Posted on 25 June 2010. Tags: Allergies, food, honey, Honey Bees, local, organic, Raw
Here’s the claim: Local honey is more effective than conventional honey because of the pollen content. Your seasonal allergies are reactions to the pollen in your community; therefore, having honey with local pollen content helps you develop an immunity to that pollen. Most of your allergy symptoms should lessen. According to Flager Organics, taking local honey daily has similar effects to getting an allergy shot without the pain or redundancy of going to the doctors.
Local honey also is better for the environment and honey beekeepers. Shorter distances leads to lower carbon emissions, which I consider to be the obvious factor. But buying local honey also supports the natural ecological system between bees and pollinated produce. According to the National Honey Bee Awareness Day Homepage, 1/3 of all fruits and vegetables are pollinated by honey bees. It amazes me to learn of how many different factors there are to how local honey is better for one’s overall health, but also how much it interacts with the environment to create a interdependent cycle.
I never had allergies before until this past April and my nose completely clogged up. I had thought that it was some weird cold because of the change of seasons or something. I realized that I may have seasonal allergies when I walked out to my car and saw a green-yellow layer of pollen on my already yellow car.
As an experiment, I decided to try raw local honey, which appeared to be this new trend in the natural food world. When I worked at a natural food store, many mothers raved about how raw, local honey did wonders for their childrens’ allergies. I figured that it was worth a shot because of how horrendous my allergies were. The idea of sitting on a cold seat in an appointment room waiting for some doctor to give me some prescription meds or a shot freaked me out. So having a tablespoon of raw local honey seemed much more appealing.
I found I was pleasantly surprised by my results. I felt as if I were back in the tissue-free days. No more sneezing, no more clogged sinuses. All I had to do was check out the numerous local honey options at my natural food store. I was scared by the thought of local honey because I thought that would mean purchasing it in a beekeeper’s backyard, which seems slightly obscure. However, there are plenty of natural food stores that carry raw local honey and many of the products are fairly traded if you feel uncomfortable going to a local stand.
I will admit that raw, local honey isn’t always the cheapest. For me, it saved me money on doctors appointments and allergy shots. The investment seems scary if you only see the price while browsing the food store. But if you think of it in terms of how long the honey will last you versus how much a doctors appointment will cost you (even if it is only a co-pay), it doesn’t seem quite as bad.
If you have seasonal allergies, you may very well decide that using raw honey is not your choice. But I still would recommend incorporating raw honey into your diet. It has antibacterial qualities that help with a variety of health conditions. It could sooth a sore throat just as well as a skin burn. And even if you continue handling your allergies in your own ways, raw local honey will definitely enhance the effects.
I have also heard great claims about using bee pollen itself to reduce allergy symptoms. However, using bee pollen can be slightly riskier than using raw honey. Because it has the strength of actual bee pollen, if you take too much too soon it could cause a stronger allergic reaction. I would consult with a doctor before you tried something along those lines; however, I have heard when taken appropriately it has proven to be very effective.
Posted in At Home, Green, Light Green, Medium Green
Posted on 25 December 2008. Tags: America, carbon, christmas, Christmas tree, climate change, compost, garland, global, global warming, Holiday, local, organic, popcorn, recycle, xmas
Real Christmas trees benefit the environment by providing greenscape, absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off fresh oxygen. But, with more than 25 million real trees sold in America each holiday season, its important that we look at the end game of all where all these trees go once the glitter of Christmas wears off. It shouldn’t be news to you that simply throwing out your live Christmas tree is a clear environmental faux pas – but what should you do with it? The answer may depend on available programs near you, but most everyone should be able to find at least one eco-friendly option which suits their needs.
Every year, millions of Christmas trees are sent to landfills or dumped on public property in America.
Decorate for the Birds
Prepare for your tree for its environmentally-sound end by decorating with compostable decorations such as popcorn garlands. Using compostable décor on your tree means that you don’t have to undecorate the tree before putting it in your compost pile, sending it to your community’s compost facility, or (and I think this is the best idea!) putting the tree outside to be a feeder for the birds. That’s right, simply put your compostable, decorated tree in your backyard and enjoy your natural bird feeder.
Community Composting for Xmas Trees
There are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs in the Unites States. Go to your community’s municipal webpage or contact your local trash pickup service to inquire about composting programs they offer. Still can’t find a local resource? Go to Earth911 and type “Christmas tree” and your location into their search to find local programs. Many services offer curbside pick up. Considering that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 24% of landfilled waste is yard clippings and compostable, doing your part to utilize your local programs can make a big dent in your personal contribution.
Still can’t find a local program in your area? Start your own Christmas tree recycling program and give the gift that lasts… less waste in our landfills.
For next year, use the buy local, buy organic rule for the purchase of your next real Christmas tree. Check out Local Harvest to find one of the more than 5,000 choose and cut Christmas Tree farms in the U.S.
And, if you are looking to the next step in low-impact living, consider purchasing a potted, living Christmas tree next year. Then, plant the tree in your yard after the holiday or consider donating it to a local arbor organization dedicated to greening your community. For those of you in the ever environmentally chic San Francisco, next year, rent a tree which will be picked up from you after the holidays and planted in the city.
Hope you had a happy holiday!
Image by Flickr user BowBrick used under a Creative Commons License.
Posted in Dark Green, Green, Light Green, Medium Green
Posted on 22 November 2008. Tags: certification, Factory Farm, Free-Range, grass fed, local, organic, pesticides, tofurkey, Turkey, USDA, WSPA
Conventional, Organic, Free-Range, To-fur-Key – What to Choose?
For carnivores who aim to be responsible, the meat aisle can be an obstacle course. What brands can you trust? Does “free-range” mean the birds really got to walk around and stretch their wings or just that they had a larger pen with a small patch of grass? What does it mean to be organic? Its time to get to the bottom of this coop.
“Free-range” is supposed to mean “that the bird was allowed access to the outside for a significant portion of his/her life. However, some free-range birds may be housed in open-air barns with limited exits to the outside that are left open for only a short period each day. In other free range situations the birds may spend a large proportion of their day outdoors and are brought in only at night or bad weather.” (WSPA) Free range labeling on poultry is regulated by the USDA but the same claims on red meats and eggs are not regulated. Ask your local farmer about the practices they use.
A term I have never seen on poultry before, but look forward to seeing it on products in the future is “pasture-raised.” “Pastured raised indicates that the meat or eggs came from birds who were provided genuine access to both the outdoors and natural vegetation. Many pasture operations use mobile shelters with perimeter fencing that are located in a pastured area and moved periodically to protect the plant growth and provide the birds with a continuous source of seeds.” (WSPA) Pasture raised labels are not regulated by the government so you need to do your own homework to see what they mean for each farmer.
USDA organic certified products are regulated by the USDA and must meet specific requirements of organic farming. Still, it’s important to know that organically grown products are not entirely free of pesticides or other chemical residues. Organic farming (cattle or produce) is a method aimed at reducing the amount of pesticides and water used, and increasing soil quality.
For a variety of reasons from cost to the requirements of gaining certification, some farmers and producers who use organic farming methods are not certified. The resulting products often carry labels such as “organic but not certified” “pesticide-free,” or “natural.” The definitions and practices used to produce the products under these labels are up to the farmers
All in all, picking the right turkey (or no turkey at all) is a personal decision. If you are just taking the first step in turning your Thanksgiving green, take it slow and learn about the food labels you are likely to see. For those of you ready to take your green a shade darker, find a local turkey farmer who meets your standards. You will not only get a bird who lived a quality life, but also support your community’s farmers.
Ready to go a shade of green darker?
Industrial or factory poultry farming is detrimental, not only to the environment but also to the local community. With more people moving from red meat to poultry, record numbers of birds are being raised and modified specifically to satiate American’s palettes. Turkeys are being bred to have larger breasts and be heavier but their skeletons have not kept pace with these modifications. As a result, these turkeys often have trouble standing up and there are many birds who end up trampled and killed. Sadly, this treatment isn’t the worst of it.
Still, the treatment of animals isn’t the only detrimental thing about factory poultry farming. The environmental impact, is highly detrimental too. The vast majority of grain grown in the U.S. is consumed by farm animals raised for food. In order to make room for the immense amount of land needed to feed the animals we eat, forests, wetlands, and other fragile ecosystems have been transformed into farmland, eliminating wildlife habitats. Unfortunately this isn’t even the worst of it. Livestock farms produce a gigantic amount of waste, much of which ends up in our nation’s waterways.
The moral of this Thanksgiving story is that its up to you to do your homework and weigh the costs and benefits you care most deeply about. Maybe this is your year to purchase your first Tofurkey.
Image by Flickr user Patti Haskins used under a Creative Commons License.
Posted in At Home, Dark Green, Green, Light Green, Medium Green
Posted on 20 November 2008. Tags: carbon footprint, environmental, Green, Holiday, local, organic, Thanksgiving
This year’s Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be one to be remembered for my fiance and I. Not only will it be our first Thanksgiving in our new home, but we are hosting my future in-laws for a family dinner. Both my fiancé and I are self-proclaimed professional environmentalists, so it seems only fitting that for this holiday we make the extra effort to find new ways to green our celebration. Since I’ve been spending some time thinking about how to turn a yellow and orange holiday green, I thought I would share a few tips over the next few days as you prepare for your family’s holiday.
Shop Strategically
Before you leave the house to gather all of the groceries and other necessary items you will need to host your Thanksgiving dinner, take a moment to plan your trip. Deciding what you need and where you plan to get those items will help you map out the most efficient route to take and reduce the number of stops you make – all aiding in reducing the amount of gas you use. One method I have found to reduce the amount of miles I drive is to use my GPS which helps me order stops in the most efficient way and, of course, ensures I don’t waste gas on a wrong turn or by sitting in traffic.
Better yet, go dark green on this step by taking public transportation and walking for errands that are less than two miles away. Every little bit counts so do the best you can.
Buy Local and Learn When Organics Are Worth the Expense
Buying products produced locally not only supports your community’s local economy (something all of our communities could use) but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Locally made products are not shipped thousands of miles to get to you – a major reduction in the amount of fossil fuels used. Further, locally grown produce from your farmers market just tastes so much better than that out of season fruit in the grocery store. Search for your closest farmers market or other local harvest. Not all organic foods are equal in their bang (benefit) for the buck (cost). For produce, the Environmental Working Group is there to help. They have created a pocket shoppers guide to help you decide based on which fruits and vegetables are found to be most highly contaminated with pesticides. To be fair, it’s also important to think more broadly about the use of pesticides by taking into account the workers who are exposed to the chemicals in the fields. This is a time of year for us to be thankful for all of the people who help us bring safe, healthy food to our tables, the least we can do is work to protect their health and safety too.
Conventional, Organic, Free-Range, To-fur-Key – What to Choose? Stay Tuned for the next post.
Image by Flickr user Lordog used under a Creative Commons License.
Posted in Dark Green, Green, Light Green, Medium Green
