Seeds of Deception "You are what you eat" takes on a new meaning by Kim Matthews March 30, 2009 Food has lost its innocence. Works like Fast Food Nation have exposed the underbelly of consumption: the greed of the supplier and the naivete of the consumer. The new milieu proved that food isnÂt what we thought it was, thus spurring the organic and sustainable revolution. However, even eating organic isnÂt enough to keep yourself healthy and safe. Science has dramatically complicated the food system, genetically modifying the plants that grow our food and producing fruits and vegetables that our bodies arenÂt designed to digest. The internationally renowned author, Jeffrey M. Smith, "reveals how industry manipulation and political collusion  not sound science  allow dangerously genetically engineered food into your daily diet" in his bestselling book: Seeds of Deception. The publication reveals the health risks of eating genetically modified foods through the unfolding of evidence that includes internal memos by FDA scientists, warnings of toxins, studies on killing animals, revelation of new diseases and the blatant subversion of information by the powers that be. Smith estimates that 60Â70 percent of the American food supply has unregulated genetically modified ingredients. According to the Institute of Responsible Technology, the bulk of the current commercialized crops in the United States are grown from genetically modified seeds: Soy (89 percent) Cotton (83 percent) Canola (75 percent) Corn (61 percent) Other sources of GMOs include: Dairy products from cows injected with rbGH Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing agents, including the sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that have eaten GM feed Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of pollen Contamination or pollination caused by GM seeds or pollen While this information proves that problems clearly exist in the American food industry, Smith also provides ideas for solutions. The Seeds of Deception website is packed with information on how to change your shopping and gardening habits to protect your family. His other books and resources are also available for order, and there is a link to the new documentary film, "The World According Monsanto," from French filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin. The film exposes the seed giantÂs participation in everything from Agent Orange to the new infiltration of genetically modified food. It's time to eat smarter! Found on internet. -B

We aren't allowed to shoot in the Municipality. Canadian, eh. Tonight there were 4 beauties in our pasture. Sigh. I love venison. I have to admit to using a pellet gun to try to kill squirrels. No success yet. And I am not planning to eat them. We used to have chickens and they were marvellous for cleaning up all the bugs. Then the mink and raccoons killed the chickens. Dogs killed our sheep. I'm quite discouraged about animals on our little farm. I'm hoping that we can deer fence with strong enough, high enough fence that will keep the dogs out and perhaps we can get a few rent-a-sheep to keep things tidy. Isn't gardening great though? It is quite an inexpensive hobby that it very healthy and has wonderful benefits. Beauty and good taste.

Well, I have never found this plant to be particularly difficult to control, overly agressive, or problematic. As I stated above in my posts, I have no real trouble controlling it by harvesting and eating the tubers. Blanket statements about what should and shouldn't be "banned" here, there, and everywhere really bother me. Some plants truly are invasive and problematic in many regions, but things should be evaluated on a case by case basis. And, if we took the attitude that anything non-native shouldn't be grown because it might potentially be invasive, North America problably wouldn't be able to feed itself, and our ornamental flora would be greatly limited. What really bothers me, though, is being told what I can and can't do in my own garden by others. The Michigan legislature, in its infinite wisdom, debated a bill a few years ago, in 2005 I believe, which would have made "possession," defined as having a plant growing upon one's land, whether or not it was there by intent of the landowner, of a whole number of "invasive" species punishable by fines of up to $250,000 and up to 5 years in prison. The fact that the vast majority of these plants, things like purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris, and Japanese knotweed, were already rampant in Michigan didn't seem to register with the geniuses in Lansing, most of whom wouldn't know an invase plant it it bit them on the (well, you know where!). A group of professional growers and amateur gardeners got together and were able to get this horrendous and stupid bill defeated. Had it been passed, as written, it would have turned hundreds of thousands of Michigan landowners into felons overnight. Endangered and threatened native plants should be preserved, but banning plants from gardens isn't the way to go about it -- time would be better spent cleaning, improving, and protecting the specific habitat of threatened natives and learning to grow them in cultivation to preserve the species.

Dave Jacke is good and if I lived closer I would certainly have gone. merrybookwyrm - Forest gardens are normally associated with swales, which are water collection systems, so should have a built in water supply if done the right way. Most trees in Oklahoma are going to require water for the first 3 years while they are establishing a good root system, but after that the swale collecting rainwater should be enough. Swales are tree growing systems.