Friday, March 1, 2013

Rain Barrel System

What an awesome rain barrel system! I am preparing to get my first rain barrel at a workshop in April. I'm looking forward to it!

Coming Soon!


Thursday, February 28, 2013

"The Case Against GMOs"

TakePart.com did a little fact-checking on some of the claims surrounding the controversy of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and Monsanto.

Some takeaway points:
  • ...genetically altering corn “causes unintended changes in the way it grows, causing it to be less productive.”
  •  “Rats fed on a diet containing NK603—a seed variety made tolerant to dousings of Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller—or given water with Roundup at levels permitted in the United States, died earlier than those on a standard diet"
  • Round-Up Ready crops were supposed to reduce the use of herbicides, but "13 years later, evolution has run its course and now superbugs and superweeds plague farmers. As a result, herbicide use increased by 11 percent between 1996 and 2011."
  • Advice to organic farmers who have to worry about GMO genes making its way into their crops? "In a new USDA report, the government suggests that such farmers buy additional insurance to protect them from crops lost due to unintentional GMO contamination."

Check it out here!