News
Somalia Famine: U.N. Declares Famine in One More Region
The starvation is mostly taking place out of sight of the world media, in areas of southern Somalia under control of violent Islamist insurgents.
"Hungry people are only waiting for death," said Nor Anshur, a father of five who lost one of his children in the Bay region, a former agricultural breadbasket that the U.N. declared Somalia's sixth famine zone on Monday. "We saw our neighbors' children and elderly people dying every day for lack of food."
Hurricane Irene and the Farmers of New York's Union Square Greenmarket
Despite the damage, almost every farm was at the market Wednesday, with the exception of Honey Hollow Farm and Blue Moon Fish. Honey Hollow has seen extensive damage, and Blue Moon's filleting facility was flooded, though they are hoping to be at their Saturday markets. Even though the farms that did make it to the market were well stocked, these ample supplies are something of a red herring; we'll start to see things missing in the coming weeks, as many of this week's items were harvested before the storm. [. . .]
Others in the hardest hit areas were incredibly lucky. Brittany Langdon of Tamarack Hollow Farm in Burlington, VT, said that though the farm was under water for over 24 hours, they only lost a few young crops--mostly carrots. They nearly lost their chickens, but thanks to a daring canoe rescue, they were all saved.
Pasta prices rise after North Dakota loses million acres of wheat to heavy rain, flooding
In northwest North Dakota, fields normally flush with wheat are full of frogs. That, combined with a smaller-than-usual stockpile in the U.S., has pushed up prices on everything from alphabet noodles to ziti. The cost of pasta jumped about 20 cents in the past few months to an average of about $1.48 a pound nationwide, said Walt George, president of Kansas City, Mo.-based American Italian Pasta Co., the nation's largest maker of dry pasta.
Oklahoma heat wave took a toll on honey production
Beekeepers across Oklahoma will tell you it has been a difficult year for bees: First the frigid subzero winter followed by almost unbearable heat and drought.
The USDA National Honey Report from Aug. 15 describes Oklahoma's honey production: "Pollen and nectar sources in Oklahoma were very limited due to extreme heat across the state."
Farm subsidies stand accused in obesity crisis
When the federal government subsidizes a crop, farmers are enticed to grow more of it, which drives supply up and prices down. Food manufacturers buy more of the cheap crops and more of them stream into the food supply. If the food happens to be unhealthy, that's a problem. Or so the argument goes.
Battling the Couch Potatoes: Hungary Introduces "Fat Tax"
Beginning Sept. 1, Hungarians will have to pay a 10 forint (€ 0.037) tax on foods with high fat, sugar and salt content, as well as increased tariffs on soda and alcohol. The expected annual proceeds of €70 million will go toward state health care costs, including those associated with addressing the country's 18.8 percent obesity rate, which is more than 3 percent higher than the European Union average of 15.5 percent according to a 2010 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In Germany, by comparison, 13.6 percent of adults are obese, with Romania at the bottom of the list with 7.9 percent.
Could probiotic yogurt be changing your behavior?
Mice are less anxious when they eat a diet that includes the kind of probiotic yogurt you can buy in the health food sections of most stores. The yogurt includes Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a bacterium that lives in the guts of humans and many other animals, and is believed to contribute to healthy digestion. It also apparently affects the brains of mice, making them calmer.
Home & Garden
How to stay a foodie family on food stamps
Waste-not want-not strategies for warehouse club shopping
Grow Spirulina Superfood (Video)
Urban Chickens: Frugal fad or pricey pastime?
6 Alternative Uses for an Old Stock Pot
Energy Monitoring For the Home and Kids: 2 New Devices
Wool Insulation
Slip-Proof the Back Steps
Recipes
Cherry Barbecue Sauce
Naked tomato sauce
Magic Sauce
Tuna Zucchini Cakes
Long Leek Pie
All About Making Fresh Pasta It's our fellow Kossack & firefly Patric Juillet's new blog;)
Roasted tomato, garlic and pine nut pasta
Stone Fruits with Ginger Lime and Mint
peach butter
Peach jam with bourbon and vanilla
Microwave Chocolate Zucchini Cake
S'mores Pie |
