By Sara Reistad-Long

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/11-things-you-should-buy-organic-2467411/

By now, we all know there’s a benefit to buying some stuff organic. But these days you’re faced with the option of getting everything organic—from fruits and veggies to mattresses and clothing. You want to do right by your body, for sure, but going the all-natural route en masse can be pricey.

So we wondered: What’s really essential for our health? That’s why we came up with this definitive list. Here's what should be in your cart—and what you don’t have to worry about.

Beef
You’ve probably read plenty of stories about the risks of eating chicken. But the most important protein to buy organic may well be beef. "Research suggests a strong connection between some of the hormones given to cattle and cancer in humans, particularly breast cancer," says Samuel Epstein, MD, professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Specifically, the concern is that the estrogen-like agents used on cattle could increase your cancer risk, adds Ted Schettler, MD, science director at the Science and Environmental Health Network.

Though there are strong regulations about the use of hormones in cattle, "not all beef producers are following those regulations strictly, and some studies continue to find hormone residue in cattle," Dr. Schettler says. When you buy beef that’s been certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you’re not only cutting out those hormones, you’re also avoiding the massive doses of antibiotics cows typically receive, which the USDA says may lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in people.

Health.com: 10 types of food that can make you sick

Strawberries
Strawberries may be a superfood—but they pose a potential risk unless you go organic. In addition to having up to 13 pesticides detected on the fruit, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis, conventional "strawberries have a large surface area and all those tiny bumps, which makes the pesticides hard to wash off, so you’re ingesting more of those chemicals," explains Marion Nestle, PhD, a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University and author of What to Eat.

If you can, also skip conventional peaches, apples, blueberries, and cherries, which are typically treated with multiple pesticides and usually eaten skins-on.

Cookware
Your pots and pans are just as crucial to upgrade as the food you cook in them: "Most nonstick cookware contains a fluorochemical called PTFE that breaks down to form toxic fumes when overheated," says Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist at the EWG. "Those fumes can coat the inside of the lungs and cause allergy-like symptoms."

Tests commissioned by the EWG showed that in just two to five minutes on a conventional stove top, cookware coated with nonstick surfaces could exceed temperatures at which the coating emits toxic gases. Switch to stainless steel, ceramic, or cast iron cookware.

Health.com: 11 kitchen tools that keep you thin

Popcorn
The linings of microwave-popcorn bags may contain a toxic chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which is used to prevent the food from sticking to the paper. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFOA is a likely carcinogen. "We don’t know all of the hazardous effects of PFOA yet, but we have some evidence of a link to cancer, as well as to effects on the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems," says David Carpenter, MD, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany.

Pick up an air-popper or make your popcorn in a pan on the stove top.

Yard pesticides
Some lawn and garden pesticides contain suspected carcinogens, according to EPA data. Long-term pesticide exposure may be related to changes in the brain and nervous system, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reports. "Not only are you breathing the chemicals in, but you bring them indoors and onto carpets via your shoes," says McKay Jenkins, PhD, a journalism professor at the University of Delaware and author of What’s Gotten Into Us?

Healthier brands like BurnOut and EcoClear are made from vinegar and lemon juice, and are effective weed-killers.

Heatlh.com: 10 dirty fruits and vegetables

All-purpose home cleaners
Time for spring-cleaning? Using common household cleaners may expose you to potentially harmful chemicals. Ammonia and chlorine bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. And some cleaners contain phthalates, some of which are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with normal hormone activity, says EWG senior scientist Becky Sutton, PhD.

Although there’s no definitive proof that phthalates cause problems in humans, "the greatest concern is how early-life exposure will affect male [reproductive] development," Dr. Carpenter says. There’s weaker evidence, he adds, that phthalates affect the nervous and immune systems. Go natural with the cleaner you use the most frequently and in the most places, such as kitchen-counter spray—look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.

Health.com: Green guide to cleaning

Water bottles
You’ve probably heard that many hard, reusable plastic water bottles could be bad for you because they may contain BPA, or bisphenol A, another endocrine disruptor according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

"For adults, the biggest concern with BPA is that it may increase the risk of breast cancer in women and reduce sperm counts in men," says Dr. Carpenter, who explains that BPA can leach out into the water in the bottle. To be safe, sip from an unlined stainless steel or BPA-free plastic bottle.

Food-storage containers
BPA strikes again: Many food-storage containers are made of the hard, clear polycarbonate plastic that may contain BPA. As is the case with water bottles, the BPA can leach out of the plastic in these containers and seep into your leftovers.

Health.com: Studies report more harmful effects from BPA

"The leaching is increased during heating, but it also leaches to a smaller degree even when cold foods are stored," Dr. Carpenter explains. Glass containers are your safest—not to mention planet-friendly—bet. Both Rubbermaid (at left) and Pyrex make glass ones with BPA-free plastic lids.

Milk
The milk you’re drinking may not be doing your body good: Dairy products account for a reported 60 to 70 percent of the estrogens we consume through our food. If that seems like a shockingly large number, it’s mainly because milk naturally contains hormones passed along from cows. What worries some experts is that about 17% of dairy cows are treated with the hormone rBST (or rBGH), which stimulates milk production by increasing circulating levels of another hormone called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1).

"Elevated levels of IGF-1 in people are associated with an increased risk of cancer, including breast cancer," Dr. Schettler explains. In fact, the use of rBGH is banned in Europe and Canada. Although research has yet to definitively conclude whether drinking rBGH-treated milk increases your IGF-1 levels high enough to cause concern, Dr. Schettler says it’s advisable to buy milk that hasn’t been treated with it. So pick up milk that’s labeled rBGH-free, rBST-free, or is produced without artificial hormones.

Health.com: 11 healthy milk shakes and smoothies

Celery
When researchers at the EWG analyzed 89,000 produce-pesticide tests to determine the most contaminated fruits and vegetables, celery topped the chart. "In terms of the sheer number of chemicals, it was the worst," says Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at the EWG. Celery stalks are very porous, so they retain the pesticides they’re sprayed with—up to 13 of them, according to the EWG analysis. Lunder also advises buying organic bell peppers, spinach and potatoes because they scored high for pesticides, as well.

Tomato sauce
When picking up tomato sauce or paste, choose the glass jar or box over the can. "The lining on the inside of food cans that’s used to protect against corrosion and bacteria may contain BPA," explains Cheryl Lyn Walker, PhD, a professor of carcinogenesis at MD Anderson Cancer Center and past president of the Society of Toxicology.

In 2009, Consumer Reports tested BPA levels in a variety of canned foods and found it in nearly all of the brands tested, suggesting that the chemical leaked in. "What can happen is that BPA in the lining can leach into the food," Walker explains.

CSA and P.B. Boxes will be shipped today!

Usually CSA boxes are shipped out on the first Monday of each month, however yesterday we were faced with a delay. Please accept our deepest apology for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

P.B. Boxes will exclude fresh pork this week. If you would like to contact me regarding this matter, please call the farm 1-760-868-6206

 Last Nights Home Grown Dinner:

Dennis & I split grass fed top & bottom round beef steaks, lightly oiled w/virgin cocunut butter brought to us by Pye, served w/Cecilias authentic artisan Greek Easter Braid, slathered in artisan, raw butter w/ delicious, creamy Amish & raw cheeses (from Gloria & Stephen), from when they personally visited & toured small family cheese factories in New York!

WOW!

Heirloom Organic starter plants from Stephan and Jessica: Healthy and ready to bloom: Tomatoes, pumpkins, acorn squash and more..

Heorloom Organic starter plants already in the beds: from Craig and Gary at Winnetka: Old fashioned Italian sqaushes, tomatoes and zucchini ... etc

Organic coconut flour, coconut sugar and virgin coconut oil from Pye.

All natural artisan granola mix from Cecilia and rootbeer!

What a fabulous day... Thank you Thank you and Thank you!

Pork Shares will be available for pick-up on Saturday April 2nd between 10-11am here at the farm.

Beef Shares will be delivered sometime next week!

Have a great weekend.

As of last night, we are completely sold-out for April C.S.A., this includes poultry, beef, pork, lamb and goat.

We have increased our growing beds this year to reflect change. This year we have connected with a wonderful local, heritage, organic seed supplier and we will be growing some of the most delicious, old fashioned Italian summer and winter squash varieties, tomato varieties, Spaghetti squashes, vine fruit varieties..in our pick-your own garden.

Growing heritage crops that grow naturally and seasonally, without the use of artificial lights, artificial soil additives and No G.M.O. seeds. and of course, without any "CIDES" or "SPRAYS"  is ecologically safe, sustainable and just plain healthy for our families, freinds, neighbors, farm members, sustainers, our soil and livestock.

 

How Is Food Digested:

Thank you to our friend videoman747 for posting this informative video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x06rf3oBCSI

Comment:

You don't need to take bottles? of enzyme? capsules and high colonics.

We are a base in Southern California for up and coming agricultural futurists. Here we are diversified in our practices and practice practical application, to help protect old fashioned farming traditions.

Our guests, volunteers, interns continue to be from all walks of life and from all over the world: From Gold Medal, Olypmic Boxer to Environmental Culturalists to Permaculture Specialists and the list continues on, far beyond this blog.

Most recently J. Patillo was with us for almost 2 months and has since returned  to Montana, Nick and Julia arrived this morning at 6:00am, they drove all the way through,  from Minnesota.

It is a funny thing, we learn so much from each other, and make life long freinds every single day!

Become a part of our family: call 1-760-868-6206

Thank you for all the inquiries, it is best if you call me at 1-760-868-6206 and I am happy to offer any information you need.

Locate our products close to you, come to the farm for pick-up or have your fresh meats shipped directly to your doorstep.

If you are a butcher shop or grocery store, we can ship your beef in 2-4 primal cuts or already cut and packaged for retail.

Thank you!

We started our regular deliveries to local markets, all within 100 miles. Our grass finished, pastured beef, pork, poultry and lamb are now available through markets, butchers shops, co-op's and C.S.A's across california.

Our delicious, heirloom and organic veggies are available to registered farm members, and we have a pick-your-own garden.

To get a list of markets close to your home, please contact the farm: 1-760-868-6206

In celebration of many wonderful new things this year, we are offering a free C.S.A.

Open to all our registered farm members.

Please visit our facebook page for more details!

The "Farm Hunt" is an encouragement to all our farm members, customers, sustainers, freinds, family and neighbors to participate in a "Buy Local" - Buy Fresh"  - Buy Sustainable" - Campaign

WIN A FREE 1/2 SHARE C.S.A.... + SHIPPING INCLUDED...

If you are already on our facebook, please be sure to check your invitations from Thursday March 17th 2011.

The farms we are looking for, must be located in California and must meet some criteria! Please check ]your facebook invites from yesterday to see the list of criteria. Find the farms and win a FREE C.S.A. - It is that easy!

EVERYBODY CAN WIN - DEADLINE MARCH 31st 2011

WORK SHOP- Chickens, Eggs, Poultry, Growing, Harvesting, Building

"A Day in The Life With Chickens" workshop.

Xenia of Rainbow Ranch Farms, Instructor and Hosted by: Jordan Stone of Delaney's Artisan Market in Temecula 1-760-277-8575 .

I have included the hostess ph#, for you to contact her directly, so sorry about that, I thought the email address was enough. Thank you all for contacting me regarding this workshop, I look forward to seeing you!

We will be learning self reliance with poultry, chickens, eggs and related, building coops, hatching, breeding, mixing organic feed, growing chickens without corn. Soy and G.M.O.'s,

Start a small business, start a CSA, how to butcher chickens humanely and in a sanitary manner, and to counterbalance the current turmoil of our economic climate.

We will be building a small coop, mixing a nutritionally balanced feed, learning complete care and growth of chickens, how to get ultra nutritious and delicious eggs, how to "harvest/butcher" chickens (if that's what you choose), how to have fertile chickens for hatching your next generation of chickens.

This is great knowledge for sustainable living which could easily become a must for our current "economic climate". Use this new found information to feed your family, sell at market or give away to extended family and friends.

There will only be room for limited participants. Come prepared to work and get involved. Everyone will leave with a handwritten syllabus and diagrams of how to do this at home and your own harvested chicken.

To Sign Up Today, Please call Jordan: 1-760-277-8575 leave a detailed message with your return ph# 2X.

Spots are filling up quickly so reserve your spot asap!

Colloidal Silver: Healing Ear Infections the Safe, Easy Way

http://colloidalsilversecrets.blogspot.com/2009/04/colloidal-silver-healing-ear-infections.html

Colloidal Silver: Healing Ear Infections the Safe, Easy Way

by Angela M. Kaelin

Almost everyone has suffered from an ear infection at one time or another. It is such a common childhood disorder that most children experience an ear infection before the age of four. Some adults are chronic sufferers.

Untreated, or improperly treated, these infections can lead to hearing loss.

Conventional treatments typically involve multiple doctor visits, the use of problematic antibiotics, potentially liver-damaging painkillers, and in more severe cases, surgeries, involving dangerous anesthesia and the actual puncturing of the eardrum.

Knowing the dangers of over-prescribing allopathic antibiotics, some of the more conservative doctors will take a “wait and see” approach to an ear infection, hoping that it will go away on its own. This approach can allow the condition to worsen before they resort to their risky drug and surgery treatments.

Fortunately, there is a drug-free, non-surgical approach to ear infections. It is safer, far less expensive and it works very fast to put an end to pain and infections in the ears. A few drops of a safe yet powerful mineral supplement known as colloidal silver can stop the trouble of ear infection over night!

How Ear Infections Start

Ear infections have a number of different causes. Popular swimming holes and public pools can be the source of fungi or bacteria-contaminated water that enters the ear and irritates the canal. Commonly known as “swimmer's ear,” this condition is medically known as otitis externis. It can also be caused by eczema in the ears, or by too vigorously cleaning or scratching the opening of the ear. It is generally characterized by moderate pain, particularly during chewing and swallowing, or if the infected ear is tugged upon.

Ear infections are most prevalent in winter and in spring because bacteria from respiratory infections, allergies and colds can reach the ears. Most of the time, it is the small conduit in the ear called the Eustachian tube that becomes blocked or infected. This tube reaches from the nasal cavity to the middle ear. It is so small that even cigarette smoke or air pollution can irritate it and cause it to swell, causing nausea and vertigo. Infections of the Eustachian tube and the middle ear are called otitis media.

Middle ear infections are so common in small children because the Eustachian tubes are very tiny and they have not hardened yet. So, they are easily irritated and penetrated by pathogens. Children in preschools where they are exposed to respiratory bacteria and viruses are particularly vulnerable.

Conventional Treatments Can Be Extreme

Before allopathic doctors treat the actual ear infection, they will likely treat the pain with a painkiller or anti-inflammatory. Typically, doctors prescribe the painkillers acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, can be toxic to the liver and has been linked to other health problems. Ibuprofen, commonly known as Motrin and Advil, can irritate the esophagus and stomach.

The doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics to target particular pathogens. Sometimes they don't prescribe the right one, or the bacteria mutate and become resistant, and additional antibiotics must be prescribed.

In the case of chronic ear infection where the fluid builds up behind the eardrum and presents a danger of bursting it, the doctor may prescribe on-going treatment with antibiotics. When these treatments fail, they may recommend surgery to remove adenoids and insert a tympanosty tube for drainage. To insert this tube, they actually puncture the eardrum. This tube may fall out on its own accord after a few months, or further surgery may be required to remove it. This procedure results in complications in about half of the cases. Complications include hearing loss.

Frequent visits to the doctor to check on progress will be required. If they do resort to surgery they will give you or your child a general anesthesia. Common side effects are nausea, muscle aches and dizziness. In rare cases, there are more serious complications and even death. But, even minor complications or rare ones are too much when the whole thing is entirely unnecessary!

Colloidal Silver Keeps It Simple

Colloidal silver is perhaps the world’s simplest and most effective cure for ear infections. That’s because it is all-natural, comes in liquid form which can easily be dropped into the ear using a standard eyedropper, and is easily available over-the-counter at health food stores or through internet sources. What’s more, unlike conventional prescription antibiotic drugs which are designed to work against specific classes of bacteria, and won’t work at all against fungal pathogens or viruses, colloidal silver has very broad spectrum antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal qualities. Indeed, it almost always works regardless of what’s causing your infection.

And unlike conventional antibiotic drugs, colloidal silver can’t contribute to the problem of mutating pathogens, because it doesn't work the same way conventional antibiotic drugs do. Instead of essentially poisoning the pathogens like antibiotic drugs do, the tiny, sub-microscopic particles of pure mineral silver in colloidal silver simply adhere to the cell walls of harmful microorganisms, inhibiting enzyme production and, in effect, smothering them. If the silver particles are small enough, they can even adhere to the DNA of viruses, and disrupt the ability of the viruses to replicate, altogether preventing the spread of viral infections.

Both bacteria and viruses can be present in cases of ear infection. And oft-times a fungus can be involved, as is commonly the case with swimmer's ear. Clearly, conventional antibiotic drugs are inadequate treatments for such infections since they are completely ineffective against fungal and viral pathogens, and in many cases barely effective against bacteria. But colloidal silver known to be effective against all of these pathogens.

How to Use Colloidal Silver to Treat Ear Infection*

According to the experienced colloidal silver users we’ve interviewed, less is more when it comes to treating ear infections with colloidal silver.

You see, even though the pain of an ear infection can be excruciating, the area affected is actually very small. The part of the ear most commonly affected, the Eustachian tube, is tiny. People unfamiliar with colloidal silver usage might be tempted to administer copious amounts of the substance into the ear in an attempt to end suffering faster. But, three drops in the affected ear, once or twice per day at most, should be sufficient. Any more is not only a waste, but it can be counterproductive to effective treatment.

Thank you to all our wonderful farm members, co-op, and CSA leaders, participating farmers, markets, artisans,  and sustainers who support our mission to provide clean, pure, honest, heritage, reliable, heirloom, dependable, free range, grass fed and delicious foods to dinner tables across the country.

Educating and helping, in any way we can is one of our passions. We are dedicated to helping people get started with growing as much of their own food as possible and to being supportive, active  participants with making it happen.

To be an active part of healing the earth, securing heritage livestock breeds and heirloom variety foods, fruits, vegetables and protecting old fashioned farming and shopping traditions is very important to our mission.

This year we have participated in 3 more farms getting started and 1 to expand.  We are happy to share our knowledge, little secrets and traditions.

More and more people are learning about the importance of the health, ecological and economic benefits of keeping with foods grown and harvested without the use of G.M.O's, ANY Pesticides, Herbicides, Germicides and Preservatives (including, but not limited to organic approved). 

Here, we grow heritage breeds of livestock, heirloom variety (non-G.M.O.)  crops, pasture and continue to grow as a sustainable, bio-dynamic and solid permaculture.

Growing food naturally, beneath the bright blue sky and the fresh breeze, sharing the land with natures critters, can be challenging, especially in the high desert with high winds, snow loads, extreme heat, freezing conditions and drought; however, many many people live in the high desert, and with the rising cost of living and the economic turmoil, it may become increasingly more difficult to get clean, dependable and naturally grown food from reliable, honest and stable sources.

Again, thank you to all our wonderful farm members, co-op, and CSA leaders, participating farmers, markets, artisans,  and sustainers who support our mission to provide clean, pure, honest, heritage, reliable, heirloom, dependable, free range, grass fed and delicious foods to dinner tables across the country.

10,000 small farms are popping up every year, we are thrilled to be at the heart of all the action.