A livestock drug banned in 160 nations and responsible for hyperactivity, muscle breakdown and 10 percent mortality in pigs has been approved by the FDA.
The beta agonist ractopamine, a repartitioning agent that increases protein synthesis, was recruited for livestock use when researchers found the drug, used in asthma, made mice more muscular.
Ractopamine is started as the animal nears slaughter.
How does a drug marked, “Not for use in humans. Individuals with cardiovascular disease should exercise special caution to avoid exposure. Use protective clothing, impervious gloves, protective eye wear, and a NIOSH-approved dust mask” become “safe” in human food? Read More »
I always try to make sure my camera is close by when out in the garden…you just never know what you might see! Recently we have captured a few beneficial “pests” doing a great job in the garden for us. The more beneficial pests we have the less, destructive pest we have and the more balanced the garden environment will be…got to love these little garden friends!
Praying Mantis – We have a new baby Praying Mantis that is camping out on our small Mulberry Tree, doing it’s job by keeping the pests in check. Praying Mantis are Masters of disguise! These six legged, stick-like insects, are colored just right to blend into surrounding foliage. Their diet includes a wide range of insects, including beetles and caterpillars. They grab and capture insects with their “modified” front legs, which are positioned in a “praying” position.
Read More »
We just had the first harvest of the co-op Storknest Garden this weekend and it was really exciting. Even though it is not an abundance of food yet, it is a start and a great foundation to build on. Pat and Paul, the owners of the Storknest emailed me to let me know it looked like some radishes were ready for harvest. It was 28 days to the date that we had planted the seeds and that was the date on the package of when they would be ready for picking! Pat picked some and used them to make a delicious potato salad….yumm. I am using them in my salad in moderation because they are super spicy and sharing them with the other garden volunteers. We harvested one small bunch and left quite a few other plants in the ground to keep growing and get a little bigger. Because the seeds emerged on different days they each have a slightly different growing time…a perfect way to keep the food fresh in the ground until we are ready to eat more!
Notice the difference in the garden in just one month! Don’t wait, get your garden going today!
April 17th, 1020 – Day of First Spring PLANTING at the Storknest Garden
May 16th, 1020 – Day of First Spring HARVEST at the Storknest Garden
by OnFood on May 07, 2010
Evidence for the benefits of organic food is mounting, according to the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) general manager Holly Vyner, who was responding to a recent report on a study claiming that organic food offers no nutritional benefits over non-organic food.
Vyner has drawn attention to a report by the French Agency for Food Safety (FAFS) which found that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally- produced foods and contain lower levels of pesticides.
She said the report by FAFS also showed that organic foods have lower levels of nitrates, which belong to a class of chemical compounds, more than 90 percent of which have been declared carcinogenic.
Vyner also drew upon findings from the largest ever study of organic and non-organic production commissioned by the European Union (EU), for which preliminary findings have shown overwhelming evidence that organic produce has significantly higher nutrient levels. Read More »
WHAT: Organic Food & Film Festival with screening of three films
WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Ocala Civic Theatre , 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, Florida 34470
ADMISSION: FREE for holistic/organic trade show.
Tickets for films: $5 per person per film.
Enjoy a relaxed Saturday — sample organic foods, expand your health-care choices, and watch one, two, or three life-changing and inspiring films about health and organic food. Exhibits indoors and out. Films at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. (Summaries and movie previews/trailers below)
DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 75: EAST on Hwy. 40/Silver Springs Blvd. Drive 4.7 miles, then turn LEFT at the brown Appleton Museum sign. Once on the Appleton premises, make an immediate RIGHT into the Ocala Civic Theatre driveway. Park, come in and enjoy
Visit Website For More information…
When you start to eat local food, you will quickly notice that produce options change as the seasons do. For us here in Florida most local farmers take the Summer off from the intense heat. The good news is that we have a few new Home Growers joining the Co-op and we hope to continue to offer as much of a selection of local food as we can. We will also be adding more bulk and dried good items to the Co-op for the Summer months and will most likely start ordering from a distributor that will bring in food from other states, at a cost less then what the general grocery and Health Food Store offers.
New Order Requirements
Due to the change in season and the fact that we will be offering different products throughout this Summer , the Minimum Order will be reduced to $12 for the Summer months, plus the standard $5 delivery fee. Make sure to add Delivery to your shopping cart.
New Pick-up Location!
If you would like to pick-up your order instead of having it delivered, please add the item “Pick-up In Dunedin” to your shopping cart. We will have a Pick-up Location in Dunedin at the Corner of Michigan Blvd and Princeton Ave. (near the Community Center) on Friday’s between 5pm and 7pm.
Minimum Order will be $15 with NO delivery fee.
Online Market Open until Wednesday night at 10pm!
Place You Order now…
