And organic wool can be used to make many of the same things regular wool is used for, like fabrics, yarn, and mattress pads.

Vermont Organic Fiber, a leading provider of organic wool, has launched a new line of mattress pads made with organic wool, or O-Wool as it’s called.

So, what makes organic wool so special, and how do you make it?

Believe it or not, but organic fibers, like organic wool, are a $3.2 billion global industry, up 63% from $1.9 billion in 2007 to 2008. In the United States, the organic fabric market totaled $472 million in 2008, a jump of 65% from 2007.

And making wool organic is pretty simple. You force the sheep to put on Birkenstocks, listen to the Grateful Dead, and wear “Legalize It” t-shirts. No, kidding.

For wool to be recognized as “organic” in the U.S., it must come from animals fed only organic feed, and raised without any synthetic hormones or pesticides.

As for Vermont Organic Fiber’s organic mattress pads, the company insists they’ll help you sleep cozily, and sell for $45 to $250, depending on the size.

Via dBusinessNews.

Image credit: made-in-china.com

According to Time Magazine, our energy-intensive food system uses 19% of U.S. fossil fuels, more than any other sector of the economy.

It’s a fact: what we choose to buy and eat can help contribute to a better, healthier way.

Organic foods are more gentle on Mother Earth. Consider why:

• Organic farmers leave soil and crop residue in the ground rather than digging it up (known as the ‘no-till’ method). That means organic farmers release less CO₂ into the air by sequestering it in the earth.
• Organic farming uses 50% less energy overall than traditional farming.
• Smaller-scale organic farms use 60% less fossil fuel per unit of food than conventional industrial farms.²

If we turned all of our farmland in this country to organic and regenerative methodologies, where we’re putting basically cover crops or compost back into the soil and not using chemical fertilizers, we could mitigate 25 percent of our emissions in this country alone.
-Timothy LaSalle, CEO of the Rodale Institute. Read the transcript or view the video of LaSalle’s response to critics who say organic farming is unsustainable and produces smaller crop yields.

So yes – support, buy and eat organic.

Other top tips for a global warming diet include:

• Eat grass-fed beef only: cows and ruminant chewing animals that graze on healthy  pastures reduces greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and overall energy consumption.
• Go meatless one night a week: This is a great money saving tip and will create room in your budget to add more organic veggies to your diet.
• Eat local: the closer the origins of your food, the less transportation and corresponding carbon emissions into the atmosphere. And the more likely your produce has been vine ripened which makes for delicious foods!
• Eat in season: foods that are in season are usually in abundance and can be more affordable delicious!
• Eat lower on the food chain: choose foods that consume fewer other foods and eat as much of a plant-based diet as possible (choosing organic, of course!)

Many people ask me if I eat locally conventionally grown foods, in other words foods sprayed with pesticides. My answer: no. Please don’t ask me to eat foods that have been sprayed with toxic chemicals, even if it is grown locally. If I told you to make a beautiful fresh garden vegetable soup and, oh by the way, pull out the ant and roach spray and lightly give your veggies a fine mist before cooking to ward off any pests that come crawling along your kitchen counter, would you do it? Probably not.

What are your favorite global warming diet tips?  Share them with others – we love hearing from you!

¹Gidon Eshel and Pamela A. Martin, “Diet, Energy, and Global Warming,” Earth Interactions 10 (May 2005)
²Ready, Set, Green; Eight Weeks to Modern Eco Living, Graham Hill & Meaghan O’Neill

If you’re ready to take the organic gardening plunge, we have some great tips for you from the experts at Bonnie Plants, a green-gardening wholesaler in Union Springs, AL: 

1. Don’t be intimidated. With a little attention and effort, growing fall vegetables in a backyard garden and in planters has advantages over spring and summer plantings. Cooler weather means plants require less care, as increased rainfall reduces the need for watering. Plants will grow rapidly at first and gradually slow as the days become shorter and colder. You’ll also find fewer destructive insects, and weeds will germinate less often.
2. Shine it on. Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, as well as a steady supply of moisture and nutrients from soil. Mix a 2-inch layer of compost into soil, or spread an organic fertilizer according to package directions. Plants will need an inch of moisture per week, either through rain or supplemental watering.
3. Start with transplants. Transplants buy you time, as plants are at least 6 weeks older when you put them in the ground. This means you’ll begin harvesting much sooner than if you start from seed. Your local garden center should offer optimum fall varieties for your geographic region.
4. Don’t fear frost. When frost threatens, cover plants with a floating row cover, cold frame or cloche. Or, you can grow fall veggies in a container and move the pot to a protected location on frosty nights. Make sure your soil is well drained and doesn’t get soggy.
5. Make room for new plants. Before planting fall crops, clear the area of summer and spring crops you have previously planted, as they may decay and encourage bacterial infection.

Photo courtesy of ARA

Whole Foods is deeply committed to the concept of community, something I also support via my Green Club.  Surrounding yourself with like-minded people offers strength and reinforcement for whatever goals you hope to achieve.

In that vein, Whole Foods offers all sorts of super helpful free tips and tools with their Be Good to Your Whole Body series.  Their Healthy Mood brochure is particularly interesting, harkening back to the old adage ‘you are what you eat.’ While depression is a very real condition and cannot be ‘fixed’ by diet alone, there’s definitely a link between what you eat and your outlook on life.

Here are some of my favorite tips from Whole Foods’ Healthy Mood brochure:

• Keep blood sugar in check: healthy diets should include sufficient protein, fiber, antioxidants and healthy fats (another vital Green Club tenet)
• Drink tea daily: green, black and certain herbal teas have all been linked to happier states of mind
• Enjoy low-glycemic foods which may be associated with a healthy mood
• Support your adrenal glands: they’re the manufacturers and gatekeepers of stress hormones; chronic stress overworks them (start by never allowing yourself to get too hungry)
• Provide your body with a steady supply of mood-enhancing and stabilizing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients including 5-HTP, adaptogens, Vitamin B, essential fatty acids, ginkgo, iron, l-theanine, passionflower, SAMe, St. John’s Wort, Valerian and Vitamin D.

Other top tips for a healthy mood include acupuncture, massages using real essential oils and yoga, breathing and meditation.

What nutrition or fitness tips do you tap into to keep your mood elevated?  Let us know – we love hearing from you!

If you’ve been thinking about starting an organic vegetable garden, choosing your plants initially may seem overwhelming. 

The experts at Bonnie Plants, a green-gardening plant wholesaler in Union Springs, AL, recommend these six fast-growing, cold-hardy crops for fall gardeners: 

Winterbor Kale

• A nutritious leafy green
• A vigorous producer that endures winter easily, even in very cold climates
• Cut the outer leaves so the center can continue growing; space transplants about 12 inches apart 

Georgia Collards

• Similar to kale, with a stronger, sweet-cabbage flavor
• Leaves taste best when young
• Space transplants 36 inches apart  

Romaine Lettuce

• Richer in vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients than other popular lettuces
• Heart-healthy
• Space transplants 18 inches apart 

Early Dividend Broccoli

• Popular, productive and easy to grow
• High in fiber and calcium
• Set transplants 18 inches apart 

Mustard Greens

• Nutritious, with spicy leaves that taste sweeter when nipped by frost
• Fast-growing
• Space plants 12 inches apart 

Arugula

• Fast-growing, peppery-tasting leafy green that’s great in salads
• Promotes bone health
• Especially high in vitamins A, C and K

Photo courtesy of ARA

Click here to read Part 1 of this article.

Veterinarian Susan Nelson is urging pet owners to read nutrition labels on pet-food packages.

As with the foods we eat, pet-food products often list the calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber per cup of food or per treat.

“In the past, we didn’t know how many calories were in various treats,” says Dr. Nelson, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Now, that’s becoming more available…because more pets are becoming obese and their owners are asking for that information.”

Logging foot intake is important if your pet is overweight.

“It’s probably not necessary if you have a pet that is of normal weight,” Dr. Nelson says. “If it starts to get pudgy, you need to take a look at how much exercise it is getting, how much food you are feeding it and how many treats you’re giving it.

“Generally, I tell people that unless your pet is overweight, go with the guidelines on the food bag,” she adds. “If the pet is a little overweight, you should feed it for its ideal weight and not for its current weight.”

To compare different brands’ nutritional info, look at their dry-matter content. Often, this is not listed on the bag, so you may have to research it online or call the company.

“What most bags list is the nutritional analysis that is formulated on an as-fed basis,” Dr. Nelson says. “To truly compare the nutrient content of foods, you have to look at the dry-matter basis, which takes out water content.”

Always base food choices on your pet’s life stage.

“If your pet is pregnant, a puppy or kitten, has special health conditions or is a senior, there are foods formulated that best meet the nutritional demands,” Dr. Nelson says.

If the pet is extremely overweight, it may need diet food, along with other recommendations. Diet pet foods are lower in calories, nutritionally complete and often contain extra fiber, which helps your pet feel full. Don’t feed your pet less of its regular food, as it may not meet nutrition requirements.

Some dog and cat breeds have the opposite problem: high metabolisms and difficulty in maintain a normal weight. Talk to your vet about pet food with a higher fat content and more calories per serving.

As for treats, make sure they account for no more than 10% of your pet’s calories, Dr. Nelson says. 

Suggested Reading

1. Have Your Pets Gone Organic?
2. Holistic Industry Going to the Dogs
3. How to Switch Your Pet to Organic Food
4. Keep Fido and Felix Fit and Trim
5. Doggiecise Do’s and Don’ts
6. A Fitness Program for Pets (Part 1)
7. A Fitness Program for Pets (Part 2)
8. Pet Bistro Offers Healthful, Organic, Human-Grade Cuisine
9. Rachael Ray Introduces Natural Dog Food
10. The Top 5 Benefits of Natural Organic Pet Food for Your Dog
11. Go Fetch!
12. Holiday Tips from the “Dog Whisperer”

Photo:

As Americans struggle with obesity, so do our pets.

“Pets are overeating and underexercising, and they’re eating too many high-fat foods and treats,” says Susan Nelson, DVM, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

To determine whether your pet is too heavy or light, consider Dr. Nelson’s guidelines:

• You shouldn’t be able to see your pet’s ribs, but you should be able to feel them easily, with a thin layer of fat over them.
• When you look at your pet from the side, its tummy should tuck up at the flank area and not hang in a straight line.
• If you look at your dog from above, you should see an hourglass shape: broad at the shoulders, narrow at the waist and broader at the hips.
• If your dog starts to get heavy, cut back on calories and arrange more exercise time.

Work with your family to avoid sabotaging your pet’s diet with treats and table scraps. These hidden calories can be the main contributor to obesity, says Dr. Nelson, who specializes in preventive care, senior wellness and puppy/kitten wellness.

“Sometimes, you’ll try to put your pet on a diet, and then someone else living in the house will slip it treats,” she says. “You should talk with the whole family when putting your pet on a diet. Tell them the diet is necessary to keep the pet at a good weight, which in turn will make it healthier and can help it live a longer life.”

And if you have a small child who drops food (or deviously gets rid of broccoli via canine) at the dinner table, these calories will add up, too.

Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of this article.

Suggested Reading

1. Have Your Pets Gone Organic?
2. Holistic Industry Going to the Dogs
3. How to Switch Your Pet to Organic Food
4. Keep Fido and Felix Fit and Trim
5. Doggiecise Do’s and Don’ts
6. A Fitness Program for Pets (Part 1)
7. A Fitness Program for Pets (Part 2)
8. Pet Bistro Offers Healthful, Organic, Human-Grade Cuisine
9. Rachael Ray Introduces Natural Dog Food
10. The Top 5 Benefits of Natural Organic Pet Food for Your Dog
11. Go Fetch!
12. Holiday Tips from the “Dog Whisperer”

Photo:

During yesterday’s successful concert, Farm Aid leaders asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support measures that help family farmers thrive.

In the 1990s, broken farm policies and consolidated corporate food production forced nearly 80% of hog farmers out of business. According to Farm Aid, similar circumstances are causing dairy farmers to be paid less than half of what it costs to produce milk, and the United States risks losing thousands of dairy farmers this year alone.

At yesterday’s concert, Farm Aid representatives reiterated their request for the USDA to set a price for milk that covers the cost of production, which would guarantee dairy farmers a fair price that keeps them on their land. Farm Aid also asked the USDA to stop using taxpayer dollars to fund new and larger factory farms.

“Family farmers are the first rung of the economic ladder in this country,” said Farm Aid Founder and President Willie Nelson. “Against all odds, they have persevered and found ways to stay on their land, growing good food for all of us and creating strong communities. It’s time now for policy to rise to meet their needs with fair prices and support for their innovations.”

“We invite all Americans to join us in pressing for food production that protects our environment, our health and our economy,” added Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “We are encouraged by the opportunity the new administration in Washington offers us all for making the needed changes.”

At the concert, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan joined farmers and food advocates in a conversation about the many ways family farmers are rebuilding local and regional food systems and reenergizing the economy.

“Farmers face overwhelming challenges as they work each day to put food on our tables, and Farm Aid’s ongoing efforts on behalf of family farmers have helped put a human face on this vocation,” she said. “At the same time, there is a bright future for small- and mid-sized producers because there is an agricultural renaissance taking place in America. More and more consumers are wanting to better connect with their producers, and USDA’s new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative helps to accomplish that goal.”

For Your Organic Bookshelf: Farm Aid: A Song for America

Photo: Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Inc. 2009

Farm Aid’s 2009 Concert begins at 5 p.m. today (ET), with sets from Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Gretchen Wilson and Jason Mraz, among other performers.

DIRECTV will exclusively broadcast the event live and in HD on The 101 Network.  The company has also pledged to match customer donations up to $50,000 through Oct. 31.

The concert will be streamed live on Farm Aid’s website. To make a $5 donation that helps family farmers, text FARMER to 90999 during the concert. Click here to donate online. To follow the event on Twitter, click here.

Farm Aid has partnered with St. Louis businesses to help achieve zero waste goals during the concert and add to the established Verizon Wireless Amphitheater recycling program.

With the help of Replenishing the Earth and Route 66 Organics, all compostable waste   will be turned into agricultural material. Volunteers will help concertgoers differentiate between landfill-bound trash, recyclables and compostables.

The energy used to produce the concert will be offset by purchases of renewable energy certificates through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Farm Aid’s concert greening initiatives are underwritten by Horizon Organic and Silk Soymilk.

Photo by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Inc. 2008; courtesy of Farm Aid

Bat flowers. Lily-of-the-Nile. Devil’s tongue. Cobra lily. Black cow parsley.

Each of these plants is a lovely shade of black.

Once you open the pages of Paul Bonine’s Black Plants, you’ll no longer associate the floral color with Morticia Addams’ garden or a Goth funeral wreath. Bonine, co-owner of the wholesale nursery Xera Plants in Sherwood, OR, will have you craving a patch of “dusky denizens” in your organic garden.

Hauntingly beautiful, 75 black annuals, perennials, bulbs and shrubs are featured. You’ll find black varieties of common favorites like pansies and columbines, as well as more exotic offerings. (Dracula orchids, anyone?)

The 160-page book retails for $14.95, but Amazon is selling it for $10.17 (at press time), a 32% discount.