ORGANIC BYTES #113 Health,
Justice and Sustainability News Tidbits
7/12/2007
STUDY OF THE WEEK: ORGANIC FARMING CAN FEED THE
WORLD A new University of Michigan study indicates that organic
farming is more productive than chemical and energy intensive industrial
agriculture. Researchers noted 293 examples in previous studies that
corroborate the fact that organic farming is better than conventional, but
pointed out that biased studies funded by chemical producers have clouded
the public's understanding of the issue. Corporate agribusiness has spent
decades repeating the mantra that chemical intensive agriculture is
necessary to feed the world. But according to the new report, "Model
estimates indicate that organic methods could produce enough food on a
global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and
potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural
land base." Ivette Perfecto, a professor at the University of Michigan,
said of the study, "My hope is that we can finally put a nail in the
coffin of the idea that you can't produce enough food through organic
agriculture." Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5996.cfm |
GRASSROOTS VICTORY OF THE WEEK: CONGRESS BACKS OFF ON
SUPPRESSING LOCAL RIGHTS TO REGULATE FOOD SAFETY Thanks to everyone who
has joined in on OCA's recent Farm Bill action alerts. Deluged with thousands of
letters from consumers and organic advocates, Congress is removing language,
so-called Section 123, from the Farm Bill that would have eliminated local and
state governments' power to regulate genetically engineered crops and police
food safety at the local and state level (learn more about this past alert here). This is a significant achievement. The 2007-2012 Farm
Bill is a massive, multi-faceted piece of legislation, so there is a lot of work
to be done to move this multi-billion dollar colossus in a sustainable and
equitable direction. If you haven't already done so, please take action on the
following OCA Farm Bill alerts:
DISASTER OF THE WEEK: AMERICA'S CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT
& TOXIC LAWNS
- 67 million
pounds of pesticides are applied to roughly 30 million acres of lawns in the
U.S. each year.
- The #1 most
water intensive crop in the United States is lawn grass. The average lawn is
doused with 10,000 gallons of water each year (in addition to rainfall).
- Synthetic
fertilizers run off into streets and local waterways, choking aquatic life and
polluting our water.
- The EPA
estimates that a mower emits as much pollution in one hour as a car emits in
driving 20 miles.
- Numerous studies
have linked common household herbicides and pesticides to asthma, cancer,
reduced fertility and neurological harm to fetuses, infants and
children.
SOLUTION OF THE WEEK: THE BEST LOOKING ORGANIC LAWN ON
THE BLOCK
- Relax: Don't be afraid to let your average lawn height be higher than the
local putting green. Taller grass has deeper roots, which requires less
watering.
- Seed: You get what you pay for. If you need to seed bare spots in your lawn,
be aware that cheaper grass seeds tend to have more weed contamination than
higher-end products.
- Weed: Use a dandelion digging fork instead of purchasing dangerous
pesticides.
- Mulch: Grass clippings can provide the majority of nutrients needed by a
lawn.
- Fertilize: For yards that require fertilization, most garden centers now carry
organic fertilizers that are better for your lawn and the environment.
- Mow: Use
electric, rechargeable or push mowers. Mow grass when it's dry and make sure
the blade is sharp to reduce damage to grass.
Read the "Citizen's Guide to Organic Lawn Care" for more info:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5997.cfm
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