A glimpse of my secret garden

The outside world is filled with toxic chemicals that are dangerous to me, but I have created my own private, safe universe in my garden. Come take a look at a few of my favorite things: Lucy, the alpha hen; limes; a mynah at the bird bath; Lydia and her daughter Jolie; an Indonesian ginger flower; Jolie looking for treats; and a water lily with comets. Ahhhhhhh. Where is your safe place?

Putting the hens to bed

My first YouTube video! LOL.

This is my evening routine of putting the hens to bed after they’ve had their afternoon foraging in the garden and their dinner of corn and milo. On this evening, meet the Ever Regal Lydia, the Alpha Hen Lucy (already on the roost), the Dear Sweet Katie and the Always Fashionably Late Jolie. Jolie is always the last and she often waits so long that it’s too dark for her to see well enough to fly up to the top roost. So she often gets a little nudge.

At the risk of sounding like a Crazy Lady, I really love my hens. They are my garden buddies and I love them dearly. There’s nothing more relaxing than watching them perambulate around in the garden, scratching for bugs or sunbathing. When we do yard work, they are always close by, gobbling up all the stray bugs or worms we dig up.

The girls are currently on vacay for the winter, not giving us any eggs, but for most of the year they give us the most delicious eggs you can imagine, and at four a day, every day, we have plenty to give away.

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Thanks to my good friend Dan for helping me upload the vid!

White House food garden petition

Join in on this great campaign to petition President-Elect Obama to turn the White House lawn into an organic fruit and veggie garden. Go sign the petition!

We, the undersigned, are petitioning President-elect Obama to plant a large organic food garden or Victory Garden on the White House lawn with part of produce going to the White House kitchen and the rest to local food pantries. The White House is “America’s House” and should set a healthy example. President-elect Obama would not be breaking with tradition, but returning to it (the White House has had fruit and vegetable gardens before) and showing how we can meet global challenges such as food security, climate change, and energy independence.

Banana bounty

We have tons of banana trees in our yard, so every week or so a bunch like this is ready for harvest. The thing about bananas is you go from zero to 100 in about 24 hours! One day they are all green and the next all yellow. If you don’t get them down off the tree quickly, the birds beat you to the bounty.

On harvest day, I always eat about 10 before we even get them into the house. It’s always fun to share with neighbors; hands from this bunch went out to about five households. The next day, one neighbor brought me banana muffins she’d made! I love that, trading and sharing abundance.

Lucky we live Hawaii!

High level of toxic pesticide found in homes

Here’s yet another reason to go organic with your pesticides, use HEPA vacuums and air filters (and use them frequently), and remove your shoes before entering your home so as not to track toxic substances in from outside sources.

By the way, as the report below suggests, I use a boric acid and powdered sugar mix (50-50) for cockroaches and ants in the house, and diatomaceous earth for flies and mites in the chicken coops, all with great results.

(Beyond Pesticides, November 3, 2008) A new study, Pyrethroid pesticides and their metabolites in vacuum cleaner dust collected from homes and day-care centers (doi:10.1016/j.envres.2008.07.022), by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Exposure Research Laboratory finds concentrations of 13 synthetic pyrethroids and their degradates in indoor dust collected from homes and childcare centers in North Carolina and Ohio. The study results show the extent to which hazardous pesticides are present in indoor environments and threaten the public’s health, especially the health of children. With 85 vacuum cleaner bags analyzed, permethrin was present in all 85 dust samples, at least one pyrethroid pesticide was found in 69 samples and phenothrin was found in 36 samples.

[...]

Children are especially sensitive to the effects of permethrin and other synthetic pyrethroids. A study found that permethrin is almost five times more toxic to eight-day-old rats than to adult rats due to incomplete development of the enzymes that break down pyrethroids in the liver. Additionally, studies on newborn mice have shown that permethrin may inhibit neonatal brain development.

Although synthetic pyrethroids are often seen as safe alternatives to organophosphate insecticides, this study clearly demonstrates that when these chemicals are applied in houses, they do not disappear. Moreover, they are making their way into human bodies at alarming rates. At the same time, there are clear established methods for managing homes and schools that prevent infestation of unwanted insects without the use of synthetic chemicals, including exclusion techniques, sanitation and maintenance practices, as well as mechanical and least toxic controls (which include boric acid and diatomaceous earth). Based on the host of health effects linked to this chemical class, synthetic pyrethroid use in the home is hazardous and unnecessary.

Link to full release from Beyond Pesticides.

Photo by oneparticularwave.

Relaxing in the garden

Occasionally, I remember to STOP, sit, and enjoy the garden. Usually, my concept of leisure in the garden is an “active leisure,” where puttering around is the relaxation. But this evening I took the time to sit in the rocker on the front porch and chill. It was cloudy and overcast, so the colors aren’t too vibrant, but still, you get the idea.

As you regular visitors to The Canary Report can see, last weekend we ripped out the groundcover that surrounded the pond. It did look beautiful, but it was always galloping out of control and took more maintenance than I was willing to give it. So for now, the cement tiles holding up the terrace are visible, but we will soon remedy that with more well behaved plantings.

Organic gardener in Sydney creates food and flowers

This morning I found a wonderful gardening blog, Garden amateur, by Jamie in Sydney, Australia. Jamie’s created a beautiful, yet practical garden, in a very small space, filled with fruit, veggies, flowers and charm. And the beauty part is: it’s all organic!

“The only themes going here are food, flowers and constant change,” says Jamie in his bio.

Here at left, where we might typically see lawn, we instead see potted fruit trees (foreground) and potted salad greens (right background), veggies encircled by colorful flowers and plants with variegated leaves, an inviting brick pathway, and what Jamie calls a “solar dryer” for clothes. Wouldn’t you love to walk out the door into this garden?

Always experimenting with organic pest control, Jamie blogs about “Organic pest controls that work well” — here’s an excerpt:

Here’s the zucchini patch this morning. Mostly healthy leaves and lots of flowers and fruits developing, but on the left of this photo you can see some leaves with powdery mildew. Me, worried? Not when there’s milk in the fridge!

The formula is as simple as can be. One part milk to nine parts water. I mix up a batch in a measuring jug, then apply via this 500ml spray bottle. As I have only three zucchini plants, this is more than enough. You can use any milk you like: skim, full-cream, buttermilk, low-fat, whatever. And if you don’t use all the solution one day, just give it a good shake a few days later and you can use it again. The experts say skim milk is probably best, as it has the least fat and so doesn’t smell much at all.

[...] It seems that there’s some top quality research going into developing organic solutions for common gardening pests, diseases and problems. The tradition that that everything about organic gardening is home-made and has a farmyard simplicity about it will just have to make a bit of room for the next generation of organic gardening – the one based on good science. As far as I’m concerned it’s the best thing that has happened to gardening in a long time. Organic gardeners have set the agenda for the future of gardening and finally, finally, science has got the hint and is catching up fast!

I’ve had bad problems with this mildew attacking my squash plants, and I had given up ever trying again. So I look forward to trying this formula. Thanks, Jamie!

I hope you organic gardeners out there will visit Jamie’s blog. You’ll find a treasure chest of inspiration!

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Photo of home and photos of plant & organic pesticide all by Jamie. Used with permission.

Children blossom while learning to garden

Children learn about the beauty of organic gardening at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens.

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens is known for showing of exotic plant life — like orchids and colorful roses.

But in rear of the Botanical center more mundane plants are grown — back at the Children’s Vegetable Garden.

Every Saturday morning children like nine-year old Ben Wenzel show up with their parents in tow to work on their assigned plot of land.

And recently it was time for the big harvest.

Ben’s mom Laurie carries off their haul of produce in re-used plastic grocery bags.

“We’ve got a couple of little turnips. We picked the little ones. We’ve got a bunch of tomatoes. Then I’ve got a bunch of spinach. We’ve got lots of green beans,” she said.

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Making sense of the USDA Organic label

Understanding the USDA Organic label will help you make better choices when planning for a chemical-free diet.

Here’s the scoop:

Making sense of organic labeling can be difficult, and many consumers do not understand the significance of the USDA Organic label. Since October 21, 2002, the following guidelines were established by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) to assure consumers know the exact organic content of the food they buy.

Single-Ingredient Foods
On foods like fruits and vegetables, look for a small sticker version of the USDA Organic label or check the signage in your produce section for this seal.

The word “organic” and the seal may also appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese, and other single-ingredient foods.

Multi-Ingredient Foods
Foods such as beverages, snacks, and other processed foods use the following classification system to indicate their use of organic ingredients.

100% Organic—Foods bearing this label are made with 100% organic ingredients* and may display the USDA Organic seal.

Organic—These products contain at least 95–99% organic ingredients (by weight). The remaining ingredients are not available organically but have been approved by the NOP. These products may display the USDA Organic seal.

Made With Organic Ingredients—Food packaging that reads “Made With Organic Ingredients” must contain 70–94% organic ingredients. These products will not bear the USDA Organic seal; instead, they may list up to three ingredients on the front of the packaging.

Other—Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may only list organic ingredients on the information panel of the packaging. These products will not bear the USDA Organic seal.

Keep in mind that even if a producer is certified organic, the use of the USDA Organic label is voluntary. At the same time, not everyone goes through the rigorous process of becoming certified, especially smaller farming operations. When shopping at a farmers’ market, for example, don’t hesitate to ask the vendors how your food was grown.

*Salt and water are not included.

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A short history of the White House garden

Growing your own veggies and fruit is a great way to boost your nutrition and keep your diet free from contaminants. Need some inspiration to get started? You’ll love this video! It’s produced by a group that wants the next president to plant veggies in the White House gardens to inspire all America to grow more of their own food. The vid shows the logic of this request by showing the evolution of the White House gardens. You’ll love it!

This animated video is part of the “Eat the View” campaign to turn part of the White House’s 18 acre lawn back into an edible landscape. The video tells the story of the “America’s Garden” from 1800 when President John Adams planted the first “first vegetables” to feed his own family to the present day.

It ends by peeking optimistically into the future when the next President, seeing how our world is changing, announces plans to replant America’s garden, inspiring countless citizens to grow some of their own delicious, healthy, and environmentally responsible food.

The “Eat the View” campaign is powered by real people like you. If you haven’t yet signed our petition, please do so here: eattheview.org/petition

The video was produced by the nonprofit group Kitchen Gardeners International (KitchenGardeners.org) which is leading the “Eat the View” campaign. The animation is the creative genius of Eliot Morrison of yiggs.com.

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Why organic?

Clara explains why organic produce is better. Warning: seriously CUTE.

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Chicky’s organic garden

This is a very sweet vid about organic gardening. My husband and I are just starting to carve out a new veggie garden in the back yard, a serious one this time, fenced in to keep the chickens out, with raised beds and room for a couple of fruit trees. So I’m inspired by this video, not just to work hard on our project so we can grow more of our food for our own health, but to contribute to the health of the planet.

I’m charmed by the two boys in the video: From the mouths of babes comes the promise of a chemical-free future. And that makes a canary very happy!

Learn about the value of Chicky’s very special Organic Garden. Produced by by John & Mark Cavanagh & Zachary Bain.

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Fresh from the garden

Remember the cherry tomatoes from my garden in yesterday’s post? Well, here they are for dinner tonight. Cut in halves with chunks of Muenster cheese, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil & organic balsamic vinegar. Some organic whole wheat crackers on the side. Dinner!

The Real Dirt on Farmer John

If you haven’t seen it, rent this movie!!!

THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN follows Farmer John’s astonishing journey from farm boy to counter-culture rebel to the son who almost lost the family farm to a beacon of today’s booming organic farming movement and founder of one of the nation’s largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. The result is a tale that ebbs and flows with the fortunes of the soil and revealingly mirrors the changing American times.

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Link to clip from the movie

Sewing with local organic cotton

Leslie (left) at The Oko Box Blog practices what she preaches about the importance of organic clothing, caring for the environment, and taking care of your health. I’ve become a big fan of Leslie’s. She runs The Oko Box, a fabulous online shop featuring hip, beautiful clothes made from natural & organic fabrics.

The Oko Box Blog is an extension of the shop, “an eco-friendly interactive commentary on organic clothing, environment, pollution, health, organic food, fair trade and organic farming,” an inspiring weblog that shows Leslie’s creative flare in every post.

Yesterday she wrote about sewing a dress from a beautiful blue organic cotton fabric. Is she a cutie or what? It’s the sheer guts of tackling a free-form dress pattern, combined with the addition of those darling patches on the sleeves, that make this dress a work of art.

This is the first time I have sewn sleeves, and they made me so nervous I actually had sewn one of them inside out at first and had to rip it back off and re-sew it on again. Never-the-less sleeves are not as hard as I had imagined - I just made the dress sleeveless then made two tubes which I added in after the body was finished.

To make the body of the dress, simply take your exact measurements and make a tube going up and then form a tank top sleeve line. Continue the neckline upward by keeping the fabric very wide and long, like a giant cylinder that comes almost to the end of your shoulder.

The elbow patches were something given to me by a creative friend, who had a big collection of appliques she’d collected & made. These are handmade drawings of stripper playing cards printed on fabric, and I hand sewed them on, very tightly.

Yay for local & organic!!!

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Soon I’ll tell you more about a contest I won on The Oko Box Blog and about how Leslie has offered The Canary Report readers FREE SHIPPING for any purchase at The Oko Box!!!!

11 ways to reduce toxic exposures

This is a great list of tips on how to reduce toxic exposure. From the Environmental Working Group.

1     Choose better body care products. Just because a label says “gentle” or “natural” doesn’t mean it’s kid-safe. Look up your products on CosmeticsDatabase.com. Read the ingredients and avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance, and oxybenzone.

2     Go organic & eat fresh foods. Opt for organic fruits and veggies, or use FoodNews.org to find conventionally grown produce with the least pesticides. Choose milk and meat without added growth hormones. Limit canned food and infant formula, as can linings contain bisphenol A (BPA).

3     Avoid fire retardants. Choose snug-fitting cotton pajamas for kids, and repair or replace worn out foam items.

4     Pick plastics carefully. Some plastics contain BPA, which is linked to cancer. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a “7″ or “PC” and choose baby bottles made from glass or BPA-free plastic. Don’t microwave plastic containers. Stay away from toys marked with a “3″ or “PVC.” Give your baby a frozen washcloth instead of vinyl teethers.

5     Filter your tap water. Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to reduce your family’s exposure to impurities in water, like chlorine and lead. Don’t drink bottled water, which isn’t necessarily better. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.

6     Wash those hands. In addition to reducing illness, frequent hand washing will reduce kids’ exposure to chemicals. Skip anti-bacterial soaps, since they can be bad for the environment, aren’t any better than soap and water, and can contain pesticides that are absorbed through the skin.

7     Skip non-stick. When overheated non-stick cookware can emit toxic fumes. Cook with cast iron or stainless steel instead.

8     Use a HEPA-filter vacuum. Kids spend lots of time on the floor, and household dust can contain contaminants like lead and fire retardants. HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens. Leave your shoes at the door so you don’t bring more pollutants inside.

9     Get your iodine. Use iodized salt, especially while pregnant and nursing, and take iodine-containing prenatal vitamins. Iodine buffers against chemicals like perchlorate, which can disrupt your thyroid system and affect brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

10    Use greener cleaners & avoid pesticides. Household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments, and air fresheners can irritate kids’ lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Investigate less toxic alternatives. Use vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.

11    Eat good fats. Omega-3 fatty acids can offset toxic effects of lead and mercury. They’re in fish, eggs, nuts, oils, and produce. Choose low-mercury fish like salmon, tilapia and pollock, rather than high-mercury tuna and swordfish, especially if you’re pregnant. Breast milk is the best source of good fats (and other benefits) for babies, and protects them from toxic chemicals.

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Photo by svanes at flickr.

Be brave and make a green smoothie

I’m big on smoothies. My base is usually banana and soy milk, and then I add whatever I have on hand: blueberries, strawberries, wheat germ, protein powder, whatever looks like a good combination.

Here’s a great vid to help you get over the fear of adding something GREEN. I know it sounds weird, but if you chop up a dark green leafy vegetable like kale (a super food) into a smoothie, you will never know it’s there– in fact, it’s delish! Tricks like this will give your nutrition a boost, especially if you aren’t getting your 4 veggies and 3 fruits a day.

It’s a given that you’re eating organic, right?

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Woman transforms toxic experience into new business

Wendy Banks developed environmental sensitivity by working in a greenhouse where insecticides and herbicides were used. She got her sensitivity under control through diet, the right health care specialists and avoiding toxic air. Then she did a very smart thing: she started a business supplying customers– individuals and restaurants– with fresh, locally grown food.

“I’m a farmer’s daughter,” she says. “I grew up healthy.” But then she started a greenhouse business selling flowers and bedding plants. “I was working long hours in an enclosed environment, buying flats of flowers that had already been sprayed. There was moisture, humidity, mould, stress was high, and my eating habits were bad. I was eating packaged food. In the end I was dragged right out.”

Her hands and feet went tingly and numb; she lost her vision in one eye; she became lethargic; her thinking became fuzzy; she developed allergies, arthritis in her hips, ankles, and wrists. “I was in pain all the time. And then my equilibrium went.”

Doctors suspected a thyroid condition. Then lupus. Then Lyme disease. Then multiple sclerosis. Finally a doctor told her to get out of the greenhouse and seek alternative medicine. The greenhouse is killing you, he told her.

She quit the greenhouse, and spent five years reading everything she could get her hands on about food. She ate only fresh food, made sure she was well rested, drank plenty of unchlorinated water, and saw auto-immune specialists, a physiotherapist specializing in integrated manual therapy, and a doctor specializing in environmental medicine.

She has regained her sight, and her sensitivity is now under control, but she will never be free of it. She will always have multiple chemical sensitivity. But she’s full of energy, and in her new business, she finds that she is her own best advertisement, not just because she now knows so much about food, but because she’s a walking testimony to eating well.

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Photo by katie at Flicker.