Organic Gardening and Farming in Fiji

by Laetitia Mailhes To eat meat or not to eat meat, that is the question. I find there are many layers to deciding whether to eat meat, what meat to eat and how often. Health, environmental, and social justice considerations all come to mind. They leave a lot of us confused. In some cases, we collapse them into a dogmatic approach that keeps us separate from what actually works best for us. Here is the map of the land as I’ve drawn it while searching for my own path: HEALTH     * pros Meat is the most naturally occurring, well balanced and easily obtained package of proteins, essential acids and source of iron and Vitamin B12 that you can find.     * cons Many scientific studies have demonstrated that meat is linked to the main health issues that plague our Western society (cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, etc.). Not only is it acid forming in the body, but it taxes the digestive system. The latter is poorly designed...

by Laetitia Mailhes To eat meat or not to eat meat, that is the question. I find there are many layers to deciding whether to eat meat, what meat to eat and how often. Health, environmental, and social justice considerations all come to mind. They leave a lot of us confused. In some cases, we collapse them into a dogmatic approach that keeps us separate from what actually works best for us. Here is the map of the land as I’ve drawn it while searching for my own path: HEALTH     * pros Meat is the most naturally occurring, well balanced and easily obtained package of proteins, essential acids and source of iron and Vitamin B12 that you can find.     * cons Many scientific studies have demonstrated that meat is linked to the main health issues that plague our Western society (cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, etc.). Not only is it acid forming in the body, but it taxes the digestive system. The latter is poorly designed ...

For those who are working toward *getting green*, solutions often boil down to "moderation".  One pet per person in your household is ideal.  That way the person doesn't become overwhelmed by having to care for too many animals, and the pet is living in a healthier, more caring environment. As pet-owners, we love everything about our pets. Well, *almost* everything. There is the issue of what to do with their poop! There are now several biodegradable kitty litters available made from corn/wheat/pine flakes or recycled paper. The clumping varieties clump just as well as clay and are better for the environment. For dogs, whether you're walking him in public areas, or just letting him "do his business" in your yard, it is highly recommended to pick up the poop and dispose of it properly. There are several environment-friendly ways of disposing of your pet's waste products: 1. Put it in the Garbage     This is the *preferred* method in most area...

By Lauren Brombert They don’t make noise.  They don’t need much attention.  Your basic household products seem harmless enough.  But hiding in the kitchen, bathroom, broom closet and garage are cleansers whose ingredients have been linked to cancer, neurological diseases, reproductive and immune system problems, autism and asthma.  The average American family spends $600 per year on 40 pounds of chemicals masquerading as cleansers, disinfectants, cosmetics and bath products. You flush them down your toilet, spray them on counters, sprinkle them in the bathtub, mop them on the floor, pour them down drains, squirt them on dishes, and, worst of all, put them on your body. Aside from the potential dangers to you, your children and your pets, these products leave their mark on the environment. With over 100 million households, the U.S. is spending $60 billion dollars on 4,000,000,000 pounds of toxic chemicals that will wind up in the air, soil and water supply. Maki...

By Lauren Brombert We can’t live without it. But eating the wrong types of food can also lead to compromising our health. And it’s not just a question of obesity, which is at an all-time high.  All kinds of conditions have been linked to poor nutrition, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and a variety of cancers. You’ve heard it before: “What you are is what you eat.” But what we put in our bodies doesn’t only affect us.  It also affects the health of the planet.   How livestock is raised, how fruits and vegetables are grown, and how far food is transported to reach us are the questions we need to be asking if we want to make good nutritional—and environmental—choices. Ready to change some habits? Here are some simple steps you can take. 1. Buy Organic Food certified as organic follows strict guidelines in farming and processing practices. They have to be free of GMOs, artificial or synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, prese...

We all know about the egg industry’s appalling record in terms of environmental and animal welfare management. Now, let’s not kid ourselves: overcooking eggs does not address the risk of salmonella infections. Neither does buying “organic” eggs. Salmonella is but the tip of the iceberg. Our responsibility, as consumers, is to pay close attention to the origin of the eggs we buy and to educate ourselves about the producer’s operations. First off, don’t let an organic egg fool you: “organic” refers to the quality of the feed given to the hens but says nothing about their condition of living. Which leads us to the second essential point: a battery-cage egg is not a cage-free egg is not a free-range egg is not a pasture-raised egg. These classifications have real implications for our health and the environment. To find out why, check out Rodale.com editor Leah Zerbe’s cue cards . The great news is that the consumer is not alone anymore when having to choose between eg...

Green Building 101: A Basic Guide to Green Building Industry Resources & Information Thank you for your interest in Rate It Green's Green Building Industry Resource Guide. Green Building 101 provides a connection to and listing of the top green building industry information resources we have found throughout our research. Information that used to take hours, weeks or months to find will now be available in minutes! Green Building 101 lists trade associations, resources, and tools as well as resources that may be helpful to everyone such as green building media, forums, resource centers, directories, guides, and more. Green Building 101 will serve as a valuable research tool for a variety of green building professionals and consumers: Click here to see a sample section Secure Online Ordering ...