MetaFilter posts tagged with organic

Messy, Painful, Bloody and Dirty

chrchr — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:32:07 -0800

Critics of modern farming practice have swayed popular opinion in recent years. Now farmers are talking back. Farmer Blake Harris takes critics of farming to task for misrepresenting his trade. Another farmer says it's not so simple.

We Are Peculiar People (Regarding Food)

Askiba — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:47:10 -0800

Getting Real About The High Price of Cheap Food. Why the food we're eating is hurting us, the animals we eat, our world, and what people are trying to do about it.

Cuz I'm free...free rangin!

Christ, what an asshole — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:14:50 -0800

A recent study, commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency, has found that there is no evidence that organically produced foods are nutritionally superior to conventionally produced foodstuffs. On the basis of a systematic review of studies of satisfactory quality, there is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs. The small differences in nutrient content detected are biologically plausible and mostly relate to differences in production methods. Who cares?

Every day we get closer to an epidemic that cannot be stopped.

parudox — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:17:54 -0800

The Meatrix: parts I, II: Revolting, and II 1/2.

Michelle Michelle We're Quite Contrary About How Does Your Garden Grow

Xurando — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:05:41 -0800

The Local food movement's celebration over the white house garden was short lived. The White House has receive a letter from the Mid America CropLife Association, expressing disappointment that Obamas planted an organic garden. "As you go about planning and planting the White House garden, we respectfully encourage you to recognize the role conventional agriculture plays in the U.S in feeding the ever-increasing population, contributing to the U.S. economy and providing a safe and economical food supply. America's farmers understand crop protection technologies are supported by sound scientific research and innovation."

Local Food Movement Celebrates Victory at the White House

jbiz — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:56:47 -0800

On Friday, Michelle Obama will begin digging up a patch of White House lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II.

So much for organic farming?

bitter-girl.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:02:51 -0800

No conflict of interest there, no sir. Organic food fans and small farmers alike are saying if HR 875 is passed, it will mean the end of organic farming in the United States. An overstatement? Perhaps, but HR 875 has serious flaws. The bill, introduced by Rosa DeLauro last month (who happens to be married to Stanley Greenburg of Monsanto, the world's largest producer of herbicides, chemical fertilizers and genetically engineered seeds), is here. This isn't the first bill that could damages small farms under the guise of protecting consumers. Remember NAIS? HR 875 isn't getting a lot of press yet except on slightly fringe-y blogs. Two less-panicky responses to the bill here and here.

Spoiled: Organic and Local Is So 2008

patricio — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:03:27 -0800

Spoiled: Organic and Local Is So 2008 - Mother Jones asks what sustainable agriculture should really look like. Is it about food miles or should we all just eat less meat?

Antibiotics in organic vegetables and honey

stbalbach — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:37:57 -0800

Worried about antibiotics in your beef? Organic vegetables (and pirated honey) may be no better. 90% of animal antibiotics are excreted as dung which is then used as fertilizer. The amounts are smaller but cumulative, particularly in potatoes, lettuce.

Wildman of the Loire, Didier Dagueneau RIP

Izzy — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:52:10 -0800

Wildman of the Loire, Didier Dagueneau RIP Didier Dagueneau, iconoclastic motorcycle driving beard-sporting winegrower of France's Loire valley, died today in a private plane crash. Dagueneau pushed winemaking in his region to a new level; his Silex (100 percent sauvignon blanc), farmed biodynamically on flinty soil, is a profound wine. I recently tasted the '99 Silex, one word: incroyable. A wine that redefines sauvignon blanc and makes you happy to be alive. Dagueneau also pushed younger colleagues like the cidermaker Eric Bordelet to pursue their craft at a higher level: the result is Bordelet's Granit pear cider, from 300 year old biodynamically farmed pear trees.

Big Bad Wolves Need Not Apply

5MeoCMP — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:07:01 -0800

The first little pig built his house out of straw [previously]. The second little pig built his house out of sticks. The third little pig built his house out of bricks; but the relatively unknown fourth little pig built several structures of all sizes out of mud (and straw), and he wasn't a hippy. Cob building is relatively simple, inexpensive, sturdy and beautiful. It allows you to create free-form structures, it doesn't require a lot of knowledge and, best of all, everyone (including the kids) can get involved. The canonical resource for cob building is probably The Cob Builders Handbook, available directly from the author, or via Amazon if you're so inclined.

Rutabagas, Artichokes, Kiwis, Oh My!

netbros — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:04:43 -0800

FruitAndVeggieGuru – everything you need to know about the delicious fruits and vegetables you enjoy. Answers about how to lower your cholesterol or how to prepare asparagus. You’ll find loads of background and variety information, nutrition specifics, serving sizes, preparation ideas and care and handling tips.

All-organic or none!

snofoam — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:08:13 -0800

All One God Faith, maker's of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, are suing thirteen cosmetic brands for using the term "organic" on products that include petroleum-based ingredients. And now, Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz is suing them for using his name on their unique bottle labels (where he appears alongside folks like Jesus, Mohammed and Einstein). They were most recently in the news defending Germs drummer Don Bolles after he was wrongly arrested when his bottle of Dr. Bronners tested a false positive for GHB. Bolles got off, but the faulty test - which returned a false positive for actual soaps (made from saponified oil) but not for detergent-based cleaners - was perhaps the germ of an idea to fight for more accurate labels on body care products.

Hive-minded

owhydididoit — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:14:33 -0800

The barefoot beekeeper is Phil Chandler's blog about small-scale organic beekeeping. It offers videos and a forum, as well as a photo tutorial, How to Build a Top Bar Hive. Top bar hives have been around since at least 1682.

Monsanto Milk

homunculus — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:00:33 -0800

Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear. "Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Now it has targeted milk production. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination."

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.

batmonkey — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:32:53 -0800

Blooming is booming. Whether you prefer DIY or professionals, knowing what to plant and when can be daunting...unless you've got some really excellent websites on your side. And you do! Plantwire will help you find plants through conventional search, tags, or even by colour. Fine Gardening Magazine's site has much to offer: how-to section with videos, design ideas, and a fabulous plant guide. Garden Simply can help you achieve sustainable, organic gardening. Garden and Flower has several convenient guides on how to achieve gardening nirvana - including butterfly garden essentials! Plantwire is in beta and looking for input; plant pics are Creative Commons licensed from Flickr. The Fine Gardening Plant Guide is siftable by 12 categories which support multi-option selection - e.g., you can list all plants for Zone 8 then narrow down by drought-tolerant annuals and grasses, if you like.

Organic Cuba without fossil fuels.

wilful — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:30:05 -0800

Organic Cuba without fossil fuels.

I'll Buy That

bassjump — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:30:47 -0800

Selling out is becoming trendy. Last fall, Burt’s Bees was sold to Clorox. It turned out then that former owner Roxanne Quimby bought out co-founder Burt himself in 1999 and sold 80% of the company to AEA Investors in 2004; this was just the final stroke of the pen. The Body Shop became a part of L’Oreal in 2006 (previously), the same year Tom’s of Maine was bought out by Colgate. Estee Lauder acquired Aveda back in 1998. If you start getting into food, Stonyfield Farm is owned by Danone. Nantucket Nectars has been part of Cadbury Schweppes since 2002. And remember Fresh Samantha juices? Bought by Odwalla, which itself is owned by Coca-Cola. Ben and Jerry’s became a part of Unilever back in 2000, and now the company’s name is often a symbol of an acquisition gone awry. For better or worse, organic is now fluffy fodder for mass marketing. Even bleach-maker and Burt's Bees-buyer Clorox recently announced its own Green Works line of products. So you might ask: which companies are making an effort to be green and haven’t sold out (yet)? Here’s one list. Problem? It includes the founders of: - Seventh Generation, which has had some interesting encounters with giant retailer Walmart and has partnered with that other giant retailer, Target; - Stonyfield Farm, which as mentioned above is now a part of Danone, but whose business ethics are defended here; and - Whole Foods, which is trying to buy out Wild Oats but keeps butting heads with the FTC. But don't lose all hope. There are still lots of names on that list, and many green and greenish companies out there: Ecover, Dr. Hauschka, Dr. Bronner, Method, Kiss My Face, and heaps more. (These aren't endorsements, just examples.) There's advice on being green (I know, it ain't easy.) Or you could make your own.

Cuba: an accidental revolution

elpapacito — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:21:59 -0800

Cuba: The Accidental Revolution. Hasta la revolucion ? Maybe, but some revolution is dictated more by need than by politics. In this documentary, we are shown how Cuba is converting from oil-subsidized agricolture to organic agricolture with remarkable results. The presence of a police state isn't conveniently forgotten, as much as the facts that public education, public healthcare and limited, regulated free enterprise markets are helping Cubans in the transition from the illusion of freedom in a subsidized economy to a far less comfortable and rich, but more sustainable and independant economy.

Five Easy Ways to Go Organic

Dave Faris — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:43:34 -0800

Five Easy Ways to Go Organic Executive Summary : If you want to switch to organic foods without seriously impacting your wallet, the article suggests buying organic milk, apples, peanut butter, potatoes, and ketchup as relatively affordable organic alternatives.

Free Range Campylobacter

Kickstart70 — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:35:14 -0800

Organic chickens more likely to make you seriously ill. Of course, just thinking about the conditions factory-raised chickens live in can make you ill as well, but Campylobacter can kill you.

Support your local Reptoid

arcticwoman — Thu, 24 May 2007 10:27:14 -0800

Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena was born in October, 2006 to help fight the good fight against the overwhelming majority of noise in the media supporting useless alternative medicine systems, psychics preying upon the vulnerable, the erosion of science education in the classroom, xenophobia of advanced energy and food production methods, and generally anything that distracts attention and public funding from scientific advancement. Episodes feature such prominent MeFi discussion material as organic food myths, blood for oil, chiropractics, and SUVs. Links are to podcast transcripts. Full episode guide.

the bees are o.k.

orgvol — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:01:59 -0800

The mystery of the disappearing bees might not be much of a problem. That is if commercial bee keepers go organic. (previously 1,2)

Eating locally

Dave Faris — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:37:26 -0800

In the grand scheme of things, eating locally grown food may be more important than eating organically grown foods. To help you reach that goal, there's 100-Mile Diet, a blog that deals with the benefits and pitfalls of trying to eat only foods grown locally; The Eating Well Guide, which will help you find markets, restaurants, etc. that go along with the sustainable foodthink; and Local Harvest, which will help you find local and organically grown food sources. (PS. Now's probably the time to start signing up for your favorite CSA!)

Images of Aggregation

dhruva — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:39:48 -0800

Images of Aggregation "These works come from a study of organic natural forms and their relationship to simple mathematical rules." See videos, and also, Images of Flow. [via]