Organic Answers Blog

Alfalfa for Ethanol?

2010-07-27T11:37:00.000-05:00

Alfalfa is a perennial crop, which helps reduce erosion. It is also a legume, wich adds nitrogen to the soil. It is also a crop that many farmers know how to grow. It's potential as a cellulosic ethanol crop probably depends on whether the hervested material can be transported at low enough cost. Use of protein as a feed source might offset some of the costs involved.
Alfalfa growers want piece of ethanol pie Farm and Dairy - The Auction Guide and Rural Marketplace: "Alfalfa is widely grown throughout the U.S. Corn Belt, prevents erosion, provides a yield boost to corn, and provides the following year’s corn crop with nitrogen needs.
Additionally, the leaves can be fractioned and used as a high protein feed source, while the remaining stems can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol."

Sweet Stevia « Weekends in Paradelle

2009-11-16T11:13:00.000-06:00

Here's a nice blog about stevia.
Sweet Stevia « Weekends in Paradelle: "It’s an herb. It’s much sweeter than sugar. It’s almost calorie-free. It does not cause the after-eating spike in blood sugar that aggravates diabetes.
Wait. There’s more.
It’s actually good for you."

Sister's illness leads to a sweet idea

2009-03-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

College students have developed a new stevia formulation and now they are marketing the product through their own company.
Sister's illness leads to a sweet idea Lynchburg News Advance

Growing Stevia Hydroponically

2009-03-06T19:34:00.000-06:00

The article linked below speaks of growing stevia hydroponically. Apparently it thrives when cultivated this way. It might be a viable alternative for commercial production of stevia.
Maximum Yield - Indoor Gardening

Stevia marketing expands in 2009

2009-01-12T22:19:00.000-06:00

This article from foodprocessing.com provides a good overview of companies marketing stevia and discusses the growing demand expected inthe wake of the FDA's decision to loosen restrictions.
Ingredients The Stevia Rush Is On Food Processing

FDA indicates Partial Approval of Stevia as a Sweetener

2008-12-23T11:02:00.000-06:00

The quote below from NaturalNews.com is the best explanation I've seen about what the FDA actually did with regard to Stevia last week. They did not give a blanket approval to all use of stevia. Rather, they notified certain companies they had no objection to their stevia products being used as a sweetener, including in food and drink products. It is a big step forward for stevia in the U.S, but it seems the approval process is not yet complete.
FDA Approves Stevia, Ends the Era of Oppression of this Herbal Sweetener - UPDATE 1: "Technically, the FDA has only issued letters of 'no objection' regarding companies' self-affirmation of GRAS approval for stevia. In other words, the FDA hasn't technically granted approval to stevia but has affirmed it will not object to companies using it in foods and beverages. This puts stevia in a 'grey zone' where the FDA could potentially target selected companies (small stevia producers) while ignoring other companies (Coca-Cola and Cargill, for example), even while they use essentially the same sweeteners."

New pure stevia product available

2008-11-22T12:06:00.000-06:00

This one doesn't have fillers. So it should work with recipes in my book, "Stevia Sweet Recipes."
Stevia Extract In The Raw(TM) is a Natural Choice for Sugar Substitute Consumers - MarketWatch: "And unlike its competitors, Stevia In The Raw doesn't add other sweeteners such as erythritol (a sugar alcohol) and isomaltulose (a simple sugar)."

Review of Zevia Soda with stevia

2008-11-22T12:02:00.000-06:00

This person really like the new root beer flavor. I havn't tried that one yet, but I like the other flavors.
New No-Calorie Soda Natural Sweetener StopAgingNow.com: "Instead of using phosphoric acid, found it regular and diet sodas, which leaches calcium from your bones, Zevia uses tartatric acid, which comes from grapes. All the other ingredients are natural too, including caffeine from coffee, tea or kola nut."

Stevia gaining favor

2008-10-27T11:50:00.000-05:00

MaryJane Butters: Stevia, the no-calorie sweetener, is gaining favor - Salt Lake Tribune: "More and more people are developing a lower tolerance for sugar, and some are even losing their ability to process it in a healthy way altogether. From headaches and upset stomachs to hypoglycemia and diabetes, sugar has the capability to throw our systems out of whack."

Stevia market demand growing

2008-10-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

The market for stevia appears to be growing, especially for the new products based on Rebaudioside A, the substance in stevia leaves thought to produce the best taste. Most of this demand will likely be met by very large scale plantations. However, a greater visibility for stevia among the public should help open up opportunities for smaller growers to sell stevia plants and other stevia products on a local level.
Food Ingredients First ::: "The potential market for PureVia Reb-A is now estimated at more than US$1.3 billion – and growing fast: only this month, Australia and New Zealand (October 2008) are the latest to grant approval for Stevia to be used as an ingredient in their food and beverage products."

Stevia approved as food & beverage ingredient in Australia & New Zealand

2008-10-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

Maybe the U.S. will be the next location for full approval.
Business New natural sweetner gets OK - Weekly Times Now: "AFTER a decade of research, CQUniversity has received approval for the natural sweetener steviol glycosides (stevia), as an ingredient in foods and beverages in Australia and New Zealand."

Stevia for your sweet drink habit

2008-07-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

The article linked below mentions a study comparing candy intake and sugary drinks. Those eating extra candy in their diet did not consume more calories overall, but those drinking extra sugary drinks did consume substantially more calories overall. Drinking calories fails to make one feel full it seems, so we go ahead and consume more calories.

Stevia is a good solution to this problem. Hot tea or iced tea with stevia and mint is a real treat, and adds very few colories to your diet.

Think Before You Drink - Page 1 - MSN Health & Fitness - Nutrition

Could Stevia benefit from higher sugar prices?

2008-07-08T10:38:00.000-05:00

The article linked below mentions that it is much less expensive to make ethanol from sugar as opposed to corn. This is expected to result in much higher sugar prices and growing demand for sugar alternatives such as stevia. Stevia could be grown in many more places than sugar cane. It can be grown as an annual in cold winter climates, and thrives with varied soil conditions. It could be an ideal crop for replacing opium Poppy production in some countries. It would also grow well where Tobacco is now grown.
Olam CEO: Sugar Prices To Rise Over Next Yr On Biofuel Demand

Another corporate giant develops stevia derived sweetener

2008-06-23T17:54:00.000-05:00

Illinois-based Corn Products International intends to seek U.S. approval for its new rebaudioside A rich sweetener to be used in processed products in the U.S. This news adds to other initiatives by Cargill, Coca Cola, and others. They plant to produce stevia in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres.
Corn Products International Adds Stevia-Based, High-Intensity Sweetener to Its Ingredient... Reuters

Popularity of stevia growing among gardeners

2008-06-16T12:55:00.000-05:00

Here is a nice column about stevia from Jim Long, an herbalist in Southern Missouri:
Jim Long's Garden: Stevia, Sweetener of the Future

Are Tomatoes Safer At The Farmers Market?

2008-06-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

This article concludes that at least at a farmer's market, you can ask questions of the actual grower. The farmers have to answer directly to their end users, so I would hope they would be careful about food safety issues. Amother possibilty is to grow some of your own produce!
Are Tomatoes Safer At The Farmers Market?

Article claims FDA will Review Stevia product for use as a food additive

2008-06-09T10:27:00.000-05:00

This sounds more like I thought the approval process would work. This article claims the FDA will review Cargill's new stevia extract product for possible approval as a food additive. No mention of "Self Determination as discussed in my previous blog. This approval would be big news for stevia and for people wanting a natural alternative to artificial low-calorie sweeteners.
No-Calorie Natural Sweetener on the Way: "The FDA says it will review Truvia's case to be considered 'generally recognized as safe,' which would pave the way for it to become the first stevia product allowed as a food additive in the U.S."

Companies claim GRAS status for stevia through 'self determination'

2008-06-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

I had thought any stevia-derived product would have to go through a formal FDA review process to be allowed in processed food products as a sweetener. This article is the first I've heard of this "self-determination of GRAS status" mechanism. GRAS means "Generally Recognized as Safe." If anyone knows more about this mechanism, please leave a comment.
Sweet Success for Stevia…finally :: News :: Natural and Nutritional Products Industry Center: "both companies used the same sling shot – a route called “self-determination of GRAS status.” This allows for the safety of the product to be decided by the views of experts, as long as there are significant published, peer-reviewed studies, available in the public domain. Wisdom Natural Brands and Cargill both hired teams of stevia experts (with FDA experience) to garner enough scientific support for each of their respective ingredients."

Food companies ready to enter stevia market

2008-06-04T15:34:00.000-05:00

It looks like companies in Malaysia and the U.S. are prepared to meet market demand when and if stevia is fully approved in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Food and Beverage Giants Lining Up to Cash in When Stevia Gets GRAS Approval in U.S.

New stevia safety studies published

2008-05-21T10:08:00.000-05:00

Cargill is working on a new stevia-based food additive and expects FDA approval according to this article:
Stevia-Based Rebiana Sweetener Studies Published
The studies are published in the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology."

Another try for Stevia approval as food additive

2008-02-10T20:00:00.000-06:00

This CNN report includes comments from those involved in getting stevia approved as a food additive in the U.S.
Market Spotlight: Alternative Sweeteners

Stevia source of antioxidants, possible DNA protection

2007-12-04T11:11:00.000-06:00

This is the first I've heard about stevia being a rich source of antioxidants. Yet another eason to grow and enjoy stevia. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Whirlwind around stevia could also include DNA protection:
November 30, 2007 -- by Stephen Daniells -- nutraingredients.com
"Stevia, the natural sweetener causing a whirlwind of interest around the globe, could also be a rich source of antioxidants and may protect against DNA damage and cancer, says a study from India published yesterday."

Stevia: The FDA's Attack On A Beneficial Supplement

2007-11-19T20:05:00.000-06:00

Here's a pretty detailed article about the FDA and Stevia. -- Jeff G.
Stevia: The FDA's Attack On A Beneficial Supplement
Nov 14, 2007 -- by Jon Barron -- Newstarget.com

Results Are In: Organic Foods More Nutritious Than Conventional Foods

2007-11-19T20:03:00.000-06:00

Here's another study showing many organic foods really are better for you. -- Jeffrey G.
The Results Are In: Organic Foods More Nutritious Than Conventional Foods:
Nov 18, 2007 -- by Katherine East -- Newstarget.com
"Newcastle University have been leading this £12m, four-year project, funded by the European Union and their findings show that organic food contains more antioxidants and less unhealthy fatty acids."

Paraguayans hoping for windfall from "sweet herb"

2007-10-20T17:06:00.000-05:00

ABC News: Paraguayans hoping for windfall from "sweet herb"
by Daniela Desantis -- July 24, 2007

Stevia offers Paraguay farmers hopes of a sweet future

2007-09-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

Interesting story about farmers in Paraguay and the hopes they are placing on stevia as a cash crop. -- Jeff G.
FTD.de - Business English - Business English - Stevia offers Paraguay farmers hopes of a sweet future

Is Coca-Cola Putting Stevia On The Fast-Track To Approval As A Sweetener?

2007-09-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

Interesting blog about Coca-Cola and Cargill interest in stevia. -- Jeff G.
Jimmy Moore's Livin' La Vida Low-Carb™ Blog: Is Coca-Cola Putting Stevia On The Fast-Track To Approval As A Sweetener?: "Did you know Diet Coke in Japan is sweetened with the plant-based stevia?"

Paraguayans hoping for windfall from stevia

2007-07-25T22:06:00.000-05:00

Looks like stevia production might be ramped up considerably in Paraguay. -- Jeff Goettemoeller
Paraguayans hoping for windfall from "sweet herb" - Yahoo! News:
July 24, 2007
"ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguayan farmers are hoping to cash in on a low-calorie sweetener being made by the Coca-Cola Co"

Food Standards Code May Allow Stevia in Food for New Zealand, Australia

2007-05-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

FSANZ invites comment on proposed changes to Food Standards Code: "The Plant Sciences Group of Central Queensland University and Australian Stevia Mills Pty Ltd have applied for the Code to be amended to allow the use of steviol glycosides as an intense sweetener for a wide variety of foods."

Senapati farmers benefiting from Stevia cultivation

2007-05-29T09:49:00.000-05:00

Senapati farmers benefiting from Stevia cultivation :: KanglaOnline ~ Your Gateway: "Imphal, May 21: The farmers of Tadubi and its surrounding villages in Senapati district have started getting the benefits from cultivating 'Stevia' plants extensively over 220 acres for commercial purposes."

Amazonian Dark Earth

2007-02-12T10:39:00.000-06:00

A charcoal by-product of some biofuel production methods could provide soil fertility and carbon sequestration. -- Jeff
Amazonian Dark Earth:
by Susan S. Lang -- Feb. 18, 2006
"Cornell biogeochemist shows how reproducing the Amazon's black soil could increase fertility and reduce global warming"

The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kan., | Regional News

2006-08-26T16:28:00.000-05:00

The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson, Kan., | Regional News:
by Tim vandenack -- August 24, 2006
"As envisioned in a complex flow chart outlining the plans, waste from one facility would be used to help power another. For instance, flue gas, or combustion exhaust, from the coal-fired generators would be fed into the algae reactor, which would produce the algae oil that would power the biodiesel plant.
Manure, animal fat, paunch and wastewater from area feedlots, packing plants and dairies also would figure heavy in the mix. Fat, more properly known as tallow, would help run the biodiesel plant, while wastewater and manure would be fed into the anaerobic digester, which would generate the methane that would help run the ethanol plant."

Stay Healthy the Stevia Way (Diabetics, Weight Loss, Children) - Ray Sahelian M.D. - Donna Gates - HealthWorld Online

2006-08-26T15:02:00.000-05:00

Stay Healthy the Stevia Way (Diabetics, Weight Loss, Children) - Ray Sahelian M.D. - Donna Gates - HealthWorld Online:
"The availability of artificial sweeteners has been of enormous benefit to diabetics. However, there's always been a concern that over consumption of these synthetic sweeteners may cause some unknown harm to the body. Could stevia substitution be a good alternative in diabetics? We believe so."

Pilot Cellulosic Ethanol Refinery to be Located with new PA Corn Refinery

2006-08-21T13:50:00.000-05:00

BioEnergy International to Build Pennsylvania's First Ethanol Plant in Clearfield County:
August 18, 2006
"The plant will employ conventional corn-based technology and will be among the largest east of the Mississippi River, and one of the nation�s top 10, based on output.
The smaller pilot-cellulose plant will use BioEnergy�s ground-breaking technology to produce fuels using locally available organic wastes, such as wood and agricultural residue."

Culinary Herbs as Alternative Cash Crops for Small Scale Farmers in Southern Ohio

2006-08-20T16:27:00.000-05:00

Culinary Herbs as Alternative Cash Crops for Small Scale Farmers in Southern Ohio
by Gary Gao

Stevia can help meet Bangladesh sugar crisis

2006-08-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

�Stevia� can help meet sugar crisis: "Talking to BSS ,herbal scientist Dr. Alamgir Mati said the compound made of stevai leaf is 300 times sweetener than our common sugar."

Stevia Closer to Approval by World Health Organization

2006-08-19T21:55:00.000-05:00

The Rich Herb of the Guaran�:
by Alejandro Sciscioli
"This year, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which is testing for safety, put stevia on a temporary list as a step towards it definitive inclusion in the Codex Alimentarius.
The Codex compiles international agreements on minimum food standards and associated matters, to protect the health of the consumer, ensure quality and facilitate commercial trade of foods. "

The State Of Stevia: A Simple Supplement Or Sensational Sweetener?

2006-06-21T20:13:00.000-05:00

The State Of Stevia: A Simple Supplement Or Sensational Sweetener?:
by Jimmy Moore -- June 14, 2006
"You can make your voice heard on the subject of stevia by contacting the FDA directly:
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)"

Stevia can Help Meet Sugar Demand

2006-06-21T20:05:00.000-05:00

Financial Express:
June 3, 2006
"Alamgir, who is now working with the plant, said 'If the country's vast char areas are brought under Stevia cultivation it can help reduce the import of sugar side by side help create job opportunities for a large number of unemployed youths. "

Stevioside: Natural sweetener gets safety nod from Belgium group

2006-03-27T13:33:00.000-06:00

Sweet chemistry: Symposium explores sugar alternatives, science of taste:
Erekalert.org -- 3/27/2006
"Stevioside is a natural non-caloric sweetener derived from the South American shrub Stevia rebaudiana that has been used to sweeten food and beverages for centuries. Now, based on a comprehensive review of research, a group of scientists in Belgium say that there is abundant evidence that stevioside, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar, is not only safe but may prove to be a potent weapon against obesity and type 2 diabetes. (AGFD 168, Thursday, March 30, 10:28 a.m.)"

Stevia: A Sweet Solution to the Afghani Drug Trade

2006-02-02T22:07:00.000-06:00

A Sweet Solution to the Afghani Drug Trade:
9/13/04
"Steviva President Thom King has proposed that the Afghani's convert their opium poppy fields to stevia. While stevia is grown around the world, King believes the growing conditions in the Southern part of Afghanistan are perfect for growing stevia and the extraction process which yields the super sweet stevioside is somewhat similar to the process which yields opium from poppies. King is willing to put his money where his mouth is and offer to purchase all the stevia and stevioside extract from the Afghani farmers at fair market value as long as the quality meets his companies strict standards. "

Sugar-powered car sends markets into frenzy

2006-02-01T20:57:00.000-06:00

Sugar-powered car sends markets into frenzy | This is Money:
by Simon Watkins -- 1/29/2006
"Of the 1.7 million cars bought in Brazil last year, 54% were flex-fuel models. Cane sugar is an easy source of the ethanol fuel and is right on the doorstep for happy Brazilian drivers. "

Sugar Prices Boom, More Cane Seen Used for Biofuel

2006-02-01T20:53:00.000-06:00

Planet Ark : Sugar Prices Boom, More Cane Seen Used for Biofuel:
1/31/2006
"LONDON - Sugar is a star among commodity markets, with prices at 25-year peaks and possibly heading higher as investors see potential to divert more cane to make biofuel. "

Calling all herb and flower buyers

2006-02-01T09:39:00.000-06:00

This is a press release about my "Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers" on the Natural Food Network site.
NaturalFoodNet.com - Organic food, natural food, certified organic suppliers:
Feb 2006
"Missouri-based publisher Prairie Oak Publishing has a free opportunity for all North American companies that purchase flowers or herbs for use in their products. The company publishes a yearly Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers which connects buyers and sellers of ornamental, medicinal, culinary, and other botanicals grown or wildcrafted in North America. The directory informs growers and wildcrafters about contact information within each company along with what flower or herb the company needs. Prairie Oak is now accepting buyer listings for the Directory of Flower and Herb Buyers, 2006. Companies wanting to purchase all types of floral or herbal botanicals directly from growers and wildcrafters in large or small amounts should submit a free listing at www.herb-buyers.com. The submission deadline is March 6, 2006 and the directory will be available for $15.95 on March 31. For more information or a listing form, contact Jeffrey Goettemoeller at Prairie Oak Publishing in Maryville,"

Herb sweetens family business

2006-01-30T16:12:00.000-06:00

Herb sweetens family business:
by Betty Beard -- The Arizona Republic -- 1/23/2006
"The Mays say it would take millions of dollars and several years to finance the tests that FDA requires to prove Stevia's safety as a sweetener. They say that many tests have been done and that Stevia products have been used for centuries in Paraguay and Brazil and are widely used in Japan."

Limit fertilizer to control costs, farmers urged

2006-01-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

Journal Gazette | 01/12/2006 | Limit fertilizer to control costs, farmers urged:
by Jenni Glenn
"Farmers who save on fertilizer could reap higher profits, even if their harvest is reduced as a result, a Purdue University agronomy professor said Wednesday."

Peak Oil Expert Supports Localized Food Production

2006-01-09T16:16:00.000-06:00

Japan Focus Article:
by Sandra Ward
"Then we encourage business leaders to start liberating their workforce and let workers work any place they would like to and pay them by productivity versus the system we have in place. Productivity improves as does worker satisfaction. Then we re-engineer how we grow and distribute food and get away from this ridiculous system we have today of creating ornamental food that looks good all year long but doesn't taste very good because it comes from too far away. Have you ever had blueberries from Chile? To have food taste good it has to be grown locally. We are going to end up going back to bottling and canning.

What?

Do you ever cook pasta? Do you cook tomato sauce? Have you ever used local tomatoes?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Tomatoes by can are fabulous tomatoes because they have been canned at the peak of the tomato season, and that process is still as good today as it was when I was growing up. Then we have to take a page out of Whole Foods, one of the most successful food models ever, by having a stringer system of organic farms within 20 miles of their stores. Organic farms are just victory gardens. Making all of those changes at the same time will leave our economies in better shape."

Stevia Sweetener Business plan wins prize worth over $100,000.00

2006-01-04T16:16:00.000-06:00

Moot Corp Competition - McCombs School of Business - The University of Texas at Austin:
May, 2005
"A natural sweetener which is 300 times sweeter than sugar claimed the grand prize at the 22nd annual Global MOOT CORP Competition held at the University of Texas at Austin on Saturday, May 7, 2005. Idyll Life from Thammasat University in Thailand beat out 39 teams from the London Business School, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern and top MBA programs around the world to claim the Global Champion prize.
The Global Champion receives the opportunity to negotiate a $100,000 investment from the MOOT CORP...

Idyll Life has exclusive rights to the patented stevia seeds. Stevia sweetener is the only natural high intensity sweetener in the world market and has been used extensively in the Asian region for more than 30 years. The company has FDA approval and is ready to introduce Pure Lite, their first sweetener product. They are seeking funding to establish its first commercial plant to be located in Thailand. "

INFLUENCE OF STORAGE CONDITIONS ON STEVIA REBAUDIANA SEEDS

2006-01-04T15:56:00.000-06:00

INFLUENCE OF THE CONDITIONS OF STORAGE ON THE SEED QUALITY OF STEVIA REBAUDIANA (BERTONI) BERTONI:
"Differences were observed between the fresh and dry weight of the normal seedlings, showing that the storing condition in the refrigerator, produced higher average values, at the same time presenting more vigorous seeds than those in the other treatment."

Simultaneous production of xylitol and ethanol from cellulosic biomass

2005-12-11T21:00:00.000-06:00

Process for the simultaneous production of xylitol and ethanol - Patent 6846657:
1/25/2005
"It has now been found that xylitol and ethanol can be produced simultaneously by using the process of the invention wherein xylose is converted to xylitol, while the majority of the other hexoses present in the raw material are converted to ethanol. Thus the raw material is effectively utilized and two commercially very important products are obtained in a pure form and with a high yield. The process is simple and effective.

The process of the invention is characterized in that the hydrolyzed starting material is fermented with a yeast strain, the ethanol produced is recovered, a chromatographic separation is carried out on the remaining xylitol solution, and pure xylitol is crystallized. Xylose-containing substances are used as starting materials, which in accordance with the invention are fermented with a yeast strain that is capable of converting xylose to xylitol and most hexoses to ethanol. By fermentation, a xylitol-rich solution is obtained wherefrom xylitol is recovered in a simple way. Laborious and complex separation steps (such as the conventional ion exchange, demineralization, precipitations etc.) are not needed, but generally the xylitol can be purified in a single step chromatographically, whereafter it is crystallized to obtain pure xylitol. Ethanol is easy to remove from the fermentation solution for instance by evaporation. Thus the need for separating xylitol from the hexitols and other sugars produced in the hydrolysis and reduction steps is avoided. The hydrolysis performed in accordance with the invention also provides a solution to the problem of using pulp discarded as waste mass, in other processes, and thus in the process of the invention substantially the entire starting material is utilized. "

Energy Use and Sustainable Farming

2005-12-11T19:52:00.000-06:00

Sustainable Table: The Issues: Fossil Fuel and Energy Use:
"Fortunately, a number of agricultural techniques can be used to decrease our dependence upon fossil fuel. One effective method is to reduce or eliminate tillage (plowing the soil); a Canadian study determined that implementation of a modified no-till system reduced the use of diesel fuel from 7.9 gallons to 1.1 gallons per hectare.12 Another study indicated that total CO 2 emissions generated by a no-till system were 92% lower than emissions from conventional tillage.13 Fossil fuel consumption could also be decreased by reducing fertilizer use, by using manure more efficiently, and by practicing certain types of crop rotation (for example, including legumes in crop rotation).14
Although these techniques are usually difficult to implement on huge mono-crop industrial farms, many sustainable farms already practice these energy-saving production methods. In fact, small-scale, less mechanized, more biodiverse organic farming operations have been shown to use 60% less fossil fuel per unit of food than conventional industrial farms.15"

$10.00 per acre fuel savings with no-till farming

2005-12-11T19:46:00.000-06:00

Practices To Reduce High Tractor Fuel Costs:
9/13/2005 -- AgBIO, SOuth Dakota State University
"SDSU Extension Farm Machinery Specialist Dick Nicolai said one practice that minimizes fuel consumption is the no-till method that requires fewer passes over the land to till and plant crops.
'No-till farming has been used by some South Dakota farmers over the years but the current rising trend in fuel prices has encouraged more producers to look into these practices. Fuel savings vary for different producers who use the no-till method. Fuel savings of around $10/acre can be expected when compared to traditional farming practices,' Nicolai said."

Coping With High Diesel Prices

2005-12-11T19:43:00.000-06:00

Coping With High Diesel Prices:
University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service
"For crops that require tillage, hitch two or more implements together to reduce the number of tillage passes required. For example, instead of disking once and then harrowing twice, hitching the harrow to the disc to perform the first harrow operation will eliminate one pass through the field and save an estimated $5.28 per acre for a 100-Hp tractor and 10-foot harrow.
Change from conventional tillage to no-till. Fuel cost for corn planted following plowing, discing, and cultivating is estimated at $14.17/acre. While fuel cost for no-till corn is estimated at only $9.14."

No-till, less fuel use

2005-12-11T19:37:00.000-06:00

WCFCourier.com | The Waterloo Cedar-Falls Courier Online!:
by Matthew Wilde -- 11/20/2005
"According to the Conservation Technology Information Center at Purdue University in Indiana, no-till farming saves 3.5 gallons of diesel an acre. On a 500-acre farm, paying current diesel prices, that is a savings of $3,920.
The center also claims fewer trips will save a farmers $5 per acre on machinery wear and maintenance costs. That's another $2,500 in savings for 500 acres."

Auto steer technology cuts wastes, saves time, fuel

2005-12-11T19:30:00.000-06:00

Farm & Ranch Guide: Production News:
by Donna Farris -- 11/23/2005
"John Deere's GreenStar AutoTrac hands-free steering system is an option on new tractors, sprayers and combines, while the AutoTrac Universal Steering Kit is designed to set older tractors up with automatic guidance.

?It can be added to almost anything anymore,? Hellie said.

The average farmer steering on his own overlaps 10 percent in field pass-throughs, Hellie said. That overlap can be reduced to little or nothing with automatic steering.

?He's saving fuel, time, hours on the tractor, wear and tear on equipment and chemicals,? Hellie said. ?For the larger farmer, it will pay for itself in three or four years.?"

Organic farmers enjoy higher crop values, lower input costs

2005-12-11T19:26:00.000-06:00

Farm & Ranch Guide: Regional News:
by Donna Farris -- 12/8/2005
"As the farmer of 240 acres, economics also led Steven Halter of Lamberton, Minn., to switch to organic farming in 1998.
'I always say that if I hadn't gone to organic when I did, I probably would have quit,' he said.
In a time when it seems farms must be large to be viable, 'it didn't seem to work out for me to be conventional,' he said.
He's found there are other benefits as well.
'It's better for the soil, better for ourselves and I enjoy it more,' he said."

New Strip Tillage Technique Saves Money on Tractor Fuel

2005-12-11T19:11:00.000-06:00

9news.com | News | Farmers dig deep to save money on fuel:
12/10/2005
"The machine cuts a foot-deep groove into the soil where sugar beets will be planted next spring.
This method requires only two trips across the field, instead of the six or seven required by conventional farming techniques. This can save a typical farmer thousands of dollars in fuel costs.
'It's about doubled in the last year or so. It should be a tremendous savings in fuel,' Longmont Conservation District's Bill Haselbush says.
The main reason the Soil Conservation Service is promoting the idea, however, is to reduce soil erosion. Instead of turning the soil over with a plow and discing it until it's practically powder, this method leaves stubble in the field and that should help hold the soil in place."

Ethanol one bright spot in country's energy plight

2005-11-17T09:04:00.000-06:00

semissourian.com: Story: Farm Bureau president: Ethanol one bright spot in country's energy plight:
by Scott Moyers -- 11/17/2005
"Finding ways to replenish the country's dwindling energy supply is perhaps the most pressing concern in agriculture today, according to Missouri Farm Bureau president Charles Kruse.
'We've backed ourselves into a corner,' Kruse said Thursday, speaking to students at Southeast Missouri State University. 'And it's not just a problem in the agricultural community. It's the whole country.'"

Natural Gas Prices Take Toll on U.S. Agriculture

2005-10-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

Stock Market News and Investment Information | Reuters.com:
by Lisa Haarlander, Reuters -- 10/18/05
"Elevators use large amounts of natural gas in the fall to dry freshly harvested grain so it can be stored. Charging high fees for drying could cause farmers to take their crops to another elevator -- and deprive the elevator of revenue from storing and reselling the grain.
Spot prices for natural gas have more than doubled in the last year, rising to $11.92 per million British thermal units from $5.85 in the Chicago market. Natural gas futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange were nearly double year-ago levels at $13.33."

Manure Converted to a Variety of Products

2005-09-22T22:50:00.000-05:00

Manure Converted to a Variety of Products:
ABCnews.com, Nationalgeographic.com -- July 18, 2005
"If you thought cow patties were just something to avoid stepping in, consider this: In the future they could help make plastics, antifreeze, cosmetics, and even deodorants."

Peak Oil and Permaculture: David Holmgren on Energy Descent

2005-08-27T09:41:00.000-05:00

EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil and Permaculture: David Holmgren on Energy Descent | Energy and Peak Oil News:
by Adam Fenderson -- June 2004

Holmgren: One of the biggest limiting resources in agricultural productivity is phosphorous. It's critical to plant nutrition and animal health, and it's in limited supply. All ecosystems work to maximize to hold phosphorous and recycle it. It's one of the non-renewable mineral resources that humans have dug out of the earth at a few key places around the world in the last hundred years with the aid of fossil fuels and have spread over large areas of agricultural land. Interestingly enough, it's one of the few elements that doesn't get leeched away readily. It's been estimated that in some parts of Australia's farmland that's been intensively farmed for potatoes in a cool climate, that there's enough phosphorous tied up in the soil, locked up, for a hundred years of farming�if you could actually make it available.

Now making it available requires the work of a healthy eco-system. Because nature is used to actually breaking apart this locked up phosphorous in the form of aluminium and iron phosphate. So permaculture systems--especially tree systems, as well as forms of organic agriculture that husband the soil micro-organisms can mine back out some of that resource. That's one of the positive stories agriculture hasn't just left a legacy of toxicity and degradation, it's left a legacy of unused abundance. It's been technically difficult to get at, so it's not just like people have pointlessly thrown away fertilizers: it requires more sophisticated soil ecosystems.

Vegetable Farming with Less Energy

2005-08-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

EnergyBulletin.net | Maverick methods work just fine for both produce and the planet | Energy and Peak Oil News:
by Mia Stainsby -- Aug 24, 2005

"Agriculture, he says, uses 80 per cent of the world's freshwater resources with only 20 per cent of it reaching the plants and animals because of inefficient transport and application systems. 'Precise planting depths, timely cultivation, ancient dry-farming techniques, increased crop variety, drip tapes and hoses are ways of using water much more efficiently.'

The same goes for energy, he says. 'If you look at the relation between food and oil, one of the greatest services is to begin to show that food can be produced without intensive input of energy. My goal is to be 80 per cent fossil oil-free in the next couple of years,' he declares. He has solar systems set up to power his farm.

Manure Converted to a Variety of Products

2005-08-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

Manure Converted to a Variety of Products:
ABCNews.com -- July 18, 2001

If you thought cow patties were just something to avoid stepping in, consider this: In the future they could help make plastics, antifreeze, cosmetics, and even deodorants.

Costs Push Oklahoma Farmers Away From Corn

2005-08-19T13:43:00.000-05:00

KOTV - The News on 6 - Costs Push Oklahoma Farmers Away From Corn:
AP -- Aug 9, 2005

GUYMON, Okla. (AP) _ Many corn farmers in Oklahoma's Panhandle say the high cost of natural gas is causing them to shy away from growing corn.

They say the high natural gas prices make watering the crop too costly. Texas County farmers use the fuel to power engines that tap the Ogallala Aquifer, which is used to water crops.

Can This Fruit Be Saved?

2005-08-17T21:44:00.000-05:00

This fascinating article tells the story of the bannana and how researchers are racing to develop new varieties before disease wipes out cultivated production.
Can This Fruit Be Saved? - Popular Science:
By Dan Koeppel | August 2005

The banana as we know it is on a crash course toward extinction. For scientists, the battle to resuscitate the world's favorite fruit has begun -- a race against time that just may be too late to win.

Economists Study Implications Of High Diesel Prices on Farming

2005-08-12T17:44:00.000-05:00

Economists Study Implications Of High Diesel Prices on Farming 5/23/05:
Kansas State University -- May 23, 2005

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Historically high diesel prices have producers thinking no-till farming looks better every day, but two Kansas State University agricultural economists studied the diesel price outlook and possible long-term impact on machinery and whole-farm costs.
Based on data supplied by Kansas Farm Management Association members, those members can expect their total fuel costs, excluding irrigation, in 2005 to increase by more than $3,000 compared to what they paid in 2004, said K-State Research and Extension farm management specialist Kevin Dhuyvetter.

Essential Steps to a Sustainable Agriculture

2005-08-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

This article includes eight solid principles farmers can use to increase long term productivity. They are the guiding principles of the Kerr Center in Oklahoma.
Kerr Center: Essential Steps to a Sustainable Agriculture:

What is a sustainable agriculture? And once you know what it is, how do you practice it?
These are the questions my staff and I first addressed in the mid-80s. There are dozens of definitions of a sustainable agriculture. But I'll go with a simple one: A sustainable agriculture is a system of agriculture that will last. It is an agriculture that maintains its productivity over the long run...

Reducing Fossil Fuel use through Sustainable Agriculture

2005-08-07T16:12:00.000-05:00

Sustainable agriculture practices can help make agriculture a major net contributor to the energy equation. This article gives some sensible steps toward this goal.
The Health of Our Air: Toward sustainable agriculture in Canada | Reducing fossil fuel use:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada -- Aug 27, 2003

Farms rely on energy from fossil fuels to power machinery, heat buildings, dry harvested crops, and transport goods. Energy is also used to supply materials employed on the farm, such as fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, and buildings. Most of these emissions are not attributed to agriculture in the national inventory of greenhouse gases. Even so, using less fuel on farms would reduce Canada's total CO2 emissions.

Herbicide Resistant Pigweed Found in Georgia

2005-08-05T15:39:00.000-05:00

NCGA - News of the Day:
August, 2005

...Dr. Stanley Culpepper of the University of Georgia, who is investigating the pigweed case with Monsanto, collected seed from a field in 2004 and tested the seed in three greenhouse studies this spring. The results revealed poor performance of Roundup herbicide applied at normal label rates. Monsanto and Culpepper are now conducting heritability studies to confirm resistance...

Students flock to campus organic farms

2005-07-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - Students flock to campus organic farms:
CNN.com -- July 22, 2005

Corvallis, OR -- ...In the last decade or so, student-run farms have cropped up across the country, at almost 60 schools in 27 states. Foodies call it the latest sign of the seasonal, regional food movement's influence, even on a collegiate landscape that's virtually paved with Hot Pockets, Pop Tarts and leftover pizza...

GM crops created superweed, say scientists

2005-07-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

This news is very serious for two reasons. First, scientists promoting genetically modified crops were sure it couldn't happen. "Jurassic Park" had it right -- "life will find a way." What else might happen despite assurances? Secondly, these superweeds will cause tremendous damage if they multiply -- for conventional and organic growers. This story details instances in Canada and elswhere where superweeds are a real problem. In some of these instances, it's not even genetic modification causing the problem -- it's just the selection pressure from repeatedly using powerful chemical pesticides.
Guardian Unlimited | GM crops created superweed, say scientists:
Paul Brown, environment correspondent -- The Guardian -- July 25, 2005

Modified rape crosses with wild plant to create tough pesticide-resistant strain
Modified genes from crops in a GM crop trial have transferred into local wild plants, creating a form of herbicide-resistant 'superweed', the Guardian can reveal.
The cross-fertilisation between GM oilseed rape, a brassica, and a distantly related plant, charlock, had been discounted as virtually impossible by scientists with the environment department. It was found during a follow up to the government's three-year trials of GM crops which ended two years ago.
The new form of charlock was growing among many others in a field which had been used to grow GM rape. When scientists treated it with lethal herbicide it showed no ill-effects.

EM bokashi composting

2005-07-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Bokashi is a mixture of effective microorganisms in a substrate of bran. This article describes how to make it and layer it with household garbage to quickly make a superb compost.
EM bokashi composting:
by Brian Smallshaw -- cityfarmer.org -- Feb 25, 2004

I'll give you a brief overview of how we use EM bokashi in composting, together with a few photos.
We have been using bokashi to treat our kitchen compost for about six or seven years, beginning soon after we cleared a spot for our garden here on Saltspring after moving from Tokyo. I won't go into the details of preparing bokashi, except to say that we mix up 100lb batches every summer, or every other summer, and store the dried mixture in a couple of large plastic barrels. We then keep a smaller bucket of bokashi in the kitchen handy for daily use.

Effective Microorganisms for Organic Farming, Gardening

2005-07-23T19:57:00.000-05:00

Soil high in organic matter will naturally have a better level of beneficial microorganisms, but this article tells of a method to introduce an ideal population of photosynthetic, nitrogen fixing, and other microorganisms that maximize crop yields by maximizing the ability of crops to use available nutrients.
BENEFICIAL AND EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS:
Dr. Teruo Higa and Dr. James F. Parr -- 1994

EM is not a substitute for other management practices. It is, however, an added dimension for optimizing our best soil and crop management practices such as crop rotations, use of organic amendments, conservation tillage, crop residue recycling, and biocontrol of pests. If used properly, EM can significantly
enhance the beneficial effects of these practices (Higa and Wididana, 1991b). Throughout the discussion which follows, we will use the term 'beneficial microorganisms' In a general way to designate a large group of often unknown or ill-defined microorganisms that interact favorably in soils and with plants to render beneficial effects which are sometimes difficult to predict. We use the term 'effective microorganisms' or EM to denote specific mixed cultures of known, beneficial microorganisms that are being used effectively as microbial
inoculants.

Effective Microorganisms for Composting

2005-07-21T22:38:00.000-05:00

Microbes touted for composting:
by TIM HIGGINS of the Tribune's staff -- Aug 12, 2000

Japanese professor sees boon for environment.
It might look like nothing but a pail of garbage.
Leigh Lockhart is co-owner of The Main Squeeze, the only restaurant in Columbia to recycle food waste with a new process that uses microbes.The restaurant's refuse is trucked to MU's South Farm, where the treatment helps the waste decay faster and without odor...

The creator of the process, Japanese professor Teruo Higa, is in Columbia speaking at MU this weekend. Higa kicked off the series of seminars, sponsored by Sustainable Community Development, yesterday morning by talking to a group of roughly 25 scientists, farmers and environmentalists from around the state and country about his process of composting and neutralizing food waste, trash and feces...

Higa touts the treatment, which he calls EM - Effective Microbial - as a cure-all for environments damaged by pollutants. He said the treatment can be used in lakes, rivers and fields. 'It begins to clean up the sludge and other pollutants,' he said through an interpreter...

Eating a Truly Local Diet for a Year

2005-07-20T14:37:00.000-05:00

Living on the Hundred-Mile Diet:
by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon -- TheTyee.ca -- June 28, 2005

In a jam? Eating a truly local diet for a year poses some tricky questions. First in a series.
It's strawberry season. James and I are at the Ellis Farms u-pick on Delta's Westham Island, crouching between long rows of the bunchy green plants, plucking the big berries and dropping them gently into small buckets. We imagine their future with cream and in pies. I lick the sweet red juice from my fingers. 'If I make jam we can have strawberries all year,' I say. James asks with what, exactly, I plan to make the jam? Sugar? One of the planet's most exploitative products, shipped in from thousands of kilometres away?
'But what,' I reply, 'will we eat all winter?'
This may seem like a peculiar question in an age when it's normal to have Caribbean mangoes in winter and Australian pears in spring. However, on March 21, the first day of spring, we took a vow to live with the rhythms of the land as our ancestors did. For one year we would only buy food and drink for home consumption that was produced within 100 miles of our home, a circle that takes in all the fertile Fraser Valley, the southern Gulf Islands and some of Vancouver Island, and the ocean between these zones. This terrain well served the European settlers of a hundred years ago, and the First Nations population for thousands of years before...

Anti-Ethanol Study Roasted

2005-07-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

Colorado experts doubt authors' methods :
By Gargi Chakrabarty -- Rocky Mountain News -- July 19, 2005

Colorado experts on Monday debunked a new study that says alternative fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel burn more energy than they produce.
The study, by researchers at Cornell University and the University of California-Berkeley, said 29 percent more fossil energy, such as oil or natural gas, is required to turn corn into ethanol than the amount of energy the process produces.

The study also said it takes 27 percent more energy to turn soybeans into biodiesel fuel and more than double the energy produced is needed to do the same with sunflower plants.
'Ethanol production in the United States does not benefit the nation's energy security, its agriculture, the economy or the environment,' said the study by Cornell's David Pimentel and Berkeley's Tad Patzek. They conclude the country would be better off investing in solar, wind and hydrogen energy.
Those results raise important issues for Colorado, where investors are pumping millions of dollars into two new ethanol plants in Weld County and a new biodiesel refinery in Monte Vista...

Pimentel and Patzek included in the study such factors as the energy used in producing the crop, costs that were not used in other studies that supported ethanol production.
The study also omitted $3 billion in state and federal government subsidies that go toward ethanol production in the United States each year, payments that mask the true costs,"

Organic Crops Produce Same Yield with Less Inputs says Cornell Study

2005-07-19T16:10:00.000-05:00

Organic farming success:
by Susan S. Lang -- Cornell Press Release -- July 13, 2005

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Organic farming produces the same yields of corn and soybeans as does conventional farming, but uses 30 percent less energy, less water and no pesticides, a review of a 22-year farming trial study concludes. David Pimentel, a Cornell University professor of ecology and agriculture, concludes, 'Organic farming offers real advantages for such crops as corn and soybeans.' Pimentel is the lead author of a study that is published in the July issue of Bioscience (Vol. 55:7) analyzing the environmental, energy and economic costs and benefits of growing soybeans and corn organically versus conventionally. The study is a review of the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial, the longest running comparison of organic vs. conventional farming in the United States.

Training programs booming for organic professionals in India

2005-07-12T20:44:00.000-05:00

Organic farming's latest buzz for GenX:
by PRABHA JAGANNATHAN -- The Economic Times -- July 12, 2005

NEW DELHI: The genNext Indian farmer is busy reinventing the Jai Kisan tag. And the makeover is focusing on organic farming and farm produce, which spin money as well as environmental feel-good in developed countries. New professional courses in organic farming are drawing agri-professionals by droves who, in turn, are being snapped up by national and international agencies.

Cashing in on the new trend and its hunger for trained professionals, specialised study courses have begun grabbing eyeballs in the sector compared to conventional courses available in agricultural universities. Mainstream farm colleges have, in fact, now begun structuring new courses so that India can carve out a presence in world trade.

Globally, trendy sectors like organic farming now face a major constraint of trained professionals. But introduction of agriculture education here coincided with the development of chemicals. Therefore a de-learning process is required before the induction of agricultural professionals in a market crying out to be tapped, a farm specialist points out.

Stricter Standards Could Slow Growth of Organic Farming

2005-07-12T18:03:00.000-05:00

Bismarck Tribune Online - Bismarck, ND:
by Frederic Frommer, Associated Press writer -- June 27, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Some farmers are worried that a federal court ruling requiring the Agriculture Department to come up with stricter standards for organic food will slow the fast-growing industry.

But consumers advocates are cheering the decision, saying it will ensure people get higher-quality food when they purchase products with the organic label.

Earlier this month, the U.S. District Court in Maine finalized a court ruling that bans dozens of synthetic ingredients that the USDA had allowed in products labeled organic. Of particular interest in the upper Midwest, the court also ruled that dairy farmers must give their herds 100 percent organic feed for a full year before being certified organic. They had been able to get by with 80 percent organic feed.

The ruling came after a Maine organic blueberry farmer, Arthur
Harvey, sued the USDA, arguing the current regulations violate the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.

Town dedicates 1,000 acres for organic farming

2005-07-12T17:47:00.000-05:00

Town dedicates 1,000 acres for organic farming:
Associated Press -- 2005

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. -- The town of Rockingham and the Bellows Falls Power Company are dedicating one-thousand acres of land to organic farming.

The land is along the Connecticut River, north of the Bellows Falls hydro dam. Eight hundred acres are across the river in Charlestown, New Hampshire. Another parcel of land is in the Upper Meadows, near one of the first settlements in Rockingham.

University Research Center Would Apply High Tech to Organic Farming

2005-07-12T17:41:00.000-05:00

roanoke.com - Va. Tech may host organic farming center:
by Andrew Kantor -- The Roanoke Times -- June 30, 2005

Almost $1 million in federal dollars are slated to come to a Virginia Tech organic-farming program, through the efforts of some local organizations.

The money, if approved by Congress, will fund a Biodesign and Processing Research Center that will research organic solutions to things like fertilizers and pesticides, as well as act as an extension to help farmers take advantage of the new technologies...

'What we started to see was a growing demand in
the organic food market,' Melnick said. 'You've got a marketplace that is moving away from a cottage industry. The demand has taken off. ... You walk into Kroger these days ... and they've got a big section devoted to organic produce.'

The problem for farmers is keeping up with demand. Low supply has meant higher prices. Jerry Cain, owner of the Rabbit Patch Cafe in downtown Roanoke, said he has pretty much stopped buying organic food for his restaurant.

'Overall,' he said, 'it was just too expensive.'
Increasing organic production means turning, counterintuitively, to technology. Organic doesn't mean low tech, Zeigler said. 'The development of bio-based fertilizers, bioremediation of poultry waste - now you're talking technology. Now you're talking chemistry, life sciences.'

Plant Derived Plastics Becoming Competitive with Oil

2005-06-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

LA Times reports on surge in plant based plastic production. As processing becomes more efficient, products such as take-out boxes are now cheaper than regular plastic, as petroleum prices continue to soar.

To Replace Oil, U.S. Experts See Amber Waves of Plastic - Yahoo! News.
by Stephanie Simon, Times Staff Writer -- June 26, 2005:

"With oil prices near $60 a barrel, goods made from grain also compare favorably on price. So chemists and engineers are racing to figure out how to substitute Iowa's bounty for Iraq's. The goal: to use crops, weeds and even animal waste in place of the petroleum that fuels much of American manufacturing. The Energy Department is so enthusiastic that it is aiming to convert 25% of chemical manufacturing to an agricultural base by 2030....
When Cargill launched its factory in 2002, its pellets were far more expensive than equivalent material made from oil. Wild Oats Markets, an early customer, paid 50% more for takeout containers made from the bio-plastic. But over the last two years, the Cargill plant has gotten more efficient — and oil prices have soared. The result: The "corn-tainers" in the deli now cost Wild Oats 5% less than traditional plastic, Wild Oats spokeswoman Sonja Tuitele said."

Local Harvest -- Best Organic Food Directory

2005-05-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

Local Harvest is the best web site I've found for locating nearby farmer's markets, organic restaurants and stores, and especially farmers ready to sell all kinds of organic or naturally grown produce, meats and other goodies. The interface starts with a map of the US where one can click on an area and continue to zoom in or out. Different kinds of outlets are indicated by color coded dots. This site has far more farmers listed than any other site I've seen. Buying local is an awesome way to eat well and save the fuel required for transportation from afar. As oil prices remain high, this should make local produce more desirable. I encourage all organic farmers to get a free listing on the site. Here's the opening from the site:

The freshest, healthiest, most flavorful organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Just click on the map below to zoom in, or use our search form for quick results. If you are a farmer, market manager, or run a business related to locally-grown food, you can add your listing to our directory - free.

Stevia, The Amazing Sweet Leaf

2005-05-20T19:55:00.000-05:00

Trying to cut down on sugar and calories? Trying to avoid aspartame and other chemical sweeteners? Stevia may be the answer. Stevia rebaudiana is an inconspicuous perennial plant native to subtropical regions of South America. An extract of the sweet component called glycosides is over 200 times sweeter than sugar, but it's OK for diabetics and hypoglycemics as it does not cause swings in blood sugar. It's also virtually calorie free. The intensity of sweetness means you use very little and recipes need to be altered because it doesn't provide the bulk that sugar does. That's why I wrote Stevia Sweet Recipes. Check out some free recipes from the book. You can try your own recipe modifications as well.

If you're a gardener try growing stevia. You can make your own green stevia powder from dried leaves. It's around 10-15 times sweet than sugar, but does have a different taste that takes some getting used to. We like it just fine in many recipes. It's especially good in tea or other drinks. I'm trying stevia plants from several companies this year. I just planted them out two days ago and I am looking forward to finding out which ones taste best and grow best. I'll keep you informed. I'm also continuing research on stevia seed production that I started in college at Northwest Missouri State University with a research project.