Thursday, November 13, 2008

Concerned about what’s in Fido’s food?

Organic pet food is available in stores and becoming more and more popular as people are treating their pets more like their children. Organic pet food offers a nutritious, healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to non-organic pet foods.

Like organic food for humans, the USDA Organic pet food is held to the same USDA regulations. Changing Fido’s diet to organic pet food will be an addition to supporting organic farms as well as reduce his pesticide intake.

If your beloved pet has an indigestion problem, adding a dose of probiotic from organic yogurt to his diet maybe a solution according to the Washington Post.

Another way to ensure the safety of your pet to toxins is to be conscience of his daily activities. Your pet may be chewing or digesting harmful contaminants from your household.

How to eat organic in a budget crunch

As recession looms, how do you trim your family's budget while still maintaining your organic diet?

Honestly, if your income allows, do not cut your organic diet. However, the price of most organic food is still well above their non-organic counterparts. If you must, trim down what foods you and your family are consuming.

The most essential items to buy organic are:

1. Meats
2. Milk
3. Coffee

As well as fruits and vegetables which are thin-skinned and hard to peel, such as strawberries, celery, lettuce and potatoes.

Other fruits and veggies are known as "clean." These items that do not carry detectable pesticide residues include onions, avocados, corn, asparagus, sweet peas, bananas, cabbage and broccoli.

**For those who are pregnant or nursing, it is important to continue your consumption of organic produce which will limit the pesticides transferred to your child that can cause detrimental effects during development.


For more information, The Environmental Working Group constantly researches food safety and their findings are available online at http://www.ewg.org/

Monday, November 10, 2008

The Green College Generation

College's are starting a new fad..."Going Green"

Students and colleges are teaming up to save energy, serve organic foods and reduce carbon emissions.

The current generation is often looked upon as "self-indulgent," "the me generation," and always looking for "instant gratification." Well, now we can add "eco-friendly" to the list

A graduate from Bates College donated $2.5 million to help increase the amount of local and organic foods being served on campus.

They're all about green, focused on saving energy, serving organic and local food, and reducing carbon emissions.

Many colleges are turning to more green building designs and cutting there energy consumption. The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment has been signed by over 550 schools. This signed commitment states that schools must calculate their green-house gas emissions and develop a plan to become carbon-neutral.

The Top 10 Eco-friendly Colleges and Universities Include:

1. Oberlin College - Ohio
2. Harvard University
3. Warren Wilson College - North Carolina
4. University of California
5. Duke University - North Carolina
6. Middlebury College - Vermont
7. Berea College - Kentucky
8. Pennsylvania State University
9. Tufts University - Massachusetts
10. Carnegie Mellon - Pennsylvania

Sunday, November 9, 2008

"A Big Win for Organic Integrity"

Finally, the USDA is proposing new grazing standards for certified organic dairy products.

On October 24, the USDA proposed that "organic livestock, those raised free of hormones, antibiotics or pesticide-treated grain, must be allowed to graze in a pasture at least 120 days a year. Thirty percent of the cows' feed must be from such grazing, rather than being fed organically produced food in a feedlot or an indoor facility."

Throughout the U.S. there are about 1,800 dairies with near 87,000 organic dairy cows.

The change was provoked by accustions of large producers overmilking cows, restalking with non-certified organic cows and limited-use of fresh pastures.

From now until December 23, the USDA will be accepting comments on the proposed standards.

To add your comment, visit: http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=0900006480776e33