In mainstream America, the "cafeteria ladies" we all grew up with haven't changed much over the last 30 years. While the "hairnet set" is still doling out jiggling squares of lime Jell-O and steaming plates of "mystery meat," our children are scarfing down the same pseudo-entrees we were forced to eat, unless Mom packed a brown-bag lunch for us. Even worse today, however, is the fast-food invasion that has overtaken the nation's schools. Many schools have "special" days when they bring in McDonald's hamburgers or Arby's roast beef sandwiches, accompanied by fat-laden French fries. Vending machines dispense Coke and Pepsi, rotting teeth and contributing to soaring childhood obesity rates. It would seem like the easiest thing in the world to...
Soil scientists and a cooperating network of researchers have documented that organic farming techniques offer the best solution to global warming and famine. Rodale Institute is a nonprofit that creates global solutions from the ground up.
1. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only 0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5 percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals. Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesn't just benefit your family, it helps all families live less toxically. 2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution Industrial agriculture doesn't singularly pollute farmland and farm workers; it also wreaks havoc on the environment downstream. Pesticide drift affects non-farm communities with odorless and invisible poisons. Synthetic fertilizer drifting downstream...
