sent by a friend, don't know the original source.
for smiles...

Corporate Control of Organic Foods

Another one from the Organic Consumers Association:
(why it's more important than ever to buy local, as well as organic....)

A MOUTHFUL OF MONEY: THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF ORGANIC FOODS
Kraft Foods bought small natural cereals producer Back to Nature in 2004. The company is a subsidiary of Altria Group, which also owns Phillip Morris Companies Inc., one of the largest cigarette makers in the world. Kraft also owns Boca Burger Inc.

Odwalla Inc., which produces natural and organic fruit juices, was purchased by Coca-Cola in 2001.

Dean Foods Co., the largest dairy company in the U.S., bought out Horizon Organic in 2003, in addition to Silk soymilk and White Wave tofu.

Kellogg's has acquired several natural and organic brands: Kashi Cereal and Morningstar Farms.

General Mills purchased Cascadian Farm, in 2000. The brand consists of items such as frozen fruit, vegetables, granola bars and fruit spreads. General Mills also bought out Muir Glen, which produces ketchup, tomato sauce, and salsa.

Unilever bought out Ben & Jerry's for $326 million.

Colgate-Palmolive Co. is purchasing Tom's of Maine, which specializes in natural oral and personal care products.

Nestle Patent on Coffee

From the Organic Consumers Association:
The Nestlé Corporation, the world's largest food manufacturer, has successfully secured a patent on genetically modified coffee. The company, with over $65 billion in annual sales, claims their biotech coffee has a higher level of solubility in water, thereby increasing flavor and caffeine levels per cup. Nestle is also in the process of patenting genetically manipulated yogurt bacteria and genetically modified cocoa. Nestle promotes genetically engineered foods while claiming "the Fair Trade approach is not a solution."

New Wool Blanket Tears Commune Apart

Left: Harmony’s Path residents in happier times, before the arrival of the wool blanket. (Click post title for full article 8^)

Money quote: "Everyone got really upset when John [Abberton] proposed that the blanket be circulated room-to-room in alphabetical order," Fiorentini said. "Actually, I think Paul [Buckner] supported the proposal, but he wasn't allowed to speak, as no one remembered him contributing all that much to the blanket."

~Botany Club Update~

Diane put a copy of "Botany in a Day" in the Curriculum section of the library.
Also, I added "The Encyclopedia of Plants" to our links =*)

White Board Update: 4/24-28

Monday: Vandana Shiva comes to dinner in the Farm Center 6PM!!
(get out of site 5:30 PM) She lectures at 7 PM in Classroom 002 (optional)

Tuesday: Manual Tillage
8:30 AM: class & demo
2:00 PM: exercise in site
7:30 PM: History of the Farm & Garden (optional)

Wednesday: Class & Exercise
9:00 AM Soil Fertility, Crop Rotation
2:00 PM Sexual Propogation/Seed-Sowing (in site)

Thursday: Work, Work, Work...Meet
8:30 AM Work Session (***C,F DO NOT go to Field--Do this Tuesday 5/2 in AM instead)
7:30 PM Community Meeting

Friday: More fun in the Sun...

Saturday: Organic Rose Care
10 AM at the San Lorenzo Garden Center (Optional)

Further updates to follow. Send me e'mail, and I'll send out account invites!
Happy Pharming!
DP

This Week's Schedule

It occured to me that it would be helpful to have this up here.
peace
daniel

Here's the scoop:

Monday, 4/17:
work in site all day, then 4:00 cover crop class at Gate House (cover crop exercise is postponed)
7:00 Anna Lappe & Bryant Terry - optional

Tuesday, 4/18:
8:30 Sexual propagation in site.
2:00 work session

Wednesday, 4/19:
8:30 work session 2:00 work session
4:00 plant sale orientation & work party at Gate house

Thursday, 4/20
8:30 Compost class & demo
2:00 Compost making, ABC in Down, DEF in Up

Friday, 4/21
Mechanical tillage is postponed, we haven't decided yet if we will put another class in that slot ... watch the white board for upcoming details!

Starting n Monday and for the rest of Basic Block, ABC is in Down Garden, DEF is in Up Garden

Welcome and Compost Article

Greetings To All,
I just set this up, and I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing yet (although I'm sure we can figure it out collectively with time). Anyway, I saw a need for such a space last week. There were things I wanted to share with all of you beyond the fact that I missed orange juice and fresh tomatoes, but I didn't want to spam everyone's e'mail.
For example, the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club issued a call for letters to stop UCSC from building faculty housing on wetlands. They've yet to update their website, but I received an e'mail from them last night (Friday) indicating that the planning commision has sided with them. I hope this "faculty housing" turns out to be one and the same as the proposed construction we've heard so much about and that we will be having a much quieter summer than planned!
Also, I just came across this compost article (click on post title), which is relevant to next Thursday's class. Though perhaps not the most sustainable system, they show that adding clay, gypsum and coal dust greatly reduces the loss of nutrients from a compost pile over time.
For now, you can reply to this posting using comments. I can give everyone the ability to post new topics going forward.
peace
daniel