Farm-to-Table Trend Grows

by

Access to fresh food is a major concern of the green movement.  Locally grown food is better for both consumers and the environment principally because it most likely was picked within the last day or two and is crisp, sweet and loaded with flavor.  Fresh produce loses its nutrients quickly.  Its sugars turn to starches and plant cells shrink.  Consequently, locally produced fruits and vegetables have more flavor and nutrients and are better for you.

Locally produced food is good for the economy because the money made from sales by local farmers is reinvested into the area economy, enabling these communities to thrive and remain resilient, especially during downturns.  Local farmers are better positioned to practice sustainable techniques and are mandated by local governments to keep pesticides and other chemicals out of runoff water.  Because their farms are smaller than those of corporate conglomerates, these farmers have greater flexibility to maintain crop diversification and to implement sustainable harvesting methods that impact the quality of the water source.  Another benefit of purchasing produce locally is that it reduces our carbon footprint, as food does not have to be transported long distances to be sold.

The emergence of farm-to-table eateries also has become popular all over the country.  Chefs spearhead this movement with a goal to maintain access to fresh ingredients that are not sprayed with chemicals to protect them on long trips to restaurants and also to leave a smaller eco-footprint.  Farm-to-table eateries also serve to assure green-minded consumers that the meals they purchase at restaurants and eateries are healthy.

The current harvest season with its bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables offers consumers a great opportunity to experience locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Make sure you check local directories for times for farmers’ markets or stop by local farm stands to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.  When planning to eat out, do a little research and farm-to-table restaurants and local eateries a try.  Remember to live green, be green.

Kevin and Gillian Halligan at their Local Eatery in downtown Laconia, New Hampshire

 

Climate Change Alters Life as We Know It

by

The protracted heat and severe storms over the past year have affected most of our lives in some way.  The extent of impact has ranged from inconvenient power losses during storms to loss of property and life during periods of hurricanes and tornadoes and their resultant flooding.  Some of these effects are predicted while some other results come as a surprise.

We know that the harsh effects of climate change have signaled increased food prices all over the world.  The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization warns that any sudden and extreme price hikes in food are especially devastating to people in places such as Africa where undernourishment already is a significant problem.  The current drought in the Midwestern United States and Russia, accounting for increased costs for maize and soybeans, could evolve into a catastrophe for tens of millions of people.

Although it may seem like a luxury to some, the availability of maple syrup is decreasing due to higher temperatures that have shortened the syrup collection seasons.  The Proctor Maple Research Center at the University of Vermont predicts that the long-term effects of global warming “may lead to a shift in forest composition and the maple-beech-birch range will begin migrating northward to cooler areas”.  Such migration will delay syrup production because it takes 40 to 50 years of maturation for a maple tree to produce enough sap for sugaring.  While the decrease in maple syrup production is an inconvenience to pancake lovers, it poses a socioeconomic threat to a major industry in the northeastern region of the United States.   Further information on this can be found at:   http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Nov10/SyrupClimate.html

Global warming also harms many animals adapted to colder environments.  An article in the U.S. News and World Report cites the difficulties faced by caribou in warmer temperatures.  The caribou now arrive in West Greenland after the peak foraging period.  “Fewer calves are being born, more calves are dying.”  http://www.usnews.com/news/energy/slideshows/10-animals-threatened-by-global-warming.  Additionally, polar bear litters are getting smaller as the amounts of sea ice declines from warmer temperatures.  Earlier than usual spring sea ice break-up results in the failure of pregnant females to bring calves to term.  Our warmer planet also threatens fish, such as trout and salmon, which thrive in cold streams.  In addition to affecting the survival and propagation of sea life, the negative impact of warmer waters will also result in millions of dollars in lost revenues to the fishing industry in the United States alone.

In terms of recreation, climate change also poses some interesting threats to the availability of goods and services that enhance our lives.  The increased temperatures, particularly in the south, potentially increase the chances for hyperthermia for outdoor athletes.  This is especially a problem for football players. http://www.txchnologist.com/2011/heres-a-reason-to-care-about-climate-change-it-could-ruin-texas-football  Unfortunately, the conservative south has led the way to block serious climate action.  Also with global temperature rise, sea levels are expected to increase.  Such occurrences threaten to submerge Florida’s coastal communities, which would be devastating to vacationers and the communities that rely on tourism for their survival.

Many other products that we enjoy also are threatened by climate change with its increased temperatures.  These include coffee, beer (which relies on water for production), chocolate and many fruits, including grapes, which in turn, affect wine production.  This list goes on and on but is limited here by space.  Just think about the foods you buy and activities you enjoy.  Many of these things may become more expensive or they may disappear entirely because of climate change.

Climate change is much more than a small cyclical inconvenience.  It potentially poses a threat to life as we know it.  To save our planet, let’s live green, be green.

It would be difficult for Gene Kelly to sing in the rain today. Either the storms are so severe or there is no rain– both impossible extremes.

Reports on Stanford Organic Food Study are Misleading

by

Yesterday several television newscasts reported the findings of a Stanford University study on organic foods. The study, “[a]re Organic Foods Safer or Healthier than Conventional Alternatives?  A Systematic Review,” was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on September 4, 2012.  The researchers concluded, “[t]he published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods.  Consumption of organic foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria”.

Personally, I find the media reaction amusing and a clear example of the lack of understanding of the principal goals of the green movement.  Conversely, maybe I have it all wrong.  All this time, I believed that a berry was a berry with certain vitamins in it, and the point of being produced organically was to avoid the introduction of pesticides to it in the growing process.  In my mind, the same thing applied to the production of meat for human consumption.  Organically raised meat and poultry does not contain harmful drug-resistant bacteria.  However, these news reports seem to indicate that organic foods were somehow super foods that contain added ingredients that promote good health.

Informed buyers of organic food know that what makes the products better are the substances that are missing from them—pesticides and drug-resistant bacteria.  Also they know that the missing pesticides are not around to run off of the fields to pollute the water supply.  The pesticides are not around to negatively impact the health of the people working in the fields to produce the crops.  Finally, the pesticides are not around to kill the honeybees that pollinate the crops.

After garnering viewers’ attention with their misleading headlines, some of the news reporters mentioned as an aside that the study results did show that organic fruits and vegetables contain about a 30% lower level of pesticides than conventional fruits and vegetables and that the concentration of drug-resistant bacteria in organic poultry and pork is about 60% less than the amount in their conventional counterparts.  To this viewer, that is significant and is a step in the right direction.  Of course organic products cost more, but if organic foods were the rule rather than the exception, the cost differential would narrow.  Also, it is expected that the positive impact of a healthier diet would be realized in reduced illnesses and their accompanying medical costs.

Of note, it was pointed out that organic foods are a great choice for pregnant women.  Well—should we only maintain a healthy diet if we are reproducing, or should we eat healthy foods always?  It seems from the newscasts that the millennial generation understands what is going on because they were reported as the group most likely to eat organic foods.  Obviously, priorities are a matter of choice because compared with many older people, this group is just starting out in the workforce and generally have lower incomes and fewer assets.  Yet they put healthy food high on their priority list.

There is so much information out there on green initiatives.  It is so important that we carefully study the information fed to us and separate fact from fiction.  Let’s think green, educate green, live green, be green.

Severe Drought Sparks Innovative Technology

by

It is impossible to go through a day without being reminded of the severe drought conditions affecting the majority of the continental United States. Whether while watching news on the television, reading the newspaper or online news, or shopping for groceries (especially produce), the gloom and doom associated with rising costs of food and loss of revenue attributable to the drought remain front and center. However, if you dig a little deeper into this subject, you will find that this situation is not totally hopeless. In contrast to the millions of acres of unsalvageable corn crops with their abundance of brown leaves withering away and dying in parched soil, there are some fields in the Great Plains that boast healthy vegetation, courtesy of innovative seed companies such as Monsanto and Pioneer.

In response to the drought, farmers are more interested than ever in finding innovative solutions to make crops more resilient. Agricultural research now is directed toward improved farming practices, better plant-breeding techniques and genetic engineering to create plants that are more adaptable to the effects of climate change. Although it is controversial due to cost and unpredictability, genetic engineering holds some promise. To date, experimental strains of corn produced by Monsanto have been successful in surviving and prospering despite the harsh summer conditions. This hybrid corn, DroughtGard, carries a gene that helps it to draw water from the soil more gradually than other varieties of corn. This process promotes water conservation during dry periods. Of note, the DroughtGard hybrid is the only genetically engineered strain that has been approved by the Department of Agriculture.

This new research to create water-resistant strains of corn is a major change in direction for crop scientists, who since the 1920s have focused primarily on improving strains of corn and wheat to yield larger harvests to keep up with the ever-growing population. This new focus is so important because a major issue of climate change is water, whether in terms of droughts or floods. To successfully engineer a strain of corn that is adaptable to the impacts of climate change would amount to a real game changer in this battle.

Scientists predict that with climate change, the intermittent droughts experienced in the United States will increase in frequency. This impending phenomenon has given the task of finding innovative solutions in crop production a renewed urgency. While scientists work to find solutions to crop preservation during adverse weather conditions, it is more important than ever that each of us do our part to protect the environment. Let’s live green, be green.

Dust Storms Trigger Health Problems

by

The present parched land covering approximately 63 percent of the continental United States, accompanied by frequent and severe storms, has triggered an increase in dust storms. Aside from being a nuisance with the deposit of dirt on all surfaces, these storms also exacerbate asthma attacks, and they spread toxic chemicals and infectious diseases. Simply stated by William Sprigg, a dust expert at Chapman University in Orange, California, “anything that is loose on the soil is going to be picked up by these storms”.

Studies of the Dust Bowl of 1935 provide information on what we can expect from these storms. During that period of dust storms 80 years ago, health records for the state of Kansas notes the most severe measles epidemic and very high rates of strep throat, respiratory problems and infant mortality, especially from February to May of that year.

To fully understand the problem with dust storms, scientists study the actual dust particles. They are small enough to evade the body’s natural defenses, such as nose hairs, and they invade and damage the respiratory system. Microscopic inspection of these particles shows that they often carry arsenic and other heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides and an array of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Scientists in the southwest are paying particular attention to valley fever, an airborne disease in that part of the country that is very debilitating and often fatal.

Dust storms pose a global problem. Dust is blown all over the world as evidenced by a recent discovery of Saharan dust found in Florida. Also, Chinese scientists attribute part of the bird flu epidemics to dust storms. It is important to note that not all dust is bad as many plants and fisheries derive nutrients from foreign dust. On the other hand, a large amount of dust that settled in the Rocky Mountains during dry seasons has been credited with accelerated melting of snowpack, resulting in depletion of water available during the summer season.

Dust storms are natural occurrences on the earth. The damage they pose largely is due to the increased frequency of their occurrences and the polluted composition of their payload. This pollution to the soil largely is the result of unhealthy and unsafe environmental practices. How we treat the soil, ranging from commercial farming practices to residential lawn care, impacts our environment. We need to do our part to institute safe farming practices that sustains the land. Residentially and commercially, we need to ensure that we fertilize properly and avoid harmful runoff to lakes and streams. It is so important that we live green, be green.

LGBG Spotlight: Green Farming Role Models

by

The core of our mission in all aspects of this farm and farming is to preserve the ways of the past while honoring mother nature.

So reads the mission statement of Stoney Mountain Farm in Burlington, North Carolina, an organization that strives to perhaps revolutionize farming by simply reverting to older, less technologically advanced methods.  As opposed to many green farming technologies and developments to keep up with the changing world, the methodical approach of Stoney Mountain is to simply revert back to times when greater forces than technology – like nature – had control.

The farm allows old Mother Nature to take control of much that governs activity on its grounds.  The fields and pastures are not intensively plowed or even mowed.  The animals are not fed any hormones or medications.  They only worm as needed, and plant a variety of herbal remedies around their grounds, which the animals are naturally drawn to when they instinctively need it.

These methods prove extremely important not only to the environment, but to Stoney Mountain’s main revenue stream.  The farm specializes in 100% all natural wool products for consumers, offering a wide variety of felting kits, wool dryer balls and kits, and even eco-friendly wool cat toys.  Also, what is extremely unique is Stoney Mountain’s ability to produce and provide roving, batts, and yarns of over 20 natural colors.

All of this, we believe, and all that Stoney Mountain Farm stands for, is great in all its simplistic glory.  Few words can sum up our reasoning for loving Stoney Mountain more than its own words:

Through these practices, we believe we offer beautiful venues for our guests and the best quality products with healthy, happy livestock