Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

Health, Justice and Sustainability News from the Organic Consumers Association

In This Issue

• Quote of the Week: New Study Reveals Major Health Problems Linked to Genetically Engineered Foods
• Alert of the Week: Support the OCA’s National Organic Standards Board Endorsements
• Alert Update of the Week: Tell Whole Foods and UNFI: Organic Means Respecting Workers’ Rights
• Survey of the Week: Consumers Think ‘Natural’ is Greener Than ‘Organic’
• Related Web Forum Posting of the Week: The Debate Over ‘Natural’ Versus Organic Products – Where Do You Stand On This Issue?
• Good News of the Week: Administration Seeks to Restrict Antibiotics in Livestock
• More Headlines of the Week

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I had the opportunity to represent Peaceful Valley at the 2009 PlacerGrown Conference (Feb. 7 in Lincoln, CA). It was a great event attended by the “who’s who” of small scale agriculture in Placer and Nevada Counties. There were many workshops focused on the following “Strands”, or topics: Community, Getting Started in Farming, Miscellaneous (included workshops on honeybees, producing firewood, and carbon sequestration in agriculture), Farming & Ranching as a Business, Marketing, Interns, and Livestock. Workshop facilitators included Dan Macon, Roger Ingram, Keith Crabtree, Cindy Fake, and Carol Arnold, all very reputable and knowledgeable people involved in agriculture.

Jim Gates (“Meat Jim”), High Sierra Grass Fed Beef

I was especially excited by the Keynote speaker, Micheal Dimock of “Roots of Change” (ROC), a collaborative of people intent on establishing a sustainable food system in California by the year 2030. ROC has a strategy to get critical people and groups working together to establish political momentum, informational links, cohesive vision, and needed grant money. His talk was both intellectual and inspiring; I walked out with a larger view of the complexities involved but hope of the real possibility of a sustainable food system. Check out the website http://www.rocfund.org/, and be sure to endorse the “Declaration For Healthy Food and Agriculture”.

I’d encourage anyone in the Placer/Nevada County area interested in local agriculture to attend next years’ conference!

I found out recently that Oyster Shell is good for feeding to chickens. We have a livestock grade and a garden grade. It provides calcium to the hens which in turn makes for stronger shells on the eggs. So if you get flaky eggshells (like I do) from your hens, put some oyster shell in there… or just let your hens loose on your bocce ball court.

Note: playing bocce ball while hens or eggs are on the court is not recommended!

Also in stock for your hens… Diatomaceous Earth. This material is a great natural insect repellent that is safe for pets and people but keeps insects away. Use it in roosts and nesting or laying boxes to keep the pests away from your hens and chicks.