I have heard that fermented food can be beneficial to my health and I would like to make my own organic homemade sauerkraut. Do you have a recipe?

Fermented foods are traditional foods that are believed to support digestion, encourage healthy flora in our digestive tract, and assist our bodies in absorbing vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat. They have been used for many years in a variety of different cuisines including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and German. Making your own sauerkraut […]

My family is trying to eat more organic foods, but sometimes we just don’t have time to cook dinner. Are organic frozen dinners available?

First, I feel compelled to say that I believe we should prepare organic meals that contain whole foods whenever possible. I realize that it is unrealistic for most to prepare this type of food for every single meal. Convenience food, such frozen dinners, are a part of most of our lives and I think that […]

MaryJane Butters of MaryJanesFarm

I had the pleasure of catching up with MaryJane Butters at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise while she and her daughter Megan, continue along their national book tour promoting MaryJane’s first book, “MaryJane’s Ideabook, Cookbook, Lifebook.” Ms. Butters is striking and just as at ease in person as she looks on the pages of […]

Good Taste is a Good Thing

For years, it seemed that the certainties of life included death, taxes, and bad-tasting organic food. This perception was enhanced by less-than-perfect produce, tasteless baked goods, and an otherwise meager assortment of sticks and twigs better suited for a hungry hippo than a health-conscious human. The growth of the organic industry has created a new […]

The Great Organic Cosmetic Shakeout

For those of us who look for the organic seal on cosmetics and personal care products, come this October identifying them on store shelves will be more of a challenge. In a recent ruling that will affect all products currently using the seal, the USDA has reversed its position of May 2002 that encouraged manufacturers […]

I always see third-party certified associated with organic. What is third-party certification?

In order for a producer, processor, or handler to become certified organic, a third party who is an organic certifying agent inspects their facilities and practices to make sure that they are conforming to the strict organic standards set forth by the USDA’s National Organic Program. Fundamentally, the third-party certifier is confirming that the product […]

What is the difference between shade-grown and organic coffee?

According to the Washington Area Coffee Contact shade-grown coffee normally indicates that the coffee was grown under an existing forest or a natural canopy and the coffee shrubs are planted without disturbing the environment or with making as few changes to the natural vegetation as possible. Bird conservationists are especially interested in shade-grown coffee because […]

I would like to install wall-to-wall carpeting in my home, but I have heard that new carpets can be dangerous to my family’s health because they outgas toxic fumes. Are organic carpets available?

According to the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, many studies have reported that over 200 chemicals are outgased from new carpets. Symptoms such as nausea, aggravated asthma, nervous-system disorders, and chest pains have been linked to exposure to certain chemicals commonly used in manufacturing synthetic carpeting. Aside from the potential dangers of chemical exposure, […]

Are Organic Foods More Nutritious?

More Vitamins and MineralsThere is mounting evidence that organically grown foods generate more nutrients and fewer nitrates. In a review of 400 published papers comparing organic and nonorganic foods, Soil Association Certification Ltd. Of the United Kingdom reported that organic crops were higher in essential minerals, phytonutrients, and vitamin C. Phytonutrients are plant compounds other […]

Budgeting for Organic: One Woman’s Findings

  While I don’t pay as much attention to my grocery budget as I should, I did notice an increase in my monthly bills after making the switch to organic products. It didn’t seem significant at the time, but over the course of a few months, I began to wonder if organic products were really […]

Pesticides and Produce

 When shopping for your family, you should consider that per pound of body weight, babies consume about 60 times more fruits and vegetables than adults. This fact combined with undeveloped digestive and immune systems, put young children at the greatest health risk for pesticide residues. To minimize the effects, you might consider buying organic for […]

Are organic baby formulas available?

It is widely believed that mother’s milk is best for baby, but for a variety of reasons there are times that parents choose formula. Many parents believe that feeding organic foods to their children is especially important because young children may lack many of the natural defenses that protect adults against the effects of pesticides. […]