It's funny how that, no matter how well you plan things, often life takes you off on little detours. Sometimes if feels like my life is just one big detour.
I had plans. Oh boy did I have plans. I worked tirelessly to carefully plan a garden, so that I would have a pretty good yield this year. I harvested seeds last year. Got out my trusty Farmer's Almanac to calculate when to start my seeds. Carefully I nurtured my lovely little seedlings, only to have another massacre like I did in 2010. Yes, Ms. Phantom Bo-baggins (Known as Hell Kitty around these parts) decided to make my seedlings her play thing again. I am limited on my space, so I don't really have a place to put them where she can't get to them. She leaves them alone for the longest time and then it's like she magically knows I'm hardening them up to put them out. Then BAM, she goes on the attack!
I was dishearten by this little turn of events, but not down. I still had my herbs, thriving nicely in my windowsill and my lettuce, rapidly growing in my boxes on my porch. I went to Seattle for a week to visit my sister, leaving my son in charge of my green things, only to return to dead plants. *big sigh*
Okay, so, no real garden this year. I am going to go to the nursery this weekend to buy a couple of heirloom tomato and several pepper plants. I can replant my herbs, so that is no biggie. I guess this year I will do most of my purchasing from farmer's market. I'm a little disappointed, but not thwarted on my other plans.
I plan to can this year. I had big ideas, but now I'll just small scale it to a few items. This weekend I plan on making some yummy Kimchi. This can't be really canned, but can be saved in jars in the fridge for several months, so I'll make a big batch for me and a few people that have voiced interest. This summer I also plan to can salsa, spaghetti sauce, sour kraut, pickles, and some vegetable soup. I think this is manageable and will help me in my quest to eat 80/20 clean food.
I start juicing this week. I'm not going to do the full cleansing diet like many of my friends and sister's family does, but I am going to use it as a meal replacement, several times a week. This is part of my plan includes Meatless Monday. If you are interested in incorporating a Meatless Monday in your life, be sure to check my friend Lisa's blog Manhattansway.com, where she gives good vegan advice and great recipes. I also plan to eat fish at least once a week and hopefully (crosses fingers) twice. My big goal is to try to acquire a taste for salmon. Used to, I could not eat any fish, with the exception of shellfish. Yeah, a southern girl that does not eat catfish, is there such an animal? I assure you there is. Fresh water fish is very much a don't with me.
Over the past ten years I have learned to eat several kinds of saltwater fish. Recently I tried salmon again, via my sister's salmon salad, but nope, wasn't able to eat, but one mouthful. I know it's good for me, so I am determined. I really want those omega 3's. Stay tune on updates (I'm sure they will be amusing) on my progress with that. I will also probably blog about my progress with juicing.
My sister and I plan on taking a trip to India in three years. I have big ideas that part of this touring will be on bike. I don't know if she's so much game for this idea, but I do plan to start training to ride long distances. I am not interested in marathons or races, although my friend Donna is training for a triathlon this next year, which amazes me and I'm so rooting for her! Maybe one day we can do a bike tour somewhere together. I am so proud that we both have decided to keep challenging ourselves as we approach 50, instead of just resting on our laurels.
I am going to look at bikes this weekend. I have my eye on a pretty mint green retro cruiser. One with a rack in back to carry a few groceries. As you can tell, I plan mostly to ride for pleasure, but would also like to increase my endurance for distance. As I said, I am not interesting in being in racing, but I do have future plans to travel tour by bike and some of it will be long distance. If any of you have any suggestions on how help me, please send them to the email attached to profile section of this blog. I have great trips plan and this is one of my main obstacles. I am determined though! If things work out, I may start taking my bike to work. No way will I be able to ride the full distance, but the bus has bike racks and I can ride that good little jot from the bus stop to work. I may even start riding home from the bus terminal in the afternoon, instead of transferring to my second bus. The more I talk this out in my head, the more I like this idea. hmmmm
The weight continues to slowly come off, but this is how I planned. I want to keep it off and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I feel so much better than I felt this time last year. I am up for just about anything. I look forward to some hiking soon and some bike rides down the River Trail with my son. If you see me on my beautiful new mint green retro cruiser, be sure to wave!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Certified Organic vs Certified Naturally Grown: What's the difference?
The farmer's market season is upon us and I would like to take the time to clue you in on something that has confused several of my friends lately. This morning I checked my email and one friend sent this message "Please explain to me the difference between "Certified Organic" and "Certified Naturally Grown" food? I recently went to the farmers market and found myself confused in which to buy."
After receiving this email I thought, wow, this is something I should have blogged about a long time ago, because it's a question I get asked a lot. Let's first talk about the organic farm movement. And if you aren't interested in a quick history lesson, jumped to the bottom of the article for your answer.
Organic farming is described by Wikipedia as "the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure,compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers,pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms,[1] human sewage sludge, and nanomaterials.[2]"
In the early 20th century, with the invention of the internal combustion engine, research which lead to genetically altered hybrid seeds, and the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers, farming took a decided turn. After WWII came broad use of the pesticides and then in 1944, the US teamed up with Mexico and privately funded the Green Revolution. Basically the Green Revolution was the sharing of research and technology to increase agriculture production. This lead to the development of high-yielding variations of cereal grains, which in turned helped to save 'a billion of people' in under developed countries from starvation.
But, while many were rejoicing in this 'wonderful' direction of agriculture, some people began to worry about the effects of these practices on people's health and the environment. In 1972, several independent organizations around the world banded together to create the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
For quite awhile, the organic food movement was seen as 'faddish' and something only followed by those 'crunchy health food' types. But, in the past five years, with the shift in concern about the environment and people educating themselves and becoming more aware of the food they are consuming, organic food is becoming a regular staple on many tables.
While much of the food labeled as 'organic' was truly what it claimed to be, some disreputable farmers/retailers where slapping that tag on non-organic food. This resulted in the movement for 'certified organic' governing parties, which set up guidelines and served as "watchdogs" to ensure that the public was really getting organic food.
In 2002, the USDA National Organic Program went into effect. In order to be 'certified organic' you had comply with the NOP. And while the guidelines were great for big agriculture and offered the public protection and assurance, the cost and paperwork requirements was just too much for most small, local farmers comply. While this helped to regulate organic farming and protect the consumer, it was almost a death nail in the movement for local, sustainable organic farming. In response to this, small farmers banded together and formed the Certified Naturally Grown organization. Just like the "Certified Organic" farmers, "Certified Naturally Grown" farmers do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, of GMO seeds. Basically this is a self governing organization the regulates and verifies that the food you are getting is organic. Just like the NOP, the CNG has strict guidelines and routinely inspects farms for compliance.
So in a nutshell? What is the difference between 'Certified Organic' and 'Certified Naturally Grown' food? Nothing more than the governing body that supplies the label. It's all organic. One is not better than the other and some local farmers do have the 'Certified Organic' label, so don't have the misconception that buying "Certified Naturally Grown' is the only way to support local, small farms. My advice to you is to get to know your farmer. This is why I love the Argenta Farmers Market. All the farmers involved are certified local growers.
I hope this blog helped to explain the labels you are encountering involving organic food. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me and I will do my best find you an answer. Until next time, become aware of what you put into your body. I am living proof that a change and awareness can improve your health and general well being.
1. wikipedia-organic farming
2. http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organic-farming.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution
4. http://www.naturallygrown.org/
After receiving this email I thought, wow, this is something I should have blogged about a long time ago, because it's a question I get asked a lot. Let's first talk about the organic farm movement. And if you aren't interested in a quick history lesson, jumped to the bottom of the article for your answer.
Organic farming is described by Wikipedia as "the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure,compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers,pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms,[1] human sewage sludge, and nanomaterials.[2]"
In the early 20th century, with the invention of the internal combustion engine, research which lead to genetically altered hybrid seeds, and the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers, farming took a decided turn. After WWII came broad use of the pesticides and then in 1944, the US teamed up with Mexico and privately funded the Green Revolution. Basically the Green Revolution was the sharing of research and technology to increase agriculture production. This lead to the development of high-yielding variations of cereal grains, which in turned helped to save 'a billion of people' in under developed countries from starvation.
But, while many were rejoicing in this 'wonderful' direction of agriculture, some people began to worry about the effects of these practices on people's health and the environment. In 1972, several independent organizations around the world banded together to create the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
For quite awhile, the organic food movement was seen as 'faddish' and something only followed by those 'crunchy health food' types. But, in the past five years, with the shift in concern about the environment and people educating themselves and becoming more aware of the food they are consuming, organic food is becoming a regular staple on many tables.
While much of the food labeled as 'organic' was truly what it claimed to be, some disreputable farmers/retailers where slapping that tag on non-organic food. This resulted in the movement for 'certified organic' governing parties, which set up guidelines and served as "watchdogs" to ensure that the public was really getting organic food.
In 2002, the USDA National Organic Program went into effect. In order to be 'certified organic' you had comply with the NOP. And while the guidelines were great for big agriculture and offered the public protection and assurance, the cost and paperwork requirements was just too much for most small, local farmers comply. While this helped to regulate organic farming and protect the consumer, it was almost a death nail in the movement for local, sustainable organic farming. In response to this, small farmers banded together and formed the Certified Naturally Grown organization. Just like the "Certified Organic" farmers, "Certified Naturally Grown" farmers do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, of GMO seeds. Basically this is a self governing organization the regulates and verifies that the food you are getting is organic. Just like the NOP, the CNG has strict guidelines and routinely inspects farms for compliance.
So in a nutshell? What is the difference between 'Certified Organic' and 'Certified Naturally Grown' food? Nothing more than the governing body that supplies the label. It's all organic. One is not better than the other and some local farmers do have the 'Certified Organic' label, so don't have the misconception that buying "Certified Naturally Grown' is the only way to support local, small farms. My advice to you is to get to know your farmer. This is why I love the Argenta Farmers Market. All the farmers involved are certified local growers.
I hope this blog helped to explain the labels you are encountering involving organic food. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me and I will do my best find you an answer. Until next time, become aware of what you put into your body. I am living proof that a change and awareness can improve your health and general well being.
1. wikipedia-organic farming
2. http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organic-farming.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution
4. http://www.naturallygrown.org/
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