Monday, January 30, 2012

GMO's and Monsanto: Do you know what you are eating?

Do you know of the company Monsanto or what the term GMO means?  The majority of people living in the United States have no clue.  This is dangerous because it gives power to a group of people who are slowly killing our natural organisms and replacing them with fake engineered organisms which, upon consumption, can cause cancer and other deadly diseases.

Please watch this Youtube video about GMO's.  This is something of which every humane being should be aware.

Monsanto is especially dangerous because they have patented their Genetically Modified seeds.  Do you understand what this means??? They have patented a living organism, something that should not be controlled.  This patent gives them the right to sue anyone who is using the product without compensating their company.  In other words, Monsanto secretly sends their employees to small family farms which neighbor the farms using their seeds in order to find GM plants growing, un-known to the small farmer, on his land and then sue him for everything.  Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto admits to filing 144 lawsuits against America’s family farmers, while settling another 700 out of court for undisclosed amounts.

What is their motive?  Killing off any natural organisms so the only seeds left are GMO's and Monsanto is the only company where you can buy your seeds.

Tomorrow is special because, for the first time, family farmers will take part in a court case filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s GMO seed, which contaminates organic and non-GMO farmer’s crops and opens them up to abusive lawsuits. In the past two decades, Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets.

Please honor this week by educating yourself about the dangers of GMO's and start fighting back for your right to natural food.  

Visit Food Democracy Now for more information.
  

Saturday, January 28, 2012

I am Back!

Wow!  Has it really been more than a year since my last post?  Time goes by so fast; much has happened in my life since Thanksgiving 2010.  For starters, I no longer work at Hi-Rise Bread Company and made a trip to the Netherlands and Germany last spring to volunteer on small farms.  This is something I was inspired to do back in high school when I discovered the WOOFing community (World Organization of Organic Farmers).
Weeding in Veenhuizen, NE

For my trip, I decided to use HelpX, an internet volunteer community which began in England and gained popularity in Australia and New Zealand.  I found this program exceeded WOOF because they offer many different kinds of volunteer experiences.  You buy a one year membership for $25 dollars which allows you to volunteer all over the world; compared to WOOF where you pay $25 dollars per country.  The other aspect of HelpX which exceeded WOOF was their internet system which includes reviews from other volunteers; WOOF only offers a book of contacts which does not include reviews.  Any of you interested?  Check out their website.  I highly recommend traveling in this fashion.  You experience the true culture of the countries you visit and.... a SUPER cheap way to travel!


Central Square Farmers Market
Upon returning to the states I began working for Mass Farmers Markets, a nonprofit organization which  strives to help farmers, communities, and shoppers across Massachusetts improve farm viability, nutrition for low income communities, and knowledge about local and fresh produce.  I was hired as the Membership Associate for their new Consumer Membership program and spent the summer talking to shoppers, market managers, and vendors around MA farmers markets.  I also worked on Development leading their entire Harvest Appeal campaign.  Want to check out my work?  Visit our homepage where you can read the appeal and find more information about the organization and your favorite farmers markets.

I promise to make this blog a priority in 2012 so please keep following to live a healthy, local, and happy life!