sustainable farming

There's an old saying: "If factory farms had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." That's because the abuse and torture in factory farms is completely unbearable and unacceptable. Pigs, cows, chickens, fish, and other animals suffer miserably on modern farms.

Are you interested in eating in a way that nourishes you, others, and the planet? If so, the food sovereignty movement is for you. This movement recognizes that food is about more than just physical sustenance; it’s about people, the planet, and nourishing the soul. I recently had the pleasure of talking with food sovereignty champion Mariah Gladstone, who is actively working to restore and advance Native American foodways. Here’s what she had to say about food sovereignty, how you can get involved, and traditional Native American foods. 

When we combine trees, crops and/or livestock, we create a land-use system called agroforestry, and it’s good for the planet. Trees’ ability to hold carbon reduces the CO2 levels in the atmosphere, which is an important established goal in preventing or slowing global warming and its related stresses and effects on our planet, our species, and the other inhabitants of Earth. And, by integrating trees into agricultural settings, multiple ecological and practical advantages are possible.

The conventional methods of putting the garden away involve pulling up your hard-grown plants and tilling your soil. While this method works for a few seasons, permaculture has a longer-term view of soil health. Tilling the soil destroys much of the delicate soil structures that allow for high levels of biodiversity. There are little pockets of water and air in the soil where nutrient-carrying mycorrhizal fungi can grow and beneficial insects can reside.

About an hour drive down the Mediterranean coast from Genoa Italy, and 100 meters (330 feet) out to sea, you will find yourself floating above an array of growing produce: this is Nemo’s Garden. Six to 10 meters (20-33 feet) below the ocean’s surface there is an array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing in garden beds that look remarkably like jellyfish. Here we find something that could mean a new chapter in agriculture.

The Roots of Permaculture 

“Although the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”

Do you want to eat more plants? If so, you have a lot of company. Interest in the topic spiked dramatically last year. Plant-based eating is both timeless and totally new, depending on how you look at it. Throughout time, the overwhelming majority of societies were plant-based, but in the last century unprecedented changes at the societal and agricultural levels began to make plant-based eating worthy of a fresh look.

You probably don’t need another recap on the benefits of buying organic. Whether it’s for increased nutrient value or more sustainable farming practices, choosing organic over conventional can reap a lot of benefits for your body and the planet.

October is National Seafood Month. And that means oysters! Growing up, we were always told that you should only eat oysters in the months of 'er' – September, October, November, and December.

The reason to indulge in oysters this October is they are a sustainable seafood. With overfishing threatening our oceans and consumption jeopardizing species to the point of near extinction, the issue of eating sustainable seafood is on the table.