An article on page three of today’s Los Angeles Times talked about declining monarch butterfly numbers in Mexico where it winters. But here is an important takeaway that was buried a bit in the article: the use of genetically modified crops (GMOs) in the midwest where the monarch breeds contains Roundup (glyphosphate) that is killing the monarch’s vial food source — the milkweed plant . [Read more...]
Buy Shade Grown Coffee for Birds and Biodiversity
December 30, 2012 by · 4 Comments
1/8/2012 note: Jennifer Yeatts from Higher Trading Grounds said that organic coffee is almost always shade grown “and shade grown coffee is almost certainly organic. So when you buy organic, you’re supporting biodiversity and birds.”
Yesterday’s LA Times article about China replacing tea plantations with coffee because of the Starbucks and Nestle’s growing need for coffee beans reminded me of the importance of shade-grown coffee. Buying shade-grown coffee is an easy way to support biodiversity.
Nature’s Take: Yes on Prop 37
November 5, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
I’ve been following the campaign dollars and the newspaper endorsements surrounding Proposition 37 –where a yes vote would approve the genetically engineered foods labeling initiative.
Polls conducted two months ago showed 2/3 voters supporting it. Now, after a huge ad blitz against the initiative – according to a Reuters article today, $46 million have spent – it’s expected to fail. [Read more...]
GMO Food Concerns: Research to Ponder
July 19, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
It’s taken me awhile to write this one because it’s such a complex issue — and I wanted to better understand it. I still have questions but what I’ve found so far is concerning. And too many people are not talking about it. It’s the rising use of pesticide/herbicide use — and resulting problems — as more genetically modified (GM) are developed and used in agriculture.
The good news is here in California where I live, we will have the opportunity in November to vote on a Right to Know initiative regarding genetically engineered foods. [Read more...]
Pesticides Negatively Affect Human Health
April 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
You’ve likely seen the headlines the last few days. In our local paper, the Los Angeles Times’ “Pesticides suspected in mass die-off of bees“ discussed mounting evidence that pesticides negatively impact bees. I’ve written two prior posts on the collateral damage of pesticides on wildlife – this one addresses human health effects. I think my aversion to pesticides started when my father would get out the can of Raid and spray it on the wasps attracted to our plates of food when we ate outside on hot summer days in Chicago. That led to many a battle between us. If he was still alive, I’m sure we would have a lively discussion on the mounting evidence. [Read more...]
Go Organic to Help the Bees
March 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
One could say I’m on a bee kick. A number of my articles mention bees and despite being allergic to them – the last time I got stung I ended up in the ER, where I left with an epinephrine prescription for constant carry – they fascinate me. Our native plants attract them, the hive under our neighbor’s roof (see photo) houses them, and now a new hive has begun in our palm tree down below. I’m in bee heaven. Then there’s the half dozen I save out of the pool everyday. [Read more...]
Pesticide Use: Consider the Collateral Damage
February 24, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Asian Citrus Psyllid
A couple things have prompted this post. First, we have a potentially devastating disease hitting citrus trees in SoCal with the arrival of an insect Asian Citrus Psyllid. To combat it, a pesticide spray composed of two common insecticides is being applied to local trees. Second, I read a Sierra magazine article called Parkinson’s Alley, on the high rate of Parkinson’s disease in a Central California town surrounded by high agricultural pesticide use. [Read more...]
