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Thank you for the link Claudia. You answered my previous
question when I read the following:
Organic standards ban the use of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) in organic food.
So if you buy organic, you can be sure that GM ingredients will not have been used in the
production of the food at any stage.
Whew!
Kari ( .. who buys/eats organic and doesn't know what it means!)
ha ha, - Wednesday September 1st 1999 05:24:39 |
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I'm reading the label right now on my little box of soy
milk and it contains organic soy beans(*). When I follow the little star it takes me to
another line which says *organically grown and processed in accordance with the California
Organic Foods Act of 1990. So does that mean my beans are okay or not?
Kari
- Wednesday September 1st 1999 05:12:48 |
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Follow the link on my name for more info about soya
beans.
GM soya and maize are now approved as safe for use in Europe. Soya is currently one of
the main sources of genetically-modified ingredients in food. It is estimated that 40 per
cent of last year's US soya crop was genetically modified. Brazil and Argentina, the other
main exporters of soya beans, are now growing GM varieties, too.
Claudia
- Wednesday September 1st 1999 04:51:53 |
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It shouldn't Kari - Soya beans are one of the main
things already in the food we eat that have been genetically modified, especially those
from the US.
Claudia
- Tuesday August 31st 1999 01:25:17 |
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My goodness, all this talk makes me very glad that I
consume soy products instead of dairy!
Kari
Seattle, USA, - Monday August 30th 1999 11:56:12 |
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Genetically altering cows to produce more nutritious
milk? I thought milk was already supposed to be nutritious, although I've hated it for
years. Strange that humans are the only mammals who seem to need milk after infancy. Brave
New World. Genetically altering sheep, mice, cows. Only a matter of time before they get
around to humans.
Georgia
Anaheim, Ca., - Wednesday August 25th 1999 05:53:22 |
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Mentioned on the news the other night - trials are
being carried out on genetically modifying cows to improve the nutritional content of
milk. These trials/studies are in the early stages and GM milk isn't expected to be in the
chilled cabient at your supermarket any time soon.
Claudia
- Wednesday August 25th 1999 02:30:18 |
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UK Government has agreed to GM crop trials this week --
gggrrrhhh.
Claire
- Tuesday August 17th 1999 01:37:12 |
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Oh yes Chris, we know!! :)))
Mireille Marchand
USA, - Monday August 9th 1999 11:17:21 |
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Thank you Claudia - very informative. Claire I like
your site.
Mireille Marchand , <mirmarch@hotmail.com>
USA, - Monday August 9th 1999 11:15:35 |
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I don't know about "head patting". Probably
genetically manipulated produce may not be the best thing to eat. Even organically grown
produce is only as good as the soil and air quality. We are probably still eating DDT from
the 1950s. I think that the GM veggies may be more of an issue in the UK. Do you think it
is because of the "mad cow" situration a while back? Or the fact that Charles is
an avid organic gardener? I would hate to see any of us become complacent to evil in the
world. I do think that the Uk is generally safer than the US. More car thefts, maybe, but
less guns. Just a personal opinion, but I would worry more about all of the people smoking
cigarettes in England, France and Germany- Over here, smoking is the exception rather than
the rule, and over there it seemed like half of the people we met were smokers. Mega
health risk.
Donna
- Wednesday June 9th 1999 08:01:36 |
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Yes, Claire. I knew that the farmers here had gone
ahead with GM crops without asking my permission. The deal was supposed to be that the
produce would be labelled in the markets so that consumers could decide whether to buy the
stuff. I don't like the idea of GM crops; but, as I said, no one asked me. They just did
it. It does scare me to think what the long-term effects may be. As far as I can tell,
this battle was over before it began.
Andrea , <ezeitler@optonline.net>
LI,NY USA, - Wednesday June 9th 1999 03:55:23 |
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There are those who can grow things, and those who
cannot. I cannot. Unless you count dandelions and blackberry brambles, which appear to be
dominating my yard. There was once an article in "Women's Day" magazine called
"Ten House Plants You Can't Kill." I'd already killed eight of them.
There are those who can get through Tolkien, and those who cannot. In all four tries,
I've become terminally bogged down somewhere in the middle of book 2. Much rather explore
this Norse mythology sitting through "The Ring" instead.
And when you all have sorted out the risks and benefits of genetically engineered
agriculture, would you let me know your conclusion? It's totally beyond me. I agree--
tomatoes don't taste like when I was a kid. But the apples are better. And there was no
Ben & Jerry's then, either. Win some, lose some. I have a suspicion that the demise of
the planet is more likely to be through politics than through agriculture.
Georgiana , <gellis@drizzle.com>
Seattle, - Wednesday June 9th 1999 03:29:33 |
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I feel as if I have just been patted on the head "
... there .. there .. it's a bad old world out there but you will get used to it."
Rubbish,I wont get used to it whereever I live.
In all liklihood Americans have missed the opportunity to influence the US/Canadian
states/government against GM products, they have gone ahead and allowed the proliferation
of these products already in *your best interests*. Power of the business lobby.
So the first time this will be high enough in Americian priorities to worry about will
be the first major crop failure? Or if the Europe market decides it won't purchase your GM
crops?
Claire
- Wednesday June 9th 1999 12:28:29
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I don't think it is indifference as much as
prioritizing. The Columbine High school tragedy and the copycat episodes have got us all
worried. Plus the whole Clinton thing, and Kosovo--who has the energy to worry about
genetically altered veggies? Probably they have been doing it for years and none of us
know about it-I have had some pretty sad tasting tomatoes-they taste like they were
mutants. Probably in another ten years we can all rent ourselves out as nightlights, as we
will probably be glowing in the dark. One of the nicest things about the UK is the
commentaries on veggies, trolley rage, and the shock when something evil
happens-unfortunately, the rest of us are getting used to it.
Donna
- Wednesday June 9th 1999 11:28:08 |
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I'll add another link for your reading list!:
http://www.consumer.org.nz/tech/index.html
The Talking Technology Trust in New Zealand was developed to encourage discussion
amongs the ordinary folk about science and technology, where it is headed and how it
affects us all.
The 1996 Plant Biotechnology forum met again on 8 May, 1999 for Plant Biotechnology 2.
Have a look at the draft conclusions and listen to the audio files of the conference.
Claudia
- Tuesday June 8th 1999 04:36:23 |
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And its linked in the current Off Topic page .. thanks
Lin
Claire
- Tuesday June 8th 1999 03:27:22 |
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Lin has found a great article in her Canadian newspaper
today,wondering why *you lot over the pond* seem to be in less of an panic over GM foods
than us Europeans.
Accurately reflected here, if I may say, by the relative lack off feedback on the
topic. On the other hand mention gardening... and you are off!
Claire
- Tuesday June 8th 1999 03:25:38 |
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Enjoyed designing a garden using different textures,
heights,colours in various seasons.Like using the garden and visiting other great gardens
we have here, as Donna rightly says in the UK, but have absolutely no interest in the
annual maintenance!
I'm about as much use in the garden as the kitchen. Kill so many houseplants, that
cactus have been moved onto the kitchen windowsill as a last resort.
I hate cacti!
Claire
- Tuesday June 8th 1999 02:43:50
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So Claire, do you garden? Lots of fantastic gardens in
the UK-my husband's favorite is Great Dixter-very bold colors and textures. I like it
too-Monet's garden is my favorite, although I loved all of them. Beth Chatto would be
worth seeing, and all of you UK people can use the nurseries. I could too, but the
paperwork is daunting, and the poor plants have to be root pruned, rinsed completely clear
of any soil, and wrapped-don't know if anything but a bulb would survive the trip. I
barely survive the trip, but if I could afford anything but economy, it would be less
painful. I love David Austin roses too, but they had trouble with black spot, so I
replaced them with rugosas. If you like roses, you might like rosa glauca-the most
incredible leaf color!!!
Donna
- Tuesday June 8th 1999 12:26:59 |
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Hey Deb...sounds like my kind of garden!!! Aren't
perennials just the best!!!
A couple of my easy success stories are Purple Coneflower (Echinacia), Michelmas Daisy
(great late bloomer), yarrow, columbine (early beauty). Those all do beautifully for me in
addition to the winners you already have!
Btw...I'm totally in love with the David Austen English Roses I'm growing...they're
gorgeous colors, fragrance to die for, and they repeat bloom. To top it off they're
HARDY...winter here without the pampering my hybrid teas require...
Dana , <strom@methow.com>
- Monday June 7th 1999 09:36:24 |
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I'm going to be trying a veggie garden for the first
time this summer. Just doing the basics -- tomatoes, peppers, beans, etc. I've had flower
gardens for several years now and am still amazed at how my perennials just take care of
themselves and multiply every year! I have such things as delphiniums, daisies, coreopsis,
phlox, heather, astilbe, foxgloves, candytuft, pinks, irises and lilies.
Deborah A. , <ceilidh@uniserve.com>
- Monday June 7th 1999 07:28:41 |
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I share a house with my mom and dad. They know better
than to let me near the plants, since I have the "black thumb": I've even killed
the unkillable houseplant called mother-in-law's tongue. It's tough, but it didn't survive
me. Maybe that was evil MA coming out . . .
Dad has the vegetable garden, though it's smaller this year; with his surgeries over
the past several months, not as much time (and energy) for it. Still, we're looking at
excellent tomatoes, green beans, purple-hull and blackeyed peas, and okra. Alas, no sweet
corn this year, as Dad isn't up to the effort. 8-( For a wonderful type of sweet corn, try
Silver Queen. Yummmmm!
Mom's the flower person. Roses and blue hydrangeas and hanging baskets of petunias, and
tall iris in purple and gold and white, and gardenias that will take your breath away,
they smell so sweet. We fill the house with them while they're in bloom.
Emus?! One of our neighbors over in the next block has emus--as I found out one evening
coming home from work; I turned onto our street and there stood before me . . . an escaped
emu. I thought I was hallucinating. Hmmmm--good fertilizer, you say? I have to get word to
my dad. *grin* And maybe strike a deal with our neighbors!
Mary Anne , <maryanne_e@hotmail.com>
- Sunday June 6th 1999 04:38:16
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My Mom doesn't understand why I bother to grow my own,
but I believe it tastes better than what we buy at the supermarket (or even at the farm
stands). This year I have zucchini, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, frying peppers,
chinese eggplant, green beans, basil, parsley, and a few kinds of lettuce. The only thing
I get more of than I can use is the parsley. So I dry that and have it all year.
Marigolds are planted in the vegetable garden to keep away pests and entice the
pollinators. When necessary, I spray with Safer insecticidal soap.
Flower beds line the backyard. The irises are just done. The lillies will be next to
bloom.
In addition to composting kitchen scraps, I mix the leaves from my oak trees together
with grass clippings from my lawn. I also use dried grass clippings for mulch.
Pesticides and fertilizers are especially dangerous here because they get into the
ground water (our drinking water).
Andrea , <ezeitler@optonline.net>
LI,NY USA, - Sunday June 6th 1999 02:27:20 |
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You're right Donna...not especially cheaper but you
know what's in it!!! I can peaches, pears, and tomatoes.
I envy you your long growing seasons and melons, Suz!!!! Only fruit here is killer
raspberrier and apples! Eastern WA is the apple capital of the world!! (well, maybe NZ in
there too Clods!)
I grow mostly easy keeper and use right away stuff...lettuce, spinach, corn, then
carrots, onions, potatoes, also basil and make my own pesto to freeze.
Emus!!!!!! Here I thought my chickens were exotic!!! Lots of manure here...local horses
and llamaas!!!
Dana , <strom@methow.com>
- Sunday June 6th 1999 07:56:15 |
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I, too, have a flower garden, vegetable garden, as well
as a jungle of house plants around the place. Sweet corn (my favorite!), tomatoes,
cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, onions, cantaloupes, watermelons, blackberries, etc.,
etc. are being grown organically. Have a compost pile but also a LOT of emus, which supply
most of the, um... fertilizer.
I love home grown fruits & vegetables, but the garden isn't as large as it used to
be. There just seems to be less and less time for it every year.
Suzanne , <SuzanneK@bigfoot.com>
Hallettsville, TX, - Sunday June 6th 1999 07:16:43 |
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Dana, I also am a fellow gardener, and have
blueberries, red currants, gooseberries, kiwis, apples, and this summer, corn, tomatoes ,
onions and cucumbers. I also have a flower garden, and shovel one unit-7 yards of
composted yard debris-called "compostuff" every spring. I use mostly
organic-insecticidal soaps, row covers, and if something really has trouble, an organic
fungicide. I find that it the soil is tended to, then the plants stay healthy. It really
is not cost effective any more to "grow your own", but it is fun. Lots of
farmers markets and roadside fruit and vegetable stands in this area. No problems with
deer, but have killer slugs, and occasionally a racoon in the pond, besides the usual
birds, cats, a tortoise, frogs and dragonflies.
Donna , <PDXDONNA@aol.com>
- Sunday June 6th 1999 01:08:54 |
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So, here's my question....do many of you grow your own
food?
I live in a very rural area and most people here grow pretty decent sized gardens and
preserve food. We also have a huge Farmer's Market every Saturday in town with several
certified organic farmers in attendance. I am therefore spoiled by having lots of great,
nonmodified food at least in the summer months. In winter I buy my greens and salad stuff
at the grocery store like everyone else. Organic is available even in this very small
place because of a fair section of our population base being interested in natural foods.
anyway...what do you grow? What do you use for soil supplements? Kids around here know
what it means to take out the compost bucket!! Or are any of you avid flower gardeners
like me?
I'll admit to using chemicals on my roses only...I grow lots of them and they are kept
separate from all my other plantings. Pesticides not required as we live in a very dry
climate...just chemical food!
OK, that's enough...let's talk gardens!
Dana , <strom@methow.com>
- Saturday June 5th 1999 09:39:07 |
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Does somebody Royal and famous visit this site ..
probably not!But the Prince of Wales has pitched back in to the debate today in the Times.
Lots of links on the Off Topic *Tomato* page now.
Claire
- Wednesday June 2nd 1999 02:43:43 |
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"Our vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow . . ."
-------Andrew Marvell
MA
Ear-to-ear literary *grin* . . ., - Monday May 31st 1999 02:56:43 |
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The possibilities are frightening, this is quote from
the NZ MAF site on ethical considerations.
"For example when eating a vegetable will a vegetarian be concerned to learn that
their broccoli contains DNA copied from a pig gene? If it were to contain copies of a
human gene does this mean that the person eating it is a cannibal? "
Gives whole new meaning to the phrase *cauliflower ear*!
Claire
- Monday May 31st 1999 02:15:13 |
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Lots of information on this subject on my work website.
I'm just trying to work out if I'm allowed to comment! (they have all these rules for
public servants - not even allowed to criticise the government!) ;^D Click the link on my
name to take you to the site, and then go to the bottom lefthand corner IN NEWS and click
on GMF.
Claudia
- Monday May 31st 1999 01:08:23 |
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This topic brought to mind a piece entitled
"Science Has Spoiled My Supper," by Philip Wylie. In this stinging little
article he discusses how the appeal of food has been lessened in favour of preserving it,
giving it greater "shippability," etc. His argument is that scientific research
has given us food that packs better and lasts longer, but doesn't taste nearly so good. An
excerpt: "[the food] is handsomely packaged; it is usually clean and pure; it is
excellently preserved. The only trouble with it is this: year by year it grows less good
to eat. It appeals increasingly to the eye. But who eats with his eyes? Almost everything
used to taste better when I was a kid."
Though Wylie's attitude in this article is undeniably "curmudgeonly," I find
myself thinking of it every time I am faced with grayish-pink tomatoes with all the
flavour of cardboard--tomatoes that have supposedly been cultivated to be of uniform size
so that they will pack better. They may have been easier to ship, but they make crummy
spaghetti sauce! There are also strains of fruit that have been developed to be
blight-resistant, or not so sensitive to variations in temperature, etc. Fine. But however
big and beautiful the resulting peach, it must taste like a peach, or why bother?
As Wylie puts it: " . . . if people don't eat onions because they taste like onions,
what in the name of Luther Burbank do they eat them for?"
I'm a fan of science and scientific advancements, and I certainly wouldn't want to live
without the daily blessings of scientific progress: penicillin, vaccines for various
illnesses, possibilities for organ transplants, etc. But I'm also a fan of good food!
Sorry if I've strayed from the point too much, but the topic just reminded me so much of
Wylie, I couldn't resist bringing this up. Others?
Mary Anne
Think I'll go have a snack, now!, - Sunday May 30th 1999 05:11:16
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When is a tomato not a tomato? Not my pathetic attempt
to remember a joke - but the new Off Topic article!
Claire
- Thursday May 27th 1999 03:45:47 |
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