…for
discerning weeders
A Newsletter of the Okaloosa County Master Gardeners Association –– May 2011
Slow Food Do you care where your food is coming from? There are many schools of thought about what we put in our mouths. Slow Food movement, organically grown, low carbon footprint, living green; all of these phrases indicate some level of involvement in how you feel about the food you eat to fuel your body. This article will not deal with the fast food movement! We first encountered the Slow Food movement in Italy. It has been raised to an art form there. Three words define the movement: Good, Clean and Fair. Good implies enjoying delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals. Clean food is nutritious for our bodies and good for the planet. Fair means food is a universal right and accessible to all. http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/slow_food/good_cl ean_fair/
Okaloosa County Master Gardeners!
Lynn Fabian
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as food [is] produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet NOP organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop