Family farms on the up and up?

As a result of the big-business mentality we seem to apply to all areas of life these days, it is increasingly difficult for small family farmers to find markets for their products. Big corporations are consolidating to get us Americans the lowest prices possible, and turning organic food into a commodity. While this is great on the one hand (more people eating organic = a positive influence on our Earth), on the other hand we are inadvertently causing harm to a very important part of our population: our local farmers.

Recently, the Association of Family Farms has announced "new standards - and a new seal - to assure buyers that food isn't just raised humanely and sustainably but also comes from small family farms." (via the Colorado Daily)

And it's working! Whole Foods announced a $10-million low-interest loan program for local farmers to get products into their stores, Equal Exchange (the international Fair Trade company) is beginning to incorporate products from US farmers, Burger King is beginning to get eggs and pork from farms using sustainable and humane practices... it would seem we are moving as a whole in the right direction yes? slowly, but surely.

Read the whole article in the Colorado Daily right here.

is there such a thing as a "good" pesticide? GALLERY 75

While on Spring break last week, the University of Colorado (Boulder) decided to spray the Norlin Quad and other parts of the campus lawn to destroy weeds, putting up yellow warning flags to warn people not to tred on the toxic grass.

Was it that toxic? "Dan Schneider of Nitro-Green, the lawn care company contracted to do the spraying, describes Gallery 75 [the chosen pesticide] as a 'high dollar product...that is not very toxic.' " (from The Colorado Daily)

“Boulder is doing a really good job of trying to winnow through and pick out a good pesticide,” said Suzanne Wuerthele, Ph.D. toxicologist for the Environmental Protection Agency in Denver.

My question is: WHAT IS A GOOD PESTICIDE?

Some of the Boulder residents are not too happy, as this could pose a potential threat if it were to get into our water supply. Yikes! Wuerthele says it's of little danger to humans, but it sounds pretty iffy to me.

What do YOU think?

Read the whole article in The Colorado Daily right here.