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#Post#: 2299--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: December 1, 2014, 6:24 pm
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The DARK SIDE of Food
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HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUspRBt7Kp4&feature=player_embedded
[img width=640
height=680]
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#Post#: 2337--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: December 6, 2014, 2:49 pm
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12/05/2014 04:37 PM
Big Food Backs Move Toward Sustainable Agriculture 8)
SustainableBusiness.com News
While Big Food companies are against GMO labels on food, they
seem to be moving forward on other issues as members of the
Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture - General Mills, Kellogg's,
Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Cargill are
among the members.
The Alliance consists of 66 grower organizations;
agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies;
conservation groups; universities and public sector partners,
they say [img width=30
height=30]
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-300714025456.bmp[/img]<br
/>, all committed to "sustainable outcomes for commodity crops
such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice and potatoes." [img
width=060
height=055]
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Their "Field to Market" initiative is engaging the entire
agricultural supply chain to "address the collective
environmental challenges we face and responsibly manage our
planet's natural resources," says Rod Snyder, President.
The goal is to improve agricultural practices for 20% of US
commodity crop production on 50 million acres by 2020.
Williams Farm in Mississippi grows corn, soy and cotton on 40%
of the land, and preserves habitat for bobwhites and waterfowl:
Farm Members pledge to:
•reduce soil erosion to tolerable levels or below on all US
cropland
•improve productivity on farms to preserve wildlife habitat
•improve regional water quality by reducing sediment,
phosphorus, nitrogen, and pesticide loads from farms
•improve regional water availability through efficient
irrigation and conservation.
•increase energy efficiency in crop production
•reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farms per unit of output
The Alliance has a calculator that estimates farm performance on
land use & conservation, carbon in the soil, water quality and
consumption, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The next
step is to work with The Sustainability Consortium on a way to
measure and report on the sustainability of US agriculture.
Read our article, Radical Agriculture Overhaul Would Enhance
Global Ecosystems.
Learn more about Field to Market:
Website: www.fieldtomarket.org/
HTML http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/26041?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SBGeneralNews+%28SustainableBusiness.com+General+News%29
#Post#: 2350--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: December 8, 2014, 5:23 pm
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Big Mac hurting
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as
customers get pickier
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/>
Associated Press
By CANDICE CHOI and MICHELLE CHAPMAN
HTML http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcdonalds-sales-weaken-us-asia-131124295--finance.html
#Post#: 2496--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: January 3, 2015, 9:43 pm
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HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ub5Uo3Qpvg&feature=player_embedded
Many golden tidbits of information! ;D
#Post#: 2591--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: January 23, 2015, 9:15 pm
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HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hfFx5z_R2Q&feature=player_embedded
This is a VERY smart man. Pay attention to his logic. It is
sound.
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/19.gif
[quote]No Fossil Fuels Folks ;D
In Holyoke, Massachusetts this fellow is growing watercress,
figs and all kinds of produce in his "bio shelter"- a totally
unheated hoop house.
He used reclaimed insulation and has a solar powered aquaponic
system set up.
Even in the wicked chill - 7 degrees below Fahrenheit - his
bioshelter never went below 29 degrees F.
He's thinking about growing citrus now - in Massachusetts.
Look how far a little courage and determination will get you!
--Bibi Farber
- See more at:
HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/growing-food/growing-food-with-zero-heating-in-massachusetts-winter-.html#sthash.woo8DdwC.dpuf[/quote]
#Post#: 2818--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: March 12, 2015, 2:31 pm
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Look Out Cotton, These 3 Fruits Are Shaking Up the Textile
Industry
Lorraine Chow | March 12, 2015 1:47 pm
[img width=640
height=330]
HTML http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/cotton.jpg[/img]
The U.S. is the second largest cotton producer in the world
behind China. According to the Organic Consumers Association,
about 75 percent of the cotton and cottonseed in the U.S. is
genetically modified. Photo credit: Shutterstock
From fabric, to food, to feed, cotton has thousands of uses. Its
ubiquitous presence, however, is entrenched with a long, brutal
history that tremendously affects our world today. The Organic
Consumers Association said that cotton is the most toxic crop in
the world, using more than 25 percent of all the insecticides in
the world and 12 percent of all the pesticides. The World
Wildlife Fund says it takes 20,000 liters of water to produce
one kilogram of cotton, the equivalent of a single T-shirt and a
pair of jeans.
About half of all textiles are made from this environmentally
unsustainable source, which is why the cotton industry could use
a little competition. The good thing is there are plenty of
eco-friendly choices to add to your wardrobe. In an article last
week in The Guardian, three surprising fruit fabrics are
featured that could not only contend with the cotton industry,
but also uses up parts of the plant that would normally be left
to rot.
[img width=240
height=220]
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/>width=200
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/>width=240
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1. Pineapples leaves: We usually think of pineapples as a
healthy snack or even a pizza topping, but Ananas Anam is using
pineapple leaves to make a sustainable and cheaper alternative
to leather called Piñatex, The Guardian reported. With a
Cradle-to-Cradle approach, the textile company enlists pineapple
farming communities to extract fibers from leaves in an
extraction process called decortication. The resulting biomass
from decortication can also be converted into organic fertilizer
or biogas as an extra source of income to the communities.
Pineapple waste can also be useful for the food industry. In a
study published in the journal Food and Bioproducts Processing,
researchers found the enzyme bromelain (used to tenderize meat,
baking and brewing) can be extracted from all parts of the
pineapple, especially from the peel and the crown. As Food
Navigator reported, the researchers said that bromelain
extraction from pineapple waste would not only add revenue
through increased bromelain supply, it would also reduce the
impact of waste disposal.
Found in abundance in the Philippines, piña fabric is already
used in traditional Filipino clothing for its fine and
lightweight qualities. It’s ideal for warmer climates, and as
Ecosalon wrote, the “glossy surface of the material also
eliminates the need for toxic treating agents, since it acts as
a protective layer for the fabric in itself.”
There’s plenty of supply for the luscious fabric. The Philippine
Information Agency announced that the country’s 59,000 hectares
of pineapple plantations can yield 55,483 tons of pineapple
fiber, adding that this agricultural waste can be alternative
materials for apparel, home textiles, upholsteries, non-woven
and industrial fabrics.
Watch here to find out how pineapple fabric is hand made:
HTML https://vimeo.com/25261231
Agelbert NOTE: I dug up this U-tube video on machine
decortication of Pineapple leaves (and other plant fibers too)
for your enjoyment: ;D
HTML https://youtu.be/aXeVwojvHJk
[img width=240
height=240]
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/>width=200
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/>width=240
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2. Coconut husks: Approximately 50 billion coconuts fall from
trees annually but the husks and shells are typically tossed.
But a coconut is a terrible thing to waste—its milk, meat, shell
and even its fibrous outer layer can have a second life. Also
known as coir, this versatile coconut fabric can be turned into
many things, from common items such as door mats and brush
bristles, as well as not-so-common items.
Specialty weavers Belton Industries spins this sturdy,
biodegradable fabric into logs and fencing for landscaping and
erosion control. Its absorbent nature is also being applied for
for oil spills on land and water, as well as aiding
re-vegetation along stream beds and on river embankments. Coir
pith, a waste byproduct from coir production, can be used for
mulching, soil treatment and a hydroponic growth medium, as Made
How pointed out.
Essentium Materials, a bio-composites company, is producing
automotive trunk liners, load floors (battery pack covers in
electric cars) and living wall planters out of coconut husks and
recycled plastics. The researchers said that replacing synthetic
polyester fibers with coconut husk fibers will reduce petroleum
consumption by 2-4 million barrels and carbon dioxide emissions
by 450,000 tons annually.
In terms of clothing, cocona fabric is made of coconut husks
that have been recycled into activated carbon. When incorporated
into fibers and fabrics, the result is a garment that dries
fast, absorbs odor, stays cool and offers UV protection, which
makes it ideal for sports wear.
[img width=640
height=280]
HTML http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/coconut.jpg[/img]
This Tog 24 men’s fleece jacket is made of 55 percent polyester
and 45 percent cocona. Photo credit: Shutterstock/TOG24
3. Banana stems: Another versatile fabric comes from banana
plant stalks, a part of the plant that’s usually dumped or
burned once the fruit is cut off, causing pollution. As The
Guardian wrote, approximately one billion tons of banana plant
stems are wasted each year, even though “it would only take 37
kilograms (about 81.571 pounds) of stems to produce a kilogram
(about 2 pounds) of fiber.”
The fabric is already used in Japan and Southeast Asia, as the
course outer layers of the stem can be used for baskets or table
cloths and the fine inner layers can be used for delicate
kimonos. According to eco-textile company Offset Warehouse,
“Banana plants often do not require pesticides or fertilizers
when grown in the tropics. Being a waste product of the food
industry, these stalks that were once often just thrown away are
being used as a new valuable resource with very little extra
cultivated acreage being required.”
In India, paper manufacturing firm Eco Green Unit the NGO
Chaitanya Mandal are buying banana stems directly from banana
farmers to manufacture paper, The Indian Express reported.
“Earlier the farmers had to pay Rs 3,000 (about $50) per acre to
get their fields cleared,” Dileep Kulkarni of Chaitanya Mandal
told the publication. “Now, if they decide to supply banana stem
to the processing units they would not only save on that amount
but instead they would be paid well for it.”
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/Banane21.gif
[img width=640
height=280]
HTML http://ecowatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/bananafabric.jpg[/img]
This thick basket weave banana fabric can be used for tailored
jackets and skirts, as well as cushions, throws and blankets.
Photo Credit: Offset Warehouse
As a side note, if you are looking for cotton clothing, look for
organic varieties that are grown without toxic, synthetic
chemicals. Seek out natural dyes to further reduce the amount of
chemicals dumped into our ecosystem.
HTML http://ecowatch.com/2015/03/12/fruits-shaking-up-textile-industry/
#Post#: 2945--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: April 8, 2015, 9:30 pm
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HTML https://youtu.be/K5QYZ-LRXW4
[quote][center]Getting to know the soil [/center]
This is an excerpt from a feature film which uncovers the
source of all the food we eat and the nutrients we need: soil.
Soil is more alive than you might think it is. It's
"times-square" in the soil all the time, for when you look at it
under a microscope, you see a plethora of living bacteria and
tiny creatures which work to sustain the plants we need to
survive.
In order to plant good food, you simply need good soil.[/quote]
HTML http://www.therealfoodchannel.com/videos/movies-about-food-and-health/where-all-our-food-really-comes-from.html
#Post#: 3027--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: April 25, 2015, 5:44 pm
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[center]
HTML https://youtu.be/Q-urKZshV8Q[/center]
[center]What Do We Want To See? [/center]
The vision behind the Transition Town movement is that every
community can engage its collective creativity to unleash an
extraordinary and historic transition to a future beyond fossil
fuels; a future that is more vibrant, abundant and resilient;
one that is ultimately preferable to the present.
What does that look like? What do the people who are active in
the Transition Network really envision for the future of their
towns, if the transition they are working to create becomes
reality?
They all envision something much more humane. Cities that are
much quieter, much cleaner, much slower, more people working
closer to home. They talk about strong bonds around food,
knowing your local farmer, growing your own food. Everything is
much more decentralized. Alternative energy supplies the grid.
The whole economy is much more local and society is more
equitable. Quality of life skyrockets.
The Transition approach is very much a study of permaculture in
itself. It asks not: How can we make sure people take action the
way we know they ought to and grow food, start composting,
install solar panels, etc?" No, it asks: what is already going
on in this town and how can we maximize the interchange and
benefit of all the commerce and activity already in motion -
regardless of people's views, politics, awareness of energy
issues and so on?
Ben Brangwyn, co founder of the Transition Network says he
believes "When we look back, having reached that transition
point, we will say: How on earth could we ever have conceived of
living any other way?"
--Bibi Farber
For more information on the Transition Town Movement, visit
www.transitionnetwork.org
HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/transition/visions-of-transition.html
#Post#: 3202--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: May 24, 2015, 2:36 pm
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HTML https://youtu.be/-kZTLHEPrMc
A quick reminder that the rest of the world grows hemp, and
profits from an amazing array of uses.
What are the uses for industrial hemp? Clothing, nutritious
food and beverages, paper, building supplies, plastics, fuel,
ropes -- hemp is even used in cleaning up soil contamination.
This is just the beginning!
Hear Roger Johnson, who was the Agricultural Commissioner of
North Dakota until 2009, explain that the US "ought to be in
this business" to say the least. He feels it is almost criminal
that the US does not take advantage of this extremely profitable
crop.
Dr. Andrew Weil says: "If Americans ate more hemp, it would
help correct the imbalance of essential fatty acids. I think
we'd see a reduction of inflammatory diseases, lowering heart
attack risk, cancer risk...the omega 3's are necessary for
proper brain function."
There is so much potential for profit, and we are missing all
of it. There are thousands of uses for hemp and the time has
come for the U.S. government to legalize the growing of hemp so
that we may benefit economically from this truly amazing plant.
--Bibi Farber
- See more at:
HTML http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/low-tech---high-impact/uses-and-profits-of-industrial-hemp.html#sthash.iMPbHkg3.dpuf
#Post#: 3217--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sustainable Farming
By: AGelbert Date: May 30, 2015, 1:42 pm
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[img width=640
height=440]
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Soil testing, for over a century, has WRONGLY used a chemical
analysis approach instead of a biological health approach. :o
The reason they went that way is because chemical analysis is
SIMPLER and favors MONOCULTURE and INDUSTRIAL FARMING
destructive soil management. IOW, PROFIT OVER PLANET
agricultural practices ARE RUINING THE SOIL. AND THE SCIENCE HAS
BEEN TAILORED TO FAVOR THAT DESTRUCTIVE MODUS OPERANDI.
HTML http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-200714183312.bmp
Instead of using a host of acids the soil NEVER ACTUALLY SEES to
test soil, WATER should be used and ORGANIC ACIDS should be
measured. WHY? Because THAT is what the soil microbes ACTUALLY
interact with to aid plants in growing.
IOW, the LIFE of the microbes is the LIFE of the soil and the
KEY to soil productivity, sustainability AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
the sine qua non for restoring degraded soil. USABLE carbon,
phosphates and potassium (K) have also been measured
incorrectly.
In 1935 they were on the right track. But the industrialized
monoculture agriculture of profit over planet twisted soil
testing methods which overruled the soil LIFE approach. >:( As
an example of how faulty the tests are, since 1965 HALF the
biologically available nitrogen has been ABSENT from the soil
tests.
They had to try to mimic natural systems in the lab. They
didn't.
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The abysmal
stupidity of that approach is that INORGANIC minerals were being
measured as "assets" for the soil
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when
plants cannot do SQUAT with inorganic minerals when a depleted
soil microbe population cannot turn them into ORGANIC minerals.
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/>
Cover crops (land without a crop for sale but grown with some
type of plant - not bare soil - in order to enhance microbial
life proven to restore the soil) are a BIG DEAL in soil
restoration. This has been proven by the proper soil testing
science as detailed in the video.
Here is the PROPER way to measure soil health: [img width=100
height=65]
HTML http://www.pic4ever.com/images/earthhug.gif[/img]
HTML https://youtu.be/behAQzwdnzs
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