September 22, 2006
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Ecology Links

Food for Thought

Ann Slater of the Ecological Farming Association of Ontario takes on CropLife Canada, a trade association for the manufacturers, developers and distributors of pesticide and GMO products that has been working on a smear campaign targeting organic food production.

Why is CropLife Canada so keen to smear organic? According to their survey of Canadian women, 77% sometimes buy or consider buying organically grown fruits and vegetables. Twenty-one percent say they buy organic because they are concerned about pesticides on their food and 22% believe organic produce is more nutritious. On top of that, 14% say they sometimes feel guilty about buying cheaper conventional produce when organic is available.

- Full article here

Her argument references this article by two market farmers from Oklahoma who carried out an experiment to tackle the question: “Are supermarkets cheaper than farmers’ markets?” Their results are interesting.

The results reveal that perceptions rather than facts influence the false assumptions that grocery store food is always cheapest.

…grocery store food is not as cheap as some customers believe it to be. Nor is local simply for the wealthy–it is competitively priced since our research showed grocery stores’ low posted prices tend to hide lower weight and quality.

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September 21, 2006
3 Comments
Art/Craft Events Links You Grow Girl

YGG Warm Winter Wear Drive

What: Knit or crochet up beautiful, warm woolies for charity. Mittens, arm warmers, hats, and scarves are all fantastic. A YGG forum member suggests keyhole scarves as anything that wraps around the neck can be uncomfortable and even unsafe for women coming from violent experiences.

New items made by you only please.

To Support: Redwood Women’s Shelter, a terrific shelter located in Toronto, Canada that supports battered women and their families. They run primarily on support from the community.

When: Please mail your items by Dec 1. Email me at gaylaatyougrowgirldotcom for details.

UPDATE: I just spoke with a contact at the shelter and she provided a Wish List:

  • Long Scarves – So I was wrong (above). Winters have been cold here in Toronto and they have need of warm scarves that can wrap around twice for bundling up.
  • Women’s Mittens – They recieve plenty of mittens for children but need larger mittens for adult women.
  • Baby Blankets – For bundling babies inside strollers.
  • Larger Items – If you were planning to make a couple of scarves, make one large item instead. She said they have need for shawls and ponchos.

I want to add that she was very enthusiastic and appreciative. They support a lot of women and children so the need is great.

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September 20, 2006
7 Comments
Links Reviews Stuff

CobraHead Precision Weeder and Cultivator

Cobrahead

I am a strong believer that gardening does not, and should not, require a lot of “stuff”. Container gardeners especially can get along with their hands, or a fork, spoon, and kitchen shears if need be. However, the right tool can make you feel like you’re ready to kick some ass even when the only ass you’re about to kick is a small pot of basil on your window-ledge.

That said, about three years ago I wrote a glowing review of the Cobrahead Precision Weeder & Cultivator. It’s sharp blade, and versatility (useful for weeding, digging, planting, cultivating and more) made this a tool I could get behind. Years later and I am still using the same Cobrahead. It’s seen it’s day ripping through all kinds of soil conditions and looks pretty much like it did on that first test run way back when — albeit underneath the dirt and despite a complete and utter lack of care or maintenance on my part. I just wipe it off with my glove, throw it in my tool bag, and done.

Inventor Noel Valdes has just come out with an upgraded Cobrahead model and I was sent a fresh new tool to try out. The accompanying promotion material boasts of a new handle made of 100% recycled material, a heat-treated steel blade with a heavier zinc coating making it more bend, break, and rust-resistant. Despite all that I didn’t notice a difference during a test run in which I tried both my old and new tool in the same conditions at my community garden. To be honest as a user I didn’t think it needed upgrading since my old model is still kicking loads of compacted soil ass. The new improvement I did notice is the new blue handle that is easier to locate in the garden although I think a hot pink handle would be even easier to locate in the grass.

Cobrahead

CONTEST Headsup: I’ve got one, new Cobrahead as a prize give-away. Sign up for the mailing list. On September 29, 2006, I’ll be sending out entry details through the list only.

* You Grow Girl is not being sponsored or paid to promote this product. I just like it.

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September 17, 2006
5 Comments
Foraging Fruit Links

Foraging in the City

Guest post by Amy Urquhart

This article in today’s Toronto Star is interesting. It’s about people harvesting from neglected or owner-less trees in the city.

It made me think about an apple tree that is sitting off the side of the exit ramp I take every day on my way home from work. It’s just dripping with apples, many of which now litter the road. I should ride my bike over and pick some. They might make good applesauce.

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August 23, 2006
4 Comments
Gardeners Links Seasonal

Your Gardens

While harvesting a-plenty from my own gardens, I have been eagerly following the harvest from your gardens. The Garden Show & Tell section of the homepage has been filling up lately with photos of vine-ripened tomatoes and piles of peppers. And I have noticed an abundance of mature garden photos on display in the Show & Tell section of the forums. This predilection to show off our gardening achievments seems to be a huge aspect of the support we need as budding and even seasoned gardeners. Forget pest control tips or fertilizing advice, what we really need is encouragement through the rough patches and lots of high fives before we pack it all in for the winter (or the too-hot summer for the southerners). It’s generally other gardeners who understand both the work that went into producing that first, juicy tomato, and the pride we feel in having grown it.

We’re worse than new parents, albeit new parents who eat their progeny!

Some highlights:

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