Organics in the News

Organic Market Growing

Market for organic foods is growing at a rate of about 20% per year!
Read the Story Here

August Meeting Speaker

Cindy Baird of Paradise Valley Soaps is our August 26th speaker. Most of you know Cindy from her loyal participation at our June shows. The Paradise Valley products are made with carefully selected ingredients including vegetable oils, nutrient oils, herbs and grains, essential oils, high quality fragrance oils, and nut butters, PV is adding liquid dish soaps and an all purpose counter/floor cleaner, all scented with essential oil blends and made with gently, plant derived surfactants. Free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and phosphates, biodegradable, and gentle on hands and home, these products will make cleaning a pleasure!
I hope you'll come join us and learn more about soaps, and cleaning products that are environmentally friendly. As always, the doors open at 7pm with the raffle then meeting starting at 7:30pm at the Bob Duncan Community Center 28100 S. Center Street in Vandergriff Park Arlington.

The Ocean, Rice & Global Warming

Our DFW climate is changing as has been seen in our area with the rainy June, unseasonably cool weather the last week of July and then flooding rains closing out the month. The pollution alert days affect all life in our area with the birds, squirrels and insects far less active and unable to escape the pollution. "Global warming has cut rice harvests by at least 10% and possibly much more, scientists in the Philippines reported yesterday after studying 12 years of rising temperatures and falling yields." as stated in the store on this website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1251029,00.html Rice is a food staple in much of the world and an increase of 1% annually is needed to feed additional worldl populations.
In addition, U.S. researchers (participating in a fifteen year international research program) have determined that the world's oceans are sacrificing themselves to try to stave off global warming by absorbing about 50% of the carbon dioxide generated by humans over the past 200 years. Although this absorbtion has slowed the climate change, it's been to the detriment of the oceans. The oceans have become more acid with dramatic changes in the sea water's chemistry, the largest change in the past 20 million years! The increased acidity and reduction in calcuim carbonate which is used to make the shells of coral reefs, shellfish, and plankton, pose grave threats to the future of oceanic life. These creatures are bottom or basis of the food chain in the ocean. The article detailing the results of this study may be found at http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=546761

Water Rights

The determination of 'who's water is it' continues to grow worldwide. Over one billion people worldwide lack 'safe' drinking water and 31 countries are facing massive water scarcity issues. There are always two sides to every issue and since water is necessary for life to exist, it is a matter of public policy. A policy that needs to be thoroughly explored and a determination made that is in the interest of the public. The debates continue over the benefits and detriments to selling water rights to private companies. This issue affects West Texas with the Land Commissioner proposing selling the water rights under 5 counties without studying the impact on the local farmers, wildlife nor the volume of available water. PBS' POV (Point of View) had a show last week on this privatization of water. A website with articles on this matter of water privatization is Public Citizen, a nonprofit organization that investigates various issues affecting the general public: A direct URL to one of their ariticles is http://www.citizen.org/cmep/Water/articles.cfm?ID=10842. This article talks about the multinational conglomerates lobbying to lower water quality standards in world governments and the bid to control the world's water supplies. The 2 largest multinational companies that have been buying public water rights around the world are the French company Vivendi�and a German energy conglomerate�RWE. Vivendi is ranked 51st and RWE ranked 53rd among Fortune's Global 500 List. With these two companies controlling nearly 40 percent of the existing water market share, the potential to manipulate the price and quality of water needs to be questioned. Another French company,�Suez,is ranked 99th on the Fortune 500 list and continues to pursue water rights. The push to make water a trade-able commodity, which means that the price may fluctuate depending on the moods of investors and not necessarily on supply and demand, continues to grow. And the concerns for Enron-like behavior occuring grows as a definite possibility. The question for all of us: to ask ourselves is do we want to lose control of this precious commodity, our Blue Gold?

EPA Toxic Release Information Limited

In late June, the Environmental Protection Agency finally released the 2002 data for the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI.) The TRI provides an annual survey of hazardous material releases by private and federal facilities nationwide. What changed was the lack of the full Public Data Release (PDR) that has detailed analysis, overviews, maps, tables and explanations of the scientific terminology used in the report. This is the first time in 17 years that the PDR has not been provided. This will make it more challenging to determine what toxins are being released into our regions, in what amounts and the potential hazards created by their release. If you are concerned, you may want to consider sending a letter to the EPA at www.epa.gov voicing them. For more information http://capwiz.com/ombwatch/issues/alert/?alertid=6045216 has further details.

Organic Regulation Changes Repealed

A big thanks to everyone who participated in helping to keep the
organic standards intact and to include non-food products in the
standardization of the organic industry. There are still many issues
for the smaller growers and manufacturers with cost prohibitive
factors in attaining certification.
A solution to this issue is to buy locally and know your producer for your
food products, non-food products and household products. The availability
continues to grow in local markets with local producers stepping in to meet
the demand. Farmer's markets are becoming more popular and locally grown
products are usually sold. I went to a local farmers market in Fort Worth today
and was able to learn more about how the produce was grown. Better communication
will help us all support our local economies and those businesses who are working to improve our overall health and quality of life.
www.organicconsumers.org has more information on various issues facing the organic consumer, producer and marketplace.

Organic Standards Changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program (NOP) has enacted changes to Federal Organic Standards without public comment or consultation with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB- the USDA's advisory committee on organic policy). This sets a precedent of major concern to the Organic Industry.
The changes of most concern are as follows:
1. On April 14th three rulings occured:
a. It was ruled that sickly dairy cows can be treated not just with antibiotics but with numerous others drugs and still have their milk qualify as organic, so long as 12 months pass between the time the treatments are administered and the time the milk is sold. Here are 2 websites with further information on antibiotic use in dairy cattle: http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/commercial-milk.htm and http://www.notmilk.com/forum/875.html
b. A ruling to allow cattle farmers to feed their heifers non-organic fishmeal that may contain synthetic preservatives, mercury, and PCBs, and then still sell their beef as organic. www.organicconsumers.org has more information.
c. National organic standards will not be developed for non-agricultural products including fish, nutritional supplements, pet food, fertilizers, cosmetics, or personal-care products. Thus water counts in personal care products as an 'organic' ingredient and may equal the percentage to be labeled organic. Ruth Winter, M.S. has written books on contaminants in food, cosmetics and personal care products.
4. On April 23, the USDA issued a legal directive that allows the use of some synthetic pesticides on organic farms. Many synthetic pesticides do not list all of their ingredients due to 'proprietary formulations'. Thus the farmers do not even know exactly what they are putting on their farms. For information on how synthetic pesticides affect children's health go to http://www.getipm.com/personal/child-health.htm

Jim Riddle, vice chair of the NOSB has commented that what the USDA has stated as a clarification of organic regulations is in fact a substantial change: "These are the sorts of changes for which the department is supposed to do a formal new rulemaking process, with posting in the federal register, feedback from our advisory board, and a public-comment period. And yet there is no such process denoted anywhere." The NOSB has requested a review of the changes in a letter to USDA Secretary Anne Veneman, particularly the lack of following protocol.

More information on this is available at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040521/nef018_1.html, http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm. If you'd like to express your concern regarding these changes contact your legislative representatives and Anne Veneman - USDA Secretary of Agriculture at
1400 Independence Ave SW, Room 200A, Washington, DC 20250 , Fax:(202-720-2166) phone: 202-720-3252

Many of us in the organic community participated and continue to participate to have these standards maintain the integrity of organics. It's up to us.

Texas Water Rights

Currently there is a water rights debate occuring in Texas. The Texas Land Commissioner is proposing to sell the aquifer (ground water) rights to a private company. This brings an interesting issue to light: The Texas Rule of Capture which governs all Texas ground water rights. This law states that underground water is the sole right of the property owner-the state of Texas in this instance. The water is subject to barter, sale or lease and with the exception of a few statutes pertaining to conservation, protection, and waste. �The state of Texas does not regulate the production or use of underground water.
Rio Nuevo is the private company trying to purchase the water rights from land owned by the state of Texas. �Under the Rule of Capture, this means that a private company will be able to sell water pumped from public land with limited restrictions to the amount of water they are able to pump for private gain. �The 5 West Texas Counties involved are Culberson, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, El Paso and Presidio counties. �The General Partner of Rio Nuevo has acknowledged that no one knows how much water is under these state-owned lands, where it is, how fast it will recharge or whether it will recharge at all. AND NONE OF THESE QUESTIONS will be answered until after the lease with the Texas General Land Office is signed. �The future of the current uses of this land is in question if this sale of public land water rights is done �This gives us all something to consider for the future of our Texas water. �Water is quickly replacing oil as the most valuable commodity on our planet. Whose water is it? �It's up to us to help make these decisions for our future. The public comment period is currently open and this is our opportunity to let our Texas public officials understand our concerns and opinions about our land and the water stored below it.

GMO Comments to USDA

The USDA public comment period ends tomorrow, March 23rd, on Genetically Modified Organisms. If you'd like to comment, please email regulations@aphis.usda.gov
This is a critical matter that affects us all. The use of GMO's is not limited to attempts to make food products pest resistant, increasing research is being done on modifying food plants to address medical conditions. One concern with allowing GMO's into the environment is cross-pollination and how it will affect organic farmers close to some of the research farms. (A Midwestern organic farmer, who was growing organic corn, has lost her livlihood due to an GMO research farm's corn cross-pollinating with her plants from wind-blown pollens.) GMO's also will affect insect populations, may create more resistant plants and destroy heirloom varieties. (Corn in Mexico has been contaminated by GMO corn that was planted by local farmers without their knowledge that the U.S. corn kernels sold for food use were GMO products. No labeling was required.) A critical concern is that crops grown for medical purposes will cross pollinate with other crops and affect the public health. This is a relatively new industry so too little long-term research has been done on environmental ecosystem impacts, species impacts AND human health impacts to determine their safety.
If you miss the comments period on this matter, consider contacting your Congressional Representative and let them know your thoughts on this important topic.

AOGC Talks at Assisted Living Community

At the request of Broadway Park-Pecan Plaza, several members of the Arlington Organic Garden Club went to this Assisted Living Residential Community on Monday, March 22nd. We were invited to talk with residents about organic gardening and to help them plant several gardens. So Angie, Esther, Susan and Robbie arrived with soil amendment samples and cut herbs for the talk. We shared speaking and showing them the various items. Later that afternoon, we returned and helped plant herbs, vegetables and flowering plants into 2 gardens; behind Buildings One and Two. This was very rewarding as we were able to talk about what to do and then demonstrate how to do it. If you'd like to go by and see the garden areas contact Sylvia or Heather at the community. If you'd like to help with additional plantings, please contact the board.
A volunteer was there who asked about our club giving a talk to her organization. AOGC's mission is to provide information about the benefits of organic gardening. Any club member interested in participating in giving talks, or anyone interested in having our club come speak to your group may email us at board@aogc.org.

Dr. Elaine Ingham Coming to Texas!

Dr. Elaine Ingham, expert in all things composting, will be coming to Texas for two seminars this summer. Stay tuned for details.

Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association Presents:

Introduction to the Soil FoodWeb by Elaine Ingham, PhD
(prerequisite to the Compost Tea Workshop)
Day One (8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
The Soil Foodweb and nutrient cycling
Major soil nutrient forms (N,S,P,Ca,K,Fe,Bo,Mo,Se) in bacterial drought versus saturated soils. How one nutrient form is shifted to another nutrient form
Production of plant available nutrients sequestration in non-leachable forms
soluble forms

Day Two (8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
What biology is required by different plants. How to shift soil from a non-productive condition to a productive condition. What nutrients are depleted by different plant species and how to manage replacement using biological approaches.

Field Tour-examples of sustainable success in the field and hands-on demonstrations

Day Three (8:00 am to Noon)
Assessing soil biology: laboratory and direct methods

Question and answer period

Dates:
July 8-9-10, 2004

Location:

The Center for Environmental Research
Austin Water Utility
Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant
2210 South FM 973
Austin, Texas 78725

Price: $425 with 1/2 due by May 1st to reserve your place

Contact:
Louise Placek, Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Assoc., (877) 326-5175 or email louise@texasorganicgrowers.org to register for the workshop. Payment by check is preferred

Supporting Organics

Organic foods are now a $13 billion dollars per year industry and continuing to grow. The organic market segment is the fastest growing segment of the world economy. At this time it is important to remember how organics started and to support that philosophy; locally, organically and sustainably grown. This empowers the local community and most importantly the money stays in the local economy providing jobs and tax revenues. It improves the quality of the local environment, the freshness of the product, and lowers distribution costs. There is an additional benefit of knowing the person/people who are providing your food. This 'knowing your grower' will allow support of those who are practicing organic and sustainable principles who have decided not to participate in the certification program. (With the constant challenges nationally to change the certification requirements -such as the add on to the Omnibus bill to allow non-organic feed for organic beef to accomodate a Georgia constituent which was repealed due to public outrage- it is best to know your grower.)
There are a variety of options; to purchase products from local growers, the farmers market, the local organic cooperative, local markets, and some growers even have local delivery service. The texas organic farmers and gardeners website has more information on growers at www.texasorganicgrowers.org. The organic vegetable coop for DFW is through the Dallas Fort Worth Vegetarian Society. The Dallas Farmers Market has an organic grower. One local rancher that has home delivery in DFW is Burgundy Beef. Ask questions, find out their philosophies and support those who are working to continue the organic and sustainable philisophy.

Master Composter Class

The City of Arlington has partnered with the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality to offer a Master Composter Training Program, open to anyone. This free program is designed to train and recruit local volunteers who will promote backyard composting and yard waste reduction.

]]> Class will take place at the City Municipal Building, 101 W. Abram St. on Saturday, February 14, 2004, 9 AM to 4 PM and Saturday, February 21, 2004 9 AM to 4 PM (attendance on both days is required to become a Master Composter). Master Composters will receive a total of 12 classrooms hours of formal training on appropriate yard trimmings management options.

Class graduates will receive books and workshop materials, and a compost thermometer.

To complete their training, Master Composters are required to spend 20 volunteer hours on public education regarding composting. These hours may also be spent working at one of the compost demonstration sites, or training other citizens on the how’s and why’s of composting. Upon completion of the volunteer hours, you'll be certified by TCEQ.

To learn more, feel free to contact Lorrie Anderle, City of Arlington Recycling Coordinator at 817-459-6778 or at anderlel@ci.arlington.tx.us.

TOGFA Focus Group

TOFGA (Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association) is participating in a $22,000 research grant as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Program. This is the first step in expanding the public awareness and availability of locally grown sustainable and organic products in Texas.

This grant's purpose is to be the first step in attaining larger grants for public education and awareness. The first step in this process is currently occuring as TOFGA hosts focus groups divided into consumers and growers or those interested in growing for public consumption.

The District 2 focus group took place at the Dallas Farmers Market on January 17th where I attended and participated in the consumer focus group. There were only 5 consumers participating, however many more growers were there. This is good as the public demand for organics is continuing to grow and the supply is fairly limited.

From these focus groups, survey questionnaires will be developed and mailed throughout the state. This process will take several months as there are 3 more focus groups to go. The survey will be mailed out shortly thereafter.
The survey results will be posted on the website for TOFGA, www.texasorganicgrowers.org, in about a year. This will include all sustainable education, including cleaning supplies, clothing etc. Congratulations to TOFGA for their grant and support to our future.

In the meantime, we can continue to help share the benefits of organics with others and pass along information. The website www.organicconsumers.org
is a good starting point for information.