News
USDA seeks method to compensate farmers for GM contamination
Get this: Vilsack told AC21 to come up with a plan for compensating organic or conventional farmers whose crops become contaminated by GM genes through pollen drift.
According to Food Chemical News, Vilsack gave a three-part charge to the panel:
What types of compensation mechanisms, if any, would be appropriate?
What would be necessary to implement such mechanisms?
What other actions would be appropriate to bolster or facilitate coexistence among different agricultural production systems in the United States?
Qatar moves to reach food sustainability
Many Gulf countries have been investing in foreign farmland, mainly in fertile Africa, to serve as their bread basket.
But Qatar has recently announced that it was going to boost its own food security and start investing in a master plan to turn 45,000 hectares (111,000 acres) of its own land into farms. The government's Qatar National Food Security Program says its plan is to achieve self-sufficiency using the most modern technological advances to feed its booming population.
Farming Like the Incas
The ghost of the Incas' farming achievements still shadows the Andes. The remnants of ancient terraces appear as lines of green on the mountains. Former irrigation canals carve hollows into the land. Today, in a corner of the Andes, people are breathing new life into ancient practices. Inspired by recent archaeological research, they are rebuilding terraces and irrigation systems and reclaiming traditional crops and methods of planting. They do this in part because Incan agricultural techniques are more productive and more efficient in terms of water use. But these modern farmers also believe the Incan ways can offer simple solutions to help protect communities' food supply in the face of climate change.
Chili peppers' surprising pain relief
Unlike most mammals, human beings enjoy the burn of capsaicin in their food. And there's another reason to like it besides its culinary thrill: in large doses, capsaicin causes long-term desensitization of neurons that send pain signals to the brain.
Home & Garden
Herbal Oil: An Alternative to Mineral Oil in Your Kitchen
Kitchen Gadgets - Sorting Out the Elementary, the Necessary, the Affordable
Clean Garden Tools In A Snap With Wax Paper
Keep Your Colored Clothing Bright with a Dash of Pepper
How to Roast Coffee with a Popcorn Popper
Peeling Back the Label
It can be confusing trying to make sense of all the environmental claims plastered on food products lining grocery store aisles. Here's the truth behind the print.
What is thermal mass and how can it make you money?
But how much coolness can you store in your house? Is it just dependent on the amount of air that is contained therein? Why do some houses stay cooler than others on summer days? Why do even large tents heat up almost instantly, but even small caves or basements stay cool year-round?
The answer lies in the title of this article: Thermal Mass. We can learn about it right now, because it's always fun to have a Science Lesson, and also because understanding this simple concept will save you money and energy for the rest of your life.
3 Awesome Small Seed Companies
Self-watering recycled vase
Recipes
Nuoc Cham Sauce Recipe
Pickled Nectarine Slices
20 Fun Sandwiches for Your Sack Lunch
Roasted eggplant with tomatoes and mint
Grilled portobello and peach sandwich
Cinnamon pumpkin bread
Blueberry buttermilk cake
A Nice Berry Pie Recipe
Red wine chocolate cake
Thanks for visiting this week!
cross-posted to Daily Kos |
