My blender died!

Twenty-two years ago, I was given my Osterizer Blender as a present. It has served my tirelessly all these years--making smoothies, baby food, grinding nuts and seeds, and lately mixing up batch after batch of ice cream mixes. It's survived seven moves and traveled with me across the country from Massachusetts to California. It had been slowing down lately. I noticed at my last few ice cream demos, it was struggling to break up those chunks of frozen fruit . . . but I wasn't ready to let go.

But yesterday . . . it blended its last smoothie. The glass canister, fell over in the sink and broke into pieces. Boo hoo! The end of an era.

Tell the USDA not to lower organic standards

The USDA wants to allow genetically engineered foods and the use of nanotechnology to be organic!

Here's the letter I sent to Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture:

I am concerned that the USDA is trying to degrade organic agriculture by trying to allow genetic engineering and nanotechnology into organic regulations. A May 2009 report issued by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Information Network, "The Unexplored Potential of Organic-Biotech Production," argues that "Governments should change their regulations to allow producers to gain organic certification for biotech crops grown with organic methods." Also in May, the National Organic Standards Board began talking about a ban on nanotechnology in organic, but felt stymied by their assumption that "Under the current definition, most nanotechnology would not fall into the category of excluded methods."

For organic consumers like myself, there is no question that these developing technologies have no place in organic agriculture--and I do not want them in the food and products I give my family. Genetically modified organisms are not safe. They have been linked to thousands of toxic and allergenic reactions, thousands of sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ and system studied in lab animals. Nanotechnology is also very dangerous. Early scientific evidence indicates that some nanomaterials produce free radicals which destroy or mutate DNA and can cause damage to the liver and kidneys.

Every day, new evidence of the dangers of nanotechnology emerge: 

- Workplace nanoparticle exposure was linked to seven cases of serious and progressive lung disease in China - including two patient deaths.
- Nanoparticles present in a chemical found in sunscreens - titanium dioxide - are being studies for their connection to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Genetically engineered and nanotech products are already unlabeled because the government refuses to acknowledge that genetically engineered and nanotech versions of natural substances are very different from the original. Buying food and personal care products that are certified organic is the only way for me to avoid these dangerous and untested technologies. Please do not lower the organic standards and allow these dangerous and unnatural technologies in organic products.

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To get more info or to send a letter, go to the Organic Consumers Association Web site.

Take action to improve school meals

Here's a letter I just sent out to a list of people involved in revising the Child Nutrition Act:

When revising the Child Nutrition Act this year, I ask you to please consider that good nutrition will actually help our children succeed in school. The food that kids eat affects their mental as well as physical well-being.  

Schools need increased funding so they can get away from cheap processed food and start serving whole foods that are free of pesticides, genetically-engineered ingredients, chemicals, dyes, factory farmed meats, and foods that are not loaded with sugar and sodium. Optimally, the Act would provide incentives that will encourage school food service departments to meet these higher nutrition standards.  

Lunch should be a learning opportunity for children just like every other class they attend--a time when they learn about real food and good nutrition. As obesity continues to rise and many children are being left behind in academics, it's imperative that children be fed nourishing, wholesome, healthful meals. Thank you for considering my statements.

If you want to let legislators know what you think, go to this link and they'll email your letter to the appropriate people.

Get Cultured - Pickled Vegetables

Listen to the third part of my Get Cultured soundbytes about naturally fermented vegetables.

Here's a recipe from The Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook:

Carrot-Wakame Pickles

Cultured vegetables help to ensure that your inner ecosystem is rich in friendly bacteria. These pickles are great on sandwiches, salads, or with meals.

 8 cups shredded carrots

1 cup wakame, soaked in water 15 minutes

3 tablespoons sea salt

3 cloves garlic, sliced (optional)

2 tablespoons diced ginger (optional)

Toss all ingredients together in large bowl. Use a wooden spoon, meat pounder, or whatever works to pound carrot mixture until juices are released and volume is reduced to about 4 cups. This takes 5 to 10 minutes. Let your children take turns. Even a toddler will enjoy doing this. Transfer mixture to quart-size jar. Press down mixture until liquid rises above it. Cover tightly and place in cool spot (not refrigerator) for 3 days. Transfer to refrigerator. Flavor will improve with age. Pickles will last in refrigerator for months.

 Makes about 1 quart

 

Video: Vegan Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream

See how easy it is to make this luscious flavor from Lick It! Creamy Creamy Vegan Ice Creams Your Mouth Will Love. Click here for the complete recipe.

Sigg Water Bottle Controversy

This is a really interesting article -- they assert that SIGG secretly swapped it's BPA-containing lining for a new one. Check it out.

Unbelievable!

I just heard that the USDA wants genetically engineered food to be allowed to be called organic. This is completely outrageous. There has been so much evidence showing that GE foods are not equal to their non-GE counterparts and are causing both health and environmental problems. Read this article showing what the USDA is saying to justify their position.