Mindzle

Posts Tagged ‘Organic Food’

Roxy, one of my "kids"

In my case the kids refers to 2 dogs and 2 cats with a taste for house plants. The cats in particular are fond of anything green trying to survive indoors. But not to be outdone Roxy our precocious 3 year old Blue Heeler mix has a thing for my small grove of citrus trees. I find her munching on the leaves regularly. So when I noticed several of the citrus trees infested with spider mites… well lets just say I thought I was faced with a choice of the trees or the kids. And some times that is a tough choice to make.
 
I have grown the little trees from seeds. The seeds all came from the old fashioned method of saving seeds from fruit rather than tossing them out. Everyone told me “They will never grow” or “They will never produce fruit”. The common assumption being fruit is irradiated to kill bugs and such, so the seeds would not be viable.

I have withstood much ribbing and teasing by my spouse and friends, regarding their viability. Much to their chagrin, the seeds did sprout. In fact nearly all of the seeds sprouted and several of the little trees have flourished. These I have protected and pruned. they have become more than the little experiment that I started on.  They are still little more than tiny saplings, and consequently none have flowered, yet. Regardless they have become a symbol, of something bigger. That I was right, and they were wrong.

 Even more than the validation of my idea, they make me feel anything is possible. Very few citrus plants can grown in my region. So these little guys surviving is a symbol of hope, and survival.

The orange Grove winter home

 Attributing so much to these 7 little trees, is a bit much, and setting yourself up for heartbreak, I know. But here I am with all this hope, anticipation and everything.

 Now imagine my horror when I noticed something attacking one of the little trees. It seemed to be sucking the life out of it. Once I noticed, the infestation was quite advanced. Several of the trees were affected, and one was in dire shape indeed.

 I started the way I always do, pruning away the most affected areas. This had a minimal effect.

 So now there I was, my hope infected with mites. Could I disregard my deep sense of dislike for chemicals, to save the “orchard”? Or was there another, better way?

 I always want to use organic methods. Up until that point, I had no real nasty bugs to eliminate. So it had been easy, and I was clueless.

 I didn’t want to make the kids sick. I want to use organic methods, if possible. I want to save the little trees. So, what to do?

 The internet is an amazing tool. After a few minutes of research I found a whole host of solutions, and in that search I located a site that has become a lifeline, Arbico Organics.

 For the past 30 years Arbico Organics has been producing and marketing natural products for organic homes, businesses, lawns, gardens, farms and pets. They had several products that work for the problem I was faced with.

 Since purchasing the  spray for my little trees, I have not noticed any recurrence of spider mites. The trees again look healthy. And none of the kids seems to have had the slightest ill effects. I am hopeful that after 2 or 3 more growing seasons they will finally flower, but if they just survive that long I will be proud. For now they are a nice little edition to our deck in summer, and our guestroom in winter.

About the Author: Christian Hammer is a self proclaimed Serial Entrepreneur, inventor and green advocate. His website, www.mindzle.com is a resource for people who are wanting to live a more sustainable life, but don’t necessarily know how to get started, or are worried about how they can afford it. He tries to lead by example, with a wide variety of projects, ideas and how-to’s.

4 Ways to Green Your Meals by Michele Dupper

Most people now realize that we all need to begin living a more planet-friendly life. There are many ways that you can make a significant contribution. They range from simple things like recycling to larger, more costly things such as solar energy for your home. It is common for people to feel overwhelmed by all of the green information in the media these days and they do not know where to begin making these changes. An easy way to start living a greener life is to take a look at what you put into your body. Make a move towards greener meals by using the four steps outlined below.

1) Use Fresh Ingredients
Cooking meals using fresh ingredients usually means that less energy has been used to produce and transport those foods. You will spend about the same amount of time and money preparing meals in this way and the taste is considerably superior. Moving away from pre-packaged, convenience foods will be an adjustment if this is what you are used to however, with just a little planning you will be whipping up meals from scratch in no time. In addition to reducing your impact on the environment, you’ll also reap the benefits of meals that do not include any synthetic chemicals that are common in most pre-packaged foods.

2) Buy Locally Grown
It is estimated that the average US meal comes from 5 different nations and that most food travels an average of about 1,500 miles to reach your table. Buying from local growers and sellers greatly reduces the effects on the environment by decreasing the distance that food travels. This means less carbon dioxide emissions and less packaging materials. You’ll also support your local economy when buying directly from your area’s growers and cutting out the middlemen. When you purchase foods at large grocery stores, only about 18 cents of every dollar go to the farmer, the rest goes to numerous middlemen involved in the processing, packaging and transporting. Supporting local farms also helps protect the land in your area from urban sprawl and development. The best way to find local foods is at farmers markets or through community supported agriculture (CSA).

3) Purchase Organic
Organic means much more than just food that is free from harmful pesticides and herbicides. It means fertile, nutrient rich soil, healthy ecosystems, workers safe from chemicals and thriving wildlife. Our traditional farming methods have only been in use for the past 75 of 10,000 years of recorded agriculture and they have caused significant environmental damage. The use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides destroys soil microbes which are needed to produce crops, so the plants can only receive air, water and sunlight from their environment. Everything else like soil fertility, nutrients and nitrogen must be given to the plants by farmers and is usually transported from thousands of miles away, adding to the impact on the environment.

The fertilizers that are added back further harm our planet by polluting our water system. When you purchase organic foods you are supporting sustainable farming methods that result in much less pollution and top-soil loss than traditional agriculture, Since most organic foods are slightly more expensive, get the most bang for your buck and purchase organic when buying foods that are usually the most contaminated. The Environmental Working Group did a study and identified the “dirty dozen” as Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Lettuce, Imported Grapes, Pears, Spinach, and Potatoes. If you want to begin purchasing organic, start with these foods and you’ll lower your exposure by about 14 pesticides per day.

4) Reduce Meat Consumption
Reducing the amount of meat you eat is one of the simplest changes that you can implement and it is thought to be the most effective green move you can make. Of all of the types of foods on your table, meat uses the most resources. For example, one pound of beef requires about 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to only 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes. In addition to water, raising livestock also requires large amounts of grain, fossil fuel and land. Some of these farms produce as much sewage as a small city however they are not required to treat the waste.

Instead, it is held in large pools and spread on the fields where it often runs off and pollutes nearby water systems. There are also large amounts of methane being released into the air from the millions of pounds of waste. Methane is believed to be among the most important greenhouse gases contributing to global warming today. Going meatless is a big undertaking for many since most of us are used to eating it at least once a day. Do not be intimidated, you do not have to go completely vegetarian to make a difference. Begin by using meat as an accent to your meals in stir-fries and soups, instead of serving it as the main course. Then cut out one serving of meat per week; if we all did only this, the impact would be phenomenal.

There are a variety of meat substitute products on the market these days such as tofu and tempeh. Other foods like portobello mushrooms or legumes make an excellent main course in place of meat. When you do purchase meat, look for grass-fed meat. Most of the pastures for grass feeding use low-cost grasses that usually require very little added water and few or no synthetic fertilizers. Aside from making a huge impact on the planet, reducing your meat consumption will also greatly benefit your health since numerous degenerative diseases like heart disease and cancer have been linked to meat consumption.

Using fresh, local, and organic ingredients when possible and reducing your meat consumption is better for your health and for your world. Remember, one person really can make a difference. Do not feel pressured to make all of these changes at once. Doing any of the above in any amount is so much more than doing none of them.

Michele Dupper is Mom to her almost 2 year old son and the owner of Truly Organic Beauty (http://www.trulyorganicbeauty.com). She lives in sunny FL and has been transitioning to a green lifestyle since starting a family. Michele enjoys educating others about living a more natural lifestyle that is beneficial for the health of our bodies as well as our planet.

Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles