The Ethical Gourmet

This book, "The Ethical Gourmet," is one of my favorites right now. It's so chock full of info.

• Check out the Web site http://www.certifiedhumane.com/. It's got tons of information on choosing humanely raised livestock and farm care.

• 70% of all h20 in the U.S. is used for growing feed/livestock.
• Dagoba chocolate: Check it out -- organic and fair-trade chocolate.
• Note to self: Eat more spelt, oat groats.
• Focus on eating 1. organic local 2. local 3. organic 4. ethical methods
• The first GM food was the FlavrSavr tomatoes in 1994. (They were later banned because research claimed they caused stomach lesions.)
• GM food can cause unintended cross-pollination. Think about the impact it can have on helpful species that come in contact with GM species.
• Corporations often own patents on seeds.
• We really don't know the consequences of these foods!
• Ex: Insect-resistant corn could hurt monarch butterflies.
• A farmer in Candad was sued by Monsanto for accidental (wind-blown) cross-pollination.
• GM seeds can't be saved. Many have a termination gene.
• Breaking up the ground to till weeds is a major cause of soil erosion and greenhouse gases.
• Look up: conservation tillage
• in the 90s, they invented crops that were resistant to Roundup! 90% of soybeans are "Roundup ready"
• www.seedsavers.org