Sustainable Agriculture

Since the end of World War II, dramatic changes have occurred in agriculture. Food and fiber productivity soared due to new technologies, mechanization, increased chemical use, specialization and government policies that favored maximizing production, resulting in fewer farmers with reduced labor demands producing the majority of the food and fiber in the U.S.

These changes resulted in many positive effects and reduced many risks in farming, but there have also been significant costs: topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, the decline of family farms, increasing costs of production, and the disintegration of economic and social conditions in rural communities.

Sustainable agriculture is garnering increasing support and acceptance within mainstream agriculture. Not only does sustainable agriculture address many environmental and social concerns, but it offers innovative and economically viable opportunities for growers, laborers, consumers, policymakers and many others in the entire food system.

This week, a look at sustainable agriculture.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind." - E. B. White (US author & humorist, 1899 - 1985)

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Sustainable Agriculture

Best Ways to Clean Kitchen Sponges

I was recently reminded that the ever trustworthy kitchen accessory, the sponge, is often neglected when it comes to its own cleaning. Sponges are convenient and reusable, but they can carry a big problem. If they're used all day, all over the kitchen, they can pick up a lot of bacteria and viruses along with the spills and splatters.

This week we'll look at various ways to clean your sponge, including something in nearly every kitchen that can clean sponges, as well as sterilize them.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Time cools, time clarifies; no mood can be maintained quite unaltered through the course of hours. " - Mark Twain (US humorist, novelist, short story author, & wit, 1835 - 1910)

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Best Ways to Clean Kitchen Sponges

Virus or Bacteria?

Two types of germs cause most infections in the United States - viruses and bacteria. They are frequently portrayed as harbingers of disease and death. The news is always reporting about some bacteria or virus such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cholera, the West Nile virus, or E. coli causing illnesses around the world. Throughout modern and ancient times alike, these unseen organisms have caused the deaths of millions of people.

Most bacteria are harmless, and without them, life on Earth could not exist. They are essential components of the global ecosystem as decomposers. Viruses, on the other hand, are mostly harmful. They exist only to invade cells and reproduce themselves, usually destroying the host cell in the process.

This week we'll look at the differences between viruses and bacteria.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin (US French-born author & diarist, 1903 - 1977)

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Virus or Bacteria

Questions and Answers About Organic from the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), formerly the Organic Foods Production Association of North America (OFPANA), was established in 1985 in the United States and Canada. Since its inception, the association has been a key player in shaping both the regulatory and market environment for organic products.

OTA’s mission is to promote and protect organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. OTA envisions organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people's lives and the environment.

This week we'll look at Questions and Answers About Organic, as presented by the OTA.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Living in a vacuum sucks." - Adrienne E. Gusoff (US teacher, humorist and greeting card writer)

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OTA

Botulism

You've likely already heard about Castleberry's Food Company and their recall of more than 80 canned goods for people and four products for pets. The main concern with the items is the potential for botulism.

Botulism is caused by the botulin toxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, first recognized and isolated in 1896 by Emile van Ermengem. C. botulinum is also used to prepare Botox, used to selectively paralyze muscles to temporarily relieve wrinkles. I'd rather have wrinkles, but that's just me.

This week, a quick look at botulism.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Have regard for your name, since it will remain for you longer than a great store of gold." - Ecclesiasticus, Apocrypha (Ec. 41:12)

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Botulism