February, 2011

Prince Lorenzo Borghese: The Royal Pet Club’s Commitment to Animal Health - Feb 28,2011

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What would you do if your dog suffered from an allergy or even worse, began scratching relentlessly from a rash until he or she drew blood? For pet lovers, it's a heart wrenching experience to watch your dog suffer. Even the use of an Elizabethan collar is pointless and almost cruel. Your beloved pet bites at it, desperately trying to free itself, longing to scratch the itch as it whimpers in agony. Unfortunately, such itching can result in bald spots and open wounds, which, if exacerbated can lead to bacterial infections. The condition of a dog’s skin and coat is indicative of its general health. Everything from pet food, medications, flea collars and the environment can be the problem. Finding a solution, however, is not an easy task. Unlike humans that can opt for over the counter remedies, dogs are not so fortunate. Due to the high costs involved with veterinary testing and treatments,a solution is often not feasible. People will spend thousands of dollars on a myriad of treatments, with no hope of finding a cure. What if you had access to the best vets in the world but still could not find a cure? What if you could source your own ingredients and formulate your own remedy? This is exactly what Prince Lorenzo Borghese did when he founded the Royal Pet Club (http://www.royalpetclub.com). When his precious dog, Belle suffered from severely dry skin, he was completely distraught. He decided to utilize his contacts within the cosmetic industry from his family’s company, Princess Marcella Borghese, to find a solution. Like many other pet lovers, he decided to share his knowledge and manufacture a whole line of organic upscale pet products that have won the approval of pet parents around the world. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Prince Lorenzo Borghese about his work as animal advocate and about the great lengths he has gone through in order to prevent other pet owners from experiencing the same heartache.

Understanding the Impact of GMO on Organic - Feb 25,2011

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Recently, the USDA deregulated genetically engineered alfalfa. Although many organic advocates and activists are in an uproar, most of the general population still does not understand how or why this will affect them much less the organic industry. Unfortunately, until people are faced with a health crisis or have a loved one affected, people will continue to remain ignorant of this disastrous decision. Barbara Peterson has devoted her life to protecting our environment and the creatures we share it with. Being an activist can be tough but this woman is truly a crusader for organic. Barbara is actually retired from the California Department of Corrections, where she worked as a Correctional Officer at Folsom Prison. She was one of the first females to work at the facility in this classification. Barbara lives on a small ranch in Oregon where she raises geese, chickens, horses, her dog Oggie, a variety of cats and an opinionated Macaw named Rita. Her rural lifestyle is being threatened by a combination of increasing federal regulations and corporate shenanigans such as NAIS and Monsanto’s invasive GMO technology designed to make it next to impossible to raise animals and organic food. Barbara’s motto is “It is time to step up to the plate and fight or lose it all without a whimper. Choose to make a stand and fight. We can make a difference!” In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Barbara Peterson, about the dangers of genetic modification, organic contamination, how the technology use agreement entraps farmers and what you can do about it.

Gold Star Honeybees: Top Bar Hive Beekeeping - Feb 24,2011

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Backyard beekeeping can be very rewarding not only to avid gardeners but to anyone who wants to really connect with nature and experience a whole new world. People often think that beekeeping is just about producing honey but it is so much more than that. So, what did bees do before beekeepers? Unable to find a logical answer to what seemed to be a simple question, Christy Hemenway launched an investigation of her own. She came to the conclusion that with bees, less is more, meaning: less human interference equals more health for the honeybee. In 2007, Christy founded Gold Star Honeybees to advance a beekeeping system known as the “top bar” hive - the original movable-comb, managed beehive. The most important feature of a top bar hive is that it lets bees make their own beeswax honeycomb in a natural, chemical free way. Working to build the top bar beekeeping community, Christy has done presentations to beekeepers, gardening groups and organic farmers all over New England and as far south as Atlanta for The American Community Gardening Association. She teaches Top Bar Beekeeping 101 - a Weekend Intensive class where students not only learn the how-to’s of stewarding their bees, but also come to understand the connection between bees and our own well being. The importance of bees to our health, the health of the planet and to all of nature becomes quite clear!Gold Star Honeybees (http://www.goldstarhoneybees.com) manufactures the Gold Star top bar hive kit and its accessories which are sold nationwide. Christy has been published in The Northeast Organic Farmers Association periodical, The Natural Farmer, with the essay entitled Shifting the Paradigm –Towards More Natural Beekeeping. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Christy Hemenway to discuss the top bar hive method of beekeeping. Stay tuned!

Wholesome Sweeteners: The Fair Way Of Sweetening The World - Feb 22,2011

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Sugar is something that just about everyone uses whether it is in your morning cup of coffee, afternoon tea or just an ingredient used to bake your favorite cookies. There are many different choices these days for consumers to choose from. We can use granulated sugar, honey or even agave. With the rapid number of issues being raised due to the genetic engineering of our natural sweeteners, consumers are becoming more cautious and are demanding that their sweeteners are clearly labeled as being certified organic. The Fair Trade certification has become a necessary certification in order to insure that the products are grown sustainably, ethically and will offer consistency in quality. Wholesome Sweeteners is the nation's leader in Fair Trade Certified, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Verified and sustainably produced sugars, syrups, nectars and honeys. In addition to bringing the best organic, sustainable and unrefined sweeteners to the N American market, Wholesome pioneered the certification process for Fair Trade Certified sugar and honey in 2005. They have paid more than $2.5 million in social premiums to benefit farming and beekeeping cooperatives in the developing world. Fair Trade Certified™ is their guarantee that insures that the farmers are paid a set premium for their crops. The money is actually wired directly from their accounts to the cooperatives' accounts in Costa Rica, Malawi, Mexico and Paraguay. This has created a viable economic incentive to protect communities, traditions and the environment. Farmers in these countries can compete against factory farms, are able to keep their land, send their kids to school, develop the quality of their crops and build community resources. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Pauline McKee, Co-Founder and Vice–President Marketing of Wholesome Sweeteners. She will talk about how it all began and what Wholesome Sweeteners is doing to promote sustainability and organic. Stay tuned!

Rooftop Honey: A Bee-Utiful Urban Model For Success! - Feb 21,2011

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Last year, when the great city of New York lifted the ban on beekeeping, people rejoiced as they were now legally free to openly support the honeybee and help nurture the most important pollinator known to mankind. In other cities, people are also working together to help others understand and embrace the importance of the honeybee. Two beekeepers from the city of Melbourne, Australia decided to do something to promote urban beekeeping while giving back to the community and more importantly, to the bees. RooftopHoney.com is an amazing success story in which business owners and residents can participate in a very unique opportunity to enjoy locally produced honey, straight from their own rooftops. The hives are maintained with loving, knowledgeable care, with the primary concern being on bee health and wellness. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Vanessa Kwiatkowski and Mat Lumalasi, founders of Rooftop Honey. They will explain how they got started, the challenges they faced and the overwhelming demand for more programs such as theirs in other cities around the globe. To learn more about bringing this fabulous method of beekeeping to your city, stay tuned!

Lydia Proschinger: Fear Management and Creating Positive Change - Feb 18,2011

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Fear is defined as the belief that something that has not happened has happened. Especially when dealing with change, we are dealing with the unknown which can easily lead us to fear. Change is not always such a bad thing. Sometimes even the most difficult situations can create a clear path to a new horizon. Getting through the difficult periods and coping is the hardest part.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Lydia Proschinger , an Advanced EFT Practitioner and the Host of Living La Vida Healthy (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/serendipity-jane). Lydia is a life coach, advanced (level 3) EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) (http://livinglavidahealthy.org/) and Matrix Reimprinting practitioner, experienced in working with clients on emotional challenges, and serious health matters. She leads her clients to goal achievement with focus, persistence and enthusiasm. To learn more about coping with fear and change without reaching for a pill, stay tuned!

Author Graham White Talks About The Toxic Impact On Our Eco-System - Feb 17,2011

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Graham White is an environmental author, a beekeeper and has worked in environmental education for over 20 years. He is an expert on John Muir and created the John Muir Award which challenges people of all ages to do something for the conservation of nature and wildlife. Graham published the Scottish Environmental Handbook which was the first publication of its kind. He also published The Nature of Scotland as well as a number of John Muir's works. In 1977, Graham hiked from Yosemite to Mt Whitney in a life changing journey which inspired him to create the first environment center in the United Kingdom. Graham began raising awareness against the use of neonicotinoids in 2004 and has also been working to raise awareness about the toxic impact on the entire eco-system. His message is that we are in danger of creating an agricultural environmental that is toxic to wildlife of every kind. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Graham White about his work to raise awareness. Stay tuned!

Joel Greeno: The Impact GE Alfalfa on American Dairy Farmers - Feb 16,2011

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Alfalfa is a key crop to all farmers. It is used by dairy farmers because of its high protein content and highly digestible fiber. It is also fed to other livestock raised for human consumption. Recently, the USDA approved the deregulation of genetically engineered alfalfa. Leaders in the organic community have been outraged and have been speaking out against this decision. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Joel Greeno, the President of the American Raw Milk Producers Pricing Association (ARMPPA ) and is also the Vice-President of Family Farm Defenders. Joel will explain why this is a massive problem for dairy farmers. If you are not sure what all of this controversy is about and want to find out how this is going to impact you and the food you eat, stay tuned!

Author Philip Chandler Talks About Top Bar Hive Beekeeping - Feb 15,2011

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Top Bar Hive Beekeeping is a simple, practical way to have healthy and happy bees in your garden or back yard. You can actually harvest your own honey without the cost and complications associated with conventional beekeeping. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Beekeeping Expert and Radio Host, Phil Chandler, author of the Barefoot Beekeeper (http://www.biobees.com/) Stay tuned!

Author Marie-Claire Hermans discusses Ravishing Raw Organic Cuisine - Feb 14,2011

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When you mention raw food, people immediately think of vegetables and salads. However, there is a lot more to it than that. The appetizers, entrees, and desserts are absolutely scrumptious, appealing to the most particular organic foodie. Organic raw foods have been found to be quite beneficial when it comes to maintaining good health. Like most diets, the hardest part is being able to understand which foods to choose from and what are the perimeters as far as preparation. The cost and time factors are very appealing considering that there is less time and money needed to prepare many dishes which can be made from garden fresh vegetables from your own yard that are prepared with just a few easy steps. Author Marie-Claire Hermans is the founder of Ravishing Raw. She is a raw food coach and is committed to bringing people closer to a healthy and happy life through raw food classes, coaching and lectures. Her life experience, her hunger for knowledge and never ending training are the basis of her coaching and guiding skills. She is so devoted to her work that she even offers her books free of charge on her website which is http://www.RavishingRaw.com!

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Marie-Claire Hermans about the organic raw foods and how you can create some cost effective, delicious meals for you and your entire family. Stay tuned!

Badger Mountain Organic Wine: Using Biodiesel, Composting and Understanding Organic Viticulture - Feb 11,2011

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In 1988, Badger Mountain Vineyard became the first Certified Organic winegrape vineyard in Washington State. They are sincere stewards of the land as they practice IPM, make their own compost tea and even have earth-friendly organic boxed wines too! Since 2006, Badger Mountain Vineyard has been producing bio diesel for all of the vineyard equipment and farm trucks. They have created a weekly route to local restaurants to retrieve their used cooking oil for the conversion. The bio diesel is stored in a solar-heated building in order to create the proper temperatures for conversion. This provides Badger Mountain with clean burning fuel for the vineyard equipment.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Bill Powers, Owner/Founder, Greg Powers, Owner/Winemaker and Mickey Dunne, Owner/Sales Director from Badger Mountain (http://www.badgermtnvineyard.com) about the trends in organic wine production and certification process in the USA. Stay tuned!

Adult Personal Products For Couples: Just How Toxic Can Love Be? - Feb 10,2011

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With St. Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, the stores are stocked with all sorts of products aimed to encourage couples to be more loving and affectionate with one another. However, many of these products are made with chemicals and materials that are not loved by your body and are not very good for the environment.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer, will speak to adult personal care expert Lisa Mazurek, to discuss the toxic chemicals in adult personal products and how the industry is changing to respond to the demands of the organic industry. Lisa maintains the belief that sexuality is a healthy, wonderful part of all of our lives. Through education, people feel empowered to make good, informed decisions and will ultimately, communicate better with their partner which creates an even stronger and more loving relationship with the one they love.

Gluten Free Organic Gourmet At The Chaco Canyon Café - Feb 09,2011

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Let’s face it, if you have food sensitivities, it can be a nightmare to dine out because of the high risk of trusting restaurants and other dining establishments with the purity of your food. The sheer possibility of ingesting one tiny ingredient that accidentally may not be mentioned while describing a particular entrée or side could result in a reaction that can render you sick for the rest of the day or even worse, the course of the next few days. When restaurateur, Chris Maykut decided to open his first café in Seattle, he wanted the experience to be a core joy of life which is to EAT and enjoy food. Based from the outset on an ethic of organic produce, waste-reduction, and unique cuisine, he created his Chaco Canyon’s identity as he grew. Carved into a tiny below-sidewalk space that had no business being a cafe, they steadily grew from the occasional customer to bursting at the seams after 3 years. Is it possible to create a successful business that caters to a very select group? What makes his customers drive to his café from far distances just to buy a loaf of his gluten free bread? Can a business actually be profitable, sustainable and support organic in a very weak economy? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to entrepreneur and restaurateur, Chris Maykut to discuss the business side of feeding people organically, with plant based and gluten free foods that will satisfy the most selective carnivore!

Dr. Henk A. Tennekes: The Catastrophic Effects of Neonicotinoids on Insects And Birds.

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Dr. Henk Tennekes has been involved with cancer research for most of his career. His work regarding bees began after reading an official report to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture on the decline of bees. He was amazed at the lack of information on insecticides as a possible factor in the bee decline. Dr. Tennekes then began to research the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid and clothianidin. He discovered that they were identical to those of genotoxic carcinogens. These chemicals are not only affecting the honeybees but other species that are not closely monitored such as butterflies and other insects. He began to study the food habits of declining bird species and discovered that they depended on invertebrates. Dr. Tennekes is convinced that there is a link between the use of neonics and the decline of insects and birds. Some countries such as Germany have already banned the use of these chemicals. However, if these applications are not banned, there will be an impending environmental catastrophe that is irreversible.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to esteemed Toxicologist and author, Dr. Henk Tennekes, about his research and discuss this monumental devastation that will affect us on a global scale. Please check out his book, A Disaster In The Making http://www.disasterinthemaking.com

Tom Theobald: The Fatal Sting of Clothianidin On Honeybees - Feb 07,2011

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Honeybees pollinate ¾ of all of our agricultural food as well as other important crops such as cotton that are used for textiles. Without them, life as we know it would cease to exist. Any fatal impact on the honeybee would create a monumental disaster. Clothianidin has been widely used as a seed treatment on many of the USA’s key crops (which include canola, soy, sunflowers, wheat and sugar beet crops) for eight growing seasons under a conditional registration granted while EPA waited for Bayer Crop Science, the pesticide’s maker, to conduct a field study assessing the insecticide’s threat to bee colony health. The EPA has moved from granting a conditional registration to full registration of this chemical just in time for the spring planting. Clothianidin is of the neonicotinoid family of systemic pesticides, which are taken up by a plant’s vascular system and expressed through pollen, nectar and gutation droplets from which bees then forage and drink. Scientists are concerned about the mix and cumulative effects of the multiple pesticides bees are exposed to in these ways. Neonicotinoids are of particular concern because they have cumulative, sublethal effects on insect pollinators that correspond to CCD symptoms – namely, neurobehavioral and immune system disruptions.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Tom Theobald, Master Beekeeper, President and founding board member of the Boulder County Beekeepers' Association (http://www.bouldercountybeekeepers.org)about the impact of this devastation chemical.

Stellar Organic: The Art of Producing the 1st Organic, Fair Trade and Sulphur Free Wine in Africa - Feb 04,2011

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People assume that the finest wines in the world are produce with very strict standards for purity. That is not the case as the demand for sulphur free wines has exploded, especially in the organic wine industry. In the organic debate, the USA reserves the label of organic wine for wine made from organically grown grapes and without any added SO2 and where the SO2 level is below 10ppm. The majority of wines made from organically grown grapes have added SO2 but are referred to as organic wines. The majority of organic consumers are under the impression that organic wines contain no preservatives and are surprised to discover that this is not generally the case. Stellar receives constant queries from the public regarding the availability of SO2 free wines. Producing an SO2 free wine allows them to recapture the credibility in organic wines while at the same time giving their customers what they want. On the winemaking side the flavors are cleaner and more transparent. In red wines the colors are often better. SO2 can bleach color.

Stellar Organic is South Africa’s largest producer of organic Fair Trade Certified™ wine. Each year, close to 2 million bottles are produced for the local market and export destinations in Europe, the UK, USA, Canada and Asia. Stellar has been an innovator in the wine industry and has really set the standard for organic wines by becoming the first organic winemaking operation. Well-known for its organic certification and Fair Trade certification, Stellar changed the wine industry standard by becoming the first cellar in Africa to produce commercially viable, no-sulphur added wines. Their wines have won numerous awards over the years in both national and international competitions, proving that organic Fair Trade wines can more than measure up to their conventional counterparts in quality.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Jeremy Shapley, CEO of Stellar Organics (http://www.stellarorganics.com) and (http://www.the-triton-collection.com )

Michelle Buckalew: AnimalWorldUSA.org kicks off Florida’s Week For The Animals - Feb 03,2011

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In every state and country you will find differences in the climate, the people and the creatures that we share the earth with. What if there was a way to create animal welfare awareness for regional issues as well as global issues? That is exactly what Michelle Buckalew did when she founded Animal WorldUSA.org (http://www.animalworldusa.org/) Throughout the year, different states and countries are being celebrated with events that are organized and promoted for an entire weeklong celebration. The 3rd Florida Week for the Animals February 5-13th, kicks off this Saturday, February 5, 2011. Throughout the week, educational institutions, animal shelters, rescue groups, and humane organizations across the state will be hosting scores of wonderful animal-related special events. Educators, students, businesses and caring citizens across Florida will be joining in, creating and planning their exciting activities to celebrate and help animals. Events will include adoption fairs, spay/neuter awareness events, shelter beautification days, R.E.A.D. dog programs in libraries, walks for the farm animals and therapy dogs visiting hospitals and nursing homes. Also to be included are a salute to our canine military and police dogs, feral cat initiatives, animal law events, educational programs at the zoos, blessings for the animals, and full-filled festival days for families to come and enjoy food, music and the always amazing animals! In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Michelle Buckalew who is the Founder of AnimalWorldUSA.org which is kicking off its 3rd annual, Florida’s Week for the Animals(http://www.floridaanimals.org/) Stay tuned!

John Peter Thompson: Why Groundhog’s Day Kicks Off A New Garden Season - Feb 02,2011

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The celebration Americans call Groundhog Day began in the late 18th or early 19th century in the area of Pennsylvania referred to by some as Amish Country. Bearing similarities to Christian and Pagan holidays harkens to our agricultural need to forecast the weather. Weather prediction is a cornerstone of gardening and farming. Gardeners and farmers alike use almanacs, rings around moons, colors of sunsets and sunrises, as well as wind direction and of course experience to predict short and long term temperature and precipitation. Most importantly both use the sequence of plant growth to help them know when to plant see, when to watch for insects and disease, when to cultivate for weeds and when to prepare for harvest. Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and inter-annual variations in climate. The blooming of the forsythia for example is an indicator that pest plants called weeds will soon be germinating. So much to talk about as spring really is right around the corner and the gardener’s time to plant is soon upon us or in the words of the old English round: ‘Sumer is icumen in, Lhude sing cuccu! Groweþ sed and bloweþ med’. In addition to snow, and ice, planting and seeding, there are indoor garden chores which need attention to for now is the time that the garden awakes and gardeners cannot sleep. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Invasive species and Horticultural expert, John Peter Thompson, who is President of the National Agricultural Research Alliance (http://www.NARA-B.org ). John Peter will discuss some of the interesting tools farmers have used as well as things you can do to prepare for this coming gardening season. Stay tuned!

Max Goldberg: Living Organic by Living Maxwell - Feb 01,2011

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The fight for organic and the fight against genetic engineering is one tough battle. There are many people who sincerely talk the talk and walk the walk. One of my favorite organic advocates, activist and Organic Good Food Friends, is Max Goldberg. Max started LivingMaxwell.com (http://www.LivingMaxwell.com) in December 2009. Max’s organic food blog gives readers useful information about the best products, news, trends, and legislation, and provides interviews with the industry's leading CEOs. His blog focuses on his passion for organic food as a means to educate people about its importance and to inspire others to live a healthier lifestyle. Readers follow Max on his journey to eating organic after a long personal battle with high-stress, depression and self-destructive behavior, including his decision to quit Prozac, an antidepressant he had been taking for more than a decade. Later this year, Max will be publishing a memoir, which describes his nearly 11 years on antidepressants and what happened when he went off of the medication in 2001. A former Wall Street investment banker, Max quit drinking in 1999, cigarettes in 2000 and antidepressants in 2001. He has never relapsed once on any of those three. His mission with LivingMaxwell.com is to inspire people to change their relationship with food and to educate people about the importance of eating organic. Max has been profiled and quoted in The Huffington Post and The Chicago Tribune.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Max Goldberg, organic advocate, activist and organic good food friend. We will discuss the current issues the organic industry faces including the highly controversial decision by the USDA to deregulate genetically engineered alfalfa which is going to open Pandora’s box for all things organic. Stay tuned!