Once again I find myself staring in the fresh face of a new year, filled with hope, excitement, and a modicum of fear. I’ve never been one to bravely tackle adventures, even when they are of my own design. Before I get too swept away in plans for the new, I thought I should take a moment to properly reflect on the old. …read full article…
This spring I had an opportunity to participate in an Introduction to Organic Farming Workshop Series at La Milpa Organica. The workshop was the first of its kind, and was created through a coordinated effort between the farm and San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project. The hands-on class was my first real farming or gardening experience as an adult, and I enjoyed every moment. …read full article…
September rolled in with the usual mixed bag – I felt excited at the possibility of a fresh start, yet resigned to the confines of a more constrained work schedule. The beginning of a new school year is always busy, so historically the arrival of September marks the time that I switch over from a diet of mostly simple home cooked meals, to one based on more decadent restaurant faire. Unfortunately, with Phil and I both firmly rooted in the mindset that food is best when it is made from scratch, eating out has become more of a burden than a treat. As we struggled to fit our “cook it ourselves” ideals into our “never home” schedules, I began to think about how much we have changed over the past year. …read full article…
The Dog Days of Summer have arrived and all I can think is “dang it’s hot.” Too hot to think, too hot to move, and way too hot to cook. Just when it seemed like I was destined to starve for lack of the will power to turn on the oven, I remembered the wonder that is icy cold fresh fruit. Now some will say that to experience the full flavor, fruit is best eaten at room temperature. I say that when the body is swollen with heat and dripping with sweat, there is nothing quite as refreshing as a hunk of well-chilled watermelon. …read full article…
The Organic Consumers Association along with three certified organic personal care brands have filed a complaint with the USDA National Organic Program, calling for an investigation into false labeling of "Organic" personal care/beauty products that do not comply with USDA NOP regulations. Among the offenders are popular brands such a Jason, Avalon Organics, and Dessert Essence Organics. A complete list of the offenders along with suggested alternatives is available on the OCA website, or you can visit Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database, to see how safe your favorite beauty products really are.
