Press Release: Judge to consider oral argument in lawsuit against Monsanto
NEW YORK – December 29, 2011 – In a development celebrated by the organic plaintiffs, Judge Naomi Buchwald announced yesterday that oral arguments on Monsanto’s motion to dismiss the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) et al v. Monsanto will be heard in federal district court January 31, 2012 in Manhattan. Judge Buchwald’s decision will establish if organic farmers are to see their day in court.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) announces its fourth annual Growing Green Awards to recognize individuals who have demonstrated original leadership in the field of sustainable food. Through this national award, NRDC will recognize extraordinary contributions that advance ecologically integrated farming practices, climate stewardship, water stewardship, farmland preservation, and social responsibility from farm to fork.

Press Release: 12 Organizations File Amici to Defend Plaintiffs’ Right to Trial and Respond to Monsanto’s Attempt to Dismiss Case

After dirtying up my nice clean and sanitized incubator, only 2 of the rescued eggs hatched out. Which was only worth the hassle of having to clean it all over again because they were both pearl grays. Also, because I didn’t have to do it. Middle was willing to carry off all the rotten eggs, scrub off egg shells and hatching goo, and bleach out the ‘bator in return for 15 minutes on the computer. He used that time to play several rounds of Angry Birds. Which is kind of ironic, don’t you think?

It’s hard to say when things started going wrong. I guess it all began when I found that one guinea had flown out of the garden and it appeared to be a female. Leaving me with what looked like two males and one female combing the bean plants for bugs. Or rather, one female combing the bean plants in between the two males as they tried to kill each other. As it happened, a free ranging guinea was hit by a car a few days later and I found her lying in the driveway with a broken leg. Aha! She was a perfect candidate to go in the garden. Another female and a guinea with not much means of escape. So I had 4 guineas in the garden again and the gender issue a bit more evened out. Until she died.

Guineas don’t do spring break. They don’t need a road trip and a beach to wreak havoc when the temperatures start to rise. They can create chaos just fine at home, thank you. And they do.

I’ve always found freshly baked bread is comfort food of the highest order. There is something reassuring about the aroma of baking bread as it fills my kitchen and floats through the rest of my home. If I make a loaf early in the morning, I can almost guarantee that it will be devoured before the end of the day (with a little help from some little mouths in my house). And because I think about these thins, I began to wonder if I could find local flour to for my bread baking. After all I can find vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy, and honey, could I do the same for flour? As it turns out the answer is, yes.

The first thing I noticed about Mary Mitchell, owner of Eagles’ Nest Organic Citrus grove, was the power of her commanding presence….She hails from Paducah, Kentucky, having been a city girl before her husband bought the grove about 30 years ago and as she says, “didn’t have a damn bit of sense about how to run it which means I had to figure it out because all our money was tied up in it.” He passed a way a few years ago but “run it” she has.

The early sunset shadows, cast by the mountains to the west, spread across the city of Boulder, Colorado, bringing with them thoughts of dinner. Idyllic Boulder, with its youthful spirit, adventurous tendencies, and environmental awareness, is the perfect spot for the conscientious diner. The city is full of choices, from college friendly fast-food to health conscious fine-dining, and even a milk and cookies specialty restaurant! With so many choices available, how does one choose? How would you choose? If sustainable, locally sourced food is on your mind, then have your feet carry you across the glowing historic downtown area and through the doors of The Kitchen.

One Christmas a few years ago a dear friend bought me a burlap bag and, I think, a flock of chicks from Heifer International. I didn’t have to carry six furry, cheeping little birds home in that bag – rather, I had a small card noting that these chicks had been given in my honor, to a family who could use them to establish a livelihood for themselves.