What Happens In Ct, Doesn’t Stay In CT

It was news that went viral all over the internet. Connecticut was very close to making history by mandating the labeling of genetically modified organisms in food. RightToKnowCT.org which lead the fight had the support of the public (90% of residents surveyed were in favor!)

However, in lieu of the recent events in the state of Connecticut regarding HB 5117 which would have required the labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was downgraded, removing a key provision requiring the labeling of all foods containing GMOs, it is clear that the battle for consumers to rightfully know whether or not food contains genetically modified ingredients is going to be intense. This news also spread quickly with angry citizens demanding that their voices be heard and for legislators to take action.

“Despite the will of the people and the intent of the legislators, the GMO labeling bill surprisingly did not go through, was an eye-opening experience, “ said Tara Cook-Littman, Esq., co-founder of RightToKnowCT.org.

RightToKnowCT.org Co-founders, Analiese Paik and Tara Cook-Littman, Esq, along with dedicated legislators: Representatives Susan Johnson, Kim Fawcett, Richard Roy, Jonathan Steinberg, Fred Camillo, Brenda Kupchick, Tony Hwang, and William Wadsworth

Why Aren’t They Proud?

With biotech stocks remaining strong combined with all of the elaborate advertising promoting GMO’s as “being able to feed the rapidly growing overpopulated world” the question still remains, why won’t the biotech industry label something they are so proud of?

Why isn't biotech proud to label GMO's in food?

If farmers can look forward to a lucrative and sustainable future, why are there so many law suits popping up against the biotech giants filed by farmers who won’t fall in line? Has biotech monopolized agriculture in such a way that farmers have no choice but to succumb to the rules set by these corporations with deep pockets prohibiting the possibilities for a future in organic farming?

Meet Jeffrey Smith

Jeffrey Smith

Bestselling author, Jeffrey M. Smith who has been praised as, “the best science communicator alive today” is the leading consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices. His first nonfiction book, Seeds of Deception, which reads like a fantastical whodunit, quickly became the world’s bestselling and number-one rated book on the subject. His second book, Genetic Roulette, demystifies the 65 health risks of GM foods with simple tables and sidebars. Smith has spoken in more than 30 countries and has been quoted in hundreds of media outlets, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Time magazine. Smith is the Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, a world leader in GMO education, and publisher of the Non-GMO Shopping Guide. Smith lives with his wife in Iowa, surrounded by genetically modified corn and soybeans.

The Interview

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by Jeffrey Smith to discuss the battle to label gmo’s in your food! Click here to listen to the interview!

It’s Summer!

Summer is just around the corner! As we increase our activity, especially during these warm summer months, proper hydration is key. By making better food choices, we can get the natural vitamins and minerals that we need. One way we can properly hydrate our bodies is by juicing.  Properly formulated juicing recipes can help us bathe our cells with vital nutrients and enzymes with each glass!

The Easter Juice Recipe is colorful and delish!

Healthy Food=Good Health!

Rawpreneur, Marie-Claire Hermans started her company Ravishing Raw after she cured herself of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia with raw food. She outsmarted doctors who told her she could never be cured. Firm in her belief she studied the body, mind and spirit, their connection to each other. She invests on a constant basis in her education as a raw food coach, in her own personal growth and in how to be of service to others.

It's Gourmet All The Way!

What distinguishes Marie-Claire from other coaches is that she only specializes in raw food. She specializes in working with people who are struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, empowering them to strengthen their body so it can heal itself and with artists (actors, singers, jazz musicians) who are challenged by their demanding, irregular lifestyle to help them resolve their health issues. What these groups have in common is that they are suffering from tremendous stress and in need of easy, yet effective solutions to increase their energy levels so they can live and perform fully. By concentrating in these particular areas, Marie-Claire offers proven and specific step-by-step coaching programs with personalized guidance on how exactly you can improve your health and lifestyle. As a result, those who work with her can feel the difference in only a short time and are able to build a new lifestyle or find a healthy balance within a busy profession.

Marie-Claire Hermans

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by  Marie-Claire Hermans to discuss how you can kick off your summer season with a healthier start by juicing!

Easter Juice Recipe

TOOLS YOU NEED

• Any juicer will do

INGREDIENTS FOR ONE BIG WINE GLASS

• 1 grapefruit
• 1 lemon
• 1 or 2 oranges
• 1 Forsythia flower is yours is still blooming

THE MAKING OF…

• Juice, top off with a flower and serve in your best glasses!

Deep Purple Recipe (Red Cabbage Recipe)

Simple is wonderful! Try out my red cabbage juice and you will be delighted to have found something completely “different”. The first time I juiced red cabbage I was wondering how to make it palatable and thought of the delicious cooked cabbage of my grandmother. She made it with apples and so…

Marie-Claire's Red Cabbage Juicing Recipe

It makes a wonderful treat for any unexpected guest. But what is more; cabbage is the best vegetable to help you cure stomach ulcers!

TOOLS YOU NEED

• Any juicer will do!
• 1 red organic cabbage
• 2 apples (of course organic)
• Juice and indulge!

Juicy Stuff Recipe

Juicy Stuff Recipe

“One is tempted to say that the most human plants, after all, are the weeds.” — John Burroughs

Wild Juice Everywhere!

Go wild and drink your weeds! These are your true medicines and they are for free! If you are trying to coop with  a tight budget, wild edibles are the ideal solution to nourish your body, to regain or sustain your health without robbing your purse. So what are you waiting for? Take a hike through the woods, the fields or if you have a garden, have a close look at what nature is offering right under your nose.

• Dandelion (you can use everything. Juice the roots with the leaves to “ground” so you don’t get high on juice
• Lambs quarter
• Stinging Nettles (use the tops, don’t use anymore when they produce seeds; the kidneys can’t handle those)
• Wild grasses (all cereal grasses with wide blades are good, not the ornamental grasses from your lawn)
• Outdoor wheatgrass
• Clover
• Chickweed
• Barley
• Purslane
• Cattail
• Mallow or Malva Neglecta
• Plantain
• A slow juicer
• If you don’t have one, blend the greens with a little bit of water and strain it through a sieve or nut milk bag
• Bunch of stinging nettles (they have a soft spinach-like taste so you can use as many as you like)
• 2 dandelion plants with roots
• A whole bunch of wild cereal grasses!
• 2 to 3 narrow plantain plants, 1 wide blade plantain (is more bitter)
• 2 hands full of chickweed (soft taste)
• A hand full of clover
• 4 stalks of white celery
• 1 cucumber
• 2 apples
• About a one inch piece of ginger (to taste)
• 1 fennel (juice their stalks with greens as well)
• 1/2 head of broccoli
• 1 lemon with peel (only if it is organic!)
• 1 TBSP Spirulina (optional but great)
• Some greens such as collard greens, a few kale leaves,…
• Start with juicing the grasses, stinging nettles and throw this pulp on your compost
• Juice all the other ingredients (you can use this pulp for crackers)
• A Juicer
• A sharp knife and a cutting board
• Two big apples, cored
• One pear
• One kiwi
• About 6 to 8 carrots
• A BIG chunk of ginger (I love ginger! so if you don’t, you can leave it out or add less)
• One lime

Who’s Buying The Lie?

“Qui transtulit sustinet” or “He who is transplanted still sustains”. This is the motto of the great state of Connecticut. Perhaps the motto should be changed to “Foods which are genetically modified still remain.” Thanks to the recent events eviscerating HB 5117, An Act Concerning Genetically Engineered Foods, the bill may be alive but no longer requires the labeling of GE foods. As of last night, the labeling provision was removed.

90% Ignored!

The battle to mandate GMO labeling in the state of Connecticut looked very promising. 90% of the CT residents polled supported mandatory GMO labeling. Early vote counts within the legislature showed the majority of legislators were in favor of this bill. However, with this action the legislators have clearly demonstrated that what Connecticut residents want does not matter.

Right to Know CT rallied in support of Rep. Richard Roy's GE Foods bill at the Capitol on May 4, only to withdraw support the next morning after learning that the labeling provision had been removed.

According to former New York City prosecutor Tara Cook-Littman, “The constitutional argument is absurd, and everyone knows it.  As long as Connecticut law makers had a legitimate state interest that was reasonably related to the labeling of products produced from the process of genetic engineering, the GMO labeling bill would be considered constitutional by any court of law.”

Biotech’s Hidden Agenda

Cook-Littman, a CT resident, is the co-founder of Right To Know CT, along with Analiese Paik. She stated that representatives and senators who learned of Friday night’s political maneuverings are equally disgusted. Littman says, “it appears that the biotech industry’s influence was in place all along, waiting for this tactic to be deployed at the last minute, with no time to argue before the vote.”

Representative Richard Roy also added, “I feel very strongly that someone or some state has to challenge the use of the Bill of Rights, designed to protect we individuals, from using it to thwart the sharing of information and the subjugation of a whole industry. Residents of more than 50 other countries get simple information saying that GMOs are present in a product. The freest society in the world cannot get that simple sentence.

If GMO labeling were mandated, 90% of the foods in this pantry would not be here!

The labeling provision was eliminated from the bill due to fears that it opened the state up to a lawsuit. The attorneys for the leadership and Governor’s office felt that the Constitutional Rights of Monsanto gave them the power to successfully sue the state. Their main duty was to protect the welfare of the state.”

Listen To The Interview:

Listen to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guests Analiese Paik, Tara Cook-Littman co-founders of Right To Know CT. Also joining the conversation will be renowned GMO activist, Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology.

Please note: Although an invitation had been extended to Governor Molloy’s press staff to participate in this interview, no response was received.

Countdown and Cupcakes is an event is sponsored by the American Celiac Disease Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for the needs of celiac and gluten-sensitive patients. Last year, this community built a cake to celebrate their success. This year, they are making it more personal and are encouraging people to bake one cupcake for each gluten-free year!

Mandate Gluten Free Labeling!

Last year, on August 2, the anniversary of the passage of the Food Allergen Labeling and Protection Act (FALCPA) and two months after the Gluten Free Labeling Summit, FDA announced it would allow 60 more days of comments on the gluten free labeling proposal. When the comment period closed in October, the agency had received hundreds and hundreds of comments. Among the letters was one signed by nearly 5,000 individuals urging the FDA to require products labeled gluten-free to meet a set standard not to exceed 20ppm, the same standard adopted for use in the international community. Please visit 1in133.org to make a donation in order to help continue  their efforts and with the countdown.

Listen To The Interview!

The month of May has been designated Celiac Awareness month. In this segment of The Organic View, best-selling author, Beth Hillson, founder of Gluten-Free Pantry, President of the American Celiac Disease Alliance and editor of Living Without Magazine talks about this initiative on Friday, May 4th at 4pm EST/1pm PST. Click here for the live link to the show!

Author, Beth Hillson

Join The Fun & Win! 1 Cupcake = 1 Year Of Being Gluten-Free!

The celiac community is inviting everyone to make cupcakes as a way to celebrate their success and inspire others begin their journey to good health.  The idea is to make one cupcake for each year that you have been gluten-free.  Please share your joy and post a picture on the American Celiac Alliance Face Book Page! People will vote by “liking” the photos.  Categories include: best presentation, most unique decorations and years of being gluten-free. The winners will receive prizes of gluten-free products and coupons.  Let the baking begin!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossom Cupcakes Recipe by Beth Hillson

photo courtesy of Beth Hillson

Yields: 24 to 28 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups organic cake and pastry Flour
• ½ cup unsweetened organic fair trade cocoa
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1½ cups organic granulated sugar
• 12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted organic butter or organic non-dairy buttery spread, at room temperature
• 3 large organic, free range and hormone free eggs, at room temperature
• 1½ teaspoons organic vanilla extract
• 1 cup organic milk, organic gmo-free soy milk, or organic gmo-free rice milk

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease or oil two 12-cup muffin tins or line with paper liners. Combine the cake flour, cocoa, baking powder; and baking soda. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate. Blend in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing until each addition is just incorporated.

Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin cups, filling a little more than half full. Smooth the tops and bake on the center rack for 16 to 18 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool completely before frosting.

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOM FROSTING

• 1 cup smooth organic peanut butter (any gluten-free brand)
• ½ cup organic milk
• 4 ounces low-fat organic cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon organic vanilla
• 3 cups organic confectioners’sugar
• ½ cup (about 6) organic peanut butter cups, crumbled (optional)

Directions: Beat the peanut butter, milk, cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar together until smooth and fluffy. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with crumbled peanut butter cups. Refrigerate until time to serve.

Cake and Pastry Flour

• 1 cup sweet white sorghum flour (4 ounces)
• 1 cup organic white rice flour (5.4 ounces)
• ¾ cup cornstarch (3.4 ounces)
• 1½ teaspoons xanthan gum (or guar gum)
• ½ teaspoon organic sea salt

Shortcut: This blend makes very light pastries and cookies with a fine crumb but, if you are pressed for time, you may use 2 ½ cups of any organic all purpose flour blend. Add the xanthan gum and sea salt if they are not already in the blend.

History Must Be Made

Mandate GMO Labeling In CT Now!

The pressure is on to mandate gmo labeling in the United States! Which will be the first state? The folks in Connecticut certainly have been working hard to label GMO’s on food labels. Leading the fight are Analiese Paik & Tara Cook-Littman, the founders of the Right to Know CT, a campaign to support HB 5117 and the mandatory labeling of Genetically Engineered foods.

The Petition Has Gone Viral      
Thanks to social media, once again, the word is getting out. All over social media the news has been spreading about the fight in Connecticut to mandate GMO labeling. Click here to take action and sign the petition that thousands of others have signed!

Where’s The Beef? Talk About “Whole Support!”

Considering the fact that conscious consumers do look at the labels and do demand that the food they buy is certified organic and gmo-free, Tara found a whole lot of frustration when she reached out to Whole Foods corporate with no success in obtaining their support.

“I ask you Whole Foods, if this is your policy, why are you not advocating for GMO labeling in CT and other states who are trying to clearly label packaging???”

Consumers have the right to know what is in their food!

The Interview

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guests Analiese Paik & Tara Cook-Littman founders of the Right to Know CT, a campaign to support HB 5117 and the mandatory labeling of Genetically Engineered foods. Click here to listen to the interview!

Meet The Dynamic Duo!  

Analiese Paik is a sustainable food advocate, founder and editor of the award-winning website FairfieldGreenFoodGuide.com. The site is Fairfield County’s premier destination for local and sustainable food resources, news and events. Paik is one of the founders of the Right to Know CT, a campaign to support HB 5117 and the mandatory labeling of Genetically Engineered foods. Paik holds a Master of Business Administration degree and worked in marketing management positions in various sectors of the financial services industry before attending culinary and wine schools. She is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, and studied wine at the International Wine Center in New York City where she received a certificate in wine from the UK’s Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Paik is an avid organic gardener and home cook and delights in teaching these skills to her two school-aged sons. Analiese is a board member of Slow Food Metro North, a local chapter of Slow Food USA, and a member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (NOFA), Aspetuck Land Trust, Friends of Ambler Farm, and a registered American Farmland Trust and Seafood Watch Advocate.

Tara Cook-Littman is a certified Holistic Health Counselor from The Integrative Institute for Nutrition based in New York City.  She currently has a private practice as a Health Counselor guiding clients on a journey to wellness by helping them learn about healthful eating, managing stress levels, feeding their families better and helping them stay active.  Tara is also a member of the staff at the Institute For Responsible Technology, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  Tara began her career as a New York City Prosecutor and is putting her public speaking and advocacy skills to use as a health counselor by leading seminars and also advocating for better food policy within our government. Please visit her blog

Encouraging Good Chi or Qi 

Anyone who works with nature knows that there is a universal life force that is present. By design, nature created plants to have energy is perfectly balanced. This is one of the reasons why spending time gardening or being outdoors enables you to become grounded with a renewed sense of balance, peace and harmony.

This house has very visible elements of Feng Shui, including the two lions, which offer protection.

Feng Shui is the Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it. The word “feng” refers to the element of wind and “shui,” water. The basic concept of Feng Shui is to maintain positive energy or encourage good “chi” for the purpose of balance and harmony. These principles can be applied inside your home as well as your home landscape. Homes and rooms that have been arranged according to Feng Shui principles are very attractive and the inhabitants, successful. Feng Shui was actually used in ancient China primarily, in landscape design in order to develop new communities. Today, people choose to utilize Feng Shui techniques for improving wealth, health or a personal relationship.

Is Feng Shui A Secret Of The Wealthy?

Notice the rearing horses facing each other in the background behind the cast of The Sound Of Music

In Feng Shui, the horse, is a popular figure to display or hang in the home. It is a symbol of success, loyalty, strength, conquest and confidence. The rearing horse, also called the “Victory Horse” is always portrayed as galloping or rearing. It symbolizes upwardly-mobile and career promotions, because of the way they are facing the sky. It is typically utilized by business people and those climbing the career ladder, because it is a symbol of a speedy success and the fast track to fame. It is best placed in the South sector to bring fame, respect, reputation and popularity.

Color DOES Matter!

Color DOES matter, especially when interviewing for a job!

Feng Shui Fashion often comes in handy when trying to seal the deal on your dream job. When trying to make a strong first impression pay close attention to color selection with respect to your clothing choices.  If you are having a hard time securing a new job, try adding a bit of red but only in small amounts! The best colors to wear for job interviews are Black, Dark Blues, Dark and light shades of Grey if you are going into aggressive industries like Politics, Law, Sales or Marketing.  These Feng Shui Fashion Colors demonstrate that you are focused, serious, and passionate in your beliefs. Your prospective employers will also notice that you possess a competitive nature to your personality. To learn more, please check out this article: FENG SHUI FASHION AND FINDING THE PERFECT JOB, MADE EASY!

Feng Shui  For The Car

How Car Shui Works

The basic premise of Car Shui is simple. It utilizes Feng Shui techniques and applies them to the perimeters of a car. This is especially important because people spend so much time in their cars. It doesn’t matter why they use the car but that the car has a forward motion. People can use their cars for a myriad of reasons ranging from conducting business, driving their children to school or to extracurricular activities, shopping, or for simply driving to local and long distance destinations, etc. The car simply needs to be in working condition. Car Shui basically utilizes the forward motion in order to direct the Feng Shui Chi into the front windshield of the car and then direct it to the various Feng Shui Bagua compass points.

The Bagua which is an eight sided compass point, represents in Feng Shui, the various aspects of our lives such as money, health, career, helpful people, etc. When you think about how much time you spend in your car, it really is important to have this balance, which can impact other areas in your life.

Learn From A Feng Shui Master

San Dan Yi has been a Feng Shui Practitioner since 1998. San utilizes the Art of Placement for businesses and homes to create balanced and calm environments that are conducive to attracting Wealth, Loving Relationships, improved Health and the protection of family. San Dan Yi believes Feng Shui is a lifelong learning process. He is a proponent of traditional compass school theories and Tibetan Black Hat Sect. He most admires Lillian Woo who he feels made Feng Shui more simplified for the masses to understand. San has been most influenced by the teachings of Terah Kathryn Collins and the Western School of Feng Shui in Northern San Diego County. To learn more, please visit SanDanYi.com or call 928-204-5885.

Listen To The Interview

Listen to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer talks to San Dan Yi about how you can create balance in your home and garden using feng shui techniques.

It’s Confirmed!

It’s the most important news of the day in America and yet not one major news source is reporting it! Here is the full document posted on WoodPrairie.com. While this is a huge victory, we still have a long way to go.

Please note the very end of the bill…

Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE

In order to allow food producers time and opportunity to properly label products in accordance with this act and to avoid disruption in the supply chains of food producers, grocers, and other markets, this act shall take effect 365 days after California and two of the following other states have enacted substantially comparable requirements for the labeling of food produced from genetic engineering: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Rhode Island.

So, who will be next?

In the interim, please support the efforts of a true American hero, Jim Gerritsen of Wood Prairie Farm who is an organic seed farmer in Maine and President of the Organic Seed Growers And Trade Association. Please also donate to OSGATA by clicking this link!

American hero, Jim Gerritsen, President of OSGATA

To learn more about Jim’s efforts against GMO’s please listen to his interviews on The Organic View. 

Jim Gerritsen -The Significance of OSGATA v. Monsanto – Feb 16,2012

Jim Gerritsen -Organic Farmers Appeal OSGATA VS Monsanto – Apr 11,2012

Urban Farming- A Rapidly Growing Trend!

People think that if you want farm fresh organic food, you have to trek out to the country. However, thanks to the demand for locally grown organic food, conscious urban consumers are opting to grow their own food with whatever means they have available.

In Your Farm in the City, An Urban Dweller’s Guide to Growing Food and Raising Animals by Lisa Taylor and the Gardeners of Seattle Tilth, readers will find a myriad of helpful information and kid friendly instructions for utilizing space in the concrete jungle. Some of the chapters feature advice on sowing raised beds, containers and vertical planting to raising chickens, bees, rabbits and goats! This is a comprehensive guide specifically designed for people who are interested in options for farming in an urban environment, which can be tricky due to space limitations, regulations and zoning laws.

Some of the things you will learn are:

• How to create vertical gardens and grow food in containers.
• How to realistically maintain a small garden or raise livestock with a hectic schedule.
• Determining which livestock to raise and what conditions are required.
• How can kids get involved with gardening and what benefits does it provide them
• What do novice gardeners and novice farmers need to know before they get started.
• How much money can an average family expect to save by growing and raising their own food?
• What other benefits might a family gain from growing their own produce?

The Interview

Lisa Taylor, author of Your Farm in the City

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest Lisa Taylor, Program Manager, Children’s Education Seattle Tilth to discuss how you can create your own farm in the city! Lisa is the co-author of the Maritime Northwest Garden Guide and a frequent speaker on soils, compost, edible landscaping and children’s gardening. She facilitates trainings for teachers and others interested in schoolyard gardening and is passionate about teaching children and their parents where their food comes from and how to care for living things. Lisa lives in Seattle, Washington. Click here to listen to the interview or use the free podcast player below:

Don’t want GMO’s? How about GIYO?

With the growing demand for organic food production, more and more people are looking at sustainable models that will produce a high yield without necessarily having to farm a large acreage. The perfect solution is aquaponics, which is a great sustainable method to “grow it yourself organically!”

Why not grow your own organic food?

Even If It’s Friday, I’m Still Not Eating Fish

When I was initially approached by social media environmentalist and aquapon, Tom Cooley, I took a quick glance at aquaponics and passed. I simply did not think it was for me. I do not eat fish and wanted no part of a system that appeared to give new meaning to farm raised fish, organic or not. However, as I delved deeper into this method of agriculture, I became intrigued. Tom explained to me that you do not have to eat the fish, so I decided to dig a little deeper and discovered a fascinating new world of organic sustainable farming.

With aquaponics, you do NOT have to eat the fish!

What Is Aquaponics?

Aquaponics is the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed, re-circulating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish wastes to plant nutrients. I learned more about this method of growing food organically from Sylvia Bernstein, who was featured on The Organic View Radio Show to discuss her book, Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide to Growing Fish and Vegetables Together. Sylvia gave a very informative interview about how to grow your own food with aquaponics and answered a lot of questions for the newbie “aquapon”. To my delight, I learned that Sylvia was also a featured lecturer at last year’s Mother Earth News festival. Talk about a small world!

Tom Cooley’s Approach To Aquaponics

Tom Cooley has had an interest in sustainable methods of growing food for many years. When he discovered Growing Power’s groundbreaking innovations in urban farming using aquaponics, he immediately recognized aquaponics’ potential to feed the world. He wrote these documents in an effort to inform more people about aquaponics. In conjunction with the UN’s World Water Day, March 22, 2012, Tom Cooley published two aquaponics documents. The documents attempt to expand the ability of aquaponics systems to assist people in developing countries to feed themselves sustainably. Aside from necessary initial start up imports such as seeds, fish, spirulina culture, etc. the goal is to create systems which can be constructed and repaired using locally available materials.

Aquapon, Tom Cooley

The primary intent of the published document is to help design sustainable high yield food growing systems for tropical and subtropical areas of the world where water is relatively scarce and electricity is not available. Urban aquaponic systems and third world systems where water is relatively abundant have been conceptualized previously. This model endeavors to assist people in areas of water scarcity. The documents are available for the public under a Creative Commons License and can be found by clicking this link for his site  99percentmonkeys.com

Intro to Aquaponics Google Docs link

Third World Aquaponics Google Doc link

Sustain Chat

For more information about aquaponics and sustainability, please join me, @organicguru for the sustainable chat conversation on Monday’s at 5pm, Eastern with Tom Cooley @99_100thMonkeys and Susan Davis Cushing @UberECOcool on twitter. You can also use the hashtag #sustainchat to keep up with the conversation!

Importing Inferior Quality During Peak Season 

When you consider the fact that the USA produces some of the best organic food in the world, it makes absolutely no sense that we continue to import these foods during peak season. As the demand increases for locally grown organic foods, more people are constructing aquaponics models of all sizes to grow their own food. It is not only healthier and more economic but enables people to stop contributing to the monoculture environments that industrial agriculture thrives in which has been producing nothing more than low quality, chemical laden foods.

Why are we importing inferior quality, cheaper apples when we grow top quality fruit already?

A Friendly Solution

Friendly Aquaponics teaches kids how to grow their own food too!

So, what exactly is aquaponics? It is not necessarily a new method but one that has been around for a very long time. Aquaponics is the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed, re-circulating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish wastes to plant nutrients. It is the only modern agricultural technique that isn’t dependent upon fossil fuels to be fully operational. Even conventional agriculture cannot operate without cheap oil, because all of the farm equipment depends upon it.

Aquaponics is the only modern agricultural technique that isn’t dependent upon fossil fuels to be fully operational.

Want To Fight GMOs?

This demand for locally grown organic food is not just a fad, it is a necessity. Even in places like Hawaii where it would be assumed that food would be plentiful, it is not. Hawaii imports 94% of its food. Hawaiians are literally 9 meals away from hunger and 20 meals away from starvation. The most logical preventative solution is for people to take action by growing their own food. Friendly Aquaponics is an organization that is helping people to do this by becoming fully sustainable through aquaponics. The founders, Susanne Friend and Tim Mann, have a vision. They want to share their knowledge about aquaponics with the world in order to help people reconnect with nature by reconnecting with their food.

Listen To The Interview

Save 20% off at FriendlyAquaponics.com when you use coupon code "OrganicView"

Tune in to this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, as host, June Stoyer is joined by special guest, Susanne Friend, of Friendly Aquaponics! Click here to listen to the interview or use the podcast player below!