Special Announcement!

Hey everybody!

I have a special announcement:

Some friends of ours have started a band, and will be releasing their first album very soon! However, anyone starting something new needs support!

 So here's what you can do: 

1. Check out their website! At www.4proches.com, you can read about them, look at pictures, and see videos of them singing and playing music together.  

2. You can watch the music video for the title song for their first album, Wayfaring Stranger at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aeOmFMOZSg 

3. If you like what you see, you can hop on over to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1776189549/4-proches-wayfaring-stranger?ref=search and donate to them! 

Or you can just take my word for it that they're worth supporting and go straight to the above link and make a donation! You can make any size donation of $1 or more and special prizes are given for certain donation amounts! So check it out!    

They need $5,000 to release their first album. Basically with Kickstarter, it's all or nothing. $4,000 has already been donated, and they have 9 days left! If at the end of 9 days, they haven't reached their goal of $5,000 no one will be charged the money they donated. So it's all or nothing! 

Please consider supporting them; they're a wonderful family, and they want to use their music to glorify God. A worthier cause there never was! (Plus, they're very talented. I had no idea. I was blown away by their music video.) 
 

Thanks much! 
                                                                                         ~Abby~

Thought for the day

Celtic Festival

  We had a fun day doing our Scottish Country Dancing today!

  The honored clan this year was ours! Clan Campbell! 

  It was very hot at 96 degrees. The Highland cattle looked very hot too! 

 

Lions and tigers and,,,,,,no!

  Make that cows, calves and ducklings! Hope you have a happy flourishing homestead too!

We like our food fresh:)

Squash anyone?

This is an heirloom seed from Baker Creek. Mrs Aquillars is the name. So named after a woman in Louisianna. They will keep up to 6 months in a cool spot. We highly recommend them!!!

Patty pan

  We're growing a new type of squash this year. It is named White Scallop Bush squash. AKA Pattypan. At our house the littles like to call it Peter Pan squash:) Go figure. 

  It is a plant that is grown 8 inches apart and each plant produces dozens of these Peter Pan fruit. They are best picked no larger than 4 inches across. If they get bigger then it is best to peel the skin before cooking. 

  When putting on fruit, these little scallop like water. 

  If you're looking for a new plant to try , we recommend this one. Of course only buy non GMO heirloom seed for all of your plants. Enjoy!

Terms require definitions-

Enough said:)

It's 4 o clock and alls well!

    There seems to be a quiet time of day in the barnyard. 

  Late afternoon when the animals have eaten to their hearts content, the heat of the day has abated, and there is just an overall calm. 

  It's one of my favorite times of day. 

  I enjoy the energy of morning as it helps to get the blood flowing. But there's just nothing like the afternoon barnyard calm. 

  Ever noticed it?

Chicken eviceration-Salatin style!

  The kids always want to record, and document or blog about, how we butcher chickens.
  I realize there are many ways to do it. However, so many people have already made so many videos on it, that I do not find it necessary to do another. I will however make a recommendation!
  We butcher chickens 'Salatin style'.. Joel Salatin of Polyface farms that it! Im a little biased toward Mr Salatin. And, honestly, if I see a chicken butchered any way other than how he does it~it LOOKS wrong to me. I know however that it isn't. We have just found that his way is the best for us and that is what we use.
  As well there are several videos of Mr. Salatin doing an evisceration but I believe the following youtube link gives the clearest view and description. As for the 'why'etc, he has another that was put out by Mother Earth news on youtube.
  So here you go, enjoy!
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=joel+salatin+on+evicerating+chickens&mid=5E361AA4E809339482155E361AA4E80933948215&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

Sumac Jelly

  Ever heard of it? When one thinks of Sumac", they normally think POISON! However that is not the kind of Sumac I am speaking of.
  The kind of Sumac that I am talking about was used by Native American Indians. It can be used to make tea, Sumacade(like lemonade) , jelly or you can dry it as a spice. Add it to pepper for a lemon/pepper seasoning.
  We just made our first batch of jelly with it. A tall tree like bush that was an impediment to me one day, is now a gold mine! Funny how seeing things for what they really are, changes your perspective!
  That is part of the path of self sufficiency isn't it?
  First lets talk about the safe, non poisonous type of Sumac. The clusters of berries are RED.
  Second lets talk about the unsafe, poisonous type of Sumac. The clusters of berries are WHITE.
  So, red good! White bad! There is a clear way to identify the difference...color!
 
 
  Here is a picture of the Sumac that I use. Sumac has the flavor of a mild lemon juice. Sumac berries should be harvested before a big rain. The reason being, there are small hairs on the berries which affect the taste factor of the final product. A hard rain will wash this hair away and leave a bitter flavor. As well, too much boiling will do the same. I treat the Sumac delicately. Here is how I do it.
  We harvest the red cone shape berry clusters by nipping off the entire head. I clean the cones  by gently submerging them into a pot of cold salt water. Then again in clean water. Following this I put on a pot of water to boil. When it has come to a boil I turn it off. When it is done boiling and has cooled a bit, I plunge the cones in and let them steep. After a while I get a potato masher and help to extract the juice. After about , hmmm, who knows, I go off and do some things with one of the 9 children then come back:)......Not likely more than an hour. I then strain out all of the berries through a colander. Then, I strain it through a mesh strainer. THEN I strain through very fine mesh or tripled cheese cloth. Yes by the time I am done I have strained it three times to ensure that I have gotten every single little hair out of the juice. If you swallow one of these you will know it, as it is scratchy on your throat...I speak from experience:)
  Now the following confession is not a recommendation as I would never want to contradict the experts (whoever they are) If you want to make Sumac jelly ''properly"then get a box of Sure Jell, follow the directions for Elderberry (minus the lemon juice) and make it like they say. The following is merely what I do...
  I essentially double the recipe. I also only use bulk fruit pectin as it is cheaper by FAR. If you want to be REALLY self sufficient make up some apple juice to go with it and skip the powder pectin altogether. Ok so here is my DOUBLE recipe;
6 cups Sumac juice
9 cups sugar
10 T powder pectin (which is equivalent to two boxes)
  Add the pectin to the juice and bring to a boil. (also add a bit of butter for foaming if you like. I do)
  Dump in all the sugar, bring to a boil again and keep at a full rolling boil for 1 minute.
  Water bath process for 5 minutes....wella! That will make 6 pints.
  I would love to hear what you think about it! We love it and it must be good! They sell it for 9$ a pint online!
 Enjoy!
 

Carrot crop!

  My daughter finally grew some great carrots this year!

  We thought it would be nice to dehydrate some so we can eat them in the winter- thus taking another opportunity to thank her for her efforts!

Tea harvest!

  Mint tea that is! We were also able to put up some lemon balm. 

  There's just something so homey and quaint about raising, hang drying and putting up tea!

  So comforting to know that it's clean, organically grown, safe to drink and from the front yard!  No chemicals, poisons, not from an unknown source! 

  Isn't it such a blessing? 

HERE IT IS! THE WICK OMNIBUS!

This guy does a far better job than I could do of giving a raving review of this incredible series so I will let him have at it!
 

Dear review reader, How I envy you. If you are reading this, there's a good chance it means that you have never read W1CK and you're trying to decide whether or not you'll give the Omnibus a chance. If you do, you'll get thrown into the kind of mindbending narrative that redefines the way you thought about books. And that's why I envy you. I wish I was, just like you, about to embark on this fabulous adventure for the first time. It makes me kind of mad, actually. Sure, I could reread it, but the pleasure of entering that world without knowing what to expect can't be repeated. Well, actually, that's not quite true. The feeling itself can be repeated: I had experienced it before when I discovered Hugh Howey's Wool. You see? That's the type of experience you're about to face. OK. A few arguments to help you decide, then. But no spoilers here, don't worry. First, it's cheaper than buying the four separate books that constitute the whole story. Second, no, you don't need to be a science-fiction addict, or a dystopia-lover, or a survivalist buff, or anything really, to love this book. Except, and that's my third point... Third, this book is first and foremost real, good, well-written Literature with a capital L. I mean a book written by an author, not just a writer. I mean a book in which each word was carefully weighed and compared with others before being chosen for its surface and hidden meaning. I mean a book that will thrill you first with its narrative, but that will more importantly keep you on your toes and make you read between the lines to get the deeper meaning. About that. And I could have said... Wait, I'll just do it: Fourth, don't worry about that deeper meaning. You may have read about Michael Bunker before, you might have seen a photo or two, and you could be worried that his intentions don't fit in with your lifestyle or beliefs. I'm saying this because that's what I felt at first when I started. I was a little suspicious. So let me just get things straight with that "deeper meaning" thing. It's not about religion or survivalism or anything like that. Once again, it's all about Literature and tying things together, putting multiple meanings into words, creating Meaning. An author, what I personally call an author, is not someone who spends hours a day just to come up with flips and twists. There has to be more. And there is with Bunker. It won't try to convert you to anything or ask you to believe in anything. It's "just" an awesome narrative written like a classic by a master of letters.   Max Zaoui ~ Everyone’s a Critic Reviews

Copyright © 2013 Michael Bunker, All rights reserved.

A book recommendation coming soon!!!

  As soon as I get the complete details- which will  be SOON- we are going to recommend a book series to you.

  It is a HIGHLY recommended book from us and we would like to see all of our friends read it!

  Stay tuned and get ready to hear about it....!!!!

My girl and I!

  We decided to take a pic together today as we waited for Daddy to take us to town. After 5 tries we gave up and settled for this one! How do you like it??

Salsa

  It isn't just for tortilla chips anymore!

  My dear daughter made salsa as soon as the first tomatoes came on. I am so glad she did! Here's a basic recipe:

Chopped tomato

Onion

Pepper (hot or not)

Pressed garlic

Cilantro or basil 

Garlic salt

Lemon juice or line, about a tablespoon

  When we aren't using it for chips or on tacos, we use the fresh mix of veggies on rice, in pasta salad- we even had it as a side with fish the other night. 

  So you can enjoy your salsa many ways!! Who would've guessed?

It's the season....

  To begin planting! Yes you heard correctly! We're replanting our lettuce beds and are going to do a fourth planting of carrots. 

  Soon soon it will be time to do fall planting! Can you believe it is that time already? As we swelter in this summer heat , we begin thinking ahead to the fall harvest! Before long we will be putting up firewood for the winter!

  I believe in a few days we will begin making blackberry jam, then Lord willing I will be busy as can be putting up tomatoes! 

  The beetles are taxing our green bean harvest which is normally my biggest producer. I hope your garden has none of them!  Enjoy every moment of sunshine and harvest!

  

A Carrot!

  Ok maybe we need to get out more- but that carrot is a very exciting thing for us! This is the first year we've been able to grow carrots and that is the first real carrot we've gotten! 

  Did you know you can plant carrots all summer and leave them in the ground for winter? We just planted another row of carrots yesterday! Hope you're enjoying your garden!

Happy birthday to us!

  July is a busy month for our family with three birthdays!  What a beautiful job my daughter did on my cake!!! 

Dinner anyone?

Actually, I'm fasting:) lol!

Two cuties

  What a darling toothless grin! He is currently puppy sitting! That lil bugger loves his "sitter"! 

  If I ever don't know where this lil guy is, I know where to look! The dog pen!

The 4th of July

  Let freedom ring! In our hearts and homes and in our land! May the Author and finisher of our faith , impart to us truth and may His truth set us free. 

  Wishing all of our family and friends, a safe, happy 4th of July. Blessings!

A thought for today

  In and of myself I can do no good thing- It is Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

  Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of heavenly lights , in whom is no variablness nor shadow of turning.

  We all have hopes, dreams and aspirations- but God gives the gifts, abilities and strength to accomplish goals. Aside from Him I can do nothing.

  So as we attempt to fulfill our dreams on this earth, remember the One who is guiding your steps. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are far above ours. 

  May The Lord grant you every success in your endeavors. "Thou wilt keep him on perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee".

I love to dance!

Living with less

  Now that is not a concept we are used to hearing is it?

  Ever tried it? Like living with less dessert, or movies or random shopping sprees?

  Or go really radical and try to use less electricity and a/c or processed foods. Try to grow and raise your food instead of buying it- Try, less convenience! 

  There are many folks trying to be more self sufficient these days and it is a goal which can be accomplished. 

  It is not easy but possible. What I find to be the challenge is, comes when one gets sick, or unexpected company arrives- or when the durn cow gets into the garden. Those unexpected situation create much difficulty. So we're on a quest to determine ways to be better prepared for the unexpected and inconvenient. 

  One KEY component to becoming more self sufficient requires" Thinking Ahead".   Fast food, easy availability of food and mass transit has eliminated the need for us to think ahead and thus we have lost the art of having fore site. This is where our journey begins- in the mind!

Happy Birthday Party!

  A month late but better late than never! We had the girls party downtown last night! Fun times! They also had a few girls stay the night so it was a bit noises til the wee hours if the night! Fun times!

Just sayin-

Thought for the day...

Yummy!

  There aren't too many things yummier than organic mushrooms!!! Check out this meal!

  Complete with fresh organic kale from our garden!! What's for lunch at your house???

Home made laundry soap

YOU WILL NEED:

A 5 gallon bucket

A bar of Fels Naptha Soap

Borax

Washing Soda

Baking Soda

Optional essential oils

Optional Rosemary extract 

 

I thought sure I had posted this before! Oh we'll, Better late than never! 

  We used to have a front loader machine that this recipe worked great in. Now we have a top loader again and the only difference is that I now use more soap per load. No problem! So here are the ingredients:

1 bar Fels Naptha grated into a pot

4 cups of hot water added to melt the soap slowly.

Then stir in 1 cup borax and

2 cups of washing soda, and

1 cup of baking soda

Add more water if needed to melt it together. Now add 3 gallons of hot water to a five gallon bucket. Add your soap mixture and stir well. 

I actually use a drywall stirring tool that attaches to the end of a drill to mix mine but that is not necessary!

Once this is mixed you let it set, and gel overnight with a lid on it. ( always be careful with 5 gallon buckets of liquid and toddlers around!!!)

  I kept my old laundry soap containers to put our laundry soap in so I add it to these jugs in the morning after it has set, leaving a bit of headspace for shaking. I also opt to add essential oils to each jug. 

  I put in 5 drops of tea tree oil, it kills germs- 4 drops of peppermint and 3-4 of lavender. This is totally optional but we love the scent. 

  Also if you don't go through your bottles as quickly as I do, I advise adding a dropper full of Rosemary extract as a preservative. I have never had any spoil but any natural product can! That's what makes it so good!! Let me know how you like it!!

How does your garden grow?

We're eating radishes and lettuce as well we've been enjoying kale for some time. The peas aren't coming on like I had hoped, yet the beans look very promising!! I just started more pickling cukes today- all the tiny peppers and decent sized tomatoes are in- not too much else to do now but wait for our garden to grow!!!!

FOOD FREEDOM!

  I still, with all that I know, find it shockingly disturbing that there is even such a thing as a need to fight for 'Food Freedom'.
  It was happy, albeit harmful, to just eat food~ believe the packaging when it said 'Natural' or 'Healthy'. Who would have ever dreamed about all of the garbage they put in milk, juice and honey.
  In the off chance we did know, we would naturally assume that it was 'tested' and 'safe'... Sigh.
  Well Praise be to God I no longer live in that ignorance. Think about it though...
  Isn't it INSANE that we have to fight for the right to drink raw milk, keep chickens or a goat....? Where DO city dwellers think food comes from?
  Not everyone is able to keep animals nor even have a garden on their own property in the suburbs...but should they not be allowed to have access to good food like we are who live on a farm?
  Sad state of affairs. Like I say, it is difficult to get used to the fact that we have to 'fight' to eat certain foods of choice, but it is the reality nonetheless.
  What kinds of things are you doing now to preserve or obtain some food freedom for yourself or your family? Even more, what can we do on a state or federal level?
  Have you heard about the new 'Farm Bill'? It protects everyone except the farmer. And true to form it is highly gratuitous to the big M....Monstrous Monsanto.
  I believe it is imperative for us, those of us who don't even care about what is in our food...to preserve our right to food freedom. You many not care what is in your food, but if we lose our food freedom the day will come when you too, will end up having to eat what you don't want to. Food freedom affects everyone.
  I would encourage you to vote wisely when called upon, vote for gmo labeling, vote against ANY constitutional amendments that work against the farmer...and don't rely on the lamestream media to tell you what the bills are truly about. Read them yourself.
  Its a sad day when we want truth in labeling and cannot easily get it. It is a sad day when we cant drink raw milk though men have drunk it for 6000 years and lived to tell about it.
  My desire is that we would all do our part in protecting this most basic, yet precious RIGHT...to put in our mouth and on our table, what we choose. May we all do something today to strive for our own
FOOD FREEDOM!

Spring is here!

I guess there are many
things more lovely than seeing a cow eat green grass.....But it certainly is a lovely thing to see! Our big brown cow eating green grass and giving us fresh white milk it truly a gift!
  RC Sproul Jr had a funny post , he said; I remember when raw milk had a different name; Milk.
  Isn't that true? For over 6000 years we have drank milk. Now some nosey uneducated (or rather over educated but lacking in knowledge and wisdom) bureaucrats have decided that a 6000 year habit is no longer healthy. Instead of renaming this staple food from the ages, they should rename that manufactured, unnatural, chemical laden stuff they make; Frankenmilk......just saying'

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

So proud of our girl! Love and blessings to you on your birthday!!!

Sweet 16!!!

 

Happy Birthday to you!! We pray you have a GREAT birthday and a fantastic party! Be blessed, you are a special blessing to your family! LOVE!!!!

My favorite Carpet Freshner/Repellant recipe

  There are a lot of recipes out there on Home made carpet freshener. Of course we want to 'make' it as you avoid unnecessary chemical exposure by using natural ingredients in making your own.
  I always like to 'kill two birds with one stone"...so when I freshen the carpet I want to repel insects as well. So here is my favorite recipe....
  First of all get a zip lock bag. Write on it Carpet Freshener. Open and add an entire box of Baking Soda. Then at your preference and discretion add essential oils. If you look online you will find everything from 4-45 drops of EOs being added to that amount of Baking Soda. I, work with EOs quite a bit and I am comfortable with 15 drops of EOs for that amount of soda.
  So here are the EOs I add;
Citronella~2 drops
Eucalyptus~2 drops
Tea tree oil~3 drops
Peppermint~3 drops
Lavender~5 drops   After adding these drops to the ziplock full of Baking Soda, zip it up and mash the oils into the Soda. Then, get a fork and poke many holes in the bottom of the ziplock. Take your bag and shake it all over your carpet. I also like to put it in doorways and in bathrooms, on the floor.
  Many online recipes say to leave it on the carpet for 30 minutes....really? Hmm, I leave it on about ten or 15 minutes. That seems to do the job.
  A word of caution. I do not recommend any type of freshener be it natural or otherwise if you have crawling babies or small inside pets. Although the ingredients are natural they are very potent. This is another reason I don't leave it on the carpet for long. I have a house full of kids that could wrestle on the floor and inhale more than they should before being vacuumed.
  So exercise caution when doing this.
  Enjoy the sweet scent of your EOs and b  e comforted knowing that ticks and fleas will NOT be enjoying it!!!!
( In case anyone was wondering, I only suggest the use of 1. Heritage Essential Oils, 2. Young Living Essential Oils 3. Frontier oils that are specifically marked 'organic'.)

Oh Missouri, always on the fence.....

 I guess it isn't fair, and it may not be true, yet since the times of the un civil war, MO has been 'in the middle'. Half for union, half not.  It isn't quite that cut and dry I realize. But another battle rages here in this state (many actually) but I find this one particularly odd.
  Monsanto headquarters are in St Louis MO. Baker Creek in Mansfield MO. Two diametrically opposed world views. Each very influential. Figures both entities would be here in MO.
  There is simply not enough talk about GMO. The health dangers are mind boggling.
  You are aware that Monsanto, the chemical company who created agent orange, is just that. A chemical company pushing their wares. All for financial gain. Google all of the lies they tell and the misinformation they put out there.
  Especially dangerous now is the fact that many Monsanto men are in key govt positions. As well, they are protected by law from any lawsuits. You can google that as well. Why do they need protection from the law if what they are doing is lawful?
  Here is my latest rant on the 'Occupy Monsanto' website;

   "We must be astute, and aware of the fact that Monsanto has slowly and methodically infiltrated the food system. Monsanto men, now hold important govt offices as well. Monsanto is a big chemical co that is pushing their wares for a profit. It would be wise and safe to assume that NO seed is pure, safe or non GMO without research and questioning a company directly. Considering the volatile climate in regards to GMO seed, it is not unreasonable to expect a seed company to assure the purity of their product and even prove it. It is unwise to assume anything . Check and double check. If a company understands the dangers of GMOs they will be happy to comply."

  It is very important to buy non GMO seed while we still can. No one really knows the dangerous implications of consuming an altered food. I'm pretty sure that ungodly chemical companies should not be playing God and messing with seed. We have no control of that ....but we can control which kind of seed we buy.

  Seed companies are getting a little tricky and evasive about their seed. Why? Their suppliers are being bought up at a fast rate by Monsanto. They are infiltrating the seed industry at an alarming rate.

  So, when you go to buy seed, go to a reputable source. Have they signed the Safe Seed Pledge? Are they current? Ask questions. It is not unreasonable for us to be 'convinced' that they are selling safe seed. Ask, check, double check and verify. If they are truly a pure seed company they are as passionate as you are about safe food and will by happy to give you all of the information you request.

Garden time!

I love to garden! I love to see things grow!
I couldn't imagine being a farmer or gardener and not believing in God! We know that we don't " grow" anything! We don't give life to plants! We can only do our best to present the proper conditions for a seed to sprout and become a plant that bears fruit!
It is a wet year so far. I think the last frost will soon be behind us.
The peas are up and the radishes- the lettuce is peeking through as well. The first of the kale is about ready to harvest!
We're attempting to grow our potatoes in hay this year! We will let you know how that goes!
So what are you planting and how does your garden grow??

Organic

  What exactly IS organic? Well, it is not likely what you think it is.
  Most people, who don't know any better, think organic is (for example) a vegetable grown in dirt that isn't dirty and without any kind of pesticide.
  Hmm. Well, unfortunately, most people who buy 'organic' are buying it from the grocery store. And, news alert, the USDA has a very different definition of organic than what you might expect.
  One dictionary definition of organic is as follows;

or·gan·ic

[ awr gánn ik ]

1. of living things: relating to, derived from, or characteristic of living things
2. developing naturally: occurring or developing gradually and naturally, without being forced or contrived
3. intrinsic: forming a basic and inherent part of something and largely responsible for its identity or makeup

Specifically looking at number 2, we get the idea that an organic vegetable would be allowed to develop normally and naturally, without being altered in the first place (GMO) or smothered with pesticides. That would seem to be 'not contrived'.
  Here is how the USDA defines organic;
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certified inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too

  Did you see that very uncomfortable word "MOST"? It glares out at me like a sore thumb and is evident of a lot of wiggle room...
  If you google 'Which pesticides does the USDA allow to be used on organic vegetables", this is what you will find;
 

Allowable Synthetic Substances in Crop Production

Ethanol and isopropanol are allowable alcohols for use as disinfectants and sanitizers, all important in keeping irrigation systems uncontaminated. Permitted chlorines are calcium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite, commonly used in food production to kill bacteria. In addition, copper sulfate is allowed for the killing of algae and unwelcome mosses in heavily irrigated crops like rice, but is limited in application to once every two years. For the extermination of pests and insects, USDA allows the use of boric acid and ammonium carbonate, as long as they are trap-based and have no contact with crop or soil

 
  This my friends, is not my definition of organic.
  And honestly, local home gardens are not much better most of the time. People think that because a vegetable is grown 'at home' that it is automatically better.
  The problem is though that most home gardeners use Sevin dust. Did you know that Sevin dust is illegal in the UK?
  To quote a UK website;

Legal Status

The active ingredient in Sevin dust, carbaryl, is banned in the United Kingdom and has been since 2001, after a review of the safety of organophosphate acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and carbamate, of which carbaryl is one.

 

  Somehow that doesnt sound organic OR safe.

What then is the solution????

  Dont get me wrong; it is a great alternative to buy organic veggies at the store when your other option is commercial products. This should definitely be a first step in building up our health.

  And unfortunately, at the local farmers market in the summer, the veggies you buy may be just at toxic as commercial brands. So you must ASK.

  There is something more to think about as well, just because a farm is not 'certified organic' they may offer the safest, cleanest , most non toxic food you have ever eaten!

  'Certified Organic' is a designation you apply for from a govt agency. They determine the standard. Remember, their standards for organic are not the same as what your standard may be. Certainly not mine! Just because a farm is not 'certified organic' doesnt mean a thing! That is right...

  I know many farmers who are completely natural, use no chemical toxic pesticides and I even know a couple who are 'beyond organic'....we will save that topic for another day. On the other hand, an old couple who live nearby and have a garden every year,and have the most toxic vegetables imaginable! They freely use the very Sevin dust that is illegal in other countries!

  Be safe and dont be sorry. KNOW YOUR FARMER! Look for a local CSA~Ask questions when you go to a farmers market. And by all means dont discount healthy clean food because someone isnt certified organic.

  When all else fails, if you cant find safe food.....grow your own! We are inundated with pollution and pesticides more than we ever have been in history. And to add insult to injury, commercial production of vegetation begins with an unnatural GMO seed. How corrupt the food chain has become!

  So do your fearfully and wonderfully made body a favor. Find and eat truely organic food! Clean, safe food. Your body will thank you!