Sow True Seeds

We are SO lucky to have the Sow True Seed Company in our town! I wanted to share this piece with you that was published in their most recent mailing. This local seed company ships around the country...so if you are not able to come visit them in Asheville, you can still have their wonderful seeds and support a business that has as their goal the best interests of our planet and our health! 

We Step Up to Say NO to GMO

On March 29, 2011, Sow True Seed joined 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations to file suit against Monsanto Company to challenge the chemical giant's patents on genetically modified seed. Once released into the environment, genetically modified seed contaminates and destroys naturally reproducing seed for the same crop.  For example, soon after Monsanto introduced genetically modified seed for canola, organic canola became virtually extinct as a result of cross-contamination.  Organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa now face the same fate, as Monsanto has released genetically modified seed for each of those crops, too.  Monsanto is developing genetically modified seed for many other crops, thus putting the future of all food, and indeed all agriculture, at stake.  

“It is challenging to find non-hybrid (open-pollinated) corn seed that has not been contaminated by genetically modified pollen,” says Sow True Seed Co-Founder Peter Waskiewicz.  “We choose to test our corn seed to ensure it is free of GMOs before we offer it to our customers. In the last decade, it’s become nearly impossible to ensure corn seed is free from contamination.”

“We never planned to become involved in a lawsuit, but morally it has become necessary to stand up and fight for keeping open-pollinated seed safe and available,” says Co-Founder Carol Koury. “Sow True Seed was founded to promote and foster sustainable regional agriculture by helping to preserve our shared botanical heritage and seed a new era of sustainable culture and ecological wisdom. Monsanto not only does not embody this vision, but is actually encroaching on our ability to offer open-pollinated and organic seeds. We are fighting against this injustice.”

Waskiewicz adds, “We recognize that the unlimited production and distribution of open-pollinated seed is primary to the growth and endurance of sustainable, regional farming communities. Sow True Seed endorses the basic right of all the earth’s people to enjoy a safe, ethical and sovereign food production and distribution system.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.pubpat.org/monsanto-seed-patents.htm

To get involved:

• Sign the MILLIONS AGAINST MONSANTO petition in support of GMO labeling at: http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm
• Sign the Food Democracy NOW! letter to the Department of Justice to break up Monsanto at: http://action.fooddemocracynow.org/sign/break_up_monsanto/
• Support local agriculture - join local groups that advocate for healthy, organic, locally grown and produced products like ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Organic Ag Can Double Food Production in 10 Years

 I just had to share this quote that I got from the latest Organic Consumers Association Newsletter. Read the whole article here.

Eco-Farming Can Double Food Output by Poor

"To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available. Today's scientific evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live - especially in unfavorable environments.

"To date, agroecological projects have shown an average crop yield increase of 80% in 57 developing countries, with an average increase of 116% for all African projects. Recent projects conducted in 20 African countries demonstrated a doubling of crop yields over a period of 3-10 years."

-Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food and author of the report "Agro-ecology and the right to food," published March 8, 2011.

The GM genocide

I read this article today and am so appalled that I just needed to share it with all of you. Farmers committing suicide in India over their crop failure after being persuaded to switch to GM varieties at a cost of 1000% more than traditional seed...told that it would not need pesticides... but we know that GM seed requires more pesticide than regular conventional seed... Crazy...

Read the article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1082559/The-GM-genocide-Thousands-Indian-farmers-committing-suicide-using-genetically-modified-crops.html#ixzz17e5PXqrR

Prince Charles is so distressed by the plight of the suicide farmers that he is setting up a charity, the Bhumi Vardaan Foundation, to help those affected and promote organic Indian crops instead of GM.

I did a search to find out more about the work of Prince Charles and his Bhumi Vardaan Foundation. DO check it out for yourself.

The Prince of Wales launched the Bhumi Vardaan Foundation, in March 2006, in Punjab, India, to help small farmers convert to grow certified organic produce (by providing training facilities and marketing support) and to market the produce for them in India and overseas. Based on the Duchy Originals UK model, all profits will be utilised for charitable initiatives which promote sustainable agricultural development in India.

I have made a commitment to purchase and eat only food grown without chemical additives, to use organic and local whenever possible, to ask questions about where something comes from and HOW it is grown or where it was made... This is important. The more we buy into the GM model, knowingly or unknowingly.. we just add to the problem.

HazMat on the Farm

I found this image along with an article called How to Protect Yourself from 7 Food-System Threats
at Rodale.com. It is a piece that obviously talks about what you can do. It is a great article and I urge you to read it, ask questions and implement their suggestions wherever you can. 
I guess what struck me the most, was this image! I just had to share it with you... Look at those hazardous materials suits.  At first look, does it say farming to you? Does it say food? Does it convey safety of the food grown in this manner? Not to me! IF this is conventional farming, I don't want anything to do with food produced in this manner. 
Buying organic may cost more at the grocery store, but the cost we pay in health care and the environment is so much greater with the cheaper alternative. I choose to grow my own, know my farmer, or buy organic. It really does matter!

No one Can Really Know the Price We Will Pay

Over the last few posts, I have focused on reasons to avoid genetically modified food. The reasons are many and I for one am convinced that the path we are on with GMOs in our food supply and environment is the wrong path. I believe that they are harmful in more ways than we can ever imagine.
I encourage you to continue to inform yourself and to speak out and take action. Check out the website for GM Watch for even more reasons to avoid this stuff and for links to keep informing yourself about GMOs.
No one really knows the price we will pay for messing with Mother Nature but what I have been reading compels me to keep GMOs out of my family's food supply. I will continue to avoid genetic modification whenever I can, I will continue to inform myself, I will grow as much of our food as possible, I will buy local food, I will buy organic food, or I will do without. That is my pledge to this planet and to my family.

Part 3: Reasons to Avoid GM Food

Genetically Modified Crops increase the use of pesticides.

“The promise was that you could use less chemicals and produce a greater yield. But let me tell you none of this is true.” – Bill Christison, President of the US National Family Farm Coalition

From an article in the Cooperative Grocer, I found this information:

About 70% of the genetically engineered crops grown in the U.S. are herbicide resistant and are supposed to lessen pesticide use, even though the majority of these are “Roundup Ready” crops bred to withstand frequent herbicide applications from one of America’s favorite herbicides. Often touted as environmentally friendly, Roundup has been shown to contaminate ground water supplies and is now under review as a carcinogen. But do GMOs lessen pesticide use? Not according to a study entitled “Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Eight Years,” which was released in November 2003. This report studied the levels of pesticide use on genetically engineered crops. The study reports that GE corn, soybeans, and cotton have resulted in the application of more pesticides, not less. Herbicide tolerant crops or HT are responsible for nearly 70 million additional pounds of pesticides being applied in U.S. agriculture.

 I also encourage you to check out this interview:

Scientists finding many negative impacts of Roundup Ready GM crops

For me, the more I read about "Round-up Ready" Crops.. the less appetizing corn or soy look to me. We either buy organic corn and soy products,  we grow our own, or we do without.

Reasons to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods (Part 1)

There are so many reasons to make a concerted effort to avoid foods made with genetically modified ingredients. But the average person, has little to no idea of the consequences of extensive use of genetic modifications.. heck, even the scientists, who know that there are consequences, are not even sure what the far reaching long term consequences may be. 

My plan here is to outline some really good reasons for you to avoid GM foods and ultimately why we all need to raise our voices against the widespread use of genetic modification...Part 1.

GM Foods will not solve a food shortage, in fact, they may well cause massive food shortages if the use of GM crops are allowed to continue. One element of the food shortage is said to be the increased production and use of biofuels.. fuels made of food crops.

“The climate crisis was used to boost biofuels, helping to create the food crisis; and now the food crisis is being used to revive the fortunes of the GM industry.” — Daniel Howden, Africa correspondent of The Independent

“The cynic in me thinks that they’re just using the current food crisis and the fuel crisis as a springboard to push GM crops back on to the public agenda. I understand why they’re doing it, but the danger is that if they’re making these claims about GM crops solving the problem of drought or feeding the world, that’s bullshit.” – Prof Denis Murphy, head of biotechnology at the University of Glamorgan in Wales

Did you know that Monsanto has been a major player in lobbying for biofuels?  They also make huge profits in the production of biofuels and in finding "solutions" to the resultant food shortages... it is all good for them... but what about the planet and humankind? 

Check out The Center for Food Safety to learn more about what you can do to take action. IF the whole idea of even thinking about GM Food is new to you, I encourage you to do some research of your own and become informed... unless we are each informed about the choices we make, "they" can feed us anything they want and get away with it! 

Solutions from Within

I stumbled on this quote today and in light of our recent discussions here about the importance of Local Food, I share it with you. It illustrates perfectly that the answer to all Global Issues begins within each and every one of us!  

"If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." - Chinese Proverb

 Let us look first to solutions from within!

Food 101

I SO enjoy listening to Michael Pollan speak. This video is from an appearance that he made on the Oprah Winfrey Show recently. I am particularly struck by Oprah's reaction to Michael speaking about buying sustainable, quality meat!
At the end Oprah invites everyone to form their own opinion about FOOD. What is your opinion?

A Chance to Make a Difference!

My friends it is time to TAKE ACTION.

Breaking News: Monsanto Takes Center for Food Safety Legal Victory to Highest Court
(January 15, 2010) Today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear a first-time case about the risks of genetically engineered crops.  Named Monsanto v. Geertson Seed Farms, No. 09-475, the case before the high court will be yet another step in an ongoing battle waged by the Center for Food Safety to protect consumers and the environment from potentially harmful effects of genetically engineered (GE) crops.
“This is truly a ‘David versus Goliath’ struggle, between public interest non-profits and a corporation bent on nothing less than domination of our food system,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety. “That Monsanto has pushed this case all the way to the Supreme Court, even though USDA’s court-ordered analysis is now complete, and the U.S. government actively opposed further litigation in this matter, underscores the great lengths that Monsanto will go to further its mission of patent control of our food system and selling more pesticides.”

 I encourage you to TAKE ACTION. Let the USDA know that it matters to you and your family that GMO's be controlled and labeled and that measures are taken to protect Organics from contamination.

USDA also claims that consumers will not reject GE contamination of organic alfalfa if the contamination is unintentional or if the transgenic material is not transmitted to the end milk or meat product, despite the fact that more than 75% of consumers believe that they are purchasing products without GE ingredients when they buy organic.

TAKE ACTION. Tell the USDA that you DO indeed care about contamination even if it is UNINTENTIONAL...  Tell them that any amount of contamination is UNACCEPTABLE ! TAKE ACTION today and SPREAD THE WORD. Our voices cannot be heard if we don't SPEAK UP! So TAKE ACTION and be heard.
We can make a difference together.