Garden Kauai

Help Make a Salad Cost Less than a Big Mac

Garden Kauai — Sun, 23 May 2010 18:44:12 +0000

Thanks to agricultural subsidies, the least healthy foods are also the cheapest to buy.

From GOOD ….

In 1933, Congress passed a cornerstone of New Deal reform, the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which paid farmers to cut the production of commodities like wheat and corn in an effort to lift farms out of the depths of the Great Depression. Since then, government farm programs have evolved into a confusing labyrinth of tax reductions, price supports, and direct payments designed to help farmers deal with fluctuating weather patterns and market prices—all to ensure a stable supply of food.

Just mention subsidies and most people’s eyes glaze over. But government subsidies transfer hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to large farmers who grow just a few types of crops, creating some of the country’s least deserving welfare recipients. Subsidies set price minimums and ensure that corn, soy, wheat, and rice producers get paid regardless of how low prices for their crops are or whether they even need assistance in the first place. These subsidies support the cheap and unhealthy domestic food that shows up in the aisles of the supermarket. And they’re the reason why a salad costs more than a Big Mac.

Source: Peter Smith, GOOD

Build a Chicken Coop, Raise Your Own Chickens

Garden Kauai — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:05:49 +0000

Like so many DYI trends, building a chicken coop empowers us to produce something we would usually buy, harkening back to a time when folks knew how to provide for themselves. And if you love eggs, you can’t get a more fresh and local source than your backyard.

While there are many factors involved with raising and caring for chickens, one absolute necessity is providing them with a safe, clean, dry place to live.

Here’s a primer on what to keep in mind as you research, plan, and build your coop.

Source: Wired How-To Wiki

Super Food: Sprouts

Garden Kauai — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:09:36 +0000

The health benefits of sprouts, both medicinally and nutritionally, have been studied for centuries and it is time we made them a household name and a permanent special place in our kitchen adventures. From prevention to treatment of life-threatening diseases, the chemical/molecular composition of sprouts is so impressive, it’s been said by the medical community that sprouts are better for you then the actual full grown produce (veggie/legume/grain/etc..)

Source: Silvie Celiz, HLife

The Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet

Garden Kauai — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:32:14 +0000

The world’s cutest pocket guide to buying organic

While always preferred, buying organic is often cost-prohibitive and, with some produce, sometimes less important. Heidi Kenney’s downloadable Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet makes that split-second decision on whether to spend that extra 20 cents a pound on organic bananas or organic strawberries a little easier.

Source: Phuong-Cac Nguyen, Cool Hunting

Ripe Radish Solar Lamp

Garden Kauai — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:40:23 +0000

Looking for an unobtrusive way to light up your garden or front lawn? Check out Arthur Xin’s Ripe Radish, a solar lamp that gathers power during the day, glows red at night, and features a built-in flowerpot to grow radishes or anything else your heart desires.

View more photos …

Source: Ariel Schwartz, Inhabitat

Amazing Organic Winery Builds An Almost Closed Loop Water System

Garden Kauai — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:07:56 +0000

From G Monkie @ G Living

All of us greenies know its better to buy directly from the small farmers at the farmers markets, then to buy from big business farming, right? Well, in most cases I would say that is true, but not always. I just came across Benziger Family Winery in California and I am blown away. They not only grow all their grapes organically and Biodynamically, they also have built an sustainable water system. They save all the water used in production, clean it in their man made wetlands, and then re-use it again. Almost a closed loop system. Why isn’t everyone doing this?

Mike Benziger Talks About The Water System …

Source: G Monkie/ G Living