Top flowers to grow for bees.

Albert Einstein once said, "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left." 

thanks rawforbeauty.com for this image

It is simple: No more bees; no more pollination; no more plants; no more animals, no more man.

The not-so-new crisis with the decline in bee populations is far more dangerous than the average person can imagine. So, while population science plays catch-up, and while we continue to fight big corporate GMO conglomerates that relish the opportunity to spray the earth with toxic pesticides, there are plenty of things that we, the little people, can do to help out the cause.

Above is a list of some of the more attractive, high-pollen, plants which can be grown in your yard, on your apartment's roof-tops, or hanging outside of your window, in a clay pot. Thankfully, not only will the bees enjoy it - you will, too!

Will Argentina be the next country to ban GMOs?

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina's agricultural industry has been dramatically transformed by the introduction of genetically modified plants in 1996.

A country once known for its grass-fed beef is now dominated by soy, corn and cotton. Soy harvests alone have tripled, ranking Argentina as the world's third largest soybean producer.

Image: eeksy

But the pesticides powering this boom are poorly controlled and used in ways that were never anticipated by regulatory science, if not specifically banned by law.

Doctors and scientist worry the chemicals may be the cause of rising cancer rates, birth defects and other health problems.

Aixa Cano, a shy 5-year-old who lives in Chaco, Argentina's poorest province, was born with hairy moles all over her body. Her mother believes the skin condition was caused by contaminated water.

Fabian Tomasi, 47, never wore any protective gear in the years he spent pumping poisons into crop-dusting planes. Today, he is near death from polyneuropathy, a neurological disorder that has left him emaciated.

The Monsanto Co., one of several agricultural companies that sell pesticides in Argentina, says it is working with government officials and farmers to promote better pesticide practices.

But an Associated Press investigation found that Argentine farmers now use more than twice as much pesticide per acre as U.S. farmers do, making Argentina a laboratory for what can go wrong with biotech farming.

Source: New York Times

7 Natural Uses For Baking Soda In The Garden

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Image: plantcaretoday.com

1. Non-Toxic Fungicide
Mix 4 tsp of baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Use to defend against black spot fungus on roses and to protect grapes and other vine plants upon the first fruits appearing.

2. Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew
Combine 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 gallon water, 1 tbsp vegetable oil (any variety), 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid. Mix all ingredients and fill a spray bottle the mixture. Spray your at risk plants weekly, being sure to only apply on overcast days or days with no direct Sun to allow the mixture to dry before direct Sunlight returns - or the foliage can become Sun damaged. Powdery mildew typically attacks impatiens, lilacs, cucumbers, squash and zinnias.

3. Discourage Gnats In Soil & Fungus on Leaves
Combine 1 gallon water, 4 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp biodegradable soap. Mix thoroughly, spray infected foliage or soil as needed.

4. Discourage Weeds
Pour or sweep baking soda into cracks in sidewalks and patios. The thicker the amount the better. The baking soda should not only prevent weeds from developing, but it should also kill any small weeds that have already sprouted.

5. Kill Cabbage Worms
Mix equals parts flour and baking soda, then dust your effected plants being attacked by cabbage worms (cabbage, broccoli, kale). They chew the treated leaves and typically die within a day or two. Repeat dusting every couple of days until the cabbage worms are taken care of.

6. Kill Crabgrass
Just wet the crabgrass, pour a heavy dusting of baking soda on the weed. The crabgrass should start dying back in 2 or 3 days. However a word of caution - never apply to grass or other similar plants as it can burn and destroy your normal grass as well.

7. Clean Your Hands
After a day in the garden dirt, clean your hands by rubbing and scrubbing wet hands with baking soda. Rinse thoroughly.

Source: Homesteading Self Sufficiency Survival

Study Finds Link Between Herbicide Exposure and Depression

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Image: www.sustainablebabysteps.com

Knowing that herbicides are poisoning ecosystems and degrading human health is enough to get you down. Hold on, though. Recent research has found a significant link between herbicide exposure and depression. Findings were reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

A study of more than 700 French farmers found that those who used herbicides were 2.5 times more likely to develop depression than those who did not. Further, the higher the exposure to herbicides, the greater the chance of being treated for depression.

The authors go on to say: “If true, our findings have important public health implications for agricultural workers given the tremendous public health burden of depression and the fact that herbicides are widely used in agriculture and landscape management.”

As REALfarmacy reported previously, the EPA has raised the allowable level of glyphosate  in our food. This comes on the heels of a tremendous rise in the use of glyphosate after Monsanto unleashed its RoundUp Ready crops that are engineered to be drenched in the herbicide. The hbiotech industry is working on new GMO crops that can withstand other, more toxic herbicides like 2,4-D and dicamba.

Although the mechanism behind this disturbing relationship of herbicide use and depression is not yet known, it adds to the growing scientific evidence that herbicide exposure is a health hazard. Studies are finding possible links between Parkinson’s disease, infertility, cancer, and birth defects. Now we find out that herbicides can have psychological effects too.

Herbicide use by homeowners is certainly common. And it’s no wonder, as a visit to the big box home improvement stores inundates a person with ads for manufactured poisons. The biggest herbicide use, however, exists in the agricultural sector. According to EPA reports from 2007, 80% of pesticide use (including herbicides) was in agriculture.

Herbicide use is bound to continue rising as long as industrial agriculture and GMO companies control the food system. In fact, this is a market strategy considering that herbicide-resistant crops are central to their plans for the future. Can we expect a concomitant rise in cases of depression?




by Justin Gardener

Source: http://www.realfarmacy.com/