teach about soil depletion and relationshiop
to micro nutrient mineral loss.
teach about how locar organic farmers are the cornerstone
of a healthy reconomy and that we need millions more farmers.
COMMENTS WELCOME
HERE FOR ORGANIC LISTENING
Public Listening Session
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Jefferson Auditorium | USDA South Building
1400 Independence Avenue SW | Washington, DC 20250
requested a handicap spot...
MY OWN BRIEF EXPERIENCE WITH NATURAL HEALING
AND ORGANIC
PUT FOCUS ON ORGANIC EDUCATION
Good Start with the People's Garden Initaitive...
and Know Your Farmer. Know Your Food.
Let's Move a major good Step...
I inspired this book...
The Ultimate Gardener...
and I wrote another book called Survive
This Day. I owe a tremendous debt to the medical system
who helped me walk about with pain, the top surgeons,
but if it were not for the those who understood the book of
nature, I would not be here today.
1936 Senate report...
It is about ingredients in our foods that we have no say over.
GMO's in our foods that we have no say over.
Poisons in our food that we have no say over.
QuentEssential Solutons...exist...
Life is down to We are down to little bottles...
We need to let the Genie out of the Bottle...
We need an Organic Uprising
Each of Us Standing Up For Nature's Original Technology.
There is an unseen war on american small family farms...
looking into...one movement...
It is about Soil depletion...and a lost of essential Micro0-nutrients..
You could not eat enough fruits in vegetables to give people
what they needed to sustain health. THey knew this.
THE GARDENS NEED TO BE ORGANIC AND THEY NEED
TO BE IN EVERY SCHOOL
THE HAMI HIGH SCHOOL-FAIRFAX CHALLENGE
Charles Northern...
Massive Organic Education Needed.
"And it will be organic, we will not use fertilizer orpesticides..."
--Sec. Vilsack said...
Part of press release here
February 9, 2011 on Lincoln's Birthday
“Last year, I decided to visibly remind folks that gardening is at the front and center of what we do here at USDA,” said Secretary Vilsack. “To have ‘People’s Garden’ in every state is a tremendous achievement and just one example of the dedication and commitment of all USDA employees in collaboration with their communities. But the ideas behind the People’s Garden were not born here in Washington – and we will continue to ensure that they are adopted and improved upon in communities across the country.”
To meet this goal, the Secretary challenged all employees to create a ‘People’s Garden’ at their USDA office or in their local communities. USDA is partnering with hundreds of organizations at the local level and most of these partners are recipients of the food grown in the gardens. Last year, with only 124 ‘People’s Gardens’, USDA donated over 34,000 pounds of produce to local charities.
USDA agencies are involved in building these gardens, many of which are maintained through the collaboration of multiple agencies with their communities. The locations of these numerous ‘People’s Gardens’ can be viewed on-line at http://www.pubinfo.usda.gov/garden
via a public map. Information about each garden also can be viewed by clicking on the map markers.
USDA is also collaborating with First Lady Michelle Obama to emphasize the link between gardening and healthy lifestyles, and a key component is educating our youth through the use of gardens. The White House Kitchen Garden and the ‘People’s Gardens’ are an important tool for teaching our children about healthy eating and active lifestyles. These gardens also emphasize community service and civic involvement by donating fresh, healthy and locally grown vegetables to local food pantries.
1. Activities and priorities of the USDA National Organic Program, other than those specific to the business and work plans of the National Organic Standards Board
The USDA National Organic Program facilitates trade and ensures integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. The National Organic Program is specifically looking for public input on the prioritization of these activities. Comments related to allowed and prohibited substances and other topics on the National Organic Standards Board workplan are best addressed during the public comment sessions at the Board’s biannual public meetings.
2. Activities and priorities of USDA agencies and programs beyond the USDA National Organic Program
Multiple programs across USDA and other agencies are involved in organic agriculture. The USDA Organic Working Group facilitates inter-agency coordination and communication about organic policies, programs, data and research. The USDA is committed to supporting the growth of the organic sector. Specifically, the USDA Strategic Plan includes a performance objective to increase the number of certified organic operations to over 20,000 by 2015*. As the Department and its agencies face tightening budgets, it is important for USDA to gain a better understanding of the barriers to growth and how USDA can help overcome those barriers. This feedback will help USDA develop and prioritize future workplans related to organic agriculture and markets.
8:54 am
September 19, 2011
RELATED
What's organic?
Don't confuse terms such as 'free-range', 'hormone free' or 'natural' with organic. They may be truthful, but these terms are not regulated by law. Look for the following regulated terms on labels to be sure the products you purchase comply with the standards:
"100% organic" is the real thing without any allowable synthetic ingredients and can use the organic seal.
"Organic" has a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and is eligible by law to use the USDA organic seal (voluntary).
"Made with Organic Ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients – not eligible for the seal.
Organic meat, eggs, poultry and dairy must come from animals that have never received antibiotics or growth hormones.
At this time there is no rationale for buying organic seafood or cosmetics because the USDA has yet to set standards for these items and most cosmetics are blends, including ingredients that may or may not be organic.
SOURCES: Lu C. Environmental Health Perspectives, online edition, Sept. 1, 2005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: "Pesticides and Food: How the Government Regulates Pesticides."
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: "Pesticides and Food: Healthy, Sensible Food Practices."
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Consumer Reports, February 2006; vol 71: pp 12-17; USDA organic standards;
Environmental Working Group website.
Sincerely,
USDA Organic Working Group
USDA National Organic Program
LAST EMAIL FROM MARK LIPSON
Dear Leslie,
Thank you for participating in the upcoming Public Listening Session on USDA Priorities and Activities Related to Organic Production and Markets. This is just a reminder of a few final details.
*You have previously been sent an email confirming your registration and specifying the time slot for your 5-minute presentation. If you have not received that message or have a problem with the scheduling, please use the contact information below to reach me.
*There will be a recorded transcript of your oral comments.
*Your oral comments will be received by a listening panel of representatives from various USDA agencies and Mission Areas.
*The listening panel will not be available to respond to questions at the time of your comments.
*There will be only very limited time available for the listening panel to comment or ask you clarifying questions following your comments.
* Additional or extended written comments will be greatly appreciated and included in the final transcript, but are not required at the time of oral comments.
* Additional written comments for this session will be accepted until midnight, Eastern time, October 1, 2011. Written comments should be submitted via email to <2011organiclistening@ams.usda.gov>.
*The listening session will NOT have the capacity to display Powerpoint presentations or other computer-based material.
*The Jefferson Auditorium does NOT provide any wireless internet service.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Mark Lipson
USDA Organic Work
REPUBLICANS CUT FUNDING FOR FOOD SAFETY
BILL
A focus is one the unseen war on American Family Farms.
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