Book Recommendation

Anyone who is an omnivore, must read this book! I highly recommend it. It's on my list of "Top 10 Books".

The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

The dirty dozen

Organic foods are unfortunately expensive. If you can't afford to buy all organic, perhaps take a look at this list and purchase the
"dirty dozen" organically. Below the dirty dozen is a list of the 12 least contaminated. It's a way to save you money and save your health!

12 Most Contaminated (foods with the highest pesticide residue):
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (Imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (Frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya

Source:
Environmental Working Group
http://www.ewg.org
Food News
www.foodnews.org

Organic Facts

~If organic farming methods were practiced on all of the planet's food-growing land, it wouldd be like taking more than 1.5 billion cars off the road.
~You can increase your antioxidant intake by 30% by choosing organic.
~The average child in America is exposed to five pesticides daily in their food and drinking water.
~The U.S. water system is regularly contaminated above safe limits immediately following chemical fertilizer applications to farm fields.
~Farms in developing countries that use organic techniques produce an average of 79% more than farms that don't.

Source: Organic Consumers Association www.organicconsumers.org, and Rodale Institute www.rodaleinstitute.org

Truly inspiring...

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a year of food life
By Barbara Kingsolver

One step closer to sustainability.

So a few years ago, I started an organic garden in my small backyard (the photo on the left). I live just outside of what is considered the "downtown" area of my city. The area is mostly old homes with smaller yards. After a couple of years of learning, experimenting, failures, and successes, I now have a very productive and healthy organic garden. In my small backyard I grow lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, leeks, green beans, peas, artichokes, carrots, squash, spinach, broccoli, strawberries, and blueberries. I grow a variety of herbs as well including basil, mint, oregano, thyme, tarragon, savory, lemon balm, rosemary, sage, lavender, chives, cilantro, calendula, and parsley. I also grow a variety of flowers.

Every summer when the harvest is plentiful, I am always surprised by how much comes from such a little space. Urban organic gardening is possible. I look around my neighborhood and see potential garden spaces in every yard I pass that is covered with grass. Every household in my neighborhood could have a summer of local vegetables. It's one less head of lettuce that had to travel from California. One less pepper from Mexico. The earth around our homes has so much potential.

I know people feel there isn't enough time to garden. Well, to be honest, turn off the TV and spend an hour outside tilling the earth, nourishing it with compost you've made, and plant some seedlings. We are selfish with our time, our resources, our planet, and ultimately we will all pay for it.

This may sound naive, but I think a backyard, front yard, side yard, or patio/deck garden takes us one step closer to gaining more time on this earth. It's one easy step closer to sustainability.

Here we go...

A new blog. I'm not totally sure what this blog will contain, but I wanted one for my thoughts about sustainability on this earth, organic agriculture/gardening, permaculture, and human nutrition. A bit of a mix, I know. I'm looking forward to seeing how this will evolve.