Gregg and Gloria Varney
New England Organic Farmers
Greg Varney’s family has farmed organically for three generations. They finally got around to getting their farm officially certified in 1987—the first certified organic dairy in the state of Maine. "We’ve always been organic because this was just the traditional way my grandfather taught us to farm. We never thought there was any other way. […]
Lloyd Stueve
Organic Valley Dairy Farmers
Sierra Nevada Mountains
Producing milk on the natural side has been a long standing tradition for the Stueve family. Lloyd’s great-grandfather began farming in America in 1837. "I’ve had the privilege, the heritage of growing up in a farming background," Lloyd said. Today, on the Stueve ranch nestled on the upslope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lloyd, his […]
John Kiefer
Organic Valley Dairy Farmer
Wisconsin
When John Kiefer bought his farm in Wisconsin, he weighed his options and decided to combine organic dairy farming and "intensive pasturing concepts," or rotational grazing. Now he milks 69 Jersey cows on his 111 acres of certified organic land. In addition to the cost savings associated with grazing, John believes that there are other […]
Dr. Meg Cattell and Dr. Arden Nelson
Organic Valley Dairy Farmers
Rocky Mountain Pastures, Colorado
You could say that Dr. Meg Cattell and Dr. Arden Nelson’s Colorado farm is not a typical dairy. It’s a mile high in the Rocky Mountains, far from the red barns of New England or the rolling hills of the Midwest. Yet, the couple’s cows thrive by grazing 1,048 acres of seasonal grass and crops, […]
Homemade Beauty
Rosy Lavender Hand Softener1/4 cup glycerin1/2 cup rosewaterLavender essential oil In a small bottle, combine glycerin and rosewater (available in most drugstores) and shake well to mix. Add about three drops of lavender essential oil. Stir until mixed thoroughly. Use daily to soften hands. Rosemary Sugar Scrub1/4 cup safflower oil1/3 cup coarse-ground raw sugarRosemary essential […]
Travis Forgues
Organic Valley Dairy Farmer
Alburg, Vermont
Travis, his wife Amy, and children Emma, Gabriel and Molly, farm in partnership with Travis’ parents on a Vermont farm next to Lake Champlain, the “6th Great Lake.” With degrees in computer science and psychology, Travis could have taken an entirely different path, but he was drawn back to his dairy roots by exciting new […]
Prince Charles Meets With Marin Organic Farmers
MARIN COUNTY, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ — His Royal Highness Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit the Point Reyes Farmer’s Market on Saturday, November 5th. The royal visit, organized by Marin Organic, draws attention to the efforts of Marin Organic and many other organizations in Marin County working to promote and […]
The Organic Trade Association Applauds Congress’ Decision to Restore National Organic Standards
GREENFIELD, Mass. (Oct. 27, 2005) — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today applauded bipartisan action in Congress that will restore key provisions of the national organic standards developed through over a decade of public discussion. As a result, consumers can keep purchasing all the “USDA Organic” products currently available in the marketplace, and large and […]
Any suggestions for healthy foods that travel well so that I can pack them and eat them on the road?
Packing food to take on a road trip is a great way to save money and to make sure you have food on hand as soon as you are hungry. Also, it can be nearly impossible to find organic food while on the road. When I travel, I like to take along separate small bags […]
Any kid-friendly vegetable recipes?
One easy way to get your kids to eat their vegetables is to add grated zucchini or grated carrot to your favorite pancake recipe and cook them in the usual way. Vegetable pancakes are even more delicious served with yogurt, sour cream, or apple sauce. You also may want to try roasted or grilling vegetables […]
Is it really necessary to buy organic when it comes to fruits, such as oranges and bananas, that have a thick peel?
Fruits with thick peels generally contain less detectable pesticides than fruits with a thin skin. If you are planning to use the peel or zest of a citrus fruit, you will want to stick with organic because the skin may otherwise contain a high amount of pesticides. Peeling fruit does cut back on the amount […]