Posts by Lori

Why Paleo?

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 in Blog, Whole30

Why Paleo? Is it just a trend?

Not for this Chica!!

It has been a nutritional and health journey!  Numerous food allergies naturally brought me to a Paleo diet. And I use “diet” lightly!!  Way of life is more like it!

When Melissa Hartwig of Whole9 suggested I give eating AIP (Autoimmune Protocal)  for 90 days, let me tell you, it was the first time in a long time I felt A-MAZING!!  No brain fog, no aches, pains or inflammation, great sleep and energy!

I’m of the firm belief, you have to find what works for you, what keeps you on a path of health and eating whole, real food.  Everyone is different, celebrate the differences and celebrate health and wellness!

Lately, I have had a few run ins with judgmental individuals who believe in their way of eating is the only way!

I loved this post from Whole9 after an obese vegetarian told me I was going to get cancer from my breakfast turkey! UGH!  I just responded with grace and I know without a shadow of a doubt, I have made the right choice for me!!

“Humans are terribly binary. These days, both “plant-based” and “meat-based” are diet descriptors that are both overused, and are either defamatory or complimentary, depending on who you are. Whole9 is neither “plant-based” nor “meat-based”. Our diet is food-based.”  ~ Melissa and Dallas Hartwig

Find what works for you that brings you to WHOLE food!

If it’s plant based, great!  If you add meat, great!  Eat for your health and how you function best!

xoxo, Lori

Know Your Compost

Posted on Apr 6, 2013 in Blog, Gardening Tips, Vegetable Gardening

Soil prep is key to a successful garden season!  In addition to rotating crops,  adding compost to the garden each year, rototil it in is essential!

It’s important to know where your soil is made and what they are using to create the compost.

When I couldn’t get any clear answers about the source of the bio-solids from a local resource, I did a little more investigating!

{It could have possibly contained human bio-solids – G-R-O-S-S!}

In the past it was about the best price, now it’s about the safest soil for vegetable planting and consumption.

This brought me back to my landscape days and using a human bio solid in the flower beds. It smelt sweet, it was dark, and rich soil loaded with nitrogen! The source was perfect for flowers and did it create a beautiful display! Each year the Impatiens would grow hip high!!! Simply beautiful!

Just imagine this display waist high and full of flowers and color! Great for flowers, not so great for a veggie garden!

So the thought occurred to me, what is in my soil? Who’s my composter?

It’s important to me to know the source of my food so I took that thought a step further. GMO’s are showing up everywhere and if the cow are eating it what’s it doing to the compost?

I made some calls and one option I found was local at Nick Garden Center from a northern Colorado company BOSS Compost Planters Mix

 HOLY COW!!! that’s 6 yards of soil!!  I had a slight panic attack when I saw the size of the load!

Every last bit of it was used!

I had a few questions, so I emailed BOSS Composting and almost immediately received a phone call from Michael!

Talk about passionate about compost and soil!

It was a pleasure chatting with him hearing his excitement and passion, but also that he took the time to educate me about compost!

 He shared 2 great stories with me about GMO corn and cow manure as well as antibiotics and turkeys manure.   In the cow manure compost, 90% of the GMO microbs were not engaging. In order to compost it had to be determined what microb was bigger and better than the GMO!  GMO’s where disrupting the compost cycle, the microorganism and as a result the compost was unable to heat up.

The same occurred with the antibiotic laden turkey manure.  The antibiotics killed off all the organisms.  It took 9 months to cure the soil.

I’d say Michael {check out his story} is a soil scientist passionate about producing an environmentally friendly soil.

Good news ~  Nature will recycle and return to normal. ~ Michael Croissant

You’ll find me in the garden!

xoxo,

Lori

GMO – Just say NO!

Posted on Mar 16, 2013 in Blog, Gardening Tips

What is GMO?

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Why Should we be concerned about GMO’s?

Human Health Risks: More and more studies point to the idea that there’s grave cause for concern about the health effects of consuming GMOs and the chemicals they are sprayed with, including food allergies, irritable bowels, organ damage, cancer

Environmental Risks: Seventy-two percent of US GMO crops are engineered to tolerate a certain type of herbicide. But the weeds that these herbicides used to kill are coming back bigger and stronger, creating herbicide-resistant “superweeds” that require greater quantities of more toxic pesticides to eradicate.

The Risk To Farmers In Developing Countries: Every thirty minutes, a farmer commits suicide in India due to meet rising debts, a phenomenon that has been steadily rising since the 1970s. While the causes behind the farmers’ crushing debt and resultant suicides are complex—ranging from unfair government floor prices for cotton to international trade agreements skewed in favor of other countries—GM seeds do appear to play a role.

The Risk to Organic Farmers: Even when a farmer isn’t growing GM crops, contamination can easily occur—through seed mixing or pollen drift from neighboring GM fields. While this contamination is troubling for those of us who wish to avoid GMOs, it can be an economic disaster for organic and family farmers

GMOs cause organ disruption: A review of 19 studies concluded that consuming GMO corn or soybeans leads to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice, particularly in livers and kidneys. The researchers who conducted the review stated that the GMO soybean and corn varieties used in the studies “constitute 83% of the commercialized GMOs” that Americans currently consume.”

GMOs promote cancer and early death: Last fall, a French research team published a study in a peer-reviewed journal showing that rats exposed to low doses of both GMO corn and the widely used herbicide Roundup developed horrifying mammary tumors and widespread organ damage. The researchers said that 50% of males and 70% of females died prematurely, compared with only 30% and 20% in the control group.

Insecticide chemicals end up in our blood: A study published in Reproductive Toxicology detected a GMO insecticide chemical, known as Bt toxin, in human blood, offering proof that its widespread use is a major public health concern. Upon taking blood samples, researchers detected the Bt toxin in a shocking 93% of pregnant women, 80% of fetuses and 69% of non-pregnant women. The fact that Bt toxin was detected even in unborn babies shows that the chemical persists far longer than the biotechnology industry claims it does.

GMOs alter our digestive tracts: A shocking study showed that genetically modified plant DNA leads to the development of “GMO” microorganisms, which reproduce continuously inside the human body. These microorganisms actually become part of the bacteria in our digestive tracts and reproduce continuously inside us — even after we stop eating GMO foods. No one knows what the implications of having genetically engineered genes permanently living inside our guts may be.

GMOs may contribute to obesity: Research from Norway suggests that eating GMO corn and corn-based products, as well as meat from animals that are fed GMO grain, will cause you to weight gain faster and retain the weight. The study also linked GMO consumption to significant changes in the intestinal tract, kidney and liver, as well as pancreas, genitals and the immune system.

Resources:    GMOInside.org, Live in the Now

The US is the leader in GMO crops.

Steer clear of the top 9 Genetically Modified foods:

1. Soy

2. Cottonseed

3. Corn

4. Canola Oil

5. US Papaya

6. Alfalfa

7. Sugar Beets

8. Milk

9. Aspertame

10.  Zucchini and Summer Yellow Squash

Resources:  Green America, GMOInside.org

Know your food, grow your food!!

Get your own Non-GMO shopping guide.

You’ll find me in the garden,

Lori

Seed Shopping

Posted on Mar 16, 2013 in Blog, Gardening Tips, Vegetable Gardening

It was a pleasant surprise to get seed catalogues in the mail this year! Last year was the first year I ordered online for heirlooms and non-gmo.

{Learn more about GMO!}

Botanical Interests is local and I can always find their seed at Vitamin Cottage and Nick’s Garden Center.

I shop local and small private seed companies who are conscience of preserving our food supply with heirloom and non-gmo seeds.

Here are my favorites who have signed the non-GMO Safe Seed Pledge and are Organic:

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Botanical Interests

Bountiful Gardens

Find your favorites who have also signed the Safe Seed Pledge on the Council for Responsible Genetics website.

January ~ In The Garden

Posted on Jan 26, 2013 in Blog, Gardening Tips, Vegetable Gardening

January in the garden is a weather roller coaster,  temps ranging from -10 to 65 degrees in Denver.

Negative 10! Beautiful, but just a bit chilly for my liking!

65 degrees in the garden!

I didn’t get out to the garden before the deep freeze hit!  There were a few carrots I didn’t get a chance to harvest.  I was able to dig these up because the raised box was in full sun and was warm enough to dig the carrots out.  To my surprise they were firm and perfect!

Such a fun surprise in January to eat fresh carrots.  They were sweet and full of flavor!

You’ll find me in the garden,

Lori