The Organic View

Just how much bottled water do you drink? Have you ever given it any thought that water is something that is free and plentiful; or is it? Is bottled water safer than tap water? Why is it that the giant beverage corporations are buying up land that host precious springs? What exactly is this doing to our environment? Is the surrounding eco-system being destroyed in the sake of capitalizing and exploiting this natural resource? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to author, Elizabeth Royte about the evolution of bottled water in our society and the politics of marketing something that is our birth right. Stay tuned!

Liberia has been through a brutal 14 year civil war which has devastated the country’s infrastructure and business institutions. Approximately 250,000 people were killed, many executed mercilessly, leaving families torn apart with little options for survival. Liberia’s unemployment and poverty rates soared to 80 percent. The women of Liberia especially had it tough because they were excluded from the most productive sectors of the economy, including rubber and timber production. There were very little options for them much less hope for a future. So, what do you do when your home land has been destroyed and is in a dire state of poverty? This was the very question that Chid Liberty was faced with before he and his partner, Adam Butlein founded Liberty & Justice. The women of Liberia have come together to work in a business environment that really makes sense for all. The company was built post-conflict with women from both sides working together. In addition, they not only work at the company together but actually own it. These women work together as a team, taking pride in their work as they skillfully meet the demands other businesses around the world face regarding deadlines, productivity and consistency in quality. Liberty & Justice is committed to a future in which the farmers, manufacturers, transporters, distributors, retailers, and consumers are completely aligned in making choices that result in the eradication of poverty, the responsible stewardship of the environment, and the empowerment of workers. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will talk to Chid Liberty, CEO, and Adam Butlein, President of Liberty & Justice (http://www.libertyandjustice.com/) Stay tuned!

Ever wonder why there is so much confusion with organics? Consumers are being told that they should buy organic, then are told to buy local without emphasizing the fact that it should be locally grown organic. Even the definition of organic is still very loose. There is so much confusion that most people still have no idea what they should buy and why. With the leadership in the organic industry succumbing to the intense pressures by the Big Agro Chemical companies to find a way to co-exist, agricultural activists, organic purists and farmers have been up in arms. There is a great need to reclaim the integrity of organics, while also insuring that the farmers are actually paid a decent wage. This also lends a hand to the importance of how fair trade intersects with organics. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to Jason Freeman who is a founding member and General Manager of Farmer Direct Co-operative Ltd. Farmer Direct Co-operative is a farmer owned business of 63 Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade family farms with a land base 120,000 acres of farmland. FDC produces high quality, Organic and Fair Trade grains, oilseeds, pulses and meats for food manufacturers, distributors, and food service providers in Canada, the United States, the European Union and Japan. FDC is a bulk supplier of organic grains specializing in containers, truckloads, rail cars and 25lb bags of grain for retailers' bulk bins. In March of 2010 Farmer Direct Co-op became the first organization in North America to receive domestic fair trade certification. At ExpoWest this March FDC launched the first Farmer-Owned, Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade food brand. FDC is a founding member of the domestic fair trade association. Stay tuned!

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

According to Dr. Tennekes’s extensive research, the damage neonicotinoids cause to the central nervous system of insects has been shown to be irreversible and cumulative. The effects may actually occur several months after first exposure. Neonicotinoids have been shown to weaken the immune system, rendering bees far more susceptible to pathogens. The adverse effects occur at infinitesimally small doses. Dr. Henk Tennekes has been involved with cancer research for most of his career. His work regarding bees began after reading an official report to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture on the decline of bees. He was amazed at the lack of information on insecticides as a possible factor in the bee decline. Dr. Tennekes then began to research the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid and clothianidin. He discovered that they were identical to those of genotoxic carcinogens. These chemicals are not only affecting the honeybees but other species that are not closely monitored such as butterflies and other insects. He began to study the food habits of declining bird species and discovered that they depended on invertebrates. Dr. Tennekes is convinced that there is a link between the use of neonics and the decline of insects and birds. Some countries such as Germany have already banned the use of these chemicals. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer will speak to esteemed Toxicologist and author, Dr. Henk Tennekes, about his research and discuss this monumental devastation that will affect us on a global scale. Stay tuned!

The National Milk Producers Federation has come up with “Foundation For The Future,” which is the proposed legislation to change the milk price paid to dairy farmers in the United States. Exactly what does this mean to the small dairy farmer? Will the deregulation of milk prices mean the further consolidation of the nation’s dairy farms? Will this be the end of family owned dairy farms? Just how much control will this grant the large industrial style conglomerates? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Joaquin Contente, President of the California Farmers Union about this. Stay tuned!

Clothianidin has been widely used as a seed treatment on many of the USA’s key crops (which include canola, soy, sunflowers, wheat and sugar beet crops) for eight growing seasons under a conditional registration granted while EPA waited for Bayer Crop Science, the pesticide’s maker, to conduct a field study assessing the insecticide’s threat to bee colony health. The EPA has moved from granting a conditional registration to full registration of this chemical just in time for the spring planting. Tom Theobald is the Colorado beekeeper that slammed the EPA for granting full registration to the Bayer Corporation for Clothianidin. He has been relentlessly trying to raise awareness about this chemical and has been working towards environmental reform regarding the EPA’s process to grant registration. Graham White is a beekeeper and environmental author who lives in Scotland, near Scotland's greatest salmon-river, the River Tweed. He began keeping bees about 15 years ago and first noticed severe environmental changes to his bees, to butterflies and other wildlife, around 2002, which he soon linked to the introduction of neonicotinoid pesticides. He is the author and editor of a number of environmental books including: The Nature of Scotland and several collections of John Muir's writings. He served for 20 years as the Director of the Edinburgh Environment Centre, providing over 200 local schools with outdoor education and environmental programs. His message is that we are in danger of creating an agricultural environmental that is toxic to wildlife of every kind. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Tom Theobald and Graham White about the negative impact Clothianidin has and their efforts to raise awareness. Stay tuned!

When it comes to sweeteners, people are constantly trying to find substitutions to avoid consuming artificial sweeteners. Agave syrup is a very popular sweetener that is plant based. Agave is actually a succulent that is indigenous to Mexico, the Southern and Western United States and is also found in Central and Tropical South America. It is the same plant that tequila is derived from. There has been some recent controversy about agave. Some say that it is a processed sugar and is no better than high fructose corn syrup. However, according to the Madhava Honey Company, agave nectar has a relatively low glycemic index compared to other sugars and sweeteners. Just what are the nutritional benefits of agave? Is it still a preferred sweetener? Is it safe for diabetics? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Craig Gerbore, from Madhava Honey Company to talk about this sweetener and explore some of the controversy involved. Stay tuned!

Last Saturday organizations such as the American Raw Milk Producers Pricing Association (ARMPPA) Family Farm Defenders, the Wisconsin Farmers Union and many others drove their tractors to Madison, Wisconsin in protest of Governor Walker’s budget bill. For the first time in Madison’s history, Democrats, Republicans, Communists, independents, Libertarians, Socialists, etc marched together to the state capitol in protest of the attack of the collective bargaining rights of workers. This bill will affect the farmer’s ability to generate a fair wage which is already diminished thanks to Big Ag. The legislation gave Walker authority over Badger Care which is the primary healthcare plan used by over 11,000 Wisconsin farm families. All of the nation’s co-ops use collective bargaining rights to establish prices for their farmers. An attack on workers bargaining rights is an attack on farmers’ rights. This in turn will affect the cost of milk and dairy products for consumers here in the United States. Before this bill, Walker had stripped any support for organics, community gardens, community supported agriculture (CSA) and even recycling programs. This is a huge step backwards. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Joel Greeno, a leader in the American Dairy industry to talk about the impact not only on the dairy farmers but why and how this bill will affect all people right down to the consumer. Stay tuned! About Joel Greeno: He is the President of the American Raw Milk Producers Pricing Association (ARMPPA) and Vice-President of Family Farm Defenders.

The battle cry has been sounded and Spring has sprung! It is almost as if fleas, ticks and mosquitoes have been building their armies, as they prepare to attack. Oddly enough some have actually adapted to the weapons that have been used against them. Others have mutated so they are stronger and bigger. There are now so many new flea and tick medications on the market that it seems like an easy problem to solve. However, no one really thinks about the danger of these chemicals to our animal companions! If you live in a warm climate, year round, there is no relief from the cold weather that generally kills these parasites. They are a problem all year long. This also means that our animal companions require year long protection. Just how safe are these chemicals? What are the implications of the animals being given drugs that are often poisonous? How are they being administered? Could some of the diseases and behavior issues be related to these products? In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to animal and wildlife advocate, Laura Lluellyn-Lassiter from Soul Be It (http://www.Soul-Be-It.com ). Laura will provide some new products that are not only organic but explain the use of electro-magnetic energy fields to eliminate these insects. She will also discuss the top ten flea myths, why the flea is such a fierce enemy, natural defensive strategies for animals in addition to defending the home environment, inside and out. Stay tuned!

Percy Schmeiser is a canola farmer from Saskatchewan, Canada. He was the first farmer to win a law suit against Monsanto. This landmark case, which went before the Federal Court of Canada, has attracted international attention because it could help determine how much control a handful of powerful biotech companies can exert over farmers. Schmeiser believes this precedent setting agreement ensures that farmers will be entitled to reimbursement when their fields become contaminated with unwanted Roundup Ready canola or any other unwanted GMO plants. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Percy Schmeiser about his battle with this agro-chemical giant. c

Have you ever noticed that your dog or cat is able to sense when you are happy or sad? Have you also noticed that you also can sense when they are happy or sad? What if there is something more to it? Over time, we have lost our connection to nature and now, people are starting to remember just how to connect. True Tails is the real story about real animal communication. It’s the story about the life of a young man who discovers at the age of two that he has the ability to communicate with all creatures great and small. It’s the story of how he comes to terms with this ability and how it changes his life. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Jon Soeder, author of True Tails, about his exciting work with animals. Stay tuned!

Bread may be the staple of life but making sprouted Bavarian style sourdough bread is truly an art! When Markus Schramm came to the United States to pursue his American dream, it was his love of his homeland’s bread that lead the way. After acquiring Nature’s Path's sprouted Manna Bread® division in 2007, he and his wife found a true passion in making organic bread that is “deliciously different.” They believe organic foods are healthier for both their customers and the environment. Organic foods reduce the overall exposure to toxic chemicals and provide the foundation for healthy crops which also provide a livelihood for the farmers who are good stewards of the land. His signature sprouted Manna breads and artisan Bavarian style sourdough breads are baked daily, with lots of love and care. You can taste the difference! Tasting is definitely believing! No wonder organic foodies are so smitten with these baked marvels! Manna Organics, is an independent family enterprise dedicated to bettering the world we all share. Recipes, procedures, quality of ingredients, integrity and organic passion have not changed. Nature’s Path quality standards, USDA organic certification and Kosher certification are scrupulously adhered to. All ingredients in our products are grown and produced without any synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, herbicides and GMOs. A life-long passion for good foods has become the building ground for this company. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Markus Schramm founder and CEO of Manna Organics, LLC. (http://www.mannaorganicbakery.com). Stay tuned!

Ethel Merman famously sang “everything's coming up roses - for me” but as most avid gardeners know, roses are a very delicate flower. There are so many things to know, it takes years of experience and even then you would be surprised what you learn from them. It can also be a very expensive learning curve, if you are not careful. As an avid horticulturist holding national awards for growing prize winning roses and award winning gardens, Rosarian, Susan Fox, otherwise known in the horticultural circles as Gaga, will share her knowledge with you. A master in the art of rose growing and garden design Gaga’s expertise includes one year as recording secretary for the Dallas Rose Society and five years as treasurer for the Northeastern Illinois Rose Society. She has spoken on growing and the care of roses to the Plano and Dallas Master Gardeners Groups. During her tenure as treasurer of the Northeastern Illinois Rose Society, her society was instrumental in having the rose named as the national flower by the President of the United States. As an avid gardener, speaker and consulting Rosarian, Gaga is dedicated to perpetuating knowledge about all things growing in our gardens and particularly the planting and care of rose gardens. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Gaga’s Garden’s very own Susan Fox (http://www.gagasgarden.com) to help keep everything coming up roses in your garden this year. Stay tuned!

Historically poor communities have experienced higher than average cases of high blood pressure, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diverticulitis. In Seattle, Washington, while there are many farmers markets, sadly, the markets are generally not frequented by these inner-city residents due to the ability to purchase organic foods or because of the lack of education in the inner-city. Clever marketers have fought to capture this market by pushing menus with a la carte “fast foods” all for a buck, which also contributes to the myriad of health issues they are dealing with. Since 2007, the Clean Greens Farm and Market, has attempted to influence food quality and availability standards in the food desert neighborhoods of Seattle. It has also created a food oasis that has generated a great deal of interest and excitement from supporters. By growing affordable chemical free produce and offering employment opportunities, Clean Greens Farm and Market is really helping to uplift and rebuild an entire community. It is a model for all inner city neighborhoods that are in desperate need of help and reform. Clean Greens is addressing these problems by creating fresh food stands throughout the neighborhood, primarily at local churches where people gather throughout the week or weekends and can purchase affordable organic produce. By charging such a nominal price, people who have been dependent upon food stamps can once again be given an opportunity to buy something of high value for a small price and begin to restore their self-esteem. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to Rev. Dr. Robert Jeffrey, Sr, founder of Clean Greens Farm and Market (http://cleangreensfarm.com ) about this wonderful program that really has inspired the masses. Stay tuned!