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| Wheat Grass growing indoors |
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
My Indoor Garden Today
Here is a pic of wheatgrass I am growing in a used ice cream container. I'm growing this inside the house. I must say that it is growing really fast. I took some wheat berries I got at the store and put them in some garden soil. I guess I am supposed to cut it down often. It reminds me if mowing the lawn with scissors!
10 Things Monsanto Does Not Want You to Know
Please understand that I want to keep this blog free from politics as much as possible, but I think every gardener in America today deserves to hear this. I am concerned that if we ignore this subject of Monsanto and the governmental interactions together with Monsanto and the FDA, we might not be able to garden in the future. There are moves taking place to start limiting organic gardening and local farming, and much, if not most of this, is tied in with Monsanto and their goals for ultimately controlling the food industry universally.
Keep in mind the Mike Taylor has been the lawyer for Monsanto as well as the head of the FDA. Where's the check and balance system here? I'm glad that the this is being made known to the public and we are able to take action now. Too bad this has been brewing for so many years before we figured it out.
Keep in mind the Mike Taylor has been the lawyer for Monsanto as well as the head of the FDA. Where's the check and balance system here? I'm glad that the this is being made known to the public and we are able to take action now. Too bad this has been brewing for so many years before we figured it out.
10 Things Monsanto Does Not Want You to Know
What's wrong with Genetic Engineering?
Genetic Engineering refers to a set of technologies used to change the genetic
makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel
organisms. Once released, these genetically modified organisms (GMO's) can
easily spread and interbreed with other organisms, and they are virtually
impossible to recall back to the laboratory.
Monsanto provides roughly 90% of GMO seeds in the world. These seeds have been
genetically modified to produce their own pesticide or to survive repeated
spraying of Monsanto's toxic herbicide Roundup. Monsanto's GMOs are not
designed to increase yields to feed the world, but rather to increase Monsanto's
profits. Monsanto sells high-priced, patented seeds to farmers who are required
to sign contracts stating that they will buy new seeds every year. And as their
crops become increasingly herbicide-resistant, Monsanto sells more and more
chemicals to farmers who are caught in this vicious cycle.
Due to the enormous political clout of Monsanto, the American public is being
denied the right to know whether their foods are genetically engineered or not.
Following is a list of 10 facts about Monsanto and GMOs, and how they can
adversely affect your health, local farmers, and the planet.
1. No GMO Labeling Laws in the US
More than 70% of processed foods in the US contain GMO ingredients. Yet because
Monsanto has fought hard to prevent labeling laws in the US, this information is
kept from consumers. The US is the only developed country in the world that
does not have mandatory GMO labeling laws – even though more than 62 other
countries, including Japan, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the entire
European Union, have either banned GMOs or have laws requiring mandatory
labeling.
2. Lack of Adequate Safety Testing
In May 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle announced the FDA's consumer
right-to-know policy which stated that GMO foods need not be labeled nor
safety-tested. Meanwhile, prominent scientists such as Arpad Pusztai and Gilles
Eric Seralini have publicized alarming research revealing severe damage to
animals fed GMO foods.
3. Monsanto Puts Small Farmers out of Business
Percy Schmeiser is a Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with
Monsanto's Roundup Ready Canola by pollen from a nearby GMO farm. Monsanto
successfully argued in a lawsuit that Schmeiser violated the company's patent
rights, and tried to force Schmeiser to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in
damages. This type of biotech bullying is happening all over North America.
4. Monsanto Products Pollute the Developing World
According to plant pathologist Don Huber, Glyphosate, the active ingredient in
Monsanto's Roundup, changes soil ecology, making plants susceptible to diseases
that could eventually cause diseases in humans. Glyphosate kills many bacteria,
giving other bacteria a competitive advantage. It also makes plants highly
susceptible to soil borne diseases. With increasing use of glyphosate, Huber
said a number of plant pathogens are "emerging" or "re-emerging," including a
number of fusarium and root rot diseases. At the same time that diseases are
increasing, glyphosate has a negative effect on a number of beneficial soil
organisms, including those that fix nitrogen, mycorrhizae, plant growth
promoting organisms and earthworms. Huber's allegations of the impact of
glyphosate in soil sterility echo those of Elaine Ingham, a soil ecologist with
the Rodale Institute.
5. Monsanto in Bed with Government Regulators
A revolving door exists between Monsanto and US regulatory and judicial bodies
making key decisions. Justice Clarence Thomas, a former Monsanto Lawyer was the
one who wrote the majority opinion on a key Monsanto case. Michael Taylor once
worked for the FDA, later represented Monsanto as a lawyer, and then returned as
the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Policy when rBGH, a growth hormone used to
make dairy cows produce more milk, was granted approval.
6. Monsanto Guilty of False Advertising
France's highest court ruled in 2009 that Monsanto had lied about the safety of
its weed killer Roundup. The court confirmed an earlier judgment that Monsanto
had falsely advertised it herbicide as "biodegradable".
7. Consumers Reject Bovine Growth Hormone
In the wake of mass consumer pressure, major retailers such as Safeway, Publix,
Wal-Mart, and Kroger banned store brand milk products containing Monsanto's
controversial genetically engineered hormone rBGH. Starbucks, under pressure
from the OCA and our allies, has likewise banned rBGH milk.
8. GMO crops Do Not Increase Yields
A major UN/World Bank-sponsored report compiled by 400 scientists and endorsed
by 58 countries concluded that GM crops have little to offer to the challenges
of poverty, hunger, and climate change. Better alternatives are available. The
report championed organic farming as the sustainable way forward for developing
countries.
9. Monsanto Controls US Soy Market
In 1996, when Monsanto began selling Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% of soybeans
in the US contained their patented gene. By 2008, over 90% of soybeans in the
US contained Monsanto's gene.
10. GMO Foods May Lead to Food Allergies
In March 1999, UK researcher at the York Laboratory were alarmed to discover
that reactions to soy had skyrocketed by 50% over the previous year.
Genetically modified soy had recently entered the UK from US imports and the soy
used in the study was largely GM.
Avoid processed foods, especially those containing corn, soy, cottonseed oil and
canola, canola and sugar beet sugar unless they are organically certified.
My comment: They are using sugar beet for sugar in all sodas, juices and
anything else that has sugar in it. Unless it states on the label that it has
cane sugar in it, you can bet your last dollar that the product has sugar beet
sugar in it.
Pass this on to your friends, neighbors and family along with everyone you come
in contact with on the internet via e-mail.
Laszlo
What's wrong with Genetic Engineering?
Genetic Engineering refers to a set of technologies used to change the genetic
makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries to produce novel
organisms. Once released, these genetically modified organisms (GMO's) can
easily spread and interbreed with other organisms, and they are virtually
impossible to recall back to the laboratory.
Monsanto provides roughly 90% of GMO seeds in the world. These seeds have been
genetically modified to produce their own pesticide or to survive repeated
spraying of Monsanto's toxic herbicide Roundup. Monsanto's GMOs are not
designed to increase yields to feed the world, but rather to increase Monsanto's
profits. Monsanto sells high-priced, patented seeds to farmers who are required
to sign contracts stating that they will buy new seeds every year. And as their
crops become increasingly herbicide-resistant, Monsanto sells more and more
chemicals to farmers who are caught in this vicious cycle.
Due to the enormous political clout of Monsanto, the American public is being
denied the right to know whether their foods are genetically engineered or not.
Following is a list of 10 facts about Monsanto and GMOs, and how they can
adversely affect your health, local farmers, and the planet.
1. No GMO Labeling Laws in the US
More than 70% of processed foods in the US contain GMO ingredients. Yet because
Monsanto has fought hard to prevent labeling laws in the US, this information is
kept from consumers. The US is the only developed country in the world that
does not have mandatory GMO labeling laws – even though more than 62 other
countries, including Japan, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the entire
European Union, have either banned GMOs or have laws requiring mandatory
labeling.
2. Lack of Adequate Safety Testing
In May 1992, Vice President Dan Quayle announced the FDA's consumer
right-to-know policy which stated that GMO foods need not be labeled nor
safety-tested. Meanwhile, prominent scientists such as Arpad Pusztai and Gilles
Eric Seralini have publicized alarming research revealing severe damage to
animals fed GMO foods.
3. Monsanto Puts Small Farmers out of Business
Percy Schmeiser is a Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with
Monsanto's Roundup Ready Canola by pollen from a nearby GMO farm. Monsanto
successfully argued in a lawsuit that Schmeiser violated the company's patent
rights, and tried to force Schmeiser to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in
damages. This type of biotech bullying is happening all over North America.
4. Monsanto Products Pollute the Developing World
According to plant pathologist Don Huber, Glyphosate, the active ingredient in
Monsanto's Roundup, changes soil ecology, making plants susceptible to diseases
that could eventually cause diseases in humans. Glyphosate kills many bacteria,
giving other bacteria a competitive advantage. It also makes plants highly
susceptible to soil borne diseases. With increasing use of glyphosate, Huber
said a number of plant pathogens are "emerging" or "re-emerging," including a
number of fusarium and root rot diseases. At the same time that diseases are
increasing, glyphosate has a negative effect on a number of beneficial soil
organisms, including those that fix nitrogen, mycorrhizae, plant growth
promoting organisms and earthworms. Huber's allegations of the impact of
glyphosate in soil sterility echo those of Elaine Ingham, a soil ecologist with
the Rodale Institute.
5. Monsanto in Bed with Government Regulators
A revolving door exists between Monsanto and US regulatory and judicial bodies
making key decisions. Justice Clarence Thomas, a former Monsanto Lawyer was the
one who wrote the majority opinion on a key Monsanto case. Michael Taylor once
worked for the FDA, later represented Monsanto as a lawyer, and then returned as
the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Policy when rBGH, a growth hormone used to
make dairy cows produce more milk, was granted approval.
6. Monsanto Guilty of False Advertising
France's highest court ruled in 2009 that Monsanto had lied about the safety of
its weed killer Roundup. The court confirmed an earlier judgment that Monsanto
had falsely advertised it herbicide as "biodegradable".
7. Consumers Reject Bovine Growth Hormone
In the wake of mass consumer pressure, major retailers such as Safeway, Publix,
Wal-Mart, and Kroger banned store brand milk products containing Monsanto's
controversial genetically engineered hormone rBGH. Starbucks, under pressure
from the OCA and our allies, has likewise banned rBGH milk.
8. GMO crops Do Not Increase Yields
A major UN/World Bank-sponsored report compiled by 400 scientists and endorsed
by 58 countries concluded that GM crops have little to offer to the challenges
of poverty, hunger, and climate change. Better alternatives are available. The
report championed organic farming as the sustainable way forward for developing
countries.
9. Monsanto Controls US Soy Market
In 1996, when Monsanto began selling Roundup Ready soybeans, only 2% of soybeans
in the US contained their patented gene. By 2008, over 90% of soybeans in the
US contained Monsanto's gene.
10. GMO Foods May Lead to Food Allergies
In March 1999, UK researcher at the York Laboratory were alarmed to discover
that reactions to soy had skyrocketed by 50% over the previous year.
Genetically modified soy had recently entered the UK from US imports and the soy
used in the study was largely GM.
Avoid processed foods, especially those containing corn, soy, cottonseed oil and
canola, canola and sugar beet sugar unless they are organically certified.
My comment: They are using sugar beet for sugar in all sodas, juices and
anything else that has sugar in it. Unless it states on the label that it has
cane sugar in it, you can bet your last dollar that the product has sugar beet
sugar in it.
Pass this on to your friends, neighbors and family along with everyone you come
in contact with on the internet via e-mail.
Laszlo
++++++++++++++++++++++
My comment: I have gone to our local grocery store and asked if their corn is GMO. No one who works there really knows if it is or not. I think it would be good if we all went to the store managers and asked questions like this to them. The grocery store I go to listens to the public. If they hear enough people complaining about GMOs, they would take an interest and do their own research.
I have wondered about corn being GMO. Most corn that is grown in the US is GMO produced, but popcorn isn't. So, I am relieved to hear that, but, I am also challenged and encouraged to grow my own corn from heirloon/organic/non GMO seeds.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Your Soil Needs Some TLC Too!
Unless you are gardening with hydroponic or aeroponic methods, you will need to take care of your soil. Your soil has to be healthy in order for plants to grow properly. If you want healthy plants, you will need to work with your soil.
In different places on the earth, the composure of soil can vary. Some places have soil that is very sandy. Some soil is filled with clay. Soils need to have the proper ratio of ingredients. A recommended recipe for soil mixture is 1 part peat moss, 1 part vermiculite, and 1 part compost. Mel Bartholomew recommends this in his 'Square Foot Gardening' book. I believe he used to recommend adding sand, but sand is so common and perhaps he has changed his mind.
Here is an article on the working of microbes in the garden soil. It is from a book called, 'Teaming with Microbes', which you can order through amazon.com
Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web, Revised Edition
The 2011 Garden Writers of America Gold Award for Best Writing/Book proves soil is anything but an inert substance. Healthy soil is teeming with life -- not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants, and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial substances, many of them toxic to humans as well as other forms of life. But there is an alternative to this vicious circle: to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web -- the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants. By eschewing jargon and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available to a wide audience, from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals.
You can view the book details here:http://amzn.to/143XQAc
This article brings out a very important fact; that chemical fertilizers injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants. We so often want a 'quick fix' that we settle for commercial, name brand fertilizers, that produce big green plants quickly, but in the long run, the fertilizers ruin the soil. You want to use natural, organic fertilizers in order to help the ecosystem going on in the soil. You want the right kinds of bugs in your garden. It might be a little more work to start off with, but it will pay off in the end if it is done properly.
Happy Gardening!
In different places on the earth, the composure of soil can vary. Some places have soil that is very sandy. Some soil is filled with clay. Soils need to have the proper ratio of ingredients. A recommended recipe for soil mixture is 1 part peat moss, 1 part vermiculite, and 1 part compost. Mel Bartholomew recommends this in his 'Square Foot Gardening' book. I believe he used to recommend adding sand, but sand is so common and perhaps he has changed his mind.
Here is an article on the working of microbes in the garden soil. It is from a book called, 'Teaming with Microbes', which you can order through amazon.com
Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web, Revised Edition
The 2011 Garden Writers of America Gold Award for Best Writing/Book proves soil is anything but an inert substance. Healthy soil is teeming with life -- not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants, and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial substances, many of them toxic to humans as well as other forms of life. But there is an alternative to this vicious circle: to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web -- the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants. By eschewing jargon and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available to a wide audience, from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals.
You can view the book details here:http://amzn.to/143XQAc
This article brings out a very important fact; that chemical fertilizers injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants. We so often want a 'quick fix' that we settle for commercial, name brand fertilizers, that produce big green plants quickly, but in the long run, the fertilizers ruin the soil. You want to use natural, organic fertilizers in order to help the ecosystem going on in the soil. You want the right kinds of bugs in your garden. It might be a little more work to start off with, but it will pay off in the end if it is done properly.
Happy Gardening!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Pictures of my Garden Beds
Pictures of my garden beds.
In the one on the bottom, you can see the motion detector. It works at night by flashing a red light that is supposed to scare some animals away. In the top garden, I'm growing golden beets, corn, and tomatoes. I also just noticed some pepper plants growing behind the tomatoes. I don't know if they are from seeds I planted or if they are from the compost I put out in the gardens.
In the bottom garden, I am growing corn and scarlet runner beans. The corn seems to be growing well, though not all the corn seeds germinated.
Monday, May 6, 2013
My First Piece of Homegrown Asparagus
Here is the first successful piece of asparagus I have ever pulled from my garden. I have tried to grow asparagus three times during my lifetime and have never been successful in growing it until tonight. Last week, I saw a stalk that looked ready to pick but I did not pick it. The next day it looked like a fern so I cut it up and put it in a pot of stew. When the stew was finished, the asparagus was not edible. I learned that as soon as the stalk is the right size around ( the width of a pencil) then you pick it., I picked the first stalk too late. I was surprised to see another ready stalk tonight, but since I did, I made sure I picked it. I bit into it slightly and it wasn't tough like the first one was. I will cook it up tomorrow and will determine for sure if it is edible.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
10 Gardening Recommendations From Safer® Brand
Here is a list of 10 recommendations from a company the sells organic bug killers and gardening products. This was written for spring of 2011, but the principles still apply in 2013:
Now that you have healthy soil and rich organic humus prepared to be used in planting, it is time to plant your organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Now that Spring is upon us and many of you have already planned out what you will grow this year, we at Safer® Brand, felt this is a good time to arm you with the information you need grow a bountiful organic garden in 2011. That is why we have created the 'Organic Gardening Toolbox – 10 tips for a healthy organic garden in 2011.'
Now that you have healthy soil and rich organic humus prepared to be used in planting, it is time to plant your organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Now that Spring is upon us and many of you have already planned out what you will grow this year, we at Safer® Brand, felt this is a good time to arm you with the information you need grow a bountiful organic garden in 2011. That is why we have created the 'Organic Gardening Toolbox – 10 tips for a healthy organic garden in 2011.'
| 1. | We recommend your garden receives at least 6 hours of direct |
| sunlight per day during your main growing time. If you do | |
| not have a space available that receives this amount of | |
| sunlight, look for plants that can grow without full sun. |
| 2. | When planting tomatoes, be sure to stake your tomatoes. This |
| prevents root breakage and keeps them off of the ground, | |
| where they are less susceptible to insect infestation. A | |
| product like Stake It Easy provides a perfect way to stake your | |
| tomato plants easily and safely. |
| 3. | Plants started indoors need to become acclimated to the | ||||||
| sunshine and weather before they are placed in the garden soil. | |||||||
|
| 4. | Water your seedlings the day before you place them in your |
| garden. |
| 5. | Soil not the best in your area?? Created a raised bed where you |
| can create the optimal soil for your plants. |
| 6. | Grow companion plants such as basil or plant marigold in |
| between your vegetables (common pests do not like the strong | |
| smell of these plants). |
| 7. | Use a soaker hose – This is a far more efficient way to water a |
| garden. |
| 8. | Add 1" of organic material including nutrient rich humus |
| (compost), and a natural fertilizer such as Ringer® Lawn | |
| Restore, as it conserves water, adds nutrients, discourages | |
| weeds, and gives your bed a clean look. |
| 9. | Water your soil completely once a week. You must provide | ||||||
| enough water to soak down through the soil to the roots. | |||||||
|
| 10. | Morning is the preferred time to water your plants, as it | ||||||||
| allows enough time for the water to sink in before the heat | |||||||||
| and sun cause evaporation. | |||||||||
|
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