California’s Proposition 37 – Right to Know

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I have been quiet to this point (on this blog at least!) about this upcoming election day and any of my own particular political views.  And goodness knows, there are  more than enough opinions about just about everything related to this election on the television, on the radio, in the newspapers, other blogs, etc., that my views have not likely been missed!

I’m not going to break silence on the upcoming presidential election – you really don’t need me to tell you how important it is for you to get out and vote – but I do feel the need to say something about California’s Proposition 37.

 

Genetically engineered plants have existed for several decades – slipping in pretty much under the radar so to speak for the vast majority of us.  When I say “genetically engineered,” I’m not talking about cross-pollinating two different varieties of tulips to get a third grander, longer blooming, more awesome one.  I’m talking about plants which have been created in laboratories by inserting gene sequences of organisms that could never have combined with the plant in nature – genes from bacteria, for example – under the auspices of the need to feed a hungry planet.

These plants had then also slipped into our food system – now to the tune of being contained in some 70% to 80% of our grocery store products – and because they were “similar” to the original plant, all without any research on long-term effects on the humans and animals now consuming them.

Laws requiring labels to reflect genetically engineered products are now in place on almost every continent – the exception being Antarctica.   Consumers are much more diligent now in reading labels before purchasing products in the grocery store, and have long been requesting labeling in this country.

Efforts to label these products so far in this country have been thwarted.  Two states have attempted GM labeling laws – and failed to enact anything of any substance to date.  This is now on the ballot in California for voters to decide.

In terms of money being spent on the campaigns for or against labeling, click here to see the amounts and sources of moneys being spent to sway the voters one way or the other in California – approximately 6.5 million dollars for labeling and 40 million against – with seemingly a great deal of misinformation being distributed.

Do we know that this food is unsafe to eat?  No, we don’t.  Do we know that it is in fact safe?  No, we don’t!

Do we deserve the right to know what is in our food?  Right now that’s for Californians to decide – with consumers in all the other states and the provinces in Canada also watching …

The following video is a rather long one – almost an hour in length.  I really encourage you to settle in with a cup of tea and watch it.

If you are as impressed by it as I am, please share it with your friends in California.

 

ADDENDUM:

Unfortunately, Proposition 37 did not pass this time around – although it was close!  While I admit I am disappointed in one sense, on the whole I’m still very optimistic.  People are reading more labels now and this proposition did not fail by much – I’m sure we will see it again before too much longer!

The video mentioned at the end of the article above has been made a private video on YouTube, and I have therefore removed it from this post to respect their wishes. 

 

A thanks for the videos from justlabelit.org and mercola.com on YouTube.

 

World Farm Animals Day

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World Farm Animals Day was created by Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) in 1983, a nonprofit group involved in both vegan education and animal advocacy.  The date for this awareness day is appropriately the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a passionate vegetarian.

According to Michelle Kretzer in an article for PETA, in one day in this country, 104,273 cows, 297,392 pigs, 702,383 turkeys, and 21,261,534 chickens will have been killed to satisfy our current eating habits.  One vegan alone saves approximately 100 animals per year.

A full article on Farm Animals Day can be found here, including a link to a video that will undoubtedly reinforce World Vegetarian Awareness Month as an excellent time to seek new recipes and further information to include more produce from our gardens in our diets.

I had intended to include a piece on keeping a few chickens for eggs if you have the space and what an enjoyable experience that was for me – and a benefit to the garden in the compost.

Even though I have never kept a chicken in a cage – or eaten any of them (they have all died natural deaths) – it still seems inappropriate after watching that video I’m afraid.  Like the herding dogs, it will have to wait for another day too.

 

A thank you for the photo from audreyjm529 at Flicker.com.

 

World Vegetarian Day and World Vegetarian Awareness Month

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October 1st was designated as World Vegetarian Day by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 in order to increase awareness of

ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.

This was later also supported by the International Vegetarian Union, and October became World Vegetarian Awareness Month.

World Vegetarian Day

While we are likely well aware of the health and environmental problems associated with a diet containing a large amount of meat, we may not feel prepared to take the plunge into a totally meatless lifestyle – or knowledgeable enough to do this safely.

This month is the perfect opportunity to gather more information on a protein-rich, balanced vegetarian diet – and to reduce or eliminate meat for a day, a week, or even the entire month at a time when the garden is still very productive.  At the very least, it’s a great reason to include even more fruits and vegetables in our diet!

Happy healthy eating!

Three Flowers for the Vegetable Garden

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Marigolds

The third week in September, this year September 16th through the 22nd,  is National Flower Week.

Although I have a few flower beds scattered around the yard and always some hanging baskets and potted plants just for the pure enjoyment of them, there are three flowers that I always plant in the vegetable garden.

 

Marigolds

Marigolds help to repel a number of unwanted insects from the garden, including tomato hornworm, whiteflies, squash bugs, and Mexican bean beetles.

They also produce a substance which is toxic to some nematodes – tiny little worm-like creatures in your soil that can wreak havoc with the root system of some of your plants – and are actually planted as a cover crop to eliminate nematodes in areas that are badly infested with them.

Marigolds may well then offer some protection to your tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, strawberries, beans, okra, melons, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, corn, and plants from the cabbage family, they are said to improve the flavor of your tomatoes when planted near-by.

 

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are reported to repel bean beetles, whiteflies, squash bugs, and the Colorado potato beetle.

They attract both aphids and cabbage moths – hopefully keeping most of them away from the rest of your garden.

Nasturtiums then may well offer some protection to your beans, peas, melons, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, and cabbage.  If that is not enough, the flowers and leaves are edible!

 

Zinnias

Zinnias with their bright colors attract many pollinators to your garden, and also attract beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps and flies and ladybugs.

They are said to repel cucumber beetles and tomato hornworm, again offering some protection to the vines, tomatoes, and corn in your garden.

 

Because all three of these can be beneficial to so many different plants – and also brighten up any spot they are in – I have them scattered throughout the garden.

Do you have flowers planted in your vegetable garden also?

 

A thank you for the photo by xandert, available under a Creative Commons-Commercial license at MorgueFile.com.

 

Patriot Day and Day of Remembrance and Service

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Healing Field near the Pentagon Memorial

Today is the 11th anniversary of the tragedy that was 9-11.  It is a day that can never be forgotten – the victims and heroes of that day – and all the feelings that were generated by it.

This date has been commemorated as a day of mourning by Congressional legislation in October 2001, when Patriot Day was created, and in 2009 was also designated by Congress as the National Day of Service and Remembrance, encouraging a day of charitable service as a tribute to those who lost their lives on that day, the survivors, and all those who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of it.

Please let it be a reminder to spend some time as a volunteer in your community in whatever capacity you can, and remember also the incredible sense of community that lingered long after that terrible day.

If you need some ideas as to where to volunteer your time, please go here for some projects in your own community.

 

A thank you for the photo from The U.S. Army (Lance Corporal Bryan Carfrey) at Flicker.com.

Today Is National Watermelon Day

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Watermelons

You know that watermelon is an awesome summer treat – and that it can be quite a lot of fun to watch them grow in the garden -  but did you know that it had its own holiday?  Well it does – August 3rd is National Watermelon Day!

Watermelons are thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert in Africa, and have been found in the tombs of Egyptian kings and their harvests documented in hieroglyphics dating back 5,000 years.   They spread throughout Europe and Asia on trading ships, and are believed to have been brought to North America on slave ships.

An estimated 200 to 300 different varieties of watermelons are now grown in 44 of our states, and the United States is actually ranked  fourth worldwide in watermelon production.  It is the most consumed melon in the United States by weight – beating out both cantaloupe and muskmelon – with the average American consuming 17 pounds of watermelon per year.

What is perhaps most surprising is just what a healthy food watermelon actually is.  Obviously it contains a large amount of water (in the neighborhood of 90%) and some natural sugars, but it is also an excellent source of several critical vitamins and also a source of several minerals.

A one-cup serving (only 45 calories by the way), contains the following:

  • Vitamin A  – 17% of the recommended daily requirement.
  • Vitamin B1 (thiamine) – 3% of the recommended daily requirement.
  • Vitamin B6 – 3% of the recommended daily requirement.
  • Vitamin C – 20% of the recommended daily requirement.
  • Potassium – 5% of the recommended daily requirement.
  • Magnesium – 4% of the recommended daily requirement.

It also contains a substantial amount of  lycopene – a very powerful antioxidant felt to play a role in prevention of both heart disease and some types of cancer.  The levels of lycopene found in pink and red watermelon are actually even higher than those found in tomatoes!

Watermelon has always been high on my list of favorites for picnic food and a snack that I truly enjoy during the hot summer months, but I have to admit that I have been really underestimating what a nutritional powerhouse it is!  It really does deserve its own holiday!

You can find more tidbits about watermelon and some fabulous looking recipes to enjoy today or any day of the year at www.watermelon.org.

Enjoy National Watermelon Day!

 

A thank you for the photo by kumarnm, available under a Creative Commons-Commercial license at http://mrg.bz/XO8TnK.

 

Pole Beans or Bush Beans?

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Kentucky Wonder Beans

Snap beans, string beans, wax beans, Romano beans, flageolet beans, lima beans, broad beans, shelly beans, dry beans …  so many choices that it makes your head spin – and many of them available in both bush and pole varieties.  How do you decide which beans to grow in your garden?

Let’s start with the decision between pole and bush varieties.

Amount of Space.

Are you limited by space restrictions?  Pole beans will produce more than bush beans in the same amount of space from a single planting.   In a 100 foot row, you would expect about 125 to 150 pounds of pole beans as opposed to 75 pounds of bush beans.

On the other hand, pole beans remain in place for the entire season and produce throughout the season if the beans are picked regularly.  Bush beans are in place for only 60 to 80 days, and then are finished.  If your growing season is a long one, it would be quite possible to plant and harvest bush beans twice, making the yield much the same as pole beans.

Time to Maturity.

Although pole beans produce all season long, they take longer to reach maturity and begin production than bush beans.  If you are in a hurry for your first taste of beans, then a bush variety is the way to go.

While pole varieties will produce steadily throughout the season once they have started, bush beans produce one initial large amount all at once, and then a second flush several weeks later.  This is an advantage if you plan to can or freeze the beans, but not if your goal is food throughout the season.

Ease of Picking.

If you have trouble bending for long periods of time, pole varieties are much easier on the back.

Trellising.

Bush beans require no trellising, while pole varieties require something to climb.

Depending on what you use for your trellising and how elaborate you want it to be, it could involve some additional expense and certainly would involve more time initially, although it could also be reusable year after year.

For a nonpermanent and inexpensive method of support, you could follow the example of the Native Americans and use your corn for trellising .   This method actually will save space in the garden, as well as potentially providing a boost for your nutrient hungry corn.

 

Still can’t make a decision for one or the other?  Neither can I, so I usually grow a bit of both.  Whatever you decide, don’t forget the inoculant!

 

A thank you for the photo by Aunt Owwee, available under a Creative Commons-Commercial license at http://www.flickr.com/photos/aunto/3829118755/sizes/m/in/photostream/.

 

Why Should You Have Beans In Your Garden?

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Variety of Beans

Beans have been growing in gardens for thousands of years nearly worldwide -  probably from the time the original hunters and gatherers began growing some of their own food – and were found as long ago as 7000 B.C. in parts of Peru and Mexico.

From the standpoint of biology, the beans found in our gardens today fall into a very small number of categories (genus and species):

  • the snap or string beans,
  • lima or butter beans,
  • southern beans or cowpeas,
  • broad or Fava beans,
  • garbanzo beans or chickpeas, and
  • soybeans.

From the standpoint of the gardener, the number of categories drops even farther to just two:   pole beans and bush beans.

Over the centuries of cultivation of beans -  however you choose to categorize them – there have developed literally thousands of different cultivars.  The Seed Savers Exchange now has over 4,000 different varieties listed in their collection!

So why should you have them in your garden?

  • They are very easy to grow.
  • With such a huge selection to choose from, you’re bound to find some that you really like.
  • They can be preserved for a long time.
  • They are high in B and C vitamins.
  • They are high in calcium and iron.
  • They are high in protein.
  • They contain very little fat and no cholesterol.
  • They are a great source of fiber.
  • They are very high in antioxidants, especially red beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • They are believed to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

No wonder they have been so popular for so long!

 

A thank you for the photo by liza31337, available under a Creative Commons-Commercial license at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizadaly/3883120322/sizes/m/in/photostream/.

 

Minimize Cucumber Beetles In Your Garden

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Stop Cucumber Beetles in the Garden!

Here are a few suggestions to try to minimize or stop the damage from cucumber beetles in your garden:

  • Grow varieties of cucumbers which are wilt resistant and varieties of squash which are mosaic resistant.
  • Pull up and destroy any diseased vines as they become apparent.
  • Be sure to clean out the garden at the end of the season and compost all of the previously apparently healthy plants.  Don’t give the beetles a place to hibernate in your garden!
  • If possible, till and plant a late cover crop in the fall to destroy any eggs that may have already been deposited in the soil.
  • Plant your cucumbers and squash late rather than early to avoid any damage to the roots.  Mine seldom are planted now before the middle of June, the squash as transplants rather than seeds.
  • Plant several decoy plants in a different section of the garden a little earlier than your main crop to lure any lurking beetles away from the section of the garden where you intend to plant your cucumbers and squash.  Hopefully that will give them enough time to grow strong enough to withstand them later when the beetles are mobile as adults.
  • Interplant the vines with plants which cucumber beetles don’t like for one reason for another, like broccoli, catnip, tansy, nasturtium, dill, or radishes.
  • Interplant the vines with plants that attract insects which prey on cucumber beetles, like marigolds and sunflowers.
  • Make sure the vines are well mulched as soon as possible, to make it as difficult as possible for eggs to be laid on or near the ground.
  • Scatter the onion skins from your kitchen in the mulch around the cucumbers.

If all else fails, mix up your own pesticide with a bit of cayenne pepper and garlic and water or with 1 ounce of wood ashes, 1 ounce of hydrated lime, and 1 gallon of water and go after them!

 

A thank you for the photo by fleasha87, available under a Creative Commons-Commercial license at http://mrg.bz/t9V6Xd.