Creating a Wildscape
Holiday Shopping
Shopping Your Conscience
Go Soak!
Renewable Energy
Gifts of Roses

Gleanings from the Editor

(greyed articles available in printed version - subscribe now!)

Shopping Your Conscience
or
Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is

Gifts

You have a dazed look in your eyes; your feet hurt; you have a crazed litany running through your head - "Aunt Agnes, Grandma, Little Irving, Charlie the Postman . . . ."

It must be the holiday season and you must be in charge of the family shopping. It is easy to start grabbing gifts without thinking about the broader issues. What company made that item? How does that item and its manufacture impact the environment? Is it a renewable resource? Is it something with lasting value? Is it landfill fodder?

For many of us, the holiday season is the time of year we spend the most on nonessential items. It is important to spend that big chunk of money to support businesses that are making an effort to be good citizens of the world. If they are nonpolluting, working toward sustainability, creating imaginative and useful products, they deserve our support. And the best support we can give them is our money. They have to have it to continue.

That doesn’t mean you have to give your kids slippers made out of old newspapers. There are good companies working hard to create handsome, luxurious, beautiful gift items. Look for them in specialty stores and check out such directories as The Austin Environmental Directory (P.O. Box 1374, Austin TX 78767). Just a little research can lead you to wonderful shopping experiences with innovative gifts as a result.

Decorations

Gardeners have a head start in this department. The natural world is full of great decorations that are free, renewable, and gorgeous. Rosemary is just one of the plants that flourishes in Texas that make perfect holiday decorations.

Another thing to remember is that Christmas trees bought from Christmas tree farms are agricultural products. When you enjoy shopping for a cut-your-own Christmas tree or one that is cut from a Texas tree farm, you are supporting your neighborhood farmer in the best way you can — by buying his produce. Avoid buying trees cut from natural forests, however. They belong in the forest. Find a local tree farm and cut your own tree or ask someone there to cut one for you. Lots of tree farms offer extras - hay rides, petting zoos, etc - to add fun. Your tree will be fresh, fragrant, and just right for your home decor.

Food

We shop for food all year long, but somehow during the holidays, it seems more important. This is a good time to think about the food we are buying.

As an organic gardener, you know the importance of serving your family and friends healthy, fresh food. You shop carefully, but it is hard to know about everything.

Lately we’ve heard a lot about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These are food crops that have been genetically modified to contain non-food genes. Some have a bacteria gene inserted to protect against insects; others have genes that are supposed to make the crop more productive, ripen more slowly, or have some other trait. Although most of the arguments say that genetically engineered crops will make the world a better place, that is in serious question. Inf act, all the arguments seem to boil down to this technology creating wealth for giant chemical, biotechnology, and agriculture companies.

There are lots of agruments both for and against genetic engineering, but it seems clear that the question of their safety and the wisdom of their development is still up in the air. Genetically engineered (GE) foods, however, are already a reality. The giant producers are growing and using GMOs in a huge variety of foods.

In October, there was a flap in the news about corn being recalled that had not been approved for human consumption. StarLink, the variety of corn in question, is not approved for human consumption because of questions about its potential to cause allergic reactions. This turned up in tortillas sold at Taco Bell, Safeway and lots of other places, including tortillas made by Mission Foods right here in Texas. The food containing that corn was recalled, and Mission decided to use only white corn in their products until the yellow corn source was declared safe. But that was just a momentary stop-gap. And here is another interesting fact. Texas-based Mission Foods Co. is a subsidiary of Gruma S.A. of Monterrey, Mexico. Their sister company Azteca Milling is a partnership of Gruma and Archer Daniels Midland Co. ("Supermarket to the world" and one of the biggest growers of GMOs in the world.) The problem is that genetically modified organisms are not labeled, identified, or segregated from the rest of the food supply.

At this time, the only way to know that you are not eating GMOs is to eat certified organic. GMOs are not allowed in certified organic products. In everything else, they may or may not be there.

The most widely grown GE crops are soy, corn, cotton and canola. Tomatoes and potatoes in processed foods may also be from GE seed. The biotechnology industry is developing GE varieties of virtually every food .

There is an interesting list on the internet at the Green Peace site (www.truefoodnow.org). The shopping list cover more than 2000 food products and lists them under three categories: GMO-free, in transition, and may contain GMO ingredients.

Almost every product category contains common items that may contain GMOs. One really interesting part of this list is that it contains the names of the parent companies of the food producers. When you think of these choices as your source of food, can you rest secure that they are really concerned about the healthiness of your food? Here are some of the companies listed: Phillip Morris, Abbot Labs, Con Agra, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, and many more.

So, look at this list and think about what you want for your family and friends. We are so lucky in Texas in that we can get fresh foods all year round. We have access to the best markets in the country that specialize in organically grown fresh and prepared foods. We can grow some of our own food most of the year in our home gardens and farmer’s markets cover the state offering locally-grown, seasonal vegetables, cheese, baked goods, and lots more tasty and healthy food.

It may be that in the future GMOs are a good idea. Today the science is too young to be trusted. There is simply not enough testing being done before these products are being added to the marketplace. Nor is enough attention being paid to giving people a choice of using these products. You can learn more by searching the Internet for Genetic Engineering. Here are a few sites: Union of Concerned Scientists <www.ucsusa.org>; Organic Consumers Association <www.purefood.org>; Council for Responsible Genetics <www.gene-watch.org>. Visit our website <www.homegrowntexas.com> for more information on this subject and for links to other sites.

Public protests against GMOs in Europe and many other parts of the world have keep the products off their shelves. In the U.S., we have not been so vocal. There is, however, a bill before Congress to require that GMOs be labeled. You might want to send your Congressperson a holiday card suggesting the bill be passed. Visit The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods at www.thecampaign.org.

Just a little thought can help you spend your holiday money with business you know are on the right track!