanting, and my roommate finally conceded. He put it in a small plastic container with organic soil and a little organic soil builder. It looks a little poorly. The second lost half its nut but seems to still be alive. Any and all tips tricks for growing avocado trees would be greatly appreciated. I live in Southern California near San Bernadino, on the western edge of what I consider the desert. It's very hot here.

posted in Grow Organic! - 23 replies

Potato Harvest!

2009-07-25T21:27:19Z

Yesterday, I harvested one of my potato cans. (I grew potatoes in 30 gallon plastic garbage cans.) I grew Yukon Golds in that can and I got about 17 lbs of potatoes out of it. The ones on the bottom were HUGE. They were much bigger than the biggest ones at the grocery store. Just the big ones filled up a 4 gallon bucket. I gave all the big ones away to my neighbors who have been suffering from the economy. One of my neighbors was so happy to get some of the potatoes it makes me wonder if and what she's been eating lately. I still have a whole refridgerator drawer full of the small ones and I have 7 chicken-egg sized ones in a whicker basket on the kitchen table that I'm going to use as seed potatoes. I hope to re-plant in the next couple of weeks.

I already know they taste fantastic, because I've been harvesting ones that were closer to the surface for a while now.

Growing them in trash cans was a great idea. I live in a 4-plex with almost no ground that isn't covered in concrete or asphalt. They didn't take up that much space for what they produced and because I had holes in the bottom of the cans and had them raised of the ground I could tell exactly how much water they needed by how much came out the bottom. At the height of their growing they were taking an entire 2 gallon watering can with only a couple of drips coming out of the bottom. I knew it was time to start cutting back on the water when I started getting puddles under the cans.

Sara

I still have two cans left. The one I'm going to harvest next is one that has a mix of Yukon Golds and

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

Habanero Pepper Blossom Drop Help, Please!

2009-07-25T02:37:01Z

My Habanero pepper is producing tons of blossoms but they are all falling off. It is in a container in a row of containers with my other peppers which are all producing fruit. The Habanero is on the end and gets the afternoon sunlignt, plus my peppers are right next to the asphalt driveway so they get heat radiating from that. I live just south of San Francisco so lack of heat can be a problem here although last week it was pretty hot an I would have thought some of those flowers would have took.

HELP!

posted in Grow Organic! - 7 replies

time to graze

2009-07-22T01:02:10Z

im just in love with the season~bringing my friends into natures candy zone.,now its blueberries-double handfull this morning-apricots-nanking cherries and my raspberries-yellow and red.,see the lights come on when people pick thier own.,bite in and sigh with delight--makes everthing Groovy--share the love-blessing--PeacearoundU+++

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

AC Morley Wheat

2009-07-21T23:26:13Z

I was given a big bag of AC Morley wheat seeds but the only info I can find relates to commercial farming and doesn't give me much to go on. I live in zone 7. Have y'all ever grown a hard winter wheat?

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Blossom drop

2009-07-20T17:12:58Z

My tomatoes have set some nice fruit, but today I noticed some of the blossoms have dropped. I've been so careful building the soil, could it be the heat?

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

My first potatoes!

2009-07-15T17:21:00Z

I had an old organic red potato from Trader Joe's that started sprouting in the fridge a couple of months ago so my husband and I just tossed it in the garden we started in our new apartment. We planted it next to the parsley and forgot about it. Then the leaves began to grow and we were so excited we threw a couple of purple ones and another red one in and added some more compost to the mix. Well now the newer potatoes look great, but the first one's leaves started curling, turned brown and looking dry so we thought it might be diseased or something. We dug it up today and it had 5 large taters and about 10 tiny ones growing. Does anyone know if this is normal for the leaves to do that since it is producing so many new potatoes? We cut back all the brown bits and replanted it. Should we just remove it or is there something we can do or is this normal? -Freya

posted in Grow Organic! - 22 replies

Peppers and calcium?

2009-07-13T22:31:28Z

I know that peppers need more magnesium, sulfer and calcium to really thrive and produce. I live in a 4-plex so all my vegetables are in containers. Before I planted my peppers I added to the potting soil something called Sul-Po-Mag by E.B. Stone Organics which is a mineral that is supposed to gradually release sulfur, potassium, and magnesium into the soil and also added some eggshells which I had ground into almost a powder using a mortar and pestal. I also mist the plants every morning with a weak solution of organic Kelp meal.

Now I am told that eggshells are a poor source of calcium because they breakdown very slowly and that I should add a liquid calcium supplement. A local garden supply shop sells something called Max-Cal but it is 10-0-0 and I don't know that I really want to be adding that much nitrogen now that my plants all have blooms and even some small peppers. Has anyone ever used liquid calcium meant as a human nutritional supplement? If so, what was the dose and what was your result. My plants seem to be triving but my mom's always looked great but never really produced much. (She didn't know about the Sulfur, Magnesium, Calcium thing)

Thanks,

Sara

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Potato Growing Advice

2009-07-13T19:24:05Z

Last winter, when the economy showed signs of taking a steep dive, I decided to put in a vegetable garden for the first time. I live in a 4-plex with very limited space so most of my vegetables are in containers. I ordered some potato seeds and started them in three 30-gallon garbage cans back in early March. The potatoes are still growing now and some of the leaves have brown spots like the pictures I have seen on the internet for late-blight. The stems don't have any legions but they do have tiny, pin-prick, brown spots on them. All the potatoes I have harvested have been fine. None have had brown, corky centers and have been delicious. I am hoping to re-use the organic potting soil again because it was quite expensive. The book I bought "Bountiful Container" says I can as long as the previous harvest wasn't diseased. Can anyone tell me if my potatoes are diseased or if it is just that the plants are old and dying. I live in the South Bay.

Thanks so much!

posted in Grow Organic! - 11 replies

Wwoofing in southern Oregon; Help!

2009-07-12T02:26:37Z

I'm hoping that someone can help me out with some contact info for wwoof farms in southern Oregon. If anyone knows of a good farm in southern Oregon that could use a hard-working hand, please let me know. Thanks so much!
Peace and blessings
Loam

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

What would you do different?

2009-07-10T19:17:33Z

Today a friend mentioned to me that she wished she'd planned out her garden space differently now that her plants are approaching full size.
Like most gardeners, I enjoy spending time in the winter planning out what I will grow and where. But then I get to this time of year and see things that I'd like to change next time I plant. This year I wish I had twice as much space.
Now that our gardens are producing, is there anything you would change and why?

posted in Grow Organic! - 9 replies

Biochar, Terra Preta and Wood Gas

2009-07-08T18:31:04Z

I've become very interested in biochar and terra preta. Terra preta are ancient amazonian pockets of great soil in soil desert. They were made by addition of charcoal in addition to compost. It is pretty damn miraculous discovery. Very important as this solves several of our problems with one elegant, synergetic tactic. If you do not know about this, i think you will enjoy learning about it and please take the time to do so. These videos are excellent place to start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-hSl59ET2A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6EPKYp5UgI&feature=related

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Purple Jalapenos?

2009-07-06T11:03:50Z

I've grown jalapenos the previous 2 years. This year they are purple. Is this good? Bad? Help????

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Seed potatoes?

2009-07-05T20:53:25Z

Does anyone have seed potatoes or know where I can get them this late in the year? I've heard that growing sprouted potatoes from the supermarket is a no-no. Anyone know about that?

Much love.

posted in Grow Organic! - 13 replies

Federal ‘organic’ label’s integrity under fire

2009-07-03T13:32:48Z

Federal ‘organic’ label’s integrity under fire

Consumers who pay up to twice as much don’t always get what they expect

By Kimberly Kindy and Lyndsey Layton
WASHINGTONPOST.COM

WASHINGTON - Three years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture employees determined that synthetic additives in organic baby formula violated federal standards and should be banned from a product carrying the federal organic label. Today the same additives, purported to boost brainpower and vision, can be found in 90 percent of organic baby formula.

The government's turnaround, from prohibition to permission, came after a USDA program manager was lobbied by the formula makers and overruled her staff. That decision and others by a handful of USDA employees, along with an advisory board's approval of a growing list of non-organic ingredients, have helped numerous companies win a coveted green-and-white "USDA Organic" seal on an array of products.

Grated organic cheese, for example, contains wood starch to prevent clumping. Organic beer can be made from non-organic hops. Organic mock duck contains a synthetic ingredient that gives it an authentic, stringy texture.

Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement | your ad here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Relaxation of the federal standards, and an explosion of consumer demand, have helped push the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business, the fastest growing segment of the food industry. Half of the country's adults say they buy organic food often or sometimes, according to a survey last year by the Harvard School of Public Health.

Expanding market
But the USDA program's shortcomings mean that consumers, who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals, produced in a way that is gentle to the environment.

The market's expansion is fueling tension over whether the federal program should be governed by a strict interpretation of "organic" or broadened to include more products by allowing trace elements of non-organic substances. The argument is not over whether the non-organics pose a health threat, but whether they weaken the integrity of the federal organic label.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has pledged to protect the label, even as he acknowledged the pressure to lower standards to let more products in.

In response to complaints, the USDA inspector general's office has widened an investigation of whether products carrying the label meet national standards. The probe is also looking into the department's oversight of private certifiers who are hired by farmers and food producers and inspect products to determine whether they can use the label.

Some consumer groups and members of Congress say they worry that the program's lax standards are undermining the federal program and the law itself.

"It will unravel everything we've done if the standards can no longer be trusted," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who sponsored the federal organics legislation. "If we don't protect the brand, the organic label, the program is finished. It could disappear overnight."

Organic advocates and food marketing experts said the introduction this month of new "natural" products by an organics division of Dean Foods is the latest sign that the value of the USDA label has eroded. The yogurt and milk products will be distributed under the Horizon label and marketed as a lower-priced alternative to organic products.

Congress adopted the organics law after farmers and consumers demanded uniform standards for produce, dairy and meat. The law banned synthetics, pesticides and genetic engineering from foods that would bear a federal organic label. It also required annual testing for pesticides. And it was aimed at preventing producers from falsely claiming their foods were organic.

Corporate firepower
The USDA created the National Organic Program in 2002 to implement the law. By then, major food companies had bought up most small, independent organic companies. Kraft Foods, for example, owns Boca Foods. Kellogg owns Morningstar Farms, and Coca-Cola owns 40 percent of Honest Tea, maker of the organic beverage favored by President Obama.

That corporate firepower has added to pressure on the government to expand the definition of what is organic, in part because processed foods offered by big industry often require ingredients, additives or processing agents that either do not exist in organic form or are not available in large enough quantities for mass production.

Under the original organics law, 5 percent of a USDA-certified organic product can consist of non-organic substances, provided they are approved by the National Organic Standards Board. That list has grown from 77 to 245 substances since it was created in 2002. Companies must appeal to the board every five years to keep a substance on the list, explaining why an organic alternative has not been found. The goal was to shrink the list over time, but only one item has been removed so far.

The original law's mandate for annual pesticide testing was also never implemented — the agency left that optional.

From the beginning, farmers and consumer advocates were concerned about safeguarding the organic label. In 2003, Arthur Harvey, who grows organic blueberries in Maine, successfully sued the USDA, arguing that the fledgling National Organic Program had violated federal law by allowing synthetic additives.

"The big boys like Kraft realized they could really cash in by filling the shelves with products with the organics seal," Harvey said. "But they were sort of inhibited by the original law that said no synthetic ingredients."

His victory was short-lived. The Organic Trade Association, which represents corporations such as Kraft, Dole and Dean Foods, lobbied for and received language in a 2006 appropriations bill allowing certain synthetic food substances in the preparation, processing and packaging of organic foods, creating conditions for a flood of processed organic foods.

Tom Harding, a Pennsylvania-based consultant for small local farmers and big producers, including Kraft, said that broadening the law has helped meet demand by multiplying the number of organic products and greatly expanded the amount of agricultural land that is being managed organically.

"We don't want to eliminate anyone who wants to be a part of the organic community," Harding said. "The growth we've seen has helped the entire organic food chain."

Today, labels on organic infant formula boast that they include DHA and ARA, synthetic fatty acids that some studies suggest can help neural development. But according to agency records, when the issue came before the USDA in 2006, agency staff members concluded that the fatty acids could not be added to organic baby formula because they are synthetics that are not on the standards board's approved list.

The fatty acids in formula are often produced using a potential neurotoxin known as hexane, prompting many organics advocates to conclude that the board would not approve their use if it took up the matter.

In a rare move, Barbara Robinson, who administers the organics program and is a deputy USDA administrator, overruled the staff decision after a telephone call and an e-mail exchange with William J. Friedman, a lawyer who represents the formula makers.

Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement | your ad here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I called [Robinson] up," Friedman said. "I wrote an e-mail. It was a simple matter." The back-and-forth, he said, was nothing more than part of the routine process that sets policy in Washington.

In an interview, Robinson said she agreed with Friedman's argument that fatty acids were not permitted because of an oversight. Vitamins and minerals are allowed, but "accessory nutrients" — the category that describes fatty acids — are not specifically named.

As for hexane, Robinson said the law bans its use in processing organic food, but she does not believe the ban extends to the processing of synthetic additives.

"We don't attempt to say how synthetic products can be produced," she said.

Manufacturers say the fatty acids are safe and provide health benefits to infants.

"We test every lot that comes out for hexane, and there is no residue," said David Abramson, president of Maryland-based Martek Biosciences, which produces the fatty acids used by formula companies.

'Illegal rulemaking'
Several groups have filed complaints with the USDA saying they think that the inclusion of the fatty acids in organic products violates federal rules and laws. And they say that Robinson did not have the authority to make the decision on her own.

"This is illegal rulemaking — a complete violation of the process that is supposed to protect the public," said Gary Cox, a lawyer with the Cornucopia Institute, an organics advocacy group.

Cox and others make the same argument about other decisions by Robinson and several members of her staff.

In 2004, Robinson issued a directive allowing farmers and certifiers to use pesticides on organic crops if "after a reasonable effort" they could not determine whether the pesticide contained chemicals prohibited by the organics law.

The same year, Robinson determined that farmers could feed organic livestock non-organic fish meal, which can contain mercury and PCBs. The law requires that animals that produce organic meat be raised entirely on organic feed.

After sharp protests from Leahy, Consumers Union and other groups, Ann Veneman, then agriculture secretary, rescinded these and two other directives issued by Robinson.

The orders were signed by a staff member, but Robinson took responsibility, saying she had made the decisions unwisely without consulting organics experts, certifiers or the standards board.

"I failed, and take this as a learning experience and do not want it to happen again," she told board members in 2004.

Directives
Earlier this year, however, Robinson issued a series of directives without consulting experts, certifiers or the board. She said that because the issues were urgent, including one on food safety, she had to act quickly.

In an interview, Robinson said she believes the federal program's main purpose is to "grow the industry," and she dismissed controversies over synthetics in organic foods as "mostly ridiculous."

Joe Smillie, a board member, said he thinks that advocates for the most restrictive standards are unrealistic and are inhibiting the growth of organics.

"People are really hung up on regulations," said Smillie, who is also vice president of the certifying firm Quality Assurance International, which is involved in certifying 65 percent of organic products found on supermarket shelves. "I say, 'Let's find a way to bend that one, because it's not important.' . . . What are we selling? Are we selling health food? No. Consumers, they expect organic food to be growing in a greenhouse on Pluto. Hello? We live in a polluted world. It isn't pure. We are doing the best we can."

Under Robinson, the National Organic Program has repeatedly opted not to issue standards spelling out how organic food must be grown, treated or produced. In 65 instances since 2002, the standards board has made recommendations that have not been acted upon, creating a haphazard system in which the private certifiers have set their own standards for what products can carry the federal label.

The agency has not acted, for example, on a 2002 board recommendation that would answer a critical question for organic dairy farmers: how to interpret the law requiring that their cows have "access to pasture," rather than be crowded onto feedlots. The result has been that some dairy farms have been selling milk as organic from cows that spend little if any time grazing in open spaces.

"This is really a case of 'justice delayed is justice denied,' " said Alexis Baden-Mayer, national political director for the Organic Consumers Association. "The truly organic dairy farmers, who have their cows out in the pasture all year round, are at a huge competitive disadvantage compared to the big confinement dairies."

Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement | your ad here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robinson has blamed the delays on the program's small staff, saying that "we have to prioritize."

Without specific standards, the wide discretion given to certifiers has invited producers and farmers to shop around for the certifiers most likely to approve their product, consumer groups say.

Liquid fertilizers
Sam Welsch, president of the Nebraska-based OneCert, said his company this year has lost as many as a dozen fruit and vegetable farmers seeking other certifiers that allow the use of certain liquid fertilizers, which most organics experts believe are prohibited by organics laws because they are unnaturally spiked with high levels of nitrogen.

"The rules should be clear enough that there is just one right answer," Welsch said.

Consumer groups and organics advocates are hopeful that the Obama administration will bolster the program. In his proposed budget, the president has doubled resources devoted to organics and installed USDA leaders who support change.

Vilsack's deputy, organics expert Kathleen A. Merrigan, told consumer groups three weeks ago that she intends to heighten enforcement. Merrigan helped write the original organics law and get the federal program off the ground in 2002.

And Vilsack said he wants to protect the organic label. "That term, 'organic,' needs to be pure," he said in an interview. "You can't allow the definition to be eroded to where it means nothing. . . . We have to fight against that kind of pressure."

Still, at the standards board's meeting last month, Chairman Jeff Moyer noted the growing tension. "As the organic industry matures, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find a balance between the integrity of the word 'organic' and the desire for the industry to grow."

In Love and Light

Naveen Das

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

Buttercrunch lettuce

2009-07-03T04:21:53Z

I bought some buttercrunch starts on a whim this spring. They were from a small local garden shop and didn't specify if they were hybrid or OP. Can I save the seeds and sprout something remotely similar to the parent?

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

White powdery fungus on cucumber leaves

2009-06-29T16:26:20Z

Does anyone know what this is and what I can do about them? I am assuming it is a fungus. Would neem work?

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

Scary

2009-06-28T23:22:29Z

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/Nutrient-Decline-Industrial-Farming.aspx

We all know that organically grown heirloom veggies and fruits are more nutritious, but here's an article that gives specific numbers from a scientific study. No wonder Americans overeat, we're not getting what our bodies need.

posted in Grow Organic! - 22 replies

its Strawberry time

2009-06-28T00:47:38Z

this is one of the best harvest i particapate in.,i see strawberrys in the store and know it will still be a month or two before we have the real deal--not the store bought cardboard tasting lookalikes..,my berries are starting to hang--still weeks away--vanilla icecream+fresh whipped cream+strawberrys till i pop~~~

posted in Grow Organic! - 18 replies

Any good websites?

2009-06-27T02:06:48Z

I want to plant my first garden, but would like a website in which I can register, be a member, and learn what and when to grow? I want to start soon, but I think I missed the major time to start planting. I'm in So Cal, is there anything I can still plant right now?

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

Pimentos

2009-06-25T02:29:04Z

This year I planted a few pimento plants just to see if they'd survive here. The plants are producing nicely, the fruits are large but still green. Any suggestions on how to put them up? Canning, freezing?

posted in Grow Organic! - 8 replies

Safe Vegetable Spray

2009-06-22T09:37:35Z

Where could I get some stuff to protect my veggies without making them toxic? I know there are things out there, but haven't found anything yet.

posted in Grow Organic! - 16 replies

OT: A Green Ribbon Campaign. .

2009-06-20T18:38:34Z

It is official. . .I am launching a green ribbon campaign to provide support for the people of Iran. They have chosen green as the symbol of their struggle for democracy and justice.

Here's what I am doing. . .

I am putting ribbons on light poles etc on the street, and I am urging people to wear a green ribbon.

I am taking spools of ribbon to some local businesses that are owned by people from Iran and telling them what I am doing. Also, I will be writing letters to the mayors of Arizona cities asking that they have a green ribbon ceremony at city hall or at least tie their own green ribbon on the street lights near city hall. .

I will also look for Iranian student groups next week to discuss the green ribbon campaign with them, and I am going to network with green party locals in my area, and on the internet.

Small gesture perhaps, but at least something to provide moral support. .

If you support this idea, find your local fabric store and pick up a spool of green ribbon. You can pin it to your shirt and tie it to your car's antenna, and tie it around the street light on the corner. .

And it wouldn't hurt to tell your friends and even write to your city's major.

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

natural springs in/near massachusetts?

2009-06-17T03:39:50Z

so i just finished watching Daniel Vitalis presentation on natural spring water and am now interested in finding a spring near me where i can bottle my own spring water.

Anyone know of any springs in the Massachusetts area? or NH perhaps?

i'm near cambridge mass.

posted in Grow Organic! - 2 replies

Environmental Working Group Site

2009-06-17T00:52:49Z

A holistic newsletter I read provided this link. It includes information about farming, gardening and more...

http://www.ewg.org/

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

Solstice

2009-06-15T17:07:09Z

We are in the thick of it now--are you busy.,ha-ha.,this is the time we dream about and look back on as the good old days-those days arent over.,Celabrate our lives and the energy we put into our plants and the power of Green.,.,my favorite color.,and the long days.,gives us time to live outdoors and become the energizers we are.,creators of energy.,beings of light.,Spirit incarnate.,i send my love on the four winds to all the gardens~gardeners of the world--PeaceByourS--Happy Solstice~

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

~wheres the Bees~

2009-06-15T17:03:29Z

hello tribers.,this is something that distresses me.,and you should be concerned about.,.,the pollinators are dissapearing.,.,the honey bees are vanishing.,butterflys are getting rare.,theres dead zones popping up .,just like our oceons.,.,ive noticed this here.,and others ive been in contact with.,especially the gulf coast.,could it be the analog signal or harp,whatevers causing this we better find out and do something now-- on we grow--

posted in Grow Organic! - 7 replies

Favorite Seed Catalogs

2009-06-14T19:50:40Z

Here are a couple of my favorites. What are yours?

Pinetree Seeds specializes in very small packages of a wide variety of veggies and flowers.
http://www.superseeds.com/

Wild Garden Seeds specializes in greens and lettuces. Great ccompany.
http://www.wildgardenseed.com/index.php

posted in Grow Organic! - 16 replies

Anyone in the Sacramento area interested in raising/Gardening already planted vegetables and fruits?

2009-06-13T16:47:14Z

Gardeners! If you are interested in taking part in the care of an already planted vegetable and fruit garden in Fair Oaks, Ca, please contact me! I installed a garden for a client and would like to see others discover the garden and nurture it with her. It is too big for one person! She is open to a community effort on the 1/4 acre of land. It rests up against the American River Parkway and is surrounded by oak trees. I must give away my responsibilities to others who are interested. There are more gardens to start near and far, and I cannot spend as much time at this garden anymore. If anyone is interested in this or gardening and permaculture in general and want to talk/network, I am open to that and eager to meet others.

Thanks!
Adrian

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Brussel Sprouts

2009-06-04T18:20:16Z

Brussels Sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables, I go through pounds and pounds of them every fall, and have grown them before successfully. This year, I had a large bed entirely devoted to brussel sprouts, in order to feed my cravings. I seeded it about a month ago, and, it has become abundantly clear that not a single seed has germinated. I'm pretty pissed, because I started almost everything else in my garden from seed, and everything else come up fine and thrived, including some red cabbages, so I know that it was the seeds, not the garden.

i was wondering if any of you know if it's not to late to try seeding brussel sprouts again. I know they take a long time, but I think I still have enough time left in the season here. I live in the pacific northwest, so they should be able to really grow well into fall. the only starts I've seen are already lanky and bolting, so no hope there. Should I by some better seeds and try again, or give up, plant some more carrots, and turn to the local farmer's market?

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

Raspberry hedge?

2009-06-04T16:46:44Z

I am moderately fond of other people's children. But my next door neighbors have a couple of monsters I just can't negotiate with. I've tried for 3 years to get along with them but I'm out of patience.

I'd like to put a fence across the back of my yard and grow big thorny raspberries on it to keep the hoodlums out. How much support will they need? Any suggestions on an extremely thorny variety. The ones I have now are Brandywine.

posted in Grow Organic! - 18 replies

Large container gardening and heirloom tomatoes

2009-06-04T06:12:44Z

I have planted 28 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, my first adventure with heirlooms and my first gardening effort in many a moon. I will plant many in the garden, but would like to plant some in 21-gallon rubbermaid containers fashioned like an EarthTainer (see here: http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ ).

For my seedlings (in 4-inch pots), I used Organic Choice Potting Mix (by Miracle Gro). For the 21-gallon containers, I was planning to use Organic Choice Garden Soil and my native flood plain soil (fine sandy-silty) in a 1:1 ratio. But now I see the giant red circle/slash on the back that says "NOT FOR CONTAINERS." I had noticed at the store that it said it was for in-ground vegetables, but I really thought that this was just a corporate marketing strategy to force me to buy more of the $8 potting mix (the garden soil was $4), at effectively four times the cost.

I ran out of Potting Mix for seed starting, and did a few pots with 2:1 Garden Soil to native soil, and the soil surface molded. They were in clear plastic boxes with lids partially ajar, so the humidity in there was high. The seeds sprouted just fine, and have been relocated into fresh air and sunshine. I also repotted a few of the seedlings that were originally in pure Potting Mix into 1-gallon pots, using a 1:1 ratio of Garden Soil to native soil, with a little bat poop. So far they seem fine. The surface hasn't molded (little humidity here in AZ), and the seedlings are thriving. The question: can I go ahead and use the Garden Soil /native soil combo to do my large container gardening? I can't afford to shell out $8/bag for all the bags of potting mix that I would need for these jumbo containers! But I also don't want to endanger my plants. Needing your experienced advice...thanks!

posted in Grow Organic! - 19 replies

Blueberries

2009-06-01T17:09:48Z

I know Southern California isn't really the place where they would typically grow best but we have a couple of plants. Recently the leaves have begun to get reddish at the tips and then this spreads. Does anyone know if this means they are getting too much sunlight or not enough water or could there be some other issue? The fruit seems unaffected so far.

posted in Grow Organic! - 9 replies

What causes tomatoes to split?

2009-05-29T00:17:11Z

I just picked my first couple of tomatoes this year from a new hybrid variety I'm growing called 'Better Boy'. I have it growing in an area of the garden that only gets direct sunlight from about 8am till noon, I keep it well watered and the soil is a combination of 1/3 native soil, 1/3 compost and 1/3 organic miracle grow soil. One of them had a healed split down the side and I am just wondering what causes that to happen and what can I do, if anything to prevent it? -Freya

posted in Grow Organic! - 6 replies

Ants

2009-05-25T21:39:38Z

Anyone have any idea how to rid the garden of ants ? They are eating the root crops !

posted in Grow Organic! - 13 replies

favorite gardening books?

2009-05-25T20:15:04Z

This is one of my favorite gardening books "The New Seed Starters Handbook" by Nancy Bubel. http://www.amazon.com/New-Seed-Starters-Handbook/dp/0878577521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240957279&sr=8-1

I've learned alot on how to grow a variety of seeds and proper seed starting & saving techniques.

What are some of your favorite books that you reference back to?

posted in Grow Organic! - 10 replies

Asparugas

2009-05-18T20:27:18Z

on our farm the first of the harvest is asparugas i planted 4-5 years ago.,some green giant.,and purple giant--my favorite--And its just starting up now.,the harvest has begun---lettuce begin--Chomp-Chomp

posted in Grow Organic! - 9 replies

OT: Funny comments about organic gardening. .

2009-05-18T04:32:38Z

from comedy central

http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/05/15/sam-bee-organic-gardens-lead-to-teen-ass-play/

posted in Grow Organic! - 3 replies

OT: Biological Controls Wiping Out Fire Ants!!

2009-05-17T21:07:37Z

turns them into zombies and then they die!! can't wait for the motion picture. .

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-zombie-fire-ants,0,2408028.story

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

Uses for old trash cans

2009-05-13T02:36:05Z

Not sure if this belongs in a organic gardening tribe, but what the hey.

My town is switching over to the kind of trash truck that lifts the special trash can up and dumps it in the top. I don't generate a lot of trash, but I do have 2 Rubbermaid cans the previous owners left behind.

Now that I have this shiny new blue can, anyone have ideas for what to do with the old ones? I'm not sure they are sturdy enough to use as rain barrels.

posted in Grow Organic! - 10 replies

Food First Article on Organic Ag in Cuba. .

2009-05-07T18:00:53Z

quite a good read. . .and very heartening. .

http://www.foodfirst.org/archive/media/news/2002/susagcasestudy.html

posted in Grow Organic! - 8 replies

watering solutions

2009-05-03T15:49:35Z

This is one of the many projects I have not had the time or money too explore but really need to. We grow everything in raised beds (not in rows) and I need to come up with a system that will water the whole bed evenly and efficiently. Right now as a patch we are using sprinkler hoses but they are a pain. Suggestions? I'm leaning toward a rain drip system with the little stake sprinklers on a timer. The raised beds are mostly in a row but by the time they are all built there will be 16 to 20 in about 3 different spots on the property.
Does anyone have much experience with soaker hoses? How much area do they cover and how evenly?
Thanks in advance -
Marial

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

garlic troubles

2009-05-03T15:36:38Z

I've never tried growing garlic myself, but a friend of mine has had some difficulties.

He lives in Iowa, he plants the bulbs in the fall like you're supposed to, but he only gets clusters of growth and not a full garlic head.

I don't know what he's talking about but said I'd help him find an answer. Anyone know what's going on with this?

Thanks,
Lynn

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

heirloom marigolds?

2009-05-01T15:25:14Z

does anyone know of a source for non hybridized marigolds?

the old varieties were said to be an excellent deterrent to insects, but the modern varieties have been hybridized and diluted.

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

growing indoors?

2009-04-28T01:00:33Z

i live in a tiny one bedroom apartment that has about 8 square feet of arable land outside of it... anybody know anything that would do well in that kind of a space? or is there anything that would survive inside of my apartment (which doesn't get direct sunlight)?

i would like to be able to at least supplement my diet with something grown by my own hands- but i don't know where to start under such restrictions.

thanks

posted in Grow Organic! - 11 replies

Walking through the solution

2009-04-27T22:18:44Z

Hey group,
A bit of shameless back patting about to happen...

3 years ago I chose to take a stand and be responsible for creating a strong solution to climate change that anyone could follow.Also to demystify the web of green options each person has in front of them.

It became a software application that took every known source on going green I could find and summarize it into one place. During this research I also did the math needed, so every action has a specific savings in $ and CO2.
Knowing that the average person does not have the same amount of time to educate themselves...I created an online assessment that would give the program clarity into each persons unique options and give a day by day coaching plan on how to green their lifestyle.
No matter where you are starting from...skinny or huge footprint.
I have just finished and launched yesterday.
I am going to market the complete program for $29 and give $15 of that to a non-profit also needing money to further their own Global Warming solutions. It took some time to build those partnerships but they are good and solid programs.
Here is a bit more information and the URL
Please support this effort and spread it out to your connections( if you find it useful)
This has been a labor of love and I hope you find it useful.

PS. I have a certain number of "free" memberships I can give if you need it just email me through the website or here on Tribe.
PPS . WE DO NOT SELL ANY PRODUCTS

Going Green Today is an in-depth online program that looks at your lifestyle and creates simple green living options just for you. We give you an easy-to-follow action plan that walks you through reducing your carbon footprint by at least 35% and helping you to save $2000 this year.
visit us at
www.goinggreentoday.com

posted in Grow Organic! - 5 replies

Want to be a superhuman? Here

2009-04-27T12:16:13Z

This is some seriously interesting stuff!
Read my article to find out the secret:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7213-LA-Raw-Food-Examiner~y2009m4d11-Want-to-be-a-superhuman-Heres-how

posted in Grow Organic! - 22 replies

Bamboo

2009-04-22T17:18:56Z

Has anyone had experience growing Japanese bamboo or other Bamboo in underground containers ( to keep them in check)?

I've been working on an interesting project to grow a forest of Bamboo, one acre by one acre for developmental resourcing. I understand that there are around 1000 species of Bamboo and that it can be extremely invasive. I'm interested in finding ways to use counter-invasive techniques as a means to develop a forest that can be maintained.

I've been working with bamboo in Thailand for the past 5 months, which grows nearly a foot overnight in a zone 4. I'm interested in working in a zone 2 with both a seasonal bamboo and a regional zone 4 bamboo in a zone 2 area in the states.

Any suggestions?

posted in Grow Organic! - 13 replies

Master Gardeners

2009-04-15T02:59:10Z

I'm just wrapping up my Wisconsin Master Gardener course, so awesome, and was wondering how many folks on here are Master Gardeners - been through their extension program's course? It seems a great community of gardening/ladscaping knowledge and fun. Anyone care to share their experiences? I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about the program before!

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

Cabbages and Cauliflowers

2009-04-14T02:16:04Z

Could anyone give me some info on growing cabbages and cauliflower'
My garden gets roughly/mostly mid-day to evening sunlight'
We have been digging in horse muck and shredded straw and some compost'
Is this sufficient to give big plants'
We grew lots of peas and beans last year' would the soil be sufficient to support cabbage and cauli'
Also has anyone got any tips for to stay ontop of the foracious eaters' snails'
They dessimated most of my lettuce and young sugar peas last year' I would like to be armed so to speak this year'

Thank you in advance'

Blessings'

Nobuoni +

posted in Grow Organic! - 7 replies

This Week on The New American Dream

2009-04-13T22:58:52Z

http://www.newamericandream.net/index.html

The New American Dream
... well ... because we're dreaming of Dick Cheney and George Bush in a big black car limousine motorcade with those little American flags on the front quarter panels on their way to prison

... we're dreaming of a USA truth commission and Cub Scout tours of the "secret" FBI and CIA

and some other stuff

This Week's Feature Interviews:

Monday - Timbre Wolf, a musician who moved from Tulsa to Hawaii

Tuesday - Al Markovitz, of Norfolk, Virginia, the Tulsa of the east coast, editor of the Blue Collar Review, "journal of working class literature"

Wednesday - Aimee England, the mayor of Tulsa — no, actually, Aimee lives in Michigan and spent over twenty years working in an independent, radical bookstore

Thursday - Lee Rayburn, radio show host, formerly of Air American Radio and also Madison, Wisconsin. [never been to Tulsa.]

Friday - Bartcop, of Bartcop.com, from where else? Tulsa.

Columns:
Steve Clemens of the Twin Cities
Lydia Sems from Atlanta

Poetry:
More from Ava Bird of Berkeley

and some other stuff

Thank you.

The Dream Team
http://www.newamericandream.net/index.html

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

cold frames and mini greenhouses

2009-04-13T18:14:56Z

i've seen a model for the simple frame of wood and PVC bows with plastic stapled over the top. Does anyone have any other ideas for small, portable mini greenhouses to use for starting seeds right now? I rent an apartment with a large yard, and my landlord has been very accommodating and let me take over the garden beds. He wouldn't mind if i put in shrubs or added to the gardens, but i don't think he wants me to kill the grass by placing greenhouse things around the yard. My veggie garden bed is very small and gets poor sunlight this time of year so i'm wanting to set the greenhouse up on the other side of the yard in full sun. My idea is to make something easy enough to transport that i can move it to different locations to avoid messing up the grass. But then all the seed trays underneath will also have to be moved...so it's getting complicated. I was wondering if anyone has done something like this and can suggest an idea to keep it simple. Also, what type of plastic works best for this?

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

looking for farm apprentice

2009-04-11T12:36:31Z

hello im looking for a farm apprentice/ worker who is in interested in learning to grow organic vegetables and wild craft herbs. i run small farm in brooklin , me. i have housing and at least one meal a day. if you are interested please contact me at localsurfer1979@yahoo.com. thank you .

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

I have a new enemy

2009-04-11T05:19:37Z

And I don't know what it is! Well, it's a plant of some sort. Appears to be a vine. My old enemy was bermuda grass. I finally got a handle on that at our old property - where it was EVERYWHERE and learned the best ways to eradicate it. Our new property has a small bit of bermuda grass, which is totally manageable. This new weed is MUCH worse and everywhere, including our garden beds. It's a very tender, lush vine with simple smooth leaves that are about 3/4" wide and 1" long. They are bright green. I'll see if I can take a picture when I get home tonight. It hasn't started blooming yet and it dies back in the winter.

When you try to pull it, the stem snaps off very easily. If you leave any little bit it will grow from that and it appears to be a lot more aggressive than the bermuda grass. I've tried digging it up and most of it is really deep, up to a foot down and it's usually just a small piece of it that it's sprouting from. Now here's the kicker. I try to be as organic as possible, but this vine is making me nuts. I tried heavy mulching, which only slowed it down for about a week. I've tried digging it up, but it's just too prolific. Seriously, you remove one and two more pop up. I tried vinegar - nothing. I even resorted to trying a non-organic weed killer. Guess what? It didn't kill it! The leaves got a few small brown spots on them, but 2 weeks later and it's still growing out of control.

The strange thing is that my neighbors don't have it so I wonder if the previous owners brought it in. I'm in the SF Bay Area. I'd like to find an organic method of getting rid of it.

posted in Grow Organic! - 16 replies

Seed Exchange

2009-04-09T15:59:34Z

http://www.uga.edu/ebl/ssl/activities/seedswap/

Saturday April 18th

posted in Grow Organic! - 0 replies

seeds of change

2009-04-09T15:04:15Z

have to say i really really like this company.
they almost always send you a free pack of seeds, and i guess they keep record, they always send what i will use and love. have never had a problem. love it.

posted in Grow Organic! - 30 replies

Soil Amendment

2009-04-08T18:48:40Z

I've finally conceeded defeat, I can't win against the Bermuda Grass. So I'm taking the advice of a good friend and I'm putting in new raised beds with a weed barrier underneath. I have a good source of clean topsoil but I'm sure its pretty dead.
I have compost, organic humus and composted manure set aside for this project. What other things can I add to the beds to bring them to life?

posted in Grow Organic! - 15 replies

Codex Alimentarius the real threat to world health

2009-04-07T22:12:53Z

Codex Alimentarius the real threat to world health

In January 2010' they shall attempt to take all our plants away from us' all herbs' vitamins and minerals are to be listed as prescription only medications'
That means no more online companies selling entheogenic plants' becasue even herbs the likes of garlic and vitamins the likes of Vit C shall be regulated and only available for purchase through government outlets'
This is against the constitutional rights of all peoples of earth'

Read on' standup and be counted' do something about this atrocicity'

More and more people are becoming concerned about the shady, secretive organization that is Codex Alimentarius - the thinly-veiled propaganda arm of the international pharmaceutical industry that does everything it can to promote industry objectives whilst limiting individual options to maintain health (which would diminish members profits).

Codex alimentarius is one of the major bodies behind the effort to limit access to nutritional products and information. Its motivation is not rocket science and neither is the source of its funding - money that somehow expected to return a profit to its members . . . Most of the information available regarding codex alimentarius refers to its role in the USA, but it is not a US-specific body. Far from it, Codex has wiggled its dirty little tentacles into just about every national or international body concerned with public health. Posing as a benefactor, it then uses its significant financial and political clout to do its masters bidding.

As you can read in the excellent article below, there is much to be concerned about when considering codex alimentarius - ignore it at your peril.

Codex Alimentarius - The Sinister Truth Behind Operation Cure-All
(From an original article by Ruth James)

What's really behind Operation Cure-All? Is it just the FDA and FTC taking their power too far? Or is there a deeper, more sinister purpose to this campaign? Who are Codex Alimentarius?

How could a country that prides itself in its freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and freedom of information be facing such severe restrictions in health freedom and dietary supplements? Haven't the people made their will known? Didn't our government pass the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act of 1994 to insure our right to health supplements?

Indeed, our government did. But the FDA and FTC have found ways to get around that. The laws put in place to protect us are being ignored. And what's worse is that those laws are about to be superseded, if the powers that be have their way.

OPERATION CURE ALL IS JUST ONE MEANS TO AN END
You see, Operation Cure-All is just a tactic, a vehicle, in a much bigger overall plan. It is a result of "Codex Alimentarius" (meaning food code) -- a set of regulations that aim to outlaw any health information in connection with vitamins and limit free access to natural therapies on a worldwide scale.

WHAT'S BEHIND CODEX ALMENTARIUS?
Behind the Codex Alimentarius Commission is the United Nations and the World Health Organization working in conjunction with the multinational pharmaceutical cartel and international banks. Its initial efforts in the US with the FDA were defeated, so it found another ally in the FTC. Now Codex, with the FTC and the pharmaceutical cartel behind it, it threatens to become a trade issue, using the campaign of Operation Cure-All to advance its goals.

Codex began simply enough when the U.N. authorized the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization to develop a universal food code. Their purpose was to 'harmonize' regulations for dietary supplements worldwide and set international safety standards for the purposes of increased trade. Pharmaceutical interests stepped in and began exerting their influence. Instead of focusing on food safety, Codex is using its power to promote worldwide restrictions on vitamins and food supplements, severely limiting their availability and dosages.

REAL GOALS OF CODEX
This is to bring about international 'harmonization.' While global harmony sounds benign, is that the real purpose of this plan? While the stated goal of Codex is to establish unilateral regulations for dietary supplements in every country, the actual goal is to outlaw health products and information on vitamins and dietary supplements, except those under their direct control. These regulations would supersede United States domestic laws without the American people's voice or vote in the matter.

HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE?
Americans gasp at the thought. It goes against everything America stands for. Many believe this can't be possible. The truth is, it's not only possible, it's required by the Codex Alimentarius agreement.
In fact, under the terms of the Uruguay Round of GATT, which created the World Trade Organization, the United States agreed to harmonize its domestic laws to the international standards. This includes standards for dietary supplements being developed by the United Nation's Codex Alimentarius Commission's Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Use.

The Uruguay Round Agreements carry explicit language clearly indicating that the U.S. must harmonize to international standards:

"Members are fully responsible under this Agreement for the observance of all provisions.... members shall formulate and implement positive measures and mechanisms in support of the observance of the provisions.... by other than central government bodies." [WTO TBT Agreement at Article 3.5]"

In other words, the federal government must NOT ONLY CHANGE FEDERAL LAW, but must ALSO require state and local governments to change their laws as well to be in accordance with international law.

Not only that, but Codex Alimentarius is now enforceable through the World Trade Organization (WTO). If a country disagrees with or refuses to follow Codex standards, the WTO applies pressure by withdrawing trade privileges and imposing crippling trade sanctions. Congress has already bowed to this pressure several times and so have the governments of many countries.

While the exemption clause (USC 3512(a)(1) and (a)(2) was created to supposedly protect our laws from harmonization to international standards, it has proven to be totally ineffective. The United States has already lost seven trade disputes despite the exemption clause. Due to the enormous pressures put on them by lobbyists from multinational corporations (who contribute millions to congressional campaigns), Congress bowed to pressure and changed U.S. laws.

It appears our government (as well as al others) is being manipulated one way or another to serve the goals of the UN, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. Food control equals people control -- and population control. Is this beginning to sound like world government and one-world order? Could this be the real goal behind Codex Alimentarius?

The United States, Canada, the Europeans, Japan, most of Asia, and South America have already signed agreements pledging total harmonization of their laws including food and drug laws to these international standards in the future.

WHAT CODEX WILL BRING
What can we expect under Codex? To give you an idea, here are some important points:

* Dietary supplements could not be sold for preventive (prophylactic) or therapeutic use.
* Potencies would be limited to extremely low dosages. Only the drug companies and the big phytopharmaceutical companies would have the right to produce and sell the higher potency products (at inflated prices).
* Prescriptions would be required for anything above the extremely low doses allowed (such as 35 mg. on niacin).
* Common foods such as garlic and peppermint would be classified as drugs or a third category (neither food nor drugs) that only big pharmaceutical companies could regulate and sell. Any food with any therapeutic effect can be considered a drug, even benign everyday substances like water.
* Codex regulations for dietary supplements would become binding (escape clauses would be eliminated).
* All new dietary supplements would be banned unless they go through Codex testing and approval.
* Genetically altered food would be sold worldwide without labeling.

According to John Hammell, a legislative advocate and the founder of International Advocates for Health Freedom (IAHF), here is what we have to look forward to:

"If Codex Alimentarius has its way, then herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, amino acids and other natural remedies you have taken for granted most of your life will be gone. The name of the game for Codex Alimentarius is to shift all remedies into the prescription category so they can be controlled exclusively by the medical monopoly and its bosses, the major pharmaceutical firms. Predictably, this scenario has been denied by both the Canadian Health Food Association and the Health Protection Branch of Canada (HPB).

The Codex Alimentarius proposals already exist as law in Norway and Germany where the entire health food industry has literally been taken over by the drug companies. In these countries, vitamin C above 200 mg is illegal as is vitamin E above 45 IU, vitamin B1 over 2.4 mg and so on. Shering-Plough, the Norway pharmaceutical giant, now controls an Echinacea tincture, which is being sold there as an over the counter drug at grossly inflated prices. The same is true of ginkgo and many other herbs, and only one government controlled pharmacy has the right to import supplements as medicines which they can sell to health food stores, convenience stores or pharmacies."

It is now a criminal offence in parts of Europe to sell herbs as foods. An agreement called EEC6565 equates selling herbs as foods to selling other illegal drugs. Action is being taken to accelerate other European countries into 'harmonization' as well.

Paul Hellyer in his book, "The Evil Empire," states: "Codex Alimentarius is supported by international banks and multinational corporations including some in Canada, and is in reality a bill of rights for these banks and the corporations they control. It will hand over our sovereign rights concerning who may or may not invest in our countries to an unelected world organization run by big business. The treaty would make it impossible for Canadian legislators either federal or provincial to alter or improve environmental standards for fear of being sued by multinational corporations whether operating in Canada or not.

This will create a world without borders ruled by a virtual dictatorship of the world's most powerful central banks and multinational companies. This world is an absolute certainty if we all sit on our hands and do nothing."

This is the future the FDA and FTC are striving to bring us via Codex harmonization. Is this a future we are going to willingly accept or prevent?

WHY TARGET THE INTERNET?
It is no accident that the FDA and FTC are targeting Internet health sites through Operation Cure-All. We are standing in the doorway of an unprecedented revolution -- the information revolution brought about by the Internet.

Now all people everywhere have the ability to learn about anything that interests them with just a few clicks. History has shown that informed, educated people change civilizations -- they change the flow of thought and they change the flow of money. They can even change the direction of a country. When similar transitions have happened in the past, the powers that existed did not give up willingly. The Catholic Church fiercely protected its practice of selling 'indulgences' as a forgiveness of sin. When the practice was abolished, the Catholic Church lost a great deal of power and money.

When the printing press was invented, books were banned and printers were imprisoned by the authorities, who feared an educated public could not be governed. In the same way, the medical monopoly (and the UN) now fears that a public educated in health and privy to the shortcomings of modern medicine could not be controlled. Loss of control means loss of revenue and loss of power. And they are doing everything they can to stop progress so they can contain their losses and strengthen their power.

The printing press changed the world. Can you imagine what life would be like today if the book banners had their way? But because the printing press won out, society progressed and freedom was embraced. The Internet is changing the world in an equally significant way. While the entire Internet can hardly be suppressed, the pharma-cartels and their backers are looking to protect their interests by restricting as much information as they can on the Internet.

Will we, the people, win out again -- or will the UN and the World Health Organization agenda and the pharmaceutical cartel change the course of history and take us back to the "dark ages" of medicine?

WHAT CAN WE DO?
Step number one is learn as much as possible about this issue. Here are some websites where you will find a great deal of information:

John Hammell's International Advocates for Health Freedom
website: www.iahf.com

"The Health Movement Against Codex Alimentarius" - article from Dr. Rath's website: www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/PHAR...m#top

'U.S. and European Leaders Agree on Principles to Harmonize Dietary Supplement Regulations: 'www.crnusa.org/shellnr112000.html

Federal Register where the FDA states its intention to harmonize with Codex standards: iahf.com/codx-fda.txt

Read, "WHOSE TRADE ORGANIZATION? Corporate Globalization and the Erosion of Democracy" by By Lori Wallach and Michelle Sforza,

Public Citizens Global Trade Watch:
www.tradewatch.org/publicat...obook.htm

Sign the petition - Click on 'Sign Health Freedom Petition:'
www.iahf.com/index2.html

Also sign the European Anti-Codex petition at: www.laleva.cc

Signing petitions is fine, but not nearly as effective as writing to your congressmen and congresswomen. Write to them insisting we hold a PROPER Oversight Hearing on Codex. An oversight hearing was held in March, but the truth was not allowed to come out. Witness who could have exposed what was going on, and who wanted to testify, were denied the opportunity to testify. Congress is strongly resisting another Codex hearing, telling their constituents it is not necessary. This could not be further from the truth.

Contact information for representatives: www.house.gov
Contact information for senators: www.senate.gov

Copyright 2001 Ruth James rjames@therealessentials.com
www.therealessentials.com

CTM Comment: Codex is of course the single most virulent assault on human freedoms in recent times. The desire to control of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nutritional factors has ironically come about as a result of the inability of orthodox medicine to destroy the practice of the public practicing health without drugs. Now government and the chemical industry will seek to control and profit from that which was available directly to the public in times gone by.

Overturning the Codex by a mass public backlash is CTM’s sworn goal. This can be accomplished only with large numbers of the public all committed to this endeavor. As the above article states, the Internet itself has been able to grant access to information freely to anyone seeking it, and this has destabilized the flow of money and profits to institutions which have traditionally believed their highly lucrative monopolies to be safe.

posted in Grow Organic! - 25 replies

chick peas

2009-04-07T16:23:09Z

Has anyone ever tried growing chick peas? I got some fresh ones in the pod from the market recently and they're incredibly delicious. I'd never seen them before and was wondering if anyone has had some experience growing them?

posted in Grow Organic! - 4 replies

Superfoods for Super People

2009-04-07T14:07:46Z

Hey Everyone

I'm helping a new superfood company get of the ground and they are doing what the others can only dream of and making the stuff affordable for the masses. Ya gotta buy bulk but its some of the tastiest and highest quality stuff I've seen. Lots of new herbs and medicinal foods .
Check it out here www.arcanerealities.com/Superfoods.html and use my code E104 Arcane in the sign up screen . we are creating a whole slew of movies about parasites , how to use the products and revolutionary ways of living
If you have any questions hit me up off the website at www.arcanerealities.com

posted in Grow Organic! - 1 reply

Grow Organic!'s topics - tribe.net

Poison Found in Canned Foods... especially Campbells.

Earth Fare

Wellcome On Dragonmill.

FOOD INc

Canadians - open-pollinated seeds sources?

homemade bone meal?

Cooking with Whole Foods

Strawberries

HELP! fall is here and i have a multitude of green tomatoes

Covering weeds

Pollination of Veggies indoors?

Oxalis

Powdery Mildew

Site for organic folks living rurally

Oh Yum!

natures promise broke it's promise

star thistle

Young Farmers Greening the Thumb. . .

fireplace ash

Non plastic freezer containers...?

harvest moon

Does anyone know about growing Quinoa in a container?

The Mouth Revolution

Organic Heirloom Tomatoes Don't Transport Well...

Legalize Hemp and Cannabis in California

Are you a mushroom lover...aka mycophile? Here are 6 ways mushrooms can save the world.

looking for people to help us create our own 'eden' self sufficient organic homestead in France

fall transplants WOOT!

Trash Can Taters

Did an Experiment This Morning. .

My seed potatoes got cookedan mice are eating my tomatoes!

Soil Testing

Gonna Grow Some Lettuce Soon. . .

Soil amendments for strawberries

BAN MIND CONTROL/ DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS TORTURE AND ABUSE

"Topsy Turvy" tomatoes - Has any one tried this?

~Harvest Moon~

Tomatillos

Meet Up Aug 8th Alabama Intentional Community

A Matter of Interest

Avocados

Potato Harvest!

Habanero Pepper Blossom Drop Help, Please!

~~time to graze~~

AC Morley Wheat

Blossom drop

My first potatoes!

Peppers and calcium?

Potato Growing Advice

Wwoofing in southern Oregon; Help!

What would you do different?

Biochar, Terra Preta and Wood Gas

Purple Jalapenos?

Seed potatoes?

Federal ‘organic’ label’s integrity under fire

Buttercrunch lettuce

White powdery fungus on cucumber leaves

Scary

its Strawberry time

Any good websites?

Pimentos

Safe Vegetable Spray

OT: A Green Ribbon Campaign. .

natural springs in/near massachusetts?

Environmental Working Group Site

~~Solstice~~

~wheres the Bees~

Favorite Seed Catalogs

Anyone in the Sacramento area interested in raising/Gardening already planted vegetables and fruits?

Brussel Sprouts

Raspberry hedge?

Large container gardening and heirloom tomatoes

Blueberries

What causes tomatoes to split?

Ants

favorite gardening books?

Asparugas

OT: Funny comments about organic gardening. .

OT: Biological Controls Wiping Out Fire Ants!!

time to graze

Solstice