Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Aliza Vanderlip <songbird97520@yahoo.com>]

Are your birds fed all organically grown feed?  I have a preference for organic over local - I dont want my birds to eat feed that contains gmo's, pesticides, herbicides etc.  I am lucky in that the barley that I sprout to feed my milkers is locally grown certified organic barley.  I have to say that I disagree with some of the beyond organic folks who use local conventional feeds.  I dont require the certification but I do want it grown in a healthy sustainable way - that precludes using conventional growing methods.   I also dont agree that chicken tractors are humane and sustainable.  I think they are better then conventional chicken warehouses but I like birds to be able to actually run free and scavenge.  I have purchased "pastured" eggs that have light yellow yolks indicative of little in the way of greens actually being in the birds diet.  I want dark yellow yolks that make a bright yellow mayonnaise or omelet and have yet to see that in a chicken tractor type egg that is offered as beyond organic. 

Blessings,

Aliza
www.eftashland.com


“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

--- On Wed, 3/24/10, Eva <eva@whitepineisland.com> wrote:

From: Eva <eva@whitepineisland.com>
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] please help define the term "beyond organic"
To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 2:57 PM

Hi Doug,

Could you please provide a reference for this statement:
"

 "Organic food" at chain stores is shipped 1500 miles on average."

I worry about the beyond organic. While big scale organic certainly has issues, small scale, local organic is held to a very high standard. Have you read the organic standards? Are you willing/able to submit to the same paper trail and inspections that certified organic growers go through?

Doug Willhite wrote:

Hello Paul & All,

I'm attempting to define -- and would appreciate your help  
brainstorming -- the term "beyond organic."  I want to advertise our  
egg sales as "beyond organic" at a nearby farmers market (my  
neighbors started it!! :)  They want to sell our eggs and have asked  
what we meant when we said "beyond organic."

Here's what I've come up with & want your input on:

"Beyond Organic" means supporting neighborhood farms, gardens & your  
local economy. It's how a family chooses to spend it's food budget.

  "Organic food" at chain stores is shipped 1500 miles on average.  
Locally grown foods are close to market and kitchen; fresher, safer,  
healthier, with minimal fossil & non-renewable resources burned in  
delivery.

"Beyond Organic" means curtailing fossil fuel use by supporting local  
food growers.  By "voting" with your food dollars you can help keep 
 
your country, climate, and planet cleaner, safer, and less dependent  
on overseas dictatorships for oil.

By "beyond organic" we also mean TLC, animal husbandry, or old- 
fashioned due respect for the quality of the lives of the chickens,  
goats & other animals in our care -- including animals raised for  
slaughter / meat.

Beyond Organic is the antithesis of the soul-deadening modern factory  
slaughterhouses & industrial farms.  Beyond Organic is real food,  
real folks, real animals & real relationships."



thanks,
doug



http://chihuahuavalley.net



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