Organic Vitamins - The Hot New Trend in Nutrition

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It is important to know that 95% of supplements on the market are synthetic, i.e. they are created in a lab. The other 5% are organic whole food supplements and are simply food in concentrated form.

There is a subtle but crucial difference between synthetic supplements, organic vitamins and whole food supplements. Vitamins, neither organic nor synthetic, were meant to be taken in isolation.

A great example of a whole food supplement is acerola cherry powder. The acerola cherry is a rich source of Vitamin C. Basically, the cherries are dried and crushed to create a powder which is mixed into water or juice. As far as your body is concerned you are eating handful of cherries which are full of Vitamin C!

Most of us know that the orange is a great food source of Vitamin C. The reason is that every other substance in the orange works synergistically with the Vitamin C in the body for maximum absorption. A plain Vitamin C tablet usually does not contain these other 'co-factors' which allow your body to reap maximum benefit.

Generally, if we are eating a well rounded diet of veggies, fruits, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, and meats and avoiding white sugar, processed products and denatured foods then we should be getting all of the vitamins we need.

The reality is that most of us are not doing this and even if we were we would probably not be getting what we need. Why not?

First of all, each person has different vitamin requirements based on their genetics, diet, lifestyle and environmental stress load. Believe it or not genetics can play a role in how much say, Vitamin A, you require. Even if you have a wonderful diet full of whole unprocessed foods...

much of the soil on our farmlands has been so depleted that what looks like spinach in 2008 probably bears little resemblance nutritionally to spinach from 1950.

The caveat to this, of course, is produce that is grown organically

In this modern era of focus on diet and nutrition...organics, vitamins and supplements have become a hot topic. It is all at once easy to get hopelessly confused or to completely ignore the overload of information on the subject of vitamins both in food and in supplement form.

It becomes counterproductive to over think your nutritional and vitamin intake, but it is also unwise to ignore it. While we can live without enough of a certain vitamin for a while, in the long term a vitamin deficiency is a precursor to all sorts of health problems.

For example, Vitamin D deficiency is being linked to cancer, heart disease, susceptibility to colds and flus and a host of other problems. Most people who eat a typical American diet tend to be deficient somewhere.

Another factor that depletes our vitamin stores is stress, a.k.a. a busy hectic lifestyle, not enough sleep, lack of exercise, and toxins in our households and our surrounding environment. So what about taking vitamin supplements, and more importantly why should you choose an organic vitamin?

A high-quality, organic, vitamin supplement made from food can be a wonderful way to ensure that your body is getting what it needs.

Although supplements are not a good substitute for a high quality diet they can work beautifully in conjunction with it.

A good quality organic vitamin or supplement has the power to help your body heal through an illness or simply to act as an insurance policy of sorts to prevent future illness.

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We have created a comprehensive resource for organic health and wellness to help you find the ind of quality nutrition your body needs. You can find information about organic vitamins, organic skincare and overall wellness at http://organicvitaminsorganiclife.com .

Causal Weddings the Latest Trend for Brides

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So, you are now engaged to be married. What kind of wedding are you going to have? The latest trend is for couples to go with more causal weddings then full productions. You may have decided that a more causal wedding is what you want to do, though the question is now what?

With young couple's busy schedules, causal weddings are a great idea. With the price a big production wedding can be a strain on new couples getting started in life. Causal wedding allow for a memorable and classy wedding which will still be day to remember.

Invitations

With today's basic graphic computer people can now make classic looking wedding invitations without shelling out the expense. Pick the paper you would like from the store and most basic software packages that comes with your computer has programs for designing invitations and making them personal to you.

Wedding Dress

The latest trend is classy and sexy wedding dresses without long trains. A causal wedding dress still can be just as beautiful with sexy v-necks and open backs. Online allows brides to get wedding dress at low prices.

Bridesmaids Dresses

What to make your bridesmaids love you more than ever. Instead of bright colored dress that they will never wear again nor want to, pick a dress from one of your favorite clothing stores. A classy summer dress can look beautiful and used again.

Flowers

Everyone stills wants flowers at your wedding. It is important to find the right amount of flowers based on the location for your weddings. Many people spend too much time thinking about the flowers which they will never remember in the end.

Reception

The reception is a time for your guest to visit and interact. Often weddings bring people together who haven't seen each other for some time. Most intimate places like a friends or family member's backyard or a personal friend's quite location allows your guest to interact. Many standard locations for weddings place everyone in special seats in a large room and lose the intimacy that your causal wedding can provide.

Music

With everyone having an IPOD or MP3 player, you would be surprised what a DJ your friends and family can be. Set your music player to a set schedule of songs and no one has to worry about the music all night. Working together with friends and family you can compile every song that you would want.


Bridal Online Store has the latest trends in casual wedding dresses and all your wedding dress selections.

Who regulates the certified organic claims?

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The federal government set standards for the production, processing and certification of organic food in the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). The National Organic Standards Board was then established to develop guidelines and procedures to regulate all organic crops. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) during December 2000 unveiled detailed regulations to implement OFPA. These took effect on April 21, 2001, with an 18-month implementation period ending October 2002. At that time, any food labeled organic must meet these national organic standards. USDA’s National Organic Program oversees the program.

Organic Photovoltaics

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Imagine a T-shirt that runs you iPod, a pair of jeans that recharges your cell phone, and a beach umbrella that runs a TV. Sound far-fetched?

Okay, I will agree with you that it does.

Nevertheless, research into photovoltaics and solar energy has reached a point where these are definite possibilities.

What Are Organic Photovoltaics?

Organic Photovoltaics, or OPV for short, are new types of semiconductors which are based on organic materials.

Though they are still in the research phase, OPVs can be made as thin flexible sheets, and as such they can be incorporated into cloth or paper.

Due to the fact that they are flexible they can be mass-produced at low cost. So another result of this advanced research could be low-cost mass-produced inexpensive solar cells.

What are Semiconductors?

Rest assured, whether you understand the below or not, it won't affect whether a solar charging T-shirt will work for you (if it ever hits the market).

But I will try to explain it in simple terms, just so you have a better idea of what we are talking about.

The following is a brief description of semiconductors are.

Semiconductors (organic or not) are materials that have either too many free electrons, or have a scarcity of electrons.

Semiconductors with too many free electrons are called "N-type semiconductors" amongst scientific types of people.

Semiconductors that don't have enough electrons are called "P-type". P-type semiconductors have "holes." Holes are places where there the atom "theoretically" should have an electron, but does not. (Which just goes to show that reality and theory don't always match up.)

By combining materials that have these qualities, we are able to make electrical components such as transistors (transistors are devices which help regulate the flow of electricity).

Some semiconductors are sensitive to light when they are stuck together. It is these semiconductors that are used in photovoltaic cells. When they are exposed to light, a tiny electrical current is created. This is not a new discovery.

But, as stated earlier, it is new that we are able to create a semiconductor out of organic materials. And that opens the door to a whole new range of possibilities.

Incidentally, computer chips are usually made out of semiconductors. So this new discovery might have some interesting applications in the field of computers.

Humanized robots? Artificial intelligence? Who knows.

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Learn more about solar power and alternative energy at http://www.findportablesolarpower.com and http://livingclean.com/alternativeenergy

How a coffee product becomes Certified Organic.

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Copyright © 2008 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC

Understanding how a product such as coffee becomes certified organic, gains a better understanding into the world of nutrition and how food labels affect ones health and well being.

Organic food basically means that even before the food was grown, the area where the seeds or plants were planted had to be free and clear of waste and chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Any type of plant food spray is prohibited when it comes to growing the coffee bean, which means extra care has to be established by the grower such as weeding by hand, pest removal by means of not using any type of chemical and routine feeding and maintenance by drug free plant food. The same goes for organically grown vegetables and also animals that are also being raised for the consumption of organic milk and meat.

For a company or manufacturer to allow their coffee to become certified organic they must first differentiate between their organic growing methods and their more traditional methods that involve the use of synthetic chemicals and sewage sludge in the growing and manufacturing of all the food they grow as well as the animals they raise at the same location.

For products such as coffee to be labeled certified organic, a farm or business must set high standards throughout the entire growing process. From the way seeds or plants are stored to before they are planted, are just as important as keeping unnatural chemicals and preservatives away from them while they are growing. For example, how coffee beans are picked and how they are stored as well as how chemical free they remain while being packaged and shipped is essential in meeting organic food guidelines and measures. Organic coffee beans must meet full organic standards right up until they land on store shelves at the local market or grocery store to be ready for consumers to purchase.

The land in which the coffee or other organic product is being grown on must remain free from any chemical or fertilizer dumping that could contaminate the soil even if it isn't being directly sprayed onto the organic plants. Even the smallest amount of outside contamination can occur from chemicals that have leaked into the surrounding soil, thus making the coffee un-certifiable organic.

Keeping non-certified organic food separate from organic food is essential in keeping up with the standard guidelines with the organic label. Cross contamination of food such as coffee beans is not allowed and could cause a business to lose their license or organic food selling privileges.

Growers must live up to the highest standards in keeping organic versus non organic foods separate from the time of planting and even up to delivery and distribution.

Having the site where the coffee is grown periodically inspected by government food officials or nonprofit organic organizations and private companies is the only way for a product to carry an organically grown stamp on their coffee. Growers must abide by all of these guidelines in order to maintain a healthy environment for coffee until it reaches the consumer.

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"Dr. Robin Rushlo", is a well known MLM Radio personality and is nationally recognized as an expert in the network marketing business.He is the current host of the radio show, "Networking with the Blindguy"live daily from SEAD RADIO Network,providing Success and Retention Training for the network marketing industry brought to you at the Successful People Builders Network http://drinkcoffeegetpaid.com

How is organic coffee produced

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United States of America (Press Release) October 10, 2008 -- What is Organic in the first place?

In the contemporary world organic agricultural production means using traditional methods and materials which are least harmful the surrounding environment. Like Mother Nature for millions of years, the organic agricultural production methods keeps rejuvenating the nutritional richness of soil and sustains its fertility. In the organic agricultural production methods toxic and harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides/insecticides are generally shun and at dire situations minimally used. Instead of them organic methods build biologically diverse agriculture to create the same effect naturally.

The meaning of Organic Coffee

Organic coffee means naturally shade grown coffee untouched by any harmful synthetic chemical and more importantly untouched by merely commercial and profit oriented methods that sacrifice environment leading to local ecological imbalance like severe deforestation, soil erosion and depletion etc.

Organic in the present profit oriented commercial situation of the world means ‘responsible living’, ‘protecting the earth for progeny’, ‘understanding the earth as a living system’ and ‘being knowledgeable about the harms of destroying any part of the eco system’ and so on.

‘Organic’ is the lifeline of future of the health of the earth and humankind.

The ‘real’ ‘natural’ and ‘actual’ coffee

In nature, coffee plants grow under the shade of other trees without needing much direct sun light. Growing under shade trees also means the falling leaves of other trees in due course of time turn out to be excellent natural manure. The layer on layer of fallen leaves works as a blanket to keep the soil moisture protected and intact. The lower layers with moisture and humidity compost and this natural fertilizer keeps the soil nutrients remain in natural balance without being depleted. And the soil remains fertile.

The rich canopy of shade trees also remains the home for varieties of birds which live on insects which in turn are dangerous pests of coffee plants. Due to the presence of large number of bird population, no need arises to use any harmful chemical insecticides. Thus, in the total absence of harmful chemical fertilizers or insecticides the pest controlling birds flourish and the environment remains naturally healthy and life sustaining and supportive.

The coffee grown in this natural environment is the actual coffee that enchanted the mankind through centuries with its taste and flavor.

The method of growing organic coffee

The natural and traditional method to start with involves inter-planting, which means, coffee plants planted along with other shade giving trees contrasting the commercially grown coffee under direct sun light without shade giving trees.

Secondly to allow the falling leaves of trees to compost to form natural fertilizer and to leave the fallen leaves without disturbing them to protect the soil moisture.

Thirdly by allowing the bird population to grow through avoiding felling of shade giving trees and the birds that live on small insects keeps the coffee plants bereft of pests. Birds are natural pesticide and insecticide provided by the nature and going along with nature is what organic method of growing coffee.

And finally through avoiding strictly the use of any chemical fertilizer, pesticide or insecticide the integrity of the natural taste and flavor of coffee is kept intact.

The last step of decaffeinating

For decaffeinating the organic coffee, it is essential to avoid using the commercially used chemical like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate which is considered harmful to human health and carcinogenic. And using such chemicals in the process of decaffeinating coffee beans actual corrupts the original taste and flavor of coffee.

To decaffeinating organic coffee, only certified organic decaffeination processes should be applied or it should be done by using just water to wash off caffeine using the much acclaimed and approved ‘Swiss Water Process’. This is the only accepted method for organic coffee to remain really organic and healthy.


Welcome Organic Coffee

Coffee thus produced under shade trees without the use of any harmful chemicals, be it fertilizer or insecticide and produced without harming the environment in any way like felling of trees leading to deforestation, and which results in soil erosion or depletion of natural nutrients of the soil and decaffeinated through right process is what organic coffee – the natural taste of coffee. And welcoming the organic coffee is a meaningful contribution you render to environmental protection and leave behind a healthy earth for our progeny.

For more information:

NaturesOrganicMarket.com

Be Healthy With Organic Food

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Today's society is vigilant towards consciousness for health and people are constantly searching for factors that are able to give them an edge for achieving to be healthy. We all know that healthy diet, constant physical activity regime, and sufficient rest have profound impact upon our entire vitality. Subsequently, there are an overwhelming number of groups who swear that organic food is extremely beneficial for the overall health of individuals.

How Are Organic Foods Produced?
Produced in organic farms, these foods are grown under stern supervision and guidelines and are packaged and grown without using any pesticides, man-made fertilizers, preservatives, artificial colorings and other chemicals. Non-organic products are subjected to various chemicals, which are usually not thoroughly studied so that their effects over the consumers' body can be understood and contemplated. These chemicals may be linked to anything from some types of cancer to food allergies.

Benefits Of Consuming Organic Food
One of the main advantages of consuming organic food is that these food products are not at all subjected to any unreliable substances. Dairy and meat products prepared under organic principles are also free from any form of chemicals. Non-organic agricultural farmers usually subject the livestock to various chemical supplements designed for speeding their weight and growth. Further, cows in the dairies are given chemicals for increasing their milk productivity.

As per the guidelines for organic foods, the livestock is reared without using any antibiotics or growth hormones and are not genetically modified in any way. The benefits of organic foods are that the livestock are given only organic feed which is free from chemicals and supplements.

Another advantage of consuming organic food is its friendliness to the environment. The non-organic foods are treated through chemicals, which are responsible to change the landscape and contaminate the surrounding ground and water supplies. The ground in which organic food is grown experiences no changes. Making commitment towards using organic foods will make you healthy as the benefits of organic foods lie in enjoying natural whole foods free of chemicals.

As the benefits of organic foods are long lasting and varied to the environment, the decision for going organic is responsible and a healthy one.

In several countries, the producers of organic foods need to get an organic certification so that they can advertise their food products as organic. Chemical free food products are not able to cure any existing illness but are believed to reduce the risks of intoxication of the body, thereby leading to lesser health related problems. The market of organic foods has been fast developing, as the customers are becoming increasingly health conscious and aware about the after effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers used in crops on their health.

Virtually, everyone may agree that organic vegetables, fruits, fish and meats are preferred to non-organic foods grown with insecticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers. At present, non-organic food growers are allowed to make use of more than 1000 chemicals upon their crops, which may heavily lead to soil erosion because of over-farming to the dangerous toxics running off into drinking water.

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Please visit the following websites for more information:
http://www.organicfoodguides.com
http://www.herbalsupplementstips.com

The Health Benefits of Drinking 100% Organic Coffee.

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Copyright © 2008 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC

Trying to decide whether or not to drink organic coffee or not? With organic coffee there are added health benefits that one would not normally find in regular coffee.

Organic coffee is full of antioxidant, nutrients and heart healthy vitamins. Here are some of the health benefits to drinking 100% organic coffee- Full of antioxidants- 100% organic coffees from the private estates in Africa are full of antioxidants mainly because of the volcanic nutrient rich soil they are grown in. Because the coffee plants are grown in the shade, most of their nutrients are preserved. Antioxidants are natural enzymes that help to prevent the onset of diseases and other common medical ailments. Free of pesticides and chemicals- All of the coffees grown and produced at the African private estates are grown with no added pesticides or chemicals. Because of the dangerous consequences of exposure or ingestion of pesticides many people are turning to organic coffee to aid in optimal health without the worry of the long term side effects to subtle pesticide exposure. Chemical and pesticide exposure can cause respiratory or even mental deficiencies with many people.

Natural energy booster or relaxer- Drinking 100% organic coffee from African private estates can give you that natural energy boost that you need in the morning or anytime of the day. The caffeine in these 100% organic coffees is in pure form, straight from the coffee bean plant, making it pungent and potent and a natural way to gain some pep. The African decaf coffee is a gentle way to sooth the senses while avoiding the added rush from the caffeinated brands. Perfect for polishing off a busy day when you just want to curl up with a good novel and relax.

Lose weight- Many use 100% organic coffee to satisfy their weight loss goals. Coffee acts as a natural laxative and diuretic causing a slightly increased output in bodily fluids. Although not recommended as a diet aid or means of nutrition, coffee still satisfies hunger while flushing out toxins at the same time.

There are many health benefits to drinking 100% organic coffee, and the taste of African private estates coffee easily turns it into a healthy drinking habit that can be enjoyed on a regular basis.

Remember, drink to your health everyday with a great cup of organic coffee from a private estate in Africa. This coffee will change your life. Always make it with 100% Organic Coffee.

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"Dr. Robin Rushlo", is a well known MLM Radio personality and is nationally recognized as an expert in the network marketing business.He is the current host of the radio show, "Networking with the Blindguy"live daily from SEAD RADIO Network,providing Success and Retention Training for the network marketing industry brought to you at the Successful People Builders Network http://drinkcoffeegetpaid.com

How Do I Know If My Product is Organic

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What is organic food? The term is becoming more popular. In the United States for a product to claim that it is 100% organic is has to produced following legally regulated guidelines and be subject to strict testing. Typically to because of the detail involve to get the ultra healthy organic food it costs more than the fertilizer and pesticide rich alternatives.

The term organic means that the food was produced without the use of conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or sewage, and that no artificial additives to included in the process. When the term organic relates to animals like beef, the animals are free of antibiotics and growth hormones given typically to make the animals bigger.

In the beginning the only place to get organic food was from your local farmers market. Not any more. Now, family run farms are being over taken by commercial operations that produce still 100% organic food faster and meet the new demand for the products. The United States has grown by 17-20% in organic food sales in the last few years. You can now get organic products from online retailers to Wal-Mart.

In the United States, companies have to pass tough testing and regulations to call their products organic. The term certified organic means that the USDA has certified that the product in question is actually 100% organic. A farmer commercial or family run must apply for their certification. Not all organic food is certified. Food products can be organic and just not have gone through the approval process to be certified.

With the every increasing demand for organic products, more and more products are finding their way into becoming organic. Now, coffee, ice cream, and ketchup can all be found with organic labels and ingredients. There is now an overwhelming change from the overly processed foods that line our grocery stores to more all natural products.

The term all natural is not govern, so the only way to know a product is organic is to get it from a trusted source or grown it yourself. The ladder probably isn't going to happen for most of us. All natural products are not necessarily bad. They are just not going through the certification process to be considered 100% organic.

Looks for the organic label from your trusted places you buy your products. You will have to make the decision on the products that might be 70% or 35% organic. For some products that is as good as it gets for the time being. With the demand high more and more products will start becoming organic. They have to.


Natures Organic Market has low prices on organic baby clothes, organic protein bars, and more.

Greater Green Living by Shopping Online

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United States of America (Press Release) August 9, 2008 -- Our addiction to oil has two major issues. First, with the ever increasing rise in gas prices people are having trouble having enough money for basic living expenses. Second, car emissions send tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is one of the leading causes of global warming. A new unlikely people are fighting back is by doing their shopping online.

Natures Organic Market has found that many of their customers are now shopping online due to the energy crunch. As people want to live more "Green," they are looking for all ways that they can cut back on the energy their require for daily activities. Shopping online makes it convenient to get the things you want. It is better on greenhouse gases for one delivery truck drive carrying 500 packages, then 500 separate people all get in their cars and go to the store.

The best part is that shopping online also saves money. Products are typically cheaper online as they don't have to pay for brick and motor stores. So, before we go any farther you will typically save money just shopping online. Second, if you have been watching your money at the pump melt away, then you understand the total savings in dollars and sense for getting your purchases delivered to you.

As more people are going to Green Living it only makes sense to get your organic products online. The carbon footprint of hosting a webpage pails in comparison to the energy required to keep a large store open for 12 hours a day.

Overall shopping online saves money, lowers greenhouse emissions, and lowers the total carbon footprint of purchasing items.

For more information:


Fresh from the earth, and chemical-free

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Organic produce just tastes better to Chris James. Simple as that.

“I can certainly taste the difference,” he says.

It’s just one man’s opinion, of course. But it’s one shared by a rising number of consumers during an explosion of interest in organically grown food.
Chris James started Fresh Earth Farms in 2003. James and wife Susan bought the farm in 2002, moving to Denmark Township from California where Chris was a software engineer and salesman. (Bulletin photo by Jon Avise)
Chris James started Fresh Earth Farms in 2003. James and wife Susan bought the farm in 2002, moving to Denmark Township from California where Chris was a software engineer and salesman. (Bulletin photo by Jon Avise)
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A recent study by the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Agriculture Department and the state’s university system that analyzed the finances of 45 larger organic farms in the state revealed their average profits doubled in 2007.

On a smaller scale, James has seen the surge in interest firsthand — between 2005 and 2007 the number of customers nearly doubled at his small, family-owned, organic Fresh Earth Farms in Denmark Township.

And, he says, the demand is there to double it again over the next two or three seasons if James and his one full-time and three part-time employees can manage to keep up with the new-found appetite for locally grown fruits and vegetables free of synthetic chemicals.

“Based on the demand I see this year we certainly could increase” the amount of produce Fresh Earth grows each season. “The question from my side is, ‘Do I have the labor to meet the demand?’”

Fresh Earth Farms operates under a food production model called community supported agriculture (CSA) where customers purchase a share of what the farm produces each season. In James’ case, one share is worth 1/300th of what his eight-acre farm grows from the rich Denmark Township soil spring through autumn.

Shareholders receive a box of produce each week — anything from fresh heirloom tomatoes to potatoes pulled from the ground that day, “even artichokes,” the farm’s Web site says — either picking it up from one of the various drop sites around the metro area or from the picturesque farm just off County Road 20.

James had to cap the number of shares available last year at 300 after demand exploded, and interest in his small business, operated on their 20-acres of land west of Afton State Park, hasn’t let up.

He thinks it’s part of a realization by consumers of the importance in knowing where the food on their table came from and what’s gone into it. At Fresh Earth Farms it’s not chemicals doing the work, it’s “complex, active, living soils.”

“Without food you don’t live,” said James, a former software engineer in California’s Silicon Valley and native of White Bear Lake. “It’s important to know where the things you’re putting in your body to survive are coming from. If you don’t know where it’s coming from, how do you know how good it is for you?”

Locally grown and organic produce has become all the rage, evidenced by the expanding organic selection at grocers like Wal-Mart, Target, Rainbow and Cub as well as a spate of new restaurants around the Twin Cities with menus featuring Minnesota and western Wisconsin-produced fare.

James is only too happy to help. He’s an unintentional farmer, a former software engineer and salesman who with his wife Susan moved back to Minnesota from the west coast in 2002. They purchased their 20-acre farm a few miles east of Cottage Grove not to work the land, but to have room for Susan’s horse in the back yard.

“We had no intention of farming,” he said last week, walking along the dirt road that winds past small weed-strewn fields of lettuce, squash, potatoes and strawberries between old whitewashed barns and the family’s farmhouse perched atop a small hill.

When James began selling his organic produce in 2003 — he’d had a small organic garden back in California — he did so at farmer’s markets, a set-up he didn’t enjoy for its unpredictability.

So in 2004 tiny Fresh Earth Farms made the switch to the CSA model, getting roughly 90 customers to buy shares the first year. That jumped to 160 one year later and 300 in 2007 and 2008.

He says selling direct to consumers is probably the only way his small-scale farm can survive so close to the Twin Cities — the higher cost of land and more labor intensive production process means he needs to maximize profit, something selling wholesale to a co-op or grocer wouldn’t allow.

Plus, James says, watching families handpick their weekly allotment of fruits, vegetables and herbs from the boxes of fresh produce on the farm offers him valuable feedback.

“I liked that idea,” he said of CSA. “I wanted to have that relationship with the customers.”

Growing organically gives him a different relationship with the land, too, than would conventional farming methods. It can be a backbreaking effort trying to keep up with weeds and pests, using only naturally occurring, synthetic chemical-free pesticides.

“If we’re not out there every week, hoes in hand, we’re running into problems with weeds,” he says. “You can also see why people use chemicals, because it’s so much easier to spray something rather than go through with a hoe and pick out weeds.”

That increased level of attention and labor is what makes organically grown food more expensive, James says.

Not everyone values it, he knows. But more and more, these days, people do.

Organic food is healthier and a responsible way to grow, he says. But really, for him at least, in Minnesota’s unforgiving climate the appeal is even simpler than that.

“There are about 20 weeks out of 52 weeks a year when you can eat locally grown food — maybe half-a-year or so buying from the farmer,” he said. “So I say take advantage of it when you can.”

Jon Avise can be reached at javise@swcbulletin.com.

For more information on Fresh Earth Farms go to its Web site: www.freshearthfarms.com.

Organic Alliance introducing new line of grass-fed beef

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Organic Alliance Inc. officials said Thursday that the company will make U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified grass-fed organic beef available to its customers this fall.

Officials with San Antonio-based Organic Alliance (Pink Sheets: ORGC) say grass-fed organic beef has up to three times the Amino 3 levels vs. corn-fed beef. The company says this makes it easier for consumers to digest the beef.

Organic Alliance claims that organic beef also contains more omega-3 fatty acids that help keep arteries clean, maintain modest body weight and build the immune system.

Organic Alliance has relationships with farmers, cooperatives and rancher to produce USDA-certified organic food products. The company is working to distribute crops and meats to many of the nation’s leading consumer packaging companies, food processors and national grocery chains.

Web site: organicallianceinc.com

Tips for Breastfeeding Diet

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There are several important things in the life of a woman. Among various things, breastfeeding is considered as the most important thing. Breastfeeding is really a very special experience for women. It is a phase of life which is equally important for both the mother as well as the child. For the women, proper diet at the time of breastfeeding is extremely important. For proper development and well being of the baby it is very important to follow some dos and don't about the breastfeeding diet.

Most of the people remain in dilemma as to take what sort of diet for breastfeeding. If you want to make some alterations in your diet then you are required to wait for a moment. To begin with, it is very important to first of all consult your health care professional so as to make sure whether the alterations made by you in the diet are going in the right direction or not. In case it is suiting your lifestyle then you can certainly go for it. However if it is not then it is advisable to leave that option and go for any other. It is so because you cannot take chances during this phase of your life.

Among various important things, the first and the most important thing is to focus on the proper intake of vitamins in the diet. If you want all the vitamins in right proportion then you cannot manage it with the help of any kind of nutritional supplement. It can be achieved only and only through a well balanced diet. Along with normal breastfeeding diets try to include some fruits as well as vegetables in it. If possible then try to go for five portions of vegetables and fruits in each day's meal. For proper amount of vitamin A and C you can include broccoli in your routine breastfeeding diet. If it is a season of winter then having a sun bath can be an outstanding idea. It is a fact that sun is a great source for vitamin D and it can fulfill your requirement in a natural way. In summer season, you can manage this requirement by going for dairy products, oily fish and margarine in your breastfeeding diet.

Some of the minerals like Zinc, Calcium and Selenium are considered very important for a breastfeeding mother. For including zinc in your breastfeeding diet you can go for red meat, sardines, baked potatoes, hard cheese, cashew nuts and fish like prawns and mackerel. The best sources for calcium include almonds, spinach, white bread, dried figs, tofu and calcium enriched Soya milk, and sardines.

This is all you require to include in your breastfeeding diet. But the description of breastfeeding diet is not confined to this only. There are some of the things which we require not to do while going for a breastfeeding diet. If you prefer the intake of alcohol then it is highly advisable not to have it now. The contents of alcohol indirectly reach to the milk which the young one sucks through the breasts. It can be extremely harmful for the physiological functions taking place inside the body of the young one.

Avoid caffeine as much as possible and go for calorie free sugar. Only go for home made food and avoid the processed food to a very extent. It is not advisable to go for foods which contain a large amount of additives in them. Thus one should not go for consuming peanuts as it is in the position to leave allergens in the breast milk thus it needs to be avoided.

If we talk generally then we can say that there is not at all any specific diet in terms of specific breastfeeding diet. The most important thing that one should take care is to focus on the well balanced diet. Still if you have any doubt or you want to know more about the breastfeeding diet, then either you surf the net or you must consult the doctor. There are several sites on the net that can provide you with all the useful information about the breastfeeding diet.

Breastfeeding is no doubt the most special gift for a woman. It is important to take care for all the aspects as then only it can prove useful for the mother as well as the baby.


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What is Organic Farming and is it Important

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Organic farming is a broad concept with extreme application. It is well appreciated on a large scale by the people as now with the help of it they can easily grow their own food. If you have a little bit of free time with you then you need not to face any kind of problem. You can prepare and serve good quality delicious food by doing organic farming at your home.

It is not true that organic farming is practiced at a small scale only. By having a trip of farming sector you can easily understand how much vast this sector actually is. This is not the case some time before. Few years back it was not a highly thriving and demanding sector but now the case has totally changed. It is now not limited to a small scale industry as day by day more corporate sectors are taking interest in this field. Large corporate farming is taking keen interest in the concept of organic farming. Continuous research is going on to find out the way by which huge fields of a single crop can be grown. No one can deny the fact that in the process of organic farming, pests are believed to be the major threat. Due to harmful impact on the biodiversity unnatural pesticides are not much preferred to use.

If you are going for the natural pesticides for controlling the pests then it is certainly an eco friendly approach but believed to be much expensive in contrast to unnatural ones. Some time before, due to expensive nature they were not much preferred in the process of organic farming. After the entrance of large scale industries with huge budget this can be achieved now very easily. Natural pesticides can be a good option when it is about the large scale organic farming but if you are going for it at your home or at a small scale in a separate piece of land then it is advisable to look for any other good option. This is because like other kinds of farming organic farming also requires the process of sowing, cultivating and harvesting. If you do not have proper arrangement of water for the purpose of irrigation then you require depending largely on the rain water. If you are concluding the process of organic farming at your home then irrigation is not a big issue but even at a small scale proper arrangement of water is very essential. If you do not have a huge budget with you then it can be a difficult work for you. You require investing a good amount on purchase of seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, harvesting, etc.

There is much debate till now on the use of unnatural pesticides in the process of organic farming. Several environmentalists and consumer protection organization have claimed that the use of unnatural pesticides not only damage the environment but also have an adverse impact on the quality of food. For killing the insects and pests these pesticides are used but they are not considered helpful after sometime. It is so because these insects as well as the pests easily get adapted to the effects of the chemicals involved in them and so these pesticides looses their worth. Sooner or later it damages the health of the final consumer who without knowing consumes a large amount of lethal chemicals and synthesized materials along with the natural food. Thus it is injurious for the health of the human being as well.

Thus there are several ways by which you can have your favorite vegetables as well as fruits and that too with the help of inorganic as well as organic farming. As there are several pros as well as cons of both it is up to you to decide the one that is best for you. You can make use of organic farming to turn your dreams into reality and the best part is it is already benefiting millions of people so you are not at all required to worry for it as well.


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