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Wood
Prairie Farm
Seed
Piece Newsletter
Organic
News
and
Commentary
Thursday February
28, 2013

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In This
Issue of The Seed Piece:
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Securing
Our Families. Securing Our Future.

Corporate
Self Interest over Our Right-To-Know. The companies
depicted in the graphic above (ourthanks to GMO Free USA) were part of Monsanto’s team which spent $46
million
last Fall to defeat California Prop 37, the people’s Right-To-Know GMO
Labeling referendum. The landmark attempt at labeling
transparency was narrowly defeated after an egregious biotech campaign
of lies and distortions fooled enough voters for the opposition to eek
out a very narrow ‘victory.’ Now the State of Maine and
numerous
other states across the country are pressing for historic legislation
which will protect our citizens and require truth in labeling when it
comes to food containing genetically engineered organisms
(GMOs). Let’s
spend our dollars wisely and divert our dollars away those which would
oppress us. Let’s instead support those companies and institutions
which are good for our families, good for our communities, good for our
country and good for the world. Our efforts mustn’t stop
there,
however. We must work for system change and support our
allies
working on our behalf. Please watch this excellent video
(14:51)
of Mainer Stacy Mitchell “Why We Can’t Shop Our Way to a
Better Economy” to get a fuller picture of what
we must do.
Jim
&
Megan Gerritsen & Family
Wood
Prairie Farm
Bridgewater,
Maine
.
Click here
for the
Wood Prairie Farm Home Page
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Maine Quietly
Mounting Massive Support for
Historic GMO Labeling Bill.
For many months legislators and community leaders
in the State of Maine have been quietly building broad and
unprecented support for passing a historic first-in-the-nation
Right-To-Know GMO Labeling law. This week the bill, LD 718,
jointly sponsored by the bi-partisan team of Representative Lance
Harvell (R-Farmington) and Senator Chris Johnson (D-Lincoln), was
introduced to Maine citizens and legislators.
The bill has the tri-partisan support –
Republicans, Democrats and Independents - of 123 co-sponsors.
This is an astounding number of legislators in light of the fact that
Maine’s citizen Legislature has only 35 Senators and 151
Representatives. This remarkable display of solidarity is a
reflection of the strong support all across Maine for basic honesty and
transparency in labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food.
There are many unanswered questions as to the impact of GE crops on
such varied concerns as human and livestock health, soils, environment,
religious beliefs, farmer sovereignty and rural decline.
Therefore, it is only fair and reasonable that Maine consumers be
provided truthfulness in GMO labeling
which is the tool needed to allow us to determine how we spend our
family’s food dollars.
Last Fall, the Maine
Organic Farmers and Gardener’s Association Board of Director’s, with
the full support of longtime Executive Director Russell Libby,
designated passage of a GMO Labeling bill as top priority for
2013. MOFGA has been spearheading efforts for the bill’s
passage
and is part of the national coalition of states fighting for GMO
labeling.
MOFGA
is in urgent need of contributions to help fund the work needed to
fight Monsanto and win passage of LD 718. Please help our effort in
Maine TODAY by donating whatever you can – even if only afford $5!
Thanks for your support!
Jim & Megan
Click here
for information on Maine’s Right-To-Know GMO Labeling bill.
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Maine On the
Move. The State of Maine's Official Motto is "Dirigo" (I
lead).
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Good Weather
information. And then some.
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Adrenaline
for Weather Watchers.
For those of us who work and play outside and like
staying
abreast of the weather or for any other kind of weather nut, here is
the absolute last word jaw-dropping mother lode weather info site: The Ultimate Weather Education
Website.
Jim
Click here
for our Certified Organic Vegetable Seed. |
Study:
Organic Strawberries Are the Best.
Some of the financially-conflicted self-serving
detractors
of organic farming love to sing the refrain “There is no proof organic
is better for you than conventionally grown food.” Common
sense
disputes this notion because of the important fact that organic farming
pays great attention to soil health and biology, to the building
fertility with natural materials like ground rock powders, green and
barnyard manures, and avoids persistent and deadly toxins which poison
food and the environment.
Our sensible hunch is
confirmed in this classic landmark Washington State University study, Fruit
and Soil Quality of Organic and Conventional Agrosystems,
which confirms that organic, indeed is best.
Here are some of the study’s conclusions. “We found that the
organic farms had strawberries with longer shelf life, greater dry
matter, and higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic
acid and phenolic compounds, but lower concentrations of phosphorus and
potassium. In one variety, sensory panels judged organic strawberries
to be sweeter and have better flavor, overall acceptance, and
appearance than their conventional counterparts. We also found the
organically farmed soils to have more total carbon and nitrogen,
greater microbial biomass and activity, and higher concentrations of
micronutrients. Organically farmed soils also exhibited greater numbers
of endemic genes and greater functional gene abundance and diversity
for several biogeochemical processes, such as nitrogen fixation and
pesticide degradation. Our findings show that the organic
strawberry farms produced higher quality fruit and that their higher
quality soils may have greater microbial functional capability and
resilience to stress.”
Click here to read how Monsanto believes "you should be fully aware
of the facts before making a purchase of strawberries and "the use of
biotechnology in food".
Jim
Click here for Our Organic Seed Potatoes.
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Organic
Strawberries. Yes, a study proves they are the best.
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Better Policy
Needed. The sooner the better.
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Quote: What Does
Monsanto Believe?
Depends on Where
You Live.
“If you put a
label on genetically engineered food you might as well put a skull and
crossbones on it.”
- Kansas
City Star, March 07, 1994
Norman
Braksick
President, Asgrow Seed Co
(A subsidiary of Monsanto)
Monsanto Caught in
Duplicity.
As the top contributor to
defeat the 2012 CA Prop 37 Right-To-Know GMO
Labeling referendum, Monsanto contributed $8,112,867 in fighting
labeling of GMO food. Looks like they really hate labeling
GMOs.
However, if you lived in the UK you would find the
following words proclaiming Monsanto
support for GMO labeling, left over from the 1990s, still
posted on the Monsanto
UK website and aimed at you:
Food Labeling. It has Monsanto’s Full backing.
"Before
you buy a potato, or any other food, you may want to know whether it's
the product of food biotechnology. Monsanto is a leading biotechnology
company. Our potato, corn and soybean seeds are adapted to produce
better yields through better control of pests and weeds. In a step on
from traditional cross-breeding, a naturally-occurring beneficial gene
has been inserted into the plants' genetic make-up. We have complete
confidence that our food crops are as safe and nutritious as the
standard alternatives. Recently you may have noticed a label appearing
on some of the food in your supermarket. This is to inform you about
the use of biotechnology in food. Monsanto fully supports UK food
manufacturers and retailers in their introduction of these labels. We
believe you should be aware of all the facts before making a purchase.
We encourage you to look out for these labels.”
The
real fact is that the people everywhere deserve GMO labeling.
What’s good for UK is good for the whole world, Monsanto.
Jim & Megan
Click here for the latest on Maine’s Historic Right-To-Know GMO
Labeling Effort.
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Recipe:
Blueberry Breakfast Bars.
2 c fresh or frozen blueberries
2 T sugar
2 T water
1 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 c whole
wheat flour
1 c rolled
oats
2/3 c brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 c butter, melted
In
a mixing bowl stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon,
and baking soda. Stir in melted butter until thoroughly combined. Set
aside 1 cup of the mixture for topping. Press remaining oat mixture
into an ungreased 9-by-9-by-2-inch pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for
20-25 minutes.
In a medium saucepan combine berries, sugar,
water, lemon juice and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat
and simmer, uncovered, for about 8 minutes or until slightly thickened;
stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Carefully spread filling
on top of baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Lightly
press oat mixture into filling. Bake in the 350 degree oven for 20-25
minutes more or until topping is set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut
into bars.
Makes 18 bars
-Megan
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Scrumptious
Blueberry Breakfast Bars.
Photo by Angela Wotton. |

Dark Red
Norland. Excellent, early, high yielding. |
Special
Offer: FREE
New & Experimental Variety
Seed Potatoes.
Part of the fun of farming and gardening is trying
out new
varieties of everything including organic Certified seed potatoes.
Now here's your chance to earn
One FREE
1 Pound Sack
of New Seed Potatoes ($10.95 value) – Your
Choice of Dark Red Norland,
Yukon Gem,
Huckleberry,
German Butterball,
Classic Russet,
Prairie Blush,
Adirondack Blue
or Adirondack Red.
when your next purchase totals $45 or more. FREE
1 Pound Sack of New Seed Potatoes
offer ends Monday, March 4, 2013.
Please use Promo Code WPF1140.
Your order and FREE
1 Pound Sack
of New Seed Potatoes must ship by 5/8/13. Offer may not be
combined with other offers. Please call or click today!
Click here
for our Wood Prairie Farm Organic Seed Potato Section.
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Our Mailbox:
Selecting Seed, Eye on Ball, Empathetic Builders, GE Potatoes &
Revolutionary SRI.
Selecting Seed.
Dear WPF.
Making
my list of Must Haves for the Garden this season. Here in Zone 4-5 it
is Cold and White outside but we can be planning. The Gerritsen family
has been
keeping us growing for many years and I have ordered from them several
times! What colors of potatoes do you grow?
AS
Whitehall WI
WPF Replies.
Thanks for your loyal support. We grow Reds,
Goldens, Whites, Purples and Bi-Color. May we
suggest that you consider growing our Prairie Blush? This is
a
new potato (genetic variant) we discovered growing on our farm 12 years
ago. It has golden flesh and a beautiful pink blushed golden skin. One
of our farmer seed customers gave up growing German Butterball - for
many folks the standard of excellence for taste - after trying Prairie
Blush because of what she called Prairie Blush's superior flavor.
Jim & Megan
Eye On The Ball.
Dear WPF.
In 'Bowman v. Monsanto'
the problem is the bigger danger to the environment and our health is
very likely the Roundup that Mr. Bowman sprayed. We should be investing
our emotional and political capital on removing pesticides from our
environment. I'm not saying that GMO's aren't bad, but pesticides ar
emuch worse, with a large and growing body of solid irrefutable
scientific evidence. We in the organic community have taken our eyes
off the ball - we should be fighting pesticides first, GMO's second. If
we put as much effort into opposing Roundup itself, we would indeed be
getting 'two in one blow'.
MM
World Wide Web
WPF Replies.
I believe our eye is on the ball. Inextricably
linked to GE
crops is the issue of who controls the world's supply of seed - seed on
which the planet's people rely. Many of us consider this a matter of
paramount importance. I expect Mr. Bowman, like many farmers, is not
aware of the disasterous
consequences of using Roundup.
However, we are aware of the steady march of control of the seed supply
by corporations. Mr. Bowman deserves credit for the courage to pursue
his highest sense of right and for standing up to one of the world's
foremost corporate bullies. I wish the Supreme
Court justices had exhibited more grasp that patenting of
life forms and patenting cell phones are two different universes.
Jim
Empathetic Builders
But With A Stacked Deck.
Dear WPF.
Are
we raising a next generation of greedy destroyers or empathetic
builders? I'm not sure how to put this but here goes...all these
companies who are harming the environment, perhaps irreparably, employ
many hundreds of thousands (millions) of 99%ers. I see some
young
folks now refusing to work for irresponsible organizations. That gives
me hope. However our whole insane system is based on
consuming...consuming anything and everything, as many as possible to
serve the 'shareholders' (some of the 99%) for profit. If we achieve
our goal of a saner "economy" based on more self reliance and local
community empowerment and production, the transition for many many
people will be extremely painful. The tar sands and extractive
industries that roam the world upsetting indigenous peoples ways of
life and polluting the land forever, employ millions of workers to feed
the system. Little thought has been given to how these "innocents" can
transition to a different, rational world. In our town average property
tax is over $3000 a year, food, heating, water likely add another $5000
a year to the expense account. Then there is the outstanding debt and
mortgages that many of us face. While many of us see that we are
driving fast towards a wall, many of us don't see options. No
University grad who has student loans and wants to start a sane organic
life in the country can afford land, taxes, equipment etc (subsidies go
to the 1%)....There are many issues. Sorry for the rant. Jim, please
keep up your heroic battle..it is vitally important. It is one of many
that we must address for the future of all living beings.
TM
Ottawa ON
WPF Replies.
Well, the 99% are empathetic builders. And yes the deck is
stacked. We have the responsibility to be conscious and to do the best
we can within our own families and in our communities. If one doesn't
have a garden start this year - even if only window boxes on
your
window sills and do buy organic seed from family-scale companies. If
one has a garden, make it bigger. Welcome new opportunities. I just
took an order for organic seed potatoes from a customer who has a plot
in a community garden on a nearby forty-year-old 250 acre organic farm.
At the same time that we live local we must act global. Support our
allies who are selflessly fighting to keep our food options free, to
label GMOs, to stop fracking, to stop child slavery, to get corporate
money out of politics by overturning Citizens United and the thousands
and thousands of other worthwhile efforts to help free humankind from
imposed enslavement. As the proverb says, "If you are facing the right
direction, all you have to do is keep on walking."
Jim
Who Wants GE
Potatoes?
Dear WPF.
Alfalfa and potato are now gmo?
KK
World Wide Web
WPF Replies.
Roundup Ready GE alfalfa was 'deregulated' and
approved for
use by farmers in a poor decision issued by USDA two years ago. At
present there are no GE potatoes grown in the USA. Monsanto's 'New
Leaf' genetically engineered potatoes were voluntarily removed from the
market by Monsanto over ten years ago after McDonald's announced they
would no longer purchase french fries made from GE potatoes. Monsanto's
'New Leaf' potatoes were gene-spliced with a bacterial toxin
insecticide so that every cell of the potato- including the edible
portion - expressed this toxin. In the mid 1990s, Maine was one of many
states where Monsanto introduced their 'New Leaf' potatoes. Monsanto
was required by the Maine Board of Pesticide Control to register the
potatoes themselves as an insecticide. Who did Monsanto think would
want to eat those potatoes? No wonder Monsanto fights labeling of GMO
food.
Jim
Norman Uphoff
& Revolutionary SRI.
Dear WPF.
For 40 years now, says
Uphoff,
science has been obsessed with improving seeds and using artificial
fertilizers: "It's been genes, genes, genes. There has never been talk
of managing crops."
This
gets right to the crux of one of the severe shortcomings of Chemical
farming. Our land is surrounded by farms employing this method and I
can tell you there is hardly any management at all of their crops. You
never see anybody, just the occasional showing up of their giant spray
rigs with presumably a person inside the cab, and then they're gone. No
attention to the soil and its health. No person on the ground walking
and observing the fields. I call it absentee farming. The thing is, the
soil is a living and breathing organism just like rest of cows, sheep,
chickens, etc. on the farm. Good husbandry reaps a better product and a
better relationship to all the inhabitants. Cooperate advocates; push
the opposite idea: less effort and less attention and resulting out of
touch, unhappy farms and farmers.
AB
Greenvile NC
WPF Replies.
System
of Rice Intensification
is one of the most exciting and revolutionary developments in 50 years.
Modern American agriculture is in a maniacal drive for producivity to
the exclusion of all other values. What have we won for our 'highly
productive' agriculture? A system addicted to cheap energy which
poisons the environment, enslaves those who work the land with
monsterous debt and generates faux food laden with chemicals and
biotech applications the sum of which renders the harvest hazardous to
both man and beast. SRI is a breath of fresh air.
Jim |
Wood Prairie Farm Quick
Links
Jim
& Megan Gerritsen
Wood
Prairie Farm
49
Kinney Road
Bridgewater,
Maine 04735
(800)829-9765
Certified Organic, Direct from the Farm
www.woodprairie.com
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