[Grovenet] Organic vs conventional vs GMO

[Walt Wentz]

Planning for the Forest Grove Community Garden proceeds!
I will be giving a short report to the City Council at the council  
meeting tonight (7 p.m. at the City Auditorium).
Everyone interested is invited to an Organizational Meeting this  
Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at my house, 1817 17th Avenue, to share  
information, volunteer a steering committee and assign tasks. We  
intend to get the garden ready in time for the planting season!
Walt Wentz
357-4577

On Feb 21, 2009, at 8:00 PM, Marian Cakarnis wrote:

> For the past six or seven years (last year was an exception), I've
> participated in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  We are so  
> lucky in
> FG to have quite a few very close by.  This year I'm going to try  
> the Love
> Farm CSA for the first time.  They are virtually around the corner  
> from me
> and their pickup times are very convenient.
>
> In case anyone hasn't tried it, it is a great way to get farm fresh  
> veggies
> and know who grew them.  Another benefit is there are a limited  
> number of
> people handling your food before you get it.  Washing fragile  
> berries, like
> raspberries, can often crush or bruise them a bit.  Knowing they  
> haven't
> been handled nearly as much as storebought produce, makes me feel more
> confident about eating them unwashed.
>
> If you haven't tried a CSA before, I highly recommend it.  And if  
> you are
> unsure, you might try splitting a share with a friend and  
> alternating your
> pick-ups.  I do this every year and we pick up on alternate weeks.
> Alternating weeks works better than trying to split the weekly pick  
> up -
> it's not always easy or fun to split a squash or head of lettuce or  
> end up
> with just 2 ears of corn.  With this method you won't be over- 
> inundated with
> veggies and can still supplement with farm stands and farmer's  
> markets on
> the off-week if necessary.
>
> Marian
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet- 
> bounces at rdrop.com] On
> Behalf Of chuck
> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 6:46 PM
> To: Forest Grove local interests list
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] Organic vs conventional vs GMO
>
> Unfortunately, it's not so easy to avoid GMO foods.  The top 2  
> crops are
> Soybeans and Corn.  What isn't made into processed foods (partially
> hydrogenated soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup) is made into  
> animal
> feed.  If you eat processed foods (in a can, box, or package) it's
> probably got one of the two ingredients in it - along with a long list
> of additives, preservatives, and coloring.  And most of the meat we  
> eat
> comes from factory farms - which is fed the GMO animal feeds, and  
> worse.
>
> Pretty much the only way to eat safe (or should I say to KNOW what you
> are eating) anymore is to grow your own, and become Vegetarian or
> Vegan.  The thread I saw earlier about starting a community garden  
> is a
> GREAT idea.
>
> Dr. Mercola's site has a lot of good info as does NaturalNews.com.
>
> Good books on the subject include The China Study, Omnivore's Dilemma,
> Diet for a New America, Food Revolution.
>
> Great documentaries are King Corn, Dying to have Known, Simply Raw,  
> Food
> Matters.
>
> When I was in my Computer Store, and ate out at Quiznos, Cornerstone,
> Pac Ave etc every day - I was the poster boy for the Standard American
> Diet.  And I topped 225 lbs.  Today I am a Vegetarian.  I stopped
> drinking soda and try to stay away from processed foods. especially
> HFCS.  I quit eating all meat and instead eat tons of veggies and
> fruit.  Organic if I can afford it and as locally grown as possible.
> New Seasons has a really good selection.  Fred Meyer's not too bad
> either.  Safeway?  I avoid altogether.  Winco's not too bad but you
> gotta watch what you are buying and know where it coming from.
>
> I said I topped 225 pounds.  My weight today is 188lbs.  That's a net
> loss of 37 pounds.  And if I can do it - anyone can do it.
>
> The Standard American Diet is killing us.  Heart Disease, Cancer,
> Diabetes, Obesity, Osteoporosis -  So now let's genetically alter some
> genes and see what that does to us.  I like being a Guinea Pig
>
> Good article Martha
>
>
>
> Martha Khoury wrote:
>> How to know which is which... (Found this interesting tidbit on Dr.
>> Mercola's Newsletter.) --MK
>>
>> The little stickers on fruits and vegetables have digits that let you
>> know whether they're conventionally grown or organic, and if they're
>> genetically modified (GM). There are many benefits to knowing this
>> information:
>>
>> . The health risks -- GM foods have been in stores only since the
>> 1990s, so the long-term health risks are unknown
>> . The environmental risks -- Scientists are concerned that GMOs will
>> reduce biodiversity
>> . The taste benefits -- People all over the world agree that the  
>> range
>> of possible flavors is greater without a few GM foods crowding out  
>> the
>> many natural varieties
>>
>> Here's what you should look for:
>>
>> . A four-digit number means the produce is conventionally grown
>> . A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic
>> . A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM
>>
>>
>> Sources:
>>    Ideal Bite January 30, 2009
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