Category: Healthy Food

Because access to healthful and uncontaminated food ​should be a human right.

  • FDA Approved this Toxic Coating on Your Produce -including Organic

    Apeel, a mysterious Bill Gates and World Economic Forum-backed food coating that makes rotting produce appear fresh, is approved for use on USDA Organic produce under the name Organipeel. A new food coating called Apeel, backed by Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum, has appeared on shelves in Idaho and is approved for use on USDA Organic produce under the name Organipeel. The coating is invisible and can’t be washed off, and it makes rotting produce appear fresh. Apeel has a presence in 8 countries, operating 30 supply networks and distributing produce to 40 retail partners, which then goes out to tens of thousands of stores around the world, including Trader Joes, Costco, Walmart, and Albertsons. The company says they have developed ‘solutions’ for limes, mandarins, apples, and oranges, and other applications to follow include “everything from asparagus to pineapples, mangoes, lemons and tomatoes”. However, its primary ingredient is Mono- and diglycerides contain trans-fat, which promotes inflammation in the body and has been associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and obesity.

    Below is an excerpt from the Organic Material Review (OMRI) article on Apeel. Call to Action included!

    The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) gave it the green light, presumably based on citric acid being the active ingredient. Citric acid is a non-organic ingredient allowed in organic as long as it isn’t synthetic, but it’s only 0.66 percent of the Organipeel formulation!

    At first blush, concerns about Apeel seemed like fake news. Fact-checkers were quick to point out that the safety data sheet circulating the internet was for a different product with the same name, not for the edible food coating backed by Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum that was raising hackles on social media.

    But, when members of the Organic Consumers Association alerted us to news that Apeel’s is being used in organic, we had to investigate. The main ingredient in Apeel is monoacylglycerides. The industrial process they use to extract monoacylglycerides from grape seed leaves residues of ethyl acetate, heptane, palladium, arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury.

    How big of a food safety concern is Apeel?

    Given everything else Bill Gates and the World Economic Forum expect us to swallow or inject, we can’t be too skeptical, but are the problems with Apeel on the same level as other food safety concerns?

    Is it as important to avoid Apeel as it is to reject genetically engineered foods? Toxic pesticides? Factory-farmed animal products laced with livestock drugs, including mRNA vaccines? Indigestible insects? Lab-grown meat-replacements?

    Our conclusion is that Apeel carries the same health problems as similar preservatives commonly used to extend the shelf-life of ultra-processed food. On that basis alone, we advise avoiding Apeel, including the version used on Starr Ranch’s organic apples, known as Organipeel.

    Read More and Act Now, Contact Your Congressperson Here

    Weston A Price Review of Apeel

    The Weston A. Price Foundation wrote an informative article about Apeel back in 2018, “Is Apeel Appealing?” that concluded:

    Do our foods need to be traveling on boats for months at a time before sitting on shelves even longer? And what about the nutritional value of our foods? Will it be affected by Apeel, and does that matter to us? Is Apeel’s “second skin” even appealing?

    Ultimately, the arrival of Apeel in the marketplace can serve to remind us of the many reasons to eat local, traditional, organic, biodynamic and chemical-free foods.

    That’s the most important takeaway. Nowhere does anyone claim that Apeel does anything to maintain nutrient density.

    Even with refrigeration, every day post-harvest is a loss. Most produce loses 30 percent of nutrients three days after harvest.

    Get the best nutrition by eating straight from the garden or farmers’ market. You’ll have no need for Apeel!

    Children’s Health Defense Weighs in on Health Concerns

    If the video doesn’t pop up – here’s the direct link: https://rumble.com/v2mxm1s-buyer-beware-bill-gates-funded-edible-food-coating-hits-the-organic-food-ma.html?mref=13t77d&mc=bjeh1

    More from Children’s Health Defense

    *Apeel’s patents:

    Plant extract compositions for forming protective coatings

    Method for preparing and preserving sanitized products

    Agricultural skin grafting

    Precursor compounds for molecular coatings

    Plant extract compositions and methods of preparation thereof

    Compositions formed from plant extracts and methods of preparation thereof

    Take Action:

    Ask the Organic Materials Review Institute…

    Conclusion

    The arrival of Apeel in the marketplace reminds us of the many reasons to prioritize our purchase and consumption of local, traditionally produced, organic (check with suppliers to see if they are using Apeel products), biodynamic and chemical-free foods wherever possible.

    Have you heard of REKO in Idaho’s Treasure Valley? Farmers come together to sell directly to consumers.

    Reko Treasure Valley Farmers Market

    Reko Treasure Valley is a pre-order-only farmer’s market for local food & health products. Place an order by searching our vendor’s posts and then place a comment on the post indicating what you would like. The vendor will then have your items ready for pickup at the day and time noted for the specific pickup location. We currently have seven pickup locations (Boise, SW Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Kuna, Middleton, Star, and Central Cove (Parma, Wilder, Homedale, Marsing).

    RESEARCH RESOURCES:

    Alliance for Natural Health International. 

    Organic Bytes Newsletter #804: How Did Apeel Get Into USDA Organic?

  • Organic Baby Food: Better for Your Baby?

    A parent is faced with many choices to make before as well as after the baby is born. Whether it is finding the best daycare or choosing the right equipment for your baby, expenses for new parents tend to add real fast.

    In an attempt to save money, new parents could be wondering if buying organic food for their babies is worth it. It is not unusual for parents to go for a lower-cost conventional baby food option to save the few extra pennies they would have to pay for organic food.

    The benefits of consuming organic food are widely known and, most notably, for toddlers. Hence, for baby development it is crucial to consider organically grown food. Food that is certified organic in the US is grown without the use of bioengineered genes (GMO), synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge-based fertilizers, and petroleum-based fertilizers.

    According to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), organic animals should also be raised in a way that naturally supports their health and behavior. They must be fed a 100% certified organic diet, they must live on land that has been certified organic, and where they get year-round access to the outdoors, they shouldn’t be treated with hormones, antibiotics, or other prohibited ingredients.

    Organic crop growers must also avoid using any genetically modified seeds and instead utilize other methods like crop rotation, to preserve fertility and soil quality. In place of herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides, USDA emphasizes those organic growers strongly rely on the PAMS (Prevention, Avoidance, Monitoring, and Suppression) strategy for safe pest management.

    But why is organic food more expensive? Well, because providing safe and better living surroundings for domestic animals, obtaining and maintaining organic certification, and employing other useful organic practices cost more than the methods conventional farmers use.

    This is why organic foods are slightly more expensive than non-organic food. The organic price tag is a way that closely reflects the real cost of growing food: the intensive management for chemicals, substituting labor, environmental, and health costs that are borne by society.

    So is organic food better for your baby? Is it worth to pay a little more for organic food? We look at the benefits of organic food to your baby:

    Limited Chemical Exposure

    Organic food is a better choice for your baby because of the lack of chemical exposure. There are toxins in pesticides used on crops that could cause a host of health problems that could affect the baby’s growth rate, brain development, and overall health.

    Pesticides may be linked to an increased risk of developmental and behavioral issues, hormonal and neurological issues, cancer, and other health problems.

    Photo by Rodrigo Pereira on Unsplash

    Better Mental Health

    There is a direct correlation between disease and diet, which means that the risks of ADD, concentration problems and depression can be lowered by feeding your baby organic baby food. 

    Better Physical Health

    Based on this nutritional study, it was discovered that two-year-olds who were fed exclusively organic dairy products developed fewer incidents of wheezing and eczema. This helps reduce the chances of your baby being diagnosed with asthma.

    Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

    Environmentally Friendly

    Conventional foods or non-organic foods are sprayed with chemicals like pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. These chemicals have been designed to remain on the plant, but when it rains, a portion of them will wash off and be absorbed in the surrounding groundwater and soil, which eventually affects even the wildlife.

    Better Taste

    Even with all the research surrounding organic foods, there is no denying that organic food tastes better than conventional food. When you start your baby on solids, organic food will allow your baby’s palate to enjoy what is in the mouth.

    A good number of parents prefer organic baby food because it simply tastes better with others, prefers it because it is environmentally friendly.

    However, what is most important is a balanced diet. Giving your baby homemade organic baby food from the beginning will help set your kids up for a lifetime of healthy eating.

    Contributed Author Nancy Baker – a founder of childmode.com

    feature Photo by Derek Owens on Unsplash

  • Paleo Banana Bread

    Healthy foods and kids. It can be a struggle at times. Banana bread is the absolute favorite for my boys.  Today I wanted to share with you my FAVORITE recipe and my kiddo with autism LOVES to help me prep it.

    He peels and cuts the bananas into chunks for the food processor. He pours the measured ingredients and sneaks a chocolate chip or two (for being such a big help.)  Adding the food to the food processor (and turning it on!) adds to the fun!

    We are a family reducing grains and dealing with dairy allergies. Elaine shares her recipe with us for her banana bread.

    And JUST BECAUSE we like add our own touch to every recipe we will often use 1/2 cup almond flour + 3 Tbsp. coconut flour.

    This article originally appeared at: https://youtu.be/PPFmLmlOYL8.

    What’s your favorite recipe of the year? I know, this is an impossible question. But if you HAD to choose one recipe (whether an old one you discovered) what would that be? SHARE IN THE COMMENTS!

  • Cooking for the Whole Family: Getting in Your Phytonutrients

    The Natural Health Symposium will be filled with local experts in all areas. We are thrilled to have Madison Wolf of Functional Medicine of Idaho, share her expertise in nutrition and dietetics. She appreciates the unique bio-individuality of each person she works with and is passionate about empowering others to take control of their health through nutrition, fitness, and mindset. Madison will share some tips and advice in her presentation Cooking for the Whole Family: Getting in Your Phytonutrients

    Eating nutritious food is important at any age, and ensuring young kids get adequate phytonutrients is essential for growth, development, proper immune system function, lowering risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Starting with colorful foods is the first step when developing a healthy way of eating for everyone; plants are good medicine for chronic disease prevention and treatment. Come learn how to cook healthy meals for your entire family using lots of healthy, colorful, fresh foods without spending hours in the kitchen each night! 

    At Functional Medicine of Idaho, we practice medicine that is focused on finding and treating the root cause of illness. We are the only doctor’s office in the Pacific Northwest that combines primary care with functional medicine to give our patients the ultimate healing experience. Our patients receive evidence-based, functional healthcare that is rooted in the latest research in modern medicine. Our philosophy is that everyone has the potential to achieve wellness, and we want to be a part of your journey to restoring your quality of life and optimizing your health. Here today on behalf of Functional Medicine of Idaho is integrative nutritionist, Madison Wolf. She received her Bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics and has many years of experience as a nutrition coach working with people of all ages from babies to adults. She appreciates the unique bio-individuality of each person she works with and is passionate about empowering others to take control of their health through nutrition, fitness, and mindset. 

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    Saturday, Sept 21

    9:00 a.m. to 5:30 pm

    College of Idaho, Caldwell

    PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

    Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

  • Why Paleo Diet and CBD Oil Fit Well Together

    We are witnessing new diet trends appearing every year, but you know that a nutrition plan is effective when it remains popular for a long time. That seems to be the case with the paleo diet, an original concept from the 1970s that has become the main nutrition style of millions over the last several years. 

    The similar can be said for cannabis – although it has been around for ages, it seems that it is reaching peak popularity now. That is because people are starting to realize the benefits of cannabinoids, such as CBD. It has now become obvious that there is no reason for this plant and its compounds to have a bad reputation when they have multiple health benefits.

    The most popular cannabidiol product is undoubtedly CBD oil. It is hard to measure its popularity against the one that the paleo diet has, but do they have to be competitors? Can you stick to a paleo diet while using CBD oil? That is what we are trying to answer in this article.

    Paleo Diet Overview

    Резултат слика за paleo diet caveman


    Even if you are not that good in history, you can guess the eating habits of our ancestors. They ate lean meats, veggies, fruits, seeds, and nuts, as well as fish when it was available. That is what the paleo diet focuses on, but it also tries to reduce or eliminate foods that later become available, such as grains, legumes, and dairy.

    The idea for the paleo diet is to replicate what our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era because our organism was optimized to digest that food. The potential benefits include weight loss, optimizing blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as controlling your appetite.

    CBD Oil Overview

    Source: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1070703/cbd-oil-what-is-it-benefits-beware-counterfeit-products

    Cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from hemp or cannabis plants (hemp belongs to the cannabis family). It is one of the cannabinoids which can have numerous health benefits. CBD is a popular cannabinoid among the users because it isn’t psychoactive like THC. That means you will reap the benefits without being afraid that it will get you “high.”

    CBD oil can be of different purity, and that depends on the methods used for extraction and production. You can find pure CBD oil on the market, as well as edibles and other products containing this ingredient. 

    Cannabidiol works by interacting with the human’s body inner cannabinoid system. It triggers its receptors, and that is how it secures different benefits, such as boosting positive mood and energy, as well as providing pain relief and fighting inflammation. 

    Learn More about the Health Benefits of CBD HealthMade podcasts

    Why Paleo Diet and CBD Oil Fit Well Together

    You now have basic information about both, but the main question remains – why CBD oil is a great fit for the paleo diet? For starters, the reason why people like products containing CBD is that they do not have any psychoactive properties, which means they won’t get you high. Additionally, there is no danger of getting addicted, and you have various supplements, and ways to consume oil at your disposal. Also,strains like sativa helps in boosting the energy levels. Here are the reasons how CBD oil can boost your diet.

    Improves Mood and Energy

    Source: https://lifeinbalancewellnesscenter.com/ensures-personal-happiness/

    You may feel a lack of energy, especially until you get used to the paleo nutrition. Additionally, you may have a big problem sticking to it because it usually involves a big change in your diet plan. That may put you in a negative mood, which will make you more prone to setbacks, and that may disrupt your weight loss progress.

    CBD oil can have a soothing effect and calm you down. It promotes positive mood, which automatically increases your motivation levels. Apart from motivation, CBD can also be energizing, which can perfectly complement your motivation and give you the strength to push through challenging diet days. 

    Accelerates Recovery After Intense Exercise

    You will find that CBD oil can reduce your recovery time, especially after an intense exercise. You may think this is not directly related to the paleo diet, but allow us to present the facts.

    The chances are you are combining your diet with an exercise program, especially if you have a weight loss objective in mind. CBD can help with the recovery process by helping you to manage pain. This cannabinoid can prevent pain signals to come to the receptors, and that is how it “tricks” your body into thinking it is not in pain,

    That can be of crucial importance during the recovery and while the training session is in progress. It can also secure that your breaks between exercises are shortened, which should accelerate the results.

    What Is the Best Way to Take CBD When on Paleo Diet?

    Source: http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/health/wellness/what-is-cbd-oil-the-cannabis-based-supplement-that-experts-say-can-treat-anxiety-and-joint-pain-11364267860290

    The good news is that you can choose from an extensive selection of CBD forms available. There is a reason, however, why CBD oil is the favorite of many people. These include the versatility because you can use the oil by dropping in under the tongue, but you can also add it to your favorite food. 

    If you don’t want to go through the trouble of preparing meals, you can find edibles already infused with CBD on the market. However, make sure that they fit your diet plan before you try them.

    While we are on the topic, allow us to recommend hemp seeds, too. Although they do not contain plenty of CBD, raw seeds of cannabis have high nutrient values, which makes them a smart addition to your nutrition.

    The Bottom Line

    Cannabidiol is a powerful natural compound, which is why you should consider adding it to any nutrition plan, and that includes the paleo diet. Since the endocannabinoid system is an integral part of how our body works, the chances are that our ancestors also relied on cannabis products and the effectiveness of CBD.

    The reasons why you should incorporate CBD oil into your diet include giving you the necessary energy and motivation to push through getting used to a new diet plan, as well as reducing the recovery time after a training session.


    Author’s Bio

    Jessica is a cannabis and health industry consultant who frequently writes about the latest trends in the industry. She has been writing for Weedsmart and Ganjaexpress for a long time now. Through her writing, she hopes to influence as many people as possible to help maintain better health and lifestyle.

  • Your Diet Soda contains known carcinogenic additives brought to you by Monsanto

    Aspartame, commonly sold as Neotame®, Equal®, NutraSweet®, Blue Zero Calorie Sweetener Packets™, Advantame®, NutraSweet New Pink, Canderel®, Pal Sweet Diet® and AminoSweet® is typically found in “diet” foods like diet soda as well as gum, yogurt, processed honey, and fruit juice (1). In a 22-year landmark study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition involving over 125,000 people, significant links were found between daily intake of aspartame and the development of leukemia and lymphoma. (1)This research begs the question: what will we find about the effects of aspartame on human health twenty years from now, when the generation that grew up with it is at middle age?

    Aspartame wasn’t always a food product, it actually originated as an experimental ulcer medication.

    Once it came onto the market, it didn’t last very long: 1980 the FDA banned the substance after having 3 independent scientist studied the artificial sweetener. The substance was linked “without a shadow of a doubt” to brain tumors and brain cancer by the FDA’s own toxicologist, Dr. Adrian Gross (10).

    It was even found to mimic and worsen fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and chronic fatigue. 

    Aspartame Dangers You’ve Never Heard Of

    Aspartame is broken down into “phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%) during metabolism in the body. The excess of phenylalanine blocks the transport of important amino acids to the brain contributing to reduced levels of dopamine and serotonin.” (4)

    Aspartic acid acts as a neurotoxin that causes the hyperexcitability of neurons. It’s also a precursor to another amino acid that overexcites your central nervous system (CNS): glutamates.

    Methanol and its metabolites cause CNS depression, vision disorders and other symptoms. Chronic exposure can lead to metabolic acidosis and, eventually, coma. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which are present in your brain, also converts methanol to formaldehyde (5).

    Another metabolite, diketopiperazine, is carcinogenic in the central nervous system and contributes towards the formations of tumors, including gliomas, medulloblastomas, and meningiomas.

    Plus, the substance “has been linked to pediatric and adolescent migraines. Upon ingestion, aspartame is broken, converted, and oxidized into formaldehyde in various tissues.”(5). Not only is formaldehydecarcinogenic, it’s also cumulative, meaning that it builds up in your body (6,7).

    Lastly, since serotonin and dopamine are key “happy” hormones, aspartame can directly contribute towards mental disorders, addiction, and including depression, suicidal behavior, and substance abuse (8).

    In an open letter to the FDA, the Aspartame Toxicity Information Center warns “Some of the many aspartame toxicity symptoms reported include seizures, headaches, memory loss, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, nausea, dizziness, confusion, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, personality changes, heart palpitations, chest pains, skin diseases, loss of blood sugar control, arthritic symptoms, weight gain (in some cases), fluid retention, excessive thirst or urination. Clearly, regular exposure to a toxic substance such as formaldehyde may worsen, or in some cases contribute to the development of chronic diseases.”(9)

    Mega Study Reveals Cancer Connection

    “A recent mega experiment in 1800 rats tested at aspartame doses much lower than the currently acceptable daily intake (ADI) for humans reported a dose-dependent increase in lymphomas, leukemias, and transitional renal cell tumors.” (2, 3)

    Broken down, here are the primary results of this mega-study.

    • Consuming only one 12-ounce can of diet soda per day increased risk of lymphoma and myeloma (cancer of blood plasma), the incidence increasing in correlation with aspartame intake. The risk was much higher in men (it hasn’t been identified why that is the case).
    • There is an elevated risk of lymphoma with higher consumption of non-diet soda in men than women.
    • Annual consumption of aspartame in the United States is estimated at 5000-5500 tons and the most common product in which it is used is diet soda.
    • Aspartame (especially in liquids) breaks down into asparitic acid, methanol, and phenylalanine; when ingested, methanol turns into formaldehyde—a known carcinogen.
    • Previous studies that didn’t support a link between aspartame and cancer were limited in time and scope. This study included a large sample size and scientifically-viable time period and tested subjects at intervals throughout the study.
    • Subjects’ measured aspartame intake included that added from packets (e.g., NutraSweet and Equal) and contributed to the weighting of the results.
    • Subjects with a higher intake of diet soda had a higher body mass index and animal protein intake and were less likely to smoke. (This is highly significant: it is known that aspartame contributes to obesity and metabolic syndrome; the result noted here corroborates that finding. Additionally, this group of diet soda drinkers didn’t smoke cigarettes, discounting smoking as a contributing factor to the development of cancer in the study.)

    Other studies show a direct connection between the methanol in aspartame and neurological disease.

    If this isn’t enough to get you to kick the can to the curb for good (and then recycle it!), 

    Read more at: 

    https://deeprootsathome.com/aspartame-the-most-dangerous-food-additive-on-the-market-3/

    https://dailyhealthpost.com/aspartame-is-linked-to-leukemia-and-lymphoma-in-landmark-study-in-humans/.

  • 4 Ways To Keep Monsanto Out Of Your Home Garden

    Monsanto/Bayer has been proven to knowingly falsifying documentation about the severity of harm their products cause humans and the environment. In 2019  punitive damages were ordered by the court as the jury found that Monsanto “engaged in conduct with malice, oppression or fraud committed by one or more officers, directors or managing agents of Monsanto”  who were acting on behalf of the company.  Evidence laid out in three trials included numerous scientific studies that showed what plaintiffs’ attorneys said was proof Monsanto’s herbicides can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As well, the attorneys presented jurors with many internal Monsanto communications obtained through court-ordered discovery that show Monsanto has intentionally manipulated the public record to hide the cancer risks. 

    We home gardeners need to do our homework to make sure we purchase seeds from companies that aren’t in partnership with Bayer-Monsanto-Seminis. 

    It’s pretty important to make sure that none of the seeds you buy this year support Monsanto or one of the companies owned by them.  

    40% of US seed market is own by Monsanto GUILTY OF FRAUD and MALICIOUS HARM

    In 2005, Monsanto grabbed 40% of the U.S. seed market and 20% of the global seed market when it bought out Seminis, making them the largest seed company in the world. They supply the genetics for 55% of the lettuce on U.S. supermarket shelves, 75% of the tomatoes, and 85% of the peppers, with strong holdings in beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and peas! (source)

    And Monsanto has been buying up every seed company they can ever since. By going to the Seminis site, you can see their history of acquisitions. You can see Syngenta and Dow are doing the same.

    Apparently, Monsanto is now legally registered or established to hold the trademark for a plethora of the named heirloom seed varieties. (See a list of names below.) This company has strategically positioned itself to profit from the growing heirloom or open-pollinated home-gardening market.

    4 Ways To Keep Monsanto Out Of Your Home Garden. Seed industry and ownership chart

    (source) Click here for zoom.it (scroll in and out version)

    Bayer, Monsanto and Their Terrible Little Secrets

    First, as of “2015, the Bayer takeover of Monsanto merges a chemical giant with a seed giant and leaves the control of the world’s food supply in too few hands. The merger also links two key parts of agricultural production, reducing competition in the food chain. Bayer is now expected to control 29 per cent of the global seed market and 24 per cent of the global pesticide market.  

    Global seed market is projected to witness a CAGR of 7.82% during the forecast period to reach a total market size of US$99.041 billion by 2022, increasing from US$67.970 billion in 2017. (source)

    “Second, there are serious concerns about increased farmer dependency on a smaller number of suppliers, and higher prices due to weak competition. 

    “Third, the deal increases the power of an even smaller group of companies over the intellectual property, and patents that already lock up much of the world’s commercially produced food supply. The patents weaken farmers’ ability to use and reuse their own seeds.”

    “Finally, there are ongoing food health and safety concerns related to the seeds and chemicals produced by these companies. Increasing their market share increases their power over the market and over the producers and consumers that use their products. In 2015, the World Health Organisation declared glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup, as “probably carcinogenic in humans,””(source). There are THOUSANDS of court cases in the process regarding the carcinogenic components of the pesticide and Monsanto’s malicious cover-up of the harm caused to humans and the environment. You can follow the cases here.

    How long will we tolerate the growing monopolization and genetic engineering of seeds by a monopolistic pesticide company that poses a deadly threat to our health, our environment and the future of our food?

    4 Ways To Keep Monsanto Out Of Your Home Garden. Monsanto's monopoly

    (source)

    4 Ways To Keep Monsanto out of Your Garden: 

    So, it’s pretty important to make sure that none of the seeds you buy this year support Monsanto or one of the companies owned by them.

    Excellent seed companies that are NOT affiliated with Monsanto:

    Our Favorite for the Treasure Valley is a LOCAL Seed-CoOp – SNAKE RIVER SEEDS

    1.) Avoid buying anything from companies that are affiliated with Monsanto or Seminis. You can search the companies they do business with to avoid them as they are potentially compromised. 

    2.) Avoid buying seed or seedlings varieties that are trademarked and owned by Seminis or Monsanto. This includes popular tomato varieties such as ‘Early Girl’, ‘Better Boy’, and ‘Burpee’s Big Boy’, as well as a host of other common home garden varieties like ‘Habanero’ hot pepper and ‘Packman’ broccoli. These are not GMO varieties, but their purchase does profit Monsanto.

    Here’s a list.

    3.) Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge and tested their stock for GMOs. Here’s a list.

    Companies with ties: Kitazawa Seed Co., Wildflower Gardening, Jung Seeds, Gardener Supply, Tomato Growers, Territorial Seeds

    4.) Purchase, plant, and save seeds from heirloom varieties. We need to support Snake River Seed CoOp, Rare Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, and Clear Creek Heirloom Seeds and others that specialize in heirlooms and that are NOT owned by Monsanto or Seminis. The legacy of Seed Saver’s Exchange is to tell you how to collect and store seeds.

     

    List of companies that specialize in heirlooms and that are NOT owned by Monsanto or Seminis:USA:

    Note: Always ask questions of a company if you want to verify they are not part of the corporate giant. Things change and companies are under pressure to survive. Some may sell out.

    Let’s boycott all gene-altering companies. Together, we can build a more sustainable world, one garden at a time!

    Adaptive Seeds
    All Good Things Organic (SW)
    Amishland Seeds
    Annie’s Heirloom Seeds
    The Ark Institute
    Backyard Beans and Grains Project
    Baker Creek Seed Co. (Rare Seeds)(MW)
    Beauty Beyond Belief (BBB Seeds)
    Botanical Interests
    Bountiful Gardens
    Crispy Farms
    Diane’s Flower Seeds (she has veggies now, too)

    Deep Harvest Farm and SeedsFamily Farmer’s Seed Co-op
    Farm Direct Seed (Hobb’s Family Farm)
    Fedco Seed Co.
    Garden City Seeds
    Gourmet Seed
    Grow Organic
    Heirlooms Evermore Seeds at Azure Standard
    Heirloom Seeds
    Heirloom Solutions
    High Mowing Seeds
    Horizon Herbs
    Hudson Valley Seed Library
    Humbleseeds
    Growing Crazy Acres
    Ed Hume Seeds
    Irish-Eyes
    J.L Hudson 

    Johnny’s Selected Seeds
    Kitchen Garden Seeds
    Knapp’s Fresh Vegies
     Kusa Seed Society
    Lake Valley Seeds
     
    Landreth Seeds
    Larner Seeds
    The Living Seed Company
    Livingston Seeds
    Local Harvest 

    Mary’s Heirloom Seeds

    MI Gardener Organic Seeds
    Moonlight Micro Farm
    Mountain Rose Herbs
    My Patriot Supply
    Native Seeds  (for the Arid Southwest)
    Natural Gardening Company
    New Hope Seed Company
    Nichol’s Garden Nursery
    Organica Seed
    Organic Sanctuary (SE)
    Peace Seeds
    Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
    Prairie Road Garden
    Renee’s Garden
    Restoration Seeds
    Sand Hill Preservation Center

    Sage Thymes
    Seed for Security

    Seed Treasures
    Seeds Trust

    Seeds Now
    Select Seeds
    Siskiyou Seeds (NW)

    Snake River Seeds (Idaho)

    Southern Exposure
    Sow True (SE)
    Sustainable Seed Co
    Tiny Seeds

    Tomato Bob Heirloom Seeds
    Tomato Fest
    Trees of Antiquity
    Turtle Tree Seed
    Underwood Garden Seeds
    Uprising Seeds
    Victory Seeds
    Vermont Wildflower Farm
    White Harvest Seed
    Wild Garden Seeds
    Wildseed Farms
    Wood Prairie Farm (NE)

     

    SNAKE RIVER SEED is run by locals is a community/family based business as are many of the remaining smaller seed companies! They work extensively to supply free seeds here at home in school gardens and other educational projects. It is their goal to educate everyone about a better, safer food supply.

    Don’t forget Seed-Savers! Here you can shop hundreds of heirloom, organic, non-GMO vegetable seeds and plants to grow in your garden.

    RESOURCES: 

    The Healthy Home Economist gives us 4 ways to forget Monsanto

    SnakeRiverSeeds

    https://livelovefruit.com/heirloom-seed-companies/

  • Lemon Balm. 5 Uses For This Easy To Grow Herb.

    In southern Idaho the lemon balm is full and ready for harvest. If you’ve ever planted lemon balm you know how one tiny plant can quickly take over a large portion of your garden! Hint: Lemon Balm is a perennial. Plant lemon balm in a pot as it will spread (and take over your garden). The herb thrives in full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. Lemon Balm can be grown in most areas of the United States, US hardiness zones 4-9.

    This herb that not only attracts bees to the garden, but is also a great anti-viral with relaxing properties that are helpful for soothing frayed nerves and calming hyper children.

    Traditionally, it’s been used to gently treat colic and upset stomach in everyone from infants to elders. A leaf can be chewed to freshen the breath or crushed and placed on a bug bite to help ease the itch.

    Note: While it’s generally considered safe for most people, large amounts of lemon balm may inhibit thyroid function. If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), are on thyroid medication, or are pregnant, nursing, or have any other questions or concerns, talk with a qualified health professional before use. 

    1. Lemon Balm Tea
    This is a delicious way to calm and relax everyone from children to adults!

    • Place about 3/4 cup lemon balm leaves into a small pot and add enough water to just cover the leaves.
    • Simmer, covered partially, until the liquid is reduced in half.
    • Strain out & compost the leaves.
    • While still quite warm, measure out about 1/2 cup of the concentrated tea and stir 1/4 cup raw honey into it.
    • Add more honey to taste, if you wish.
    • Store in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
    • Dose by the spoonful at night to help calm and relax. (Honey should not be used with children under 1 year old.)

    Note: You can make larger or smaller batches – keeping a ratio of about 2 parts lemon balm infusion to 1 part honey.

     2. Make a lemon balm bug spray:

    I’ve tried a lot of homemade bug spray recipes and this is my favorite one.

    The best part is that it’s yet another way to help use up some of my abundance of lemon balm and other herbs!

    You can find the full recipe and how to make it in this blog post, Lemon Balm Bug Spray.

     

    3. Chop fresh leaves and sprinkle on salads or in baked goods:

    Drizzle the salads with honey or a dressing made of yogurt and honey.

    Try adding finely chopped leaves (1 to 2 TBSP) and lemon zest (a pinch) to your favorite scone or muffin recipe.

    Fresh leaves can also be frozen in ice cubes to dress up a summer beverage.

    4. Make a lip balm for cold sores:

    This lip balm recipe was designed especially for my son who developed cold sores triggered by sunshine when he was young.

    It cleared his cold sores up within a few months and they stayed away!

    You can find the full recipe and how to make it in this blog post, Super Healing Cold Sore Lip Balm.

    5. Make a glycerite:

    Glycerites are a sweet way to dose herbal medicine without the alcohol that regular tinctures contain. Herbal infused glycerin can also be used as an ingredient in lotions, toners and aftershave recipes.

    To make a lemon balm glycerite:

    • Fill a jar with lemon balm leaves.
    • Cover with a mixture of 3 parts vegetable glycerine to 1 part water.
    • Cap and let this sit in a dark place for 3 to 4 weeks.
    • Strain.
    • Dose is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon as needed to relax and calm.
    • Store in your refrigerator for several months.

    (Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs.)

    Lemon Balm is also a star ingredient in this trusted Favorite Cold & Flu Tincture.

    Find a Dozen Great Uses at thenerdyfarmwife.com

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  • Detox and Nutrition: The color code of foods

    By addressing nutrition, exercise, thought patterns, and many other factors at the same time, you can break through toxic barriers and create a vibrant, healthy life, an energized, full-spectrum life! Dr. Minich has written extensively on food, healing, and wellness in her books Quantum Supplements, Whole Detox, Quantum Healing, Chakra Foods for Optimum Health and in her latest book The Rainbow Diet.

    Color influences us.It can change our feelings. It may alter our behavior.

    On a recent episode of HealthMade Radio local Dr. Michael Karlfeldt interviewed Deanna Minich about How Colorful Food Creates a Vibrant, Healthy Energized Life. 

    Her fascinating insight in to the spectrum of phytonutrients in foods was shared recently with her newsletter subscribers:

    Red—Immune system and survival: Red-colored foods tend to be high in vitamin C, which supports adrenal health and immunity. Red-colored foods, such as tomatoes, lycopene, and red beets, have also been shown to be anti-inflammatory.

    Orange—Reproductive health and fertility: Eating orange-colored foods abundant in carotenoids like beta-carotene may help lower the risk of reproductive issues like endometriosis. Carotenoids are also found within the ovaries and the sperm to support fertility.

    Yellow—Digestion: Eating too many of the “wrong” yellow foods, like breads, baked goods, and processed cereals like corn, can put out our digestive fire and give us metabolic syndrome and even diabetes. On the other hand, eating the acidic, warming yellow foods, like lemons, ginger, and grapefruit, can help us burn brightly and rev our metabolisms.

    Green—Cardiovascular health: Green foods like leafy greens are rich in nutrients such as folate, vitamin K, and naturally-occurring nitrates that make them healing and expansive for the heart and blood vessels.

    Blue-Green—Thyroid health: Blue-green foods like algae, sea plants, and even spirulina contain minerals such as iodine and selenium, which nourish and support the function of the thyroid gland.

    Blue-Purple—Cognition and mood: Blue-purple foods like berries and grapes have been shown to help with better brain function like learning and memory, as well as improving mood and calmness.

    White—Cleansing: White foods, like white flour, white sugar, and white salt, can be toxic in high amounts. When we detox our bodies from these white foods, we may feel clearer in mind and purer in body. There are also specific white-colored foods, like garlic, coconut, sauerkraut, and cauliflower, that can help with cleansing through their antimicrobial or detoxifying effects. Fasting is also a “clearing of the inner slate” — the white of nothingness.

    Listen to the interview

    Subscribe to the newsletter: www.deannaminich.com

    Deanna Minich, PhD, FACN, CNS, IFMCP

  • Top 3 Most Contaminated Produce

    The Environmental Working Group released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and vegetables. The list includes the top 12 veggies and fruits found to have highest amount of pesticide residue. In 2019 strawberries, spinach, and kale top the list. 

    STRAWBERRIES

    The average American eats about eight pounds of fresh strawberries a year – and with them, dozens of pesticides, including chemicals that have been linked to cancer and reproductive damage, or that are banned in Europe. Strawberry growers use jaw-dropping volumes of poisonous gases to sterilize their fields before planting, killing every pest, weed and other living thing in the soil.

    Fumigants are acutely toxic gases that kill every living thing in the soil. Some were developed as chemical warfare agents, now banned by the Geneva Conventions. After growers inject fumigants, they cover the fields with plastic tarps to keep the gas underground and away from people and animals. But fumigants can leak during application and from torn tarps, sending the deadly fumes adrift and endangering farm workers and people who live nearby.

    USDA tests found that strawberries were the fresh produce item most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues, even after they are picked, rinsed in the field and washed before eating. For these reasons, in 2019, strawberries are once again at the top of the Dirty Dozen™ list.

    The facts about strawberries and pesticides come from the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program. Between January 2015 and October 2016, USDA scientists tested 1,174 batches of conventional strawberries – about 89 percent of which were grown in the U.S., with the rest coming from Mexico, except one, which came from the Netherlands.

    The USDA’s strawberry tests found that:

    • Almost all samples – 99 percent – had detectable residues of at least one pesticide.
    • Some 30 percent had residues of 10 or more pesticides.
    • The dirtiest strawberry sample had residues of 23 different pesticides and breakdown products.
    • Strawberry samples contained residues of 81 different pesticides in various combinations.

    How hazardous are the chemicals used on strawberries? Some are fairly benign. But others are linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, hormone disruption and neurological problems. Among the dangerous varieties are:

    • Carbendazim, a hormone-disrupting fungicide that damages the male reproductive system, which was detected on 16 percent of samples. The EU has banned it because of safety concerns.
    • Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, which was found on more than 29 percent of samples, is an insecticide that the Environmental Protection Agency and California regulators have designated a possible human carcinogen.

    For those of us who don’t want to eat pesticide residues and who want to stop fumigants from endangering farmworkers and neighbors of farms, buying organic is a small price to pay. The transformation of strawberries from an occasional treat to a cheap and abundant supermarket staple should serve as cautionary tale about the consequences of chemically driven industrial agriculture.

    SPINACH

    Spinach is packed with nutrients, making it a staple for healthy eating. But federal data shows that conventionally grown spinach has more pesticide residues by weight than all other produce tested, with three-fourths of samples tested contaminated with a neurotoxic bug killer banned from use on food crops in Europe.

    Seventy-six percent of the samples contained residues of permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide. At high doses, permethrin overwhelms the nervous system and causes tremors and seizures.

    But several studies also found a link between lower-level exposure to permethrin-type insecticides and neurological effects in children. In one study, children with detectable permethrin residues in their urine were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as children with non-detectable levels of the pesticide.

    The USDA found 83 samples that had residues of pesticides that are prohibited for use on spinach but legal on other food crops. Nearly all were grown in the U.S.

    DDT, a pesticide long banned in this country, also showed up on spinach and very few other crops. Residues of DDT and its breakdown products were found on 40 percent of spinach samples.

    The USDA washed all of the spinach samples vigorously before testing. The USDA has also detected pesticides on frozen and canned spinach, which suggests that washing and cooking reduces but does not eliminate pesticide levels.

    KALE

    Kale has higher pesticide residues than nearly all other produce found on supermarket shelves, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2019 Dirty Dozen™.