13 Breathtaking Effects of Cutting Back on Meat

By Kathy Freston
Alternet
April 22, 2009

The meat industry contributes to land degradation, climate change, air pollution, water shortage and pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

Food Rebellions: 7 Steps to Solving the Food Crisis

by Eric Holt-Gimenez
Yes! Magazine
Spring 2009

Resistance to the trade and “aid” policies that displace farmers and increase hunger.

Restoring the Range: Can Beef Be Earth Friendly?

by Madeline Ostrander
Yes! Magazine
Spring 2009

The Mortenson family is part of a growing number of ranchers who see healthy food production as part of an ecosystem, shared with plants, animals, and insects.

Shrimp Spring Rolls and Lettuce Wraps and 20 More Spring Recipes

by Gloria Dawson
Daily Green

Spring is here (at least on our calendars). Now, what to do with all that asparagus from the farmers' market? We've got your spring recipes covered.

Tell the Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden.

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama.

MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that - wait for it - Michelle Obama isn't using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House.

We are not making this up.

In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals -- or what they call "crop protection products" -- in her garden.

Michelle Obama and has done America a great service by publicizing the importance of nutritious food for kids (she's growing the garden in partnership with a local elementary school class) as well as locally grown produce as an important, environmentally sustainable food source.

MACA's letter is part of a larger propaganda effort to convince people that chemicals are a necessary part of produce growth - when we know that's not true.

Sign this petition today to tell the board members of MACA (virtually all of them big chemical executives) that we don't appreciate their telling Michelle Obama (or any of us) to use pesticides in our gardens. We support Michelle Obama's organic garden, and we'll thank them to keep their propaganda out of it...

To Take Action, click on Title above!

A Green Easter Menu

Daily Green
April 10, 2009

Flavorful recipes using organic, local and heritage ingredients.

15 Homemade Dessert Recipes You Won’t Want to Miss

Cherry-Vanilla Ice Cream, Mocha Pumpkin Cheesecake, Strawberry Pie, Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp, Honey Cake, and more!

Recipes for the Planet

April 22 is Earth Day - a great time to celebrate with a special meal and good conversation about food and the environment. Slow down, connect with family and friends, honor each other and the food being served. Host an Earth Dinner and try these Earth-friendly menu ideas.

Frugal farmers offer make-do meals with flair

Meat in Moderation for an economical, ecological meal

Go gourmet with regional eco-chefs, or
Potluck!

The End of Small Farms? HR 875, HR 759, NAIS & Monsanto

America's small farmers are under attack through a series of bills presented under the guise of "food safety." I don't want to lose my freedom to grow, buy and eat real foods. Let's fight for our small farmers who not only need our protection and support, but actual freeing from government intrusion, control and harm.


PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE & SPREAD THE WORD:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shelly-Roche-ByteStyle-TV-by-The-End-of-Small-F-090403-92.html

8 Ways to Join the Local Food Movement

by Sarah van Gelder
Yes! Magazine

How to turn a lawn into lunch, swap preserves, glean, boost your food security, live the good life.

GMO Proliferation Bills

by Stephen Lendeman
OpEdNews
April 3, 2009

...Reliable studies show that rats fed GM potatoes had smaller livers, hearts, testicles, brains, damaged immune systems, and showed structural changes in their white blood cells making them more susceptible to infection and disease than other rats fed non-GM potatoes. They also had thymus and spleen damage, enlarged tissues, including the pancreas and intestines, liver atrophy, and other serious problems.

Humans may be harmed the same way because GMOs saturate our diet. Over 80% of all processed foods contain them as well as rice, corn, soybeans, soy products, vegetable oils, soft drinks, salad dressings, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat, and other animal products plus an array of hidden additives and ingredients in products like tomato sauce, ice cream and peanut butter.

...HR 875 and its companion bills are under consideration in committees, not yet voted into law. Activists feel now is the time to stop them before it's too late. Agribusiness wants total control over every step in the production, processing, distribution, storage, and marketing of foods to consumers.

Using the ruse of food safety and security, they aim to eliminate competition to have it all and replace wholesome foods with unsafe GMOs. Congress is willing to go along. And why not. Representatives like DeLauro get large Ag business contributions. In return, they assure bills like HR 875 are passed. It's for concerned people to stop them.