1/29/10
Check out this cool site - Goldilocks finds Manhattan
Check out my twitter friend's farm!
"My family's farm is named Spring Lake Farm. You can visit our website here. I grew up working with my parents. This relationship has evolved but I am still very involved with the farm. I have been able to convince my father to raise Large Black Pigs which I am extremely excited about!
I also aspire to help sell my parent's meat to NYC based butchers and chefs, so if you are one please contact me here: ullabear@yahoo.com "
"My family's farm is named Spring Lake Farm. You can visit our website here. I grew up working with my parents. This relationship has evolved but I am still very involved with the farm. I have been able to convince my father to raise Large Black Pigs which I am extremely excited about!
I also aspire to help sell my parent's meat to NYC based butchers and chefs, so if you are one please contact me here: ullabear@yahoo.com "
1/26/10
1/24/10
Choosing Seeds today
Seed Savers Exchange
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Thanks to my friends on twitter for telling me about these sites!
Lemon Cucumbers
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Thanks to my friends on twitter for telling me about these sites!
Lemon Cucumbers
Black Krim Tomatoes
Blue Solaize Leeks
Purple Haze Carrots
Blue Solaize Leeks
Purple Haze Carrots
America Spinach
Were reccomended by @spcochenour
Chemical Reaction, the movie
I hope I can get my town to outlaw pesticides too. Luckily the Mayor
lives right across the street ( I feed her cat, Malcolm). Think I will
write her a letter and take it over to her with a dozen Happy Eggs!
1/23/10
1/22/10
Check out this cool greenhouse
CLICK HERE for the whole story from New York Times
"It’s a $1.6-million architect’s dream. A new building, powered by the sun, will hold a kitchen classroom with communal tables where children can share meals they make from food they grow in the garden.
Designers from the Work Architecture Company have incorporated a chicken coop, a composting system, an outdoor pizza oven and a cistern to collect rainwater. A movable greenhouse will be rolled out each fall."
"It’s a $1.6-million architect’s dream. A new building, powered by the sun, will hold a kitchen classroom with communal tables where children can share meals they make from food they grow in the garden.
Designers from the Work Architecture Company have incorporated a chicken coop, a composting system, an outdoor pizza oven and a cistern to collect rainwater. A movable greenhouse will be rolled out each fall."
1/20/10
Our greenhouse at school is getting ready for spring
"For several years, Glen Urquhart School middle school students have participated in The Food Project’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which grows vegetables using sustainable methods at Long Hill Farm in Beverly. The food is distributed through farmers’ markets and hunger relief organizations across the North Shore."
CLICK HERE to see more of our greenhouse
I think our school is cool because we have a working greenhouse. I hope our Farm Club will be able to have a Seedling Fair this Spring (instead of a Bake Sale)
1/19/10
Michael Pollan’s ‘Food Rules’
LISTEN HERE
"Food guru Michael Pollan has led a generation of Americans to a new understanding of food and the food industry.
In “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” “Food Inc.,” and much more, Pollen has laid out the case that a matrix of bad industrial food options is killing Americans — and that the matrix can be escaped.
Now he’s boiled his food wisdom into a simple manual of very simple guidelines. The simplest is just seven words: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”
"Food guru Michael Pollan has led a generation of Americans to a new understanding of food and the food industry.
In “The Omnivore’s Dilemma,” “Food Inc.,” and much more, Pollen has laid out the case that a matrix of bad industrial food options is killing Americans — and that the matrix can be escaped.
Now he’s boiled his food wisdom into a simple manual of very simple guidelines. The simplest is just seven words: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”
Polyfacefarms.com, Mr. Joel Salatin
Polyface Pastured Broilers are moved everyday to fresh pasture. They receive plenty of fresh air and sunshine.
Cool poem from my Grandhoney (grandma)
Joy
Who could need more proof than honey—
How the bees with such skill and purpose
enter flower after flower
sing their way home
to create and cap the new honey
just to get through the flowerless winter.
And how the bear with intention and cunning
raids the hive
shovels pawful after pawful into his happy mouth
bats away indignant bees
stumbles off in a stupor of satiation and stickiness.
And how we humans can't resist its viscosity
its taste of clover and wind
its metaphorical power:
don't we yearn for a land of milk and honey?
don't we call our loved ones "honey?"
all because bees just do, over and over again, what they were made to do.
Oh, who could need more proof than honey
to know that our world
was meant to be
and
was meant to be
sweet?
by Julie Cadwallader Staub
Who could need more proof than honey—
How the bees with such skill and purpose
enter flower after flower
sing their way home
to create and cap the new honey
just to get through the flowerless winter.
And how the bear with intention and cunning
raids the hive
shovels pawful after pawful into his happy mouth
bats away indignant bees
stumbles off in a stupor of satiation and stickiness.
And how we humans can't resist its viscosity
its taste of clover and wind
its metaphorical power:
don't we yearn for a land of milk and honey?
don't we call our loved ones "honey?"
all because bees just do, over and over again, what they were made to do.
Oh, who could need more proof than honey
to know that our world
was meant to be
and
was meant to be
sweet?
by Julie Cadwallader Staub
1/18/10
Guest Blog from Bradley Smart - my friend from twitter, he's 10.
In a world where fish are being hunted by massive ships and new technology, its more important than ever for people to eat more sustainably.
The need for sustainable fishing is rather large, because we are slowly killing off all the edible fish in the ocean. In fact, scientists predict that by 2048, there will be no more edible fish in the ocean if rates continue like this.
Sustainable food means that it is caught or grown in environmentally friendly ways. One reason we should eat sustainable fish is because its caught safely, and that the fish is good for you. That doesn’t mean that suddenly Bluefin tuna is good for you, because bluefin is a “red” fish, according Seafood Watch at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
Eating “red” fish (which means avoid eating) is not sustainable in any way. Red fish (e.g., Bluefin tuna) are caught mostly by trawlers – large nets pulled by ships that drag up all kinds of sea life. One of the worst parts is when they take all the sea life that they don’t want (or is dead) and throw it overboard. Dead, rotting fish in such large quantities isn’t good for the ocean.
Another reason we should eat sustainable seafood is because the way it affects people. Fish not caught in environmentally friendly ways can carry sicknesses that are bad when you eat them. Eating sustainable seafood not only helps the environment, it also helps you and your family.
Please try to eat sustainable fish when you have the chance, because a little can go a long way.
Bradley Smart - Fourth grader who wants to understand things and make the world more sustainable. He is @smartbeing on twitter and here is his awesome blog about sustainable fishing. THANKS Bradley!
The need for sustainable fishing is rather large, because we are slowly killing off all the edible fish in the ocean. In fact, scientists predict that by 2048, there will be no more edible fish in the ocean if rates continue like this.
Sustainable food means that it is caught or grown in environmentally friendly ways. One reason we should eat sustainable fish is because its caught safely, and that the fish is good for you. That doesn’t mean that suddenly Bluefin tuna is good for you, because bluefin is a “red” fish, according Seafood Watch at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.
Eating “red” fish (which means avoid eating) is not sustainable in any way. Red fish (e.g., Bluefin tuna) are caught mostly by trawlers – large nets pulled by ships that drag up all kinds of sea life. One of the worst parts is when they take all the sea life that they don’t want (or is dead) and throw it overboard. Dead, rotting fish in such large quantities isn’t good for the ocean.
Another reason we should eat sustainable seafood is because the way it affects people. Fish not caught in environmentally friendly ways can carry sicknesses that are bad when you eat them. Eating sustainable seafood not only helps the environment, it also helps you and your family.
Please try to eat sustainable fish when you have the chance, because a little can go a long way.
Bradley Smart - Fourth grader who wants to understand things and make the world more sustainable. He is @smartbeing on twitter and here is his awesome blog about sustainable fishing. THANKS Bradley!
The hard work of raising chickens from civileats.com
January 18th, 2010 By Heidi Kooy
This past May, we began our urban chicken experiment with three birds purchased from a lady near Petaluma, the egg capital of the world. She had the best variety of rare, heritage breeds around and I wanted “pretty” chickens, not those run-of-the-mill feed store varieties. Hey, don’t judge! I live in a tragically hip city and need to keep up appearances. But seriously, once I was made aware of the splendid array of chicken breeds–the beautiful colors, the crazy assortment of combs, the mohawks, the feathery hats, ones with five toes, ones that laid green eggs, ones with feathers on their feet–I knew I had to get myself some of that backyard eye candy.
CLICK HERE for rest of article
Guest Blog from Julia Worcester (HumaneTeen.org)
January 16, 2010
Hello! My name is Julia Worcester, and along with Orren and other teens who are doing great work for animals, I am on the Teen Advisory Board of the Humane Society of the United States. I was really excited that KIND News (the publication of HumaneTeen) was able to publish a piece I wrote (about my tiger travels in India) in the February 2010 issue (http://www.kindnews.org/).
I love all animals and have been a vegetarian all my life. I think factory farming is disgusting, I hate animal abuse, and I have two cats and a dog (both cats were found on the street, and we found my dog at a shelter). But my life has pulled me to a more exotic side of the animal kingdom.
Ever since I was nine I have travelled to India about once a year. My mom and I have very special friends in India who are wildlife conservationists, and publish the largest wildlife magazine in India (Sanctuary Asia) and its kids version (Cub). My trips to India are in part because of, and have led me to meet, many amazing people. I have also had so many unique opportunities in India. It has helped me become better in touch with the world and given me many opportunities to help and learn about wildlife, tigers in particular.
I think the work that Orren is doing for chickens, and his feelings for them, are amazing and really important. Personally I have always felt that chickens are the ultimate underdogs, and I began to worry that no one felt the same way about chickens, and that no one speaks out about the horrible conditions in factory farms and slaughterhouses for chickens in particular. Many people are doing amazing work to try to stop the cruelty of factory farming, but even so, chickens still remain an animal that people make fun of and don’t sympathize with.
Throughout my trips to India I have been to several National Parks (Ranthambhore, Corbett, and Sariska). One particularly lively animal that we have seen is the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus is the Latin name). I was told by Indian friends that junglefowl are the wild ancestor of the domestic chicken. It is strange to be in such a wild place where you expect to see tigers and elephants, and a beautiful rooster comes running out of the bush!
Helping animals in any way you can is important. Whether your connection is through your pets, through something interesting that your school did, or anything else, it all counts. Animals deserve attention and respect from us, and helping everything from the smallest chicken to the wildest tiger is a very good thing.
You have to buy this book, it is awesome
Ms. Staples is my favorite photographer and I got to meet her yesterday at The Poultry Congress and she even was nice enough to take a picture of my bird Susan.
Click here to see her photos
Click here to see her photos
If you are interested in chickens
Check out my friends at mypetchicken.com! They are really nice people and know a lot about chickens.
Here you'll find everything you need to know about raising chickens in your backyard: why they're the best pet on earth; how to care for them; which chicken breeds are best for you; where to get them and more.
Here you'll find everything you need to know about raising chickens in your backyard: why they're the best pet on earth; how to care for them; which chicken breeds are best for you; where to get them and more.
Hamburg (My other new chicken!)
"Hamburg Chickens are a very old race of domesticated poultry. The name of the breed is German, but the origin is Dutch. Hamburg Chickens owe their present shape and color qualities to the British fanciers, who, over a century ago, began the work of refining the 'pheasant fowls' of that period into modern Hamburgs. The Spangled type, was kept in Yorkshire and Lancashire three hundred years ago. Also a breed called Black Pheasants was mentioned in a book of 1702. The name Moonies originates from the Moon shape spangles on the feathers. There is mention of them in Thomas Hardy's book 'Tess of the D'urbavilles' The Black and Spangled varieties were evolved in England; the Penciled varieties came from Holland via Hamburg, Germany."
Belgium D'anvers (One of my new birds)
"One of the true bantams, meaning there is no standard bird of the same type, these little bearded birds have been bred for exhibition for many years in Britain and on the Continent. They are found in many colors, including Black, Mottled, Porcelain, Self Blue and Quail. They are delightfully pretty little birds although in my experience the males are often aggressive to people. On the other hand, the hens are very friendly and make wonderful pets." feathersite.com
1/15/10
Do the Honey Bee - TURN IT UP
"We worked with a team of recent high school graduates, concerned about the serious situation facing honey bees, to create their own interpretation of the instinctual honey bee waggle dance. Grab a friend, learn the dance, and "Do the Honey Bee!" from Haagen-Dazs
I don't by it.
"The Chip Tracker"
Supposed to make you feel like your chips are "Local". Ridiculous.
Maybe it is ok only because more people will think about local? I don't know..
1/13/10
That's a problem
Monsanto's GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure
"Effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type. In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity....These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown."
Click Here for story
Click here for Monsanto view
More crazy stuff (thanks for link Rob from California)
Another Interesting Article (from Good.is)
Why do adults think this is ok? WE kids know it makes no sense to make food out of ingredients that make you sick..weird.
"Effects were mostly concentrated in kidney and liver function, the two major diet detoxification organs, but in detail differed with each GM type. In addition, some effects on heart, adrenal, spleen and blood cells were also frequently noted. As there normally exists sex differences in liver and kidney metabolism, the highly statistically significant disturbances in the function of these organs, seen between male and female rats, cannot be dismissed as biologically insignificant as has been proposed by others. We therefore conclude that our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal toxicity....These substances have never before been an integral part of the human or animal diet and therefore their health consequences for those who consume them, especially over long time periods are currently unknown."
Click Here for story
Click here for Monsanto view
More crazy stuff (thanks for link Rob from California)
Another Interesting Article (from Good.is)
Why do adults think this is ok? WE kids know it makes no sense to make food out of ingredients that make you sick..weird.
1/12/10
Just had first conference call!
Newspaper Pots for Seed Starting
From Weekend Gardner
You can use these as you would any pots to grow seedlings for a flower or vegetable garden, or for cuttings for plant propagation.
When it's time to plant the seedlings or cuttings, simply place the entire pot in the ground. The newspaper will break down in a couple of months and become part of the soil.
Note: Make sure the edges of the pot are completely buried. If exposed to the air, any free edges can wick away and evaporate significant amounts of moisture from the young plant.
You can make these pots any size you want, we're just showing you the basic idea to follow; you can make alterations as you see fit.
You will need:
* Black and white newspaper. Don't use colored sheets because they may contain toxins.
* A tube, or an empty drinking bottle, or a drinking glass, anything that is about 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) in diameter. You can also use something smaller like a tomato paste can.
1/7/10
From Good.is (Yah Josh V!)
Since 1998, Slow Food USA, the American branch of the Slow Food organization, has spearheaded community organizing and national policy initiatives advocating sustainable, local food. Two years ago, 30-year-old Joshua Viertel became the organization’s first president. He talked to GOOD about what his organization is doing to further the cause of locally grown, sustainable food.
GOOD: The idea of local, sustainable food has taken off in recent years. But is this movement just a fad, or the beginning of a real change in how we eat?
JOSHUA VIERTEL: I don’t see it as a fad. I think that once people have that experience of growing their own food, or going to a farmers’ market, or cooking from scratch, it’s really hard to go back.
G: But what happens in two years when, for instance, people aren’t canning anymore to save money? What do you do then as an organization?
JV: We still have a bad food system. The recession hasn’t solved that. It’s brought a lot of attention to the issue ... and as we start to have more resources, it will be easier to address the problems we noticed when the resources were scarce.
G: How do you respond to people who say that living the slow food life isn’t an achievable goal for anyone but the wealthiest?
JV: The issue, for me, is that real food is not a privilege, it’s a universal right. No one should have to make a choice between their kids eating food that is going to make them sick or eating food that is bad for the environment, and them eating food at all. That’s just a false choice. And the fact that we have to deal with that at all is a gross injustice.
G: So if this inspires people, what can they do?
JV: Shop at a farmers’ market. Join a CSA [Community Supported Agriculture]. Cook food from scratch. More broadly, get involved with what is now a growing social movement to change the way food and farming work in this country. Slow Food can help you do that. If you join Slow Food, you get involved in that fight more directly. But whether or not you join Slow Food, get involved in that fight.
Photo by Tribble & Mancenido
Have you read this!!
"Commissioners’ Conclusions The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production considers animal well-being an essential component of a safe and sustainable production system for farm animals. Food animals that are treated well and provided with at least minimum accommodation of their natural behaviors and physical needs are healthier and safer for human consumption. After reviewing the literature, visiting production facilities, and listening to producers themselves, the Commission believes that the most intensive confinement systems, such as restrictive veal crates, hog gestation pens, restrictive farrowing crates, and battery cages for poultry, all prevent the animal from a normal range of movement and constitute inhumane treatment.
Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America
Apr 29, 2008
Apr 29, 2008
1/6/10
1/5/10
I'm doing my school project on E. Coli and factory farms
Sources so far
Mr. Bill Marler
on twitter he is @bmarler
Mr. Tom Philpott
on twitter he is @tomphilpott
Eat Wild
suggestion from my friend @nycUlla
E. coli beef recall update raises more concerns about food safety
from my friend @boguskyswife
Food, Inc,
Of course thans @sarahnow
NYT
About EColi
Mr. Bill Marler
on twitter he is @bmarler
Mr. Tom Philpott
on twitter he is @tomphilpott
Eat Wild
suggestion from my friend @nycUlla
E. coli beef recall update raises more concerns about food safety
from my friend @boguskyswife
Food, Inc,
Of course thans @sarahnow
NYT
About EColi
1/4/10
Food Network in the White House organic farm
I saw this excellent episode of Iron Chef last night where many amazing chefs including White house chef Comeford picked their own fresh veggies from the White House garden and then they had to highlight one of the ingredirents in each one of their five dishes.
I am planning on writing a treatment for an idea that i have for the food Network.
You have to check out these blogs!
Farm to Table
by Zachary Cohen
Every Kitchen Table
by Rob Smart
The WHO Farm
by Daniel Bowman Simon
Civil Eats
by Ms. Crossfield
Hungry For Change
by the people at Food, Inc and Sarah Newman
Cooking Up a Story
I know there are more. Write me.
by Zachary Cohen
Every Kitchen Table
by Rob Smart
The WHO Farm
by Daniel Bowman Simon
Civil Eats
by Ms. Crossfield
Hungry For Change
by the people at Food, Inc and Sarah Newman
Cooking Up a Story
I know there are more. Write me.
Mandarin Duck - Flock Tender Certificate
"The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill.Mandarin Ducks, which are referred to by the Chinese as Yuan-yang (simplified Chinese: 鸳鸯; traditional Chinese: 鴛鴦; pinyin: yuān yāng)" - From Wikipedia
"This beautiful little Asian duck is fairly easy to keep in captivity. A cavity nester like its relative the Wood Duck, it prefers to nest off the ground in a hole in a tree or similar situation. An average clutch is 8 eggs and the incubation period is 29 days. In breeding plumage the male is unmistakeable for any other species, with the conspicuous orange "sails" on his back. Excellent fliers, these birds must either be pinioned or kept in covered aviaries." - from feathersite.com
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