Local organic producers are receiving some wonderful support from colleges throughout the U.S. What am I talking about? There’s a new blog out there called Organic on the Green. Its purpose is to support the development of organic food programs on colleges nationwide. The initiative, which has been brought to life by Nina Merrill, a senior at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, provides a wonderful insight into the hearts and minds of the organic industry’s future leaders. Whether it’s a personal account of involvement in the SAFE program or a discussion about the relative merits of organic certification for a large university dining service, the posts are well-written, thoughtful and interesting. Well worth checking out! In other news,...

Sometimes I get asked if I think organic certification and labeling laws have gone too far. Personally, I don’t think so. As a consumer I’m pretty happy knowing that anything I purchase – believing it to be organic – is in fact organic! I am of the firm belief that this can only come about through a robust third party certification system such as the one that’s currently in place. Perhaps you feel the same? How do you react then when you hear about a company that’s been caught trying to fraudulently pass off their wares as organic? If you’re anything like me, you’re unimpressed. You may even feel somewhat disgusted. After all, this sort of behavior undermines the entire organic certification system. Perhaps worst of all,...

How many elderly folk in the U.S. depend on Meals on Wheels each day? If you said somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million people you wouldn’t be far off the mark. That’s a lot of people who, without the help of Meals on Wheels, wouldn’t be eating a hot meal tonight. Even though my family and I eat modestly, it’s hard for me to imagine what it must be like not to have something warm to eat each night. It must be tough, particularly when you’re older. Unfortunately, things are becoming increasingly challenging for Meals on Wheels. Faced with a sharp upturn in demand for its services, coupled with a shortage in volunteer labor (as a result of record-high gas prices) their task seems almost overwhelming. The good news...

Obesity is already a major problem in much of the Western world. And with levels of morbid obesity predicted to increase ten-fold within the next twenty years, many health professionals are calling for something to be done now to address the problem. One of the culprits fueling high obesity levels is the inclusion of trans fat in many of the foods we commonly eat. What are trans fats? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil – a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats”. Where are they found? Trans fats are a key ingredient in processed foods such as margarine, biscuits, crisps,...

Ecological Internet, the group responsible for ClimateArk.org and Forests.org announced today their intention to publish a new ezine called New Earth Rising. They’re currently seeking submissions from established and new environmental writers, scholars and activists. Given the length of time Dr Glen Barry and his team has been involved in scholarly discussion on all matter relating to ecological sustainability this is sure to be a well-researched, thoughtful and timely publication. So, what exactly are Ecological Internet looking for in submissions? The following should assist… New Earth Rising’s editorial tone will strongly favor truthful ecological writings regarding global eco-crises, identifying necessary and sufficient...