Organic Farmingsevanandatestsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/cooptions-sept-… · Gloria Hawkins Wynn (678) 698-6803 Jen Macuch Kato (404) 296-2767 Leslie Harmon 404-797-3440

September 2011 • Sevananda Co-Options | 1

467 Moreland Avenue Little Five Points NE Atlanta, Georgia 30307-1925 404-681-2831 sevananda.coop

The word “organic” traditionally means from nature or derived naturally. So why is it that

a lot more farmers are gravitating towards this way of growing? Cost, environment, and economics have altered conventional ways of thinking to revert back to the original way of farming. The cost of farm chemicals keeps rising, making them a less profitable way to farm, and the overuse of pesticides has increased insects and weed resistance, making many chemical controls less effective. Organic technology is no big mystery, yet it will be taken up only by those who have the courage to step “out of the box” and explore its possibilities.

Destiny Organics is a small distributor which has partnered with small farmers to provide sustainable and organic agriculture. Destiny Organics values its role in bringing people and local,

organically-grown produce closer together, including both the farmers for whom Destiny distributes and the people who buy Destiny-distributed produce. Although Destiny has a professional business partnership with farmers, its relationship with its farmers goes beyond just taking orders. Farmers like James Bouchard from the Veggie Patch, Brian McMcClellan from McClellan Organics Farm, and Chad Heard from Farmers’ Organics make organic farming demonstrate that organic farmingt is the right way to go.

Conventional farming uses chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, while organic farming employs manure and compost to fertilize the soil. Conventional farming sprays pesticides to get rid of pests, while organic farmers turn to insects and birds, mating disruption, or traps. Conventional farming uses chemical

herbicides to manage weeds, while organic farming rotates crops, weeds by hand, or mulches. While some produce is grown seasonally, others such as organic lettuces are harvested year round without the use of conventional methods. Lettuce has large amount of chlorophyll, and the chlorophyll in the organic lettuce is more apparent. Organic lettuce has also been found to have a slightly greater presence of enzymes, mainly due to the fact that it does not have the slightest interference of pesticides or other altering factors.

As seasons change, organic farmers like Jim Bouchard continue to produce an array of colorful, flavorful fresh produce. This is why it is no wonder that Destiny distributes the freshest crispy lettuce from the Veggie Patch at Bouchard Farms

(continued on page 7)

food you can believe in Volume XII Issue 8 September 2011COOPERATIVELY OWNED SINCE 1974

Organic Farming

By Anujah Bala, Destiny Organics

Berry Farm

2 | Sevananda Co-Options • September 2011 September 2011 • Sevananda Co-Options | 3

467 Moreland Avenue NEAtlanta, GA 30307(404) 681-2831fax (404) 577-3940web: www.sevananda.coopemail: [email protected]

Store Hours:Open 9 am to 10 pm every day

EditorMichael [email protected] x121

Member Services & Marketing Manager Ahzjah Simons

Copy Editors/WritersWorking Member Stephen Wing

Graphic DesignAno Dennis, Working Member Emily Taff

Opinions expressed in this newspaper are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect Sevananda’s policies. Permission to reprint any articles must be obtained from the editor. Submissions from the general public are accepted, but there is no guarantee of publication without prior agreement from the editor. Due date for submissions is the 10th of each month. This newspaper is printed on 100% recycled newsprint.

Sevananda Board of [email protected]

Calvin Vismale, President(678) 524-4065Connie “Kijai” Turpeau, Secretary(404) 520-7461Rex Batson, Treasurer678-642-4810Samiyyah Allah404-956-8116Rahn Stevens404-287-2227, ext. 114Tawhiyda Tupak-El678-949-8829Gloria Hawkins Wynn(678) 698-6803Jen Macuch Kato(404) 296-2767Leslie Harmon404-797-3440

Please allow me to briefly introduce myself, as many of you might not know me. My name is Pamela Gould and I am a local herbalist

whose formal training includes working with the many fabulous Ayurvedic, Chinese and Western herbs. However, my real passion is teaching folks how easy it is to improve their health by integrating herbs into their everyday life.

I’d like to offer some easy ways to maintain good health as we transition from late summer into fall. The Fall Equinox occurs on September 23 and marks the official change from the summer to fall season. We start transitioning into fall about two weeks prior to the actual Equinox. A way to improve your health regardless of the season is to align your daily habits with the current season. And just as your daily habits should adjust accordingly, so should your diet in order to maintain good health.

According to the Chinese Five Element Theory, fall is known as the “Metal” element and the corresponding organ systems are the lungs and the colon. Emotionally it’s about letting go of what is no longer working for you, like internally cleaning house. It is spiritually a time of letting go of negativity and old beliefs that keep you from reaching your potential. The healthy expression of this season is the ability to take in new ideas, integrating them if they work, discarding them if they don’t, and moving on; not getting stuck. Physically the colon allows your body to eliminate what it no longer needs. It’s the perfect time to gently cleanse your colon. It’s also the time to pay attention to your lungs and support them with tonics that improve your immune system to help reduce allergic reactions and support the respiratory system.

By choosing foods and spices that are pungent in nature, you can assist the gentle cleansing of both these organs. Pungency helps disperse the stuck, mucus-laden energy of these organs. A stand-out spice to add to your diet at this time of year is simple Black Pepper (Piper nigrum). This spice has an affinity for the large intestine and gently clears out mucus. It also dries cold mucus in the lungs, throat and sinuses, clearing out colds, coughs and other sludgy conditions.

A fabulous herb to introduce at this time of year is Astragalus root (Astragalus membramaceus). It is a slightly sweet herb with an affinity for the lungs. It is one of the best herbs for boosting immunity and building resistance to colds and flu. It does this by strengthening the body’s ability to respond to external pathogens. An easy way to use Astragalus is to simply cook the roots along with your weekly soups and grains. Add them at the beginning of cooking but be sure and take them out before serving as the roots are very fibrous. It also makes a delicious fall and winter tea that will support your body all season long. Astragalus root can be found in the bulk section of Sevananda’s Wellness Dept.

Easy suggestions for better fall health! ❧

Pam Gould is an Atlanta herbalist passionate about teaching how to integrate herbs into everyday life to achieve greater health. You can visit her website at www.theherbkitchen.com.

An Herbal Transition into FallBy Pamela Gould

Wellness


Co-operators. We will even make it easy for you to encourage them to come.

As a part of the membership drive, we are rolling out a new “trial” membership called “A Taste of Sevananda.” Now you can invite your non-member friends, neighbors, and co-workers to try us out to see what Sevananda is really all about. It is a three-step trial membership that will give them the opportunity to come in, try some of our products, and get a real feel for what belonging to a coop means. There is no obligation on their part—if we can’t convince them to become a member, then they get a few gifts from us and can go on their way. But our goal is to show them that belonging is in their best interest and that of the coop.

We want a little more than that, though, from you, our members. So if you get a friend to join the coop as a regular member, we will give you a $10 gift certificate for doing so, with no limits on how many friends you can sign up. We also know that you can’t get every friend you bring in to sign up right away, so if you bring someone in and get them to sign up for the Taste of

From Your General Manager

Our Most Important Assetby Tom Pawlenko, General Manager

When you hear someone speaking of “assets,” most of the time you know

that they are talking about money or things of value that could be sold or exchanged for money. But that is not the kind of “assets” I mean when I talk about our most important asset at Sevananda. Our most important asset is all of our staff and members.

When it comes down to the one asset that keeps Sevananda moving forward, employing our staff, and determining our mission, it is our members. Our members mean everything to our being, our living organism, our Sevananda. Without a vibrant membership, we would cease to exist. Because of that, I want to call on our members to do a couple of things over the next few months.

The first thing is to support the business that you own. We strive every day to keep our prices lower than our competition to help our members financially. We know that eating natural and organic has a price above that of conventional foods and products. We also know that it is important to most of you to bear that price, and our goal is to make it as painless to your pocketbook as possible. Check out our Price Comparison Guide in the store to see how we fared against the “Big Boys.” I think you will be surprised.

The second thing I want to ask members to do is to “reproduce.” No, I don’t mean go out and have more kids—but in a sense that is just what I mean. We are starting a Membership Drive this month with the goal to get from 3,300 to 4,000 members by year’s end. By talking to your neighbors, co-workers, and other friends and asking them to come to the store with you, or encouraging them to visit on their own, you are doing your part to “reproduce” more

Sevananda trial membership, we will give you a gift bag of product samples as a thank you. And if that friend’s trial membership becomes a regular membership, we will still give you the gift certificate once that new member has remained a member for an entire year. If they stay that long, we will continue to do all that we can to keep them.

Finally, we want you to know that we have redesigned and developed a new platform for our website that will give us a greater ability to grow, reach out, and communicate with you, the members. Our old site was quite limiting and unable to do much of what we want to be able to do with and for our members. The new site debuts on Sept. 1, and we invite you to scout around it and give us some feedback on what more you’d like to see there. We will take those requests seriously. The site will also h a v e s p e c i a l deals at v a r i o u s times that will be just for

members, so watch for them there.

As a part of that growth and to be more “green friendly,” we have decided to change the way we mail out the printed version of Co-Options. Starting with the November issue, it will still be available in the store and online, but we will no longer mail Co-options out to everyone.. Those members who would still like to have it mailed directly to them must contact Member Services and “opt-in” to the mailing. Just stop by the Customer Service/Membership Desk or call/email Holly Blain with your name and member number and ask to “opt-in” to the mailing.

As fall comes upon us, Sevananda will continue to be here for you and your healthy eating and herbal needs. From our staff to you—we


Inside Your Cooperative Board Room

Board Meeting Information

Regular meetings of Sevananda’s Board of Directors are held in the Education Room on the third week of each month at 7:00 p.m. All Member-Owners are welcome to attend as observers with your Member ID Card. To request that an item be put on the agenda, please contact Board Administrator/Liaison Carolyn Renée in writing with your request at [email protected] then follow-up at (404) 681-2831, extension 121. Carolyn will confirm for you the Board of Director meeting day and time, as well as the Agenda Submission deadline date. In addition, she will help you identify the Policy in which your item relates. If you are without access to the Internet, you may leave a voicemail message for Carolyn at the before mentioned number, and she will follow-up with you.

SEPTEMBERMeeting date: Tuesday, Sep 20 Agenda deadline: Thurs, Sep 8

OCTOBERMeeting date: Tuesday, Oct 18 Agenda deadline: Thur, Oct 6

NOVEMBER Meeting date: Tuesday, Nov 15 Agenda deadline: Thur, Nov 3

Calvin Vismale President

Rex BatsonTreasurer

Samiyyah Allah

Rahn Stevens Leslie Harmon

Gloria Hawkins Wynn

Jen Macuch Kato Tawhiyda Tupak-El

Connie “Kijai” Turpeau Secretary

MEET YOUR NEW BOARD!A photo essay


Be the ChangeSeptember 2011 Be the Change Partner

Inman Park Cooperative Preschool30 years of community working together for education

Be The Change, a program founded by Sevananda Natural Foods Market in 1997, provides capacity-building, promotion and financial contributions to locally-based nonprofit organizations. Anytime during the month of September, let your cashier know you’d like to make a contribution at the register to our Be The Change partner. You may also shop at Sevananda on Saturday, September 24, when Sevananda will donate 1% of net sales for the day to the Inman Park Cooperative Preschool (IPCP). Call Sevananda at 404.681.2831 to find out when IPCP will be tabling at the store in September.

Organization: Inman Park Cooperative Preschool

Mission: Providing a loving, fun and safe environment that supports our children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development

Address: 760 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Website: www.ipcp.org

Contact: Trena Sims Valrie

Phone: 404.827.9796

Email: [email protected]

Founded in 1981, Inman Park Co-operative Preschool (IPCP) is a cooperative preschool serving the needs of its community through tradition, imagination, and the help of many dedicated families through the years.

There was no debate among its founders, a group of Inman Park parents, over calling the new school a cooperative. Since all of them were working together to rebuild their neighborhood, it seemed only natu-ral that they would work together for their children’s education as well.

Operating in the basement of the Lizzie Bethel Baptist Church, the community of Inman Park Co-operative Preschool continued to strengthen during the next eight years. In 1989, the school moved into its current building at the corner of Edgewood Avenue and Waddell Street.

Most recently, in 2008 a new ad-dition was added at 27-D Waddell Street when it became apparent that IPCP needed more space for its growing community. A mere face-lift and new paint was not going to be enough.

With the help of a “Grant to Green Program” grant, IPCP was able to use the summer of 2008 to start from scratch and build a preschool facility that was both environ-mentally friendly and fostered the creative and emotional develop-ment of its children. In doing this, IPCP not only gutted and com-pletely renovated its former home, but also doubled in size with the addition of the Waddell Building across the street.

The curriculum of IPCP offers a rich, nature-based educational opportunity blended with the re-search-based Creative Curriculum, a combination designed to sup-port discovery. Nationally known for its forward-thinking and com-prehensive model, the Creative Curriculum’s unique approach to teaching and learning helps teach-ers successfully plan and implement a content-rich, developmentally ap-propriate program that supports active learning and promotes chil-dren’s progress in all developmental areas (social/emotional, physical, language and cognitive).

The nature-based educational component seeks to connect the children to the Earth’s rhythms and beauty by getting them outdoors and exploring nature as much as possible. It is able to do this by al-lowing all children to utilize its “Outdoor Classroom” every day.

By integrating the indoor classroom with the Outdoor Classroom, IPCP strives to provide hands-on expe-rience that encourages curiosity and exploration while fostering the healthy growth of the “whole child.”

A primary distinguishing feature of the preschool is the varied and ex-tensive level of parent participation. Parents run the school by serving as members of its Board of Direc-tors and as committee members. Parents also participate in periodic Saturday workdays, when improve-ments to the building, furnishings and grounds are tackled, and or-ganize and participate in annual fundraising activities. Finally, par-ents participate on a regular basis in the classroom as parent teachers. In this shared role, parents pro-vide snacks, do cleanup, and assist teachers during the school day.

A chief aim of a cooperative pre-school is to offer opportunities for parents to learn about and con-tribute to their children’s early educational experiences. For the teaching staff, there are also unique opportunities and advantages to working in a cooperative school.

The ongoing contact with parents results in teachers being aware of significant events in a child’s life that might not otherwise come to light. The teacher is able to observe, in a relaxed setting, the ways that parents and children interact. The teachers educate parents as well as children, tactfully suggesting and/or modeling helpful ways of dealing with a child. Also, teachers can ben-efit from the parents’ wide range of talents and interests, which can be used in the design, development, and implementation of educational programs.

As of 2011, Inman Park Coopera-tive Preschool is stronger than ever. With its strong community base, experienced staff, a nature-based creative curriculum and room to grow, IPCP will continue to blossom and produce thoughtful, caring, and socially aware young students. ❧Children at IPCP utilize the Outdoor

Classroom spaces daily.

➢ IPCP children counting and sorting in the Outdoor Classroom.

A little “chipmunk” in the Outdoor Classroom.


Hello everyone! As we move into a new phase of growth and development with a new

Board and a new General Manager, it’s an exciting time. It has been a long, tough road getting here, but the important thing is, we are still here. Hopefully, we have learned a little something along the way. As it is a time of new beginnings, I want to share with you some of what’s new at Sevananda, your natural foods cooperative.

As a staff member, I like to think we are continuously learning, being inspired, innovating, and making impactful change in the world just by coming to work every day and serving in our own unique and special roles of service. Our members do the same by offering ideas, making their voices heard, shopping here, participating in classes, events, and elections, putting an occasional suggestion in the suggestion box at Customer Service, and renewing their membership when needed.

Our relationships with Sevananda and each other have meaning far beyond the traditional shopping experience. That is one of the goals of cooperatives and something that sets us apart from the rest. In addition to savings and discounts, we provide an opportunity for community ownership, working membership, and educational empowerment. We

have become a trusted community resource for anything from healthy recipes, cooking and gardening to alternative medical practices and green living. We’ve come a long way and I think Sevananda’s founders would be proud. I’ve seen a few of them in the store and they’ve actually told me so.

How do you top that? Well, you evaluate what you’ve done, what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. In the growing market for natural and whole foods, you might consider how you may best serve your community, both now and in the future. You assess what has worked, toss what hasn’t, tweak, make a new plan which incorporates all the great ideas you’ve received over time that seem feasible, put some of them to the test, and forge ahead. And it certainly can’t hurt to revisit core values and the original reasons this particular organization was created.

In forging ahead with outreach efforts, we have re-focused. We’re going back to our roots and once again making food the priority, and more specifically, examining the integrity of our food supply. We asked a few basic questions, like: What other natural, whole and organic food options are available in our community? What do people believe or think about Sevananda, and what is our role in the growing natural foods marketplace now? What would we like people to know about how we’re different from the other options available to them? How important are healthy food sources to people/members? How can we better assist consumers in finding what they are seeking? How can we be a better resource provider in all that goes with healthy lifestyles and transitions?

Here’s what we know.

Shoppers

• We are a trusted resource for people who care about what they eat, where their foods comes from, what’s in it.

• There are lots of places people can shop, but we’re the real deal and have been since long before it became cool.

• We provide high-quality specialized products in high demand.

• Sevananda is a thought leader in the health food and wellness product arena.

• The general public is seeking what we offer and we’re good at it, but we could be better at serving them and letting them know how we’re different. People need support in surfing through the maze of information about health and wellness.

Members

• We have dedicated, loyal, committed member-owners who have an interest and stake in the success of this cooperative. They want to help, have a voice, and make a difference by being a

part of this cooperative.

• We have a shared responsibility in striving for the success we define.

• There is power and strength in our numbers.

Community

• Community and connection is at the core of who we are.

• The facts above inspired us to:

• Create a member drive appointing member-owner ambassadors to champion our growth.

• Create an outreach campaign to speak to and meet the growing need of consumers seeking high-quality food for their families.

• Create initiatives which further our thought leadership in the

Sevananda Marketing

At Your Serviceby Ahzjah Netjer Simons, Member Services and Marketing Manager

Also coming by Spring 2012:

• Free membership sampler card

• Membership Referral Program

• Member Mixers/Healthy Happy Hours

• Monthly Food Fair

• What’s Cooking Demos

• Meet the Farmers

• Artist Alliance Art Fest

• Journey To Wellness Wellness Fairs

• Annual Birthday Party/International Year of Cooperatives Celebration

TM


health, wellness, and cooperative arena.

•Reach out to communities to expand our reach and strengthen existing relationships with neighboring communities by offering them a little something extra.

In the past, we’ve done some great promotions and created some great marketing tools to spark interest. What we haven’t done is to target those efforts strategically in one particular direction, with one strong message. What we haven’t done is to create solid tracking mechanisms to monitor the success of our efforts. What we haven’t had is an adequate marketing and advertising budget to consistently spread the word about Sevananda and why people should think of us as their “go to” source for natural, whole and organic foods.

As we have been rebuilding from scratch this year, we’ve taken steps to change some of this and we’ll begin rolling out some of our strategies this month. The effort includes a refined marketing messagethat focuses on the unwavering commitment to food integrity which we feel represents Sevananda at its core; a new outreach campaign to expand that messaging and bring shoppers in our doors; a new website to complement the growing needs of the Sevananda family and our expanding community; and a referral-based member drive to support the new incoming trafficcreated by outreach efforts.

The website was designed by Ano Dennis, your Senior Graphic Designer and sometimes Manager On Duty. After lots of dialogue, input, and feedback from staff, members, and community members, as well as from existing research we had in our archives, the campaign was created by a dynamic duo we call JimBob, officially known as theconsulting company TinRoof. They helped us to craft a message that we felt would authentically represent us. Our existing advertising budget covered the cost of advertising, printing, and any professional fees associated with the project.

The campaign launch will focus tightly on nearby in-town neighborhoods where a majority of our current shoppers and members live. Print media will target a test market area in three specificpublications which closely capture our highest potential demographic. Co-Options will also feature some of the ads. They will look like the ads on this two-page article version. The campaign will also be tested online with a new web-based, “hyper-local” news platform called Patch. Check it out at patch.com.

We’re still tweaking as we go, but there’s much more to come. Keep your eye on the Food Watch box in these pages for Food Integrity Briefs from the Food Integrity Staff Committee. These will include news bites on manufacturer ingredient monitoring, changes in food safety legislation, and food labeling projects to help shoppers better identify what’s in their food and where it comes from.

Overall the Operations department 1is fine-tuning its efforts to bringbetter quality products to shoppers. There is a focus once again on staff training to bring a higher caliber of customer service and knowledge to the shopping experience. And the administrative staff is improving systems to better support the store andourday-to-dayefficiency.

Don’t forget to join the online member forum, become a member driver ambassador, join a Board or Operational committee or help us plan the next Sevananda Birthday Party! If none of those appeals to you, just tell a friend about Sevananda. That goes a long way. We’re off to a great start!

We’re grateful to have each of you as trusted members of this cooperative. Thanks for your continued support and membership. ❧

In Joyful Service, Ahzjah

TM

(continued from previous page)

Find us online!

Facebook.com/Sevananda.AtlTwitter.com: @Sevananda

It is time to plant those cooler weather crops. With luck you'll have food for Thanksgiving from your garden!

Greens, like collards and kale, roots crops like turnips, rutebega, rad-ishes, and overwintering crops like garlic and onions, can be planted now. Radishes are one of my favorite and most satisfying crops as you can be eating them as soon as a month after seeds are sown! Garlic is another easy garden crop. Break apart a head of garlic and plant the biggest and best cloves (or all of them if you like) standing up about a thumb's depth in the ground. cover and wait. Shoots will appear withinaweekorsoandnextJune,whenthestalksturnbrownfinallyand start to fall over they will be ready to harvest! The only danger at harvest time is leaving them in the ground so long that the bulbs rot but you do want them well grown, dried and cured in the ground before you pull em up. ❧

SeptemberGARDEN! By Emily Taff


Journey to Wellness IN SEPTEMBER

“WHAT ARE YOU EATING?”� Radio Series. Each show covers The Business of Food, Food Safety, Food Security, Food Systems and Food Legislation. Show archives available at www.sevananda.coop (click on “Coop Central Radio Archives” on left side).

Every Week

MEATLESS MONDAYS Mondays 5-6 pm. Join raw food chef Akil as he shares tastings and copies of his raw recipe of the week. Free — Produce department.

CO-OP 101 RADIO will air Mondays from 4:30pm-5pm. on WRFG 89.3 FM (see ad on page 9 for showtimes).

Every Month

“WHAT’S COOKING?”� COOKING CLASS Saturday September 10, from 12noon-1:30pm. (No class in August.) “Life Chef” Asata Reid makes healthy dishes with all-natural ingredients. $10 for member-owners, $12 for non-members — in the front of the store.

“BE THE CHANGE”� 1% SATURDAY September 24. Sevananda will donate 1% of its net sales to Inman Park Cooperative Preschool, our Be The Change nonprofit partners for September.

Date Specific

WORKING MEMBER ORIENTATION will be held on Monday, October 3, from 7pm-8:30pm. There is no orientation in September. For more information, pick up an application at the Customer Service desk, or download one from our website, www.sevananda.coop, under “Store Flyers” (scroll down a bit on the right hand side) — in the Education Room.

SCHOOL OF COMMONHEALTHNourish Thy Body, Mind and Spirit

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Saturday September 10thand

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healthy cooking, meal planning & pantry stocking

www.sevananda.coop 404-681-2831

In the education room $10 members-$12 non-members

What’s Cookingwith Asata Reid

healthy cooking, meal planning & pantry stocking


SCHOOL OF COMMONHEALTH

Can anybody out there help the morally handicapped?

Ever since I flunked Basic Rationalization and had to drop my philosophy major, this embarrassing disability has cruelly barred me from the lifestyle of total personal convenience that is every American’s birthright. I envy people who can casually condemn an empty can or used envelope to eternity in a landfill without a twinge. As hard as I try, I can’t come up with a single sophisticated reason for not recycling them—if I can’t actually re-use them.

My holistic therapist, Dr. Itzal Goode, believes it’s a self-esteem issue: I just don’t feel worthy of indulging myself at the expense of future generations of wide-eyed children and cute fuzzy animals. But my psychoanalyst, Dr. Effet Feelgood, says I simply suffer from pre-emptive guilt, probably caused by an irony deficiency.

My spiritual guide, Swami Mustabin Mentabi, recommends that I work on mastering moral detachment. But my pastor, Rev. O’Reginald Zinn, attributes my ethical challenges to the sin of Pride: I can’t stand to be less ecologically correct than a bureaucratic institution like the City of Atlanta with its curbside recycling program.

Professor Haddit Cumming, an expert on The Law of Attraction at Harvard Law School, states that people living in poverty are responsible for attracting their underprivileged lifestyle, which has irresistibly attracted strip mines and oil refineries and landfills and trash incinerators to their neighborhoods, which in turn attracts higher rates of cancer and birth defects.

But I can’t help visualizing how each aluminum can or plastic bottle I hold in my hand connects me to those toxic mines and factories. I can’t bear to make an unnecessary contribution to those chemical-leaching landfills. And the clearcut forest I once saw haunts me whenever I even think about throwing away paper.

Wanted: the Perfect RationalizationPhilosopher Seeks Plausible Excuse for Planetary Waste and Destructionby Stephen Wing

Of course, solid waste concerns are environmentally passé. The eco-chic are now into conserving energy instead because of the melting icecaps and extreme weather caused by burning fossil fuels. Perhaps they’re unaware that recycled materials save huge amounts of energy in manufacturing.

But even the climate crisis doesn’t affect me directly here in the Eternal Present—the only moment there is—as I hesitate with my hand extended toward the nearest handy trash can. Why can’t I just let go?

I’m hoping someone out there can help. Please write to share your favorite justification for tossing recyclables into the trash. Here are a few losers I’ve already tried:

1. It’s only one little paperclip in a giant mountain of garbage . . .

2. I’m only one person on a crowded planet. My personal impact can’t possibly matter.

3. It’s a relatively minor planet anyway . . .

4. It only takes a second, if I stay focused on a sufficiently grand distraction, like last night’s game . . . On to the next distraction!

5. Okay, just this once. (This actually worked—but only once.)

6. My time is too valuable to make a moral issue out of trash.

7. I’ll get around to it when I get a chance to study the issues.

8. The environment is not my issue.

9. I’m not an activist. I have complete faith in the activists of the world to pick up my slack.

10. Other people’s cancers, birth defects, droughts and floods are not my problem. Want to hear about my problems?

11. It isn’t cool to care. What if someone sees me acting like some naive idealist?

12. Self-indulgence is a way of life I am committed to. It’s an integrity thing.

13. My habits are part of my identity. Next you’ll want me to give up smoking!

14. Surely such an exceptional person as myself can be an exception to the mere laws of nature?

15. Recycling at home is a personal choice. But here at work, we need to cut costs.

16. The government will take care

of the environment. That’s why we pay taxes.

17. Recycling is not enough to fix the world. So why bother?

18. The Space People (the Apocalypse, the Revolution, the Collapse of Civilization) will be here soon to solve all our problems.

19. It’s too late. The world is doomed. Let’s party!

Somewhere out there, shimmering like the Holy Grail against the ozone haze, the perfect rationalization awaits. Won’t someone please let me in on the secret? ❧

Stephen Wing is the author of the eco-comic novel Free Ralph! An Evolutionary Fable, available in Sevananda’s book section, and two books of poetry. He is a board member at the Lake Claire Community Land Trust and works in Sevananda’s grocery dept. For more of his writings, visit www.StephenWing.com.

“Evolution isn’t mandatory, nor is it

inevitable. There’s always the option of

extinction.”—The New, Improved

Law of Evolution

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Environmental


Does it seem as if you are seeing more people in your local store shopping for organic

groceries and organic produce these days? You aren’t the only one noticing this trend. All across the country organic food sales are up despite the nation’s worst economic downturn in 80 years.

The organic sector grew by 8 percent in 2010, dramatically outpacing the food industry as a whole, which grew at less than 1 percent in 2010. According to a survey by the Organic Trade Association, the organic industry has grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $29 billion in 2010. That’s an eye opener! And, projections show no slow-down anytime soon. That’s not all. Take a look at the other survey findings on the health and growth of our industry.

• The organic industry supports 14,540 organic farms and ranches across the country. A total of 4.1 million acres of land are currently in organic management, and there are organic farms in all 50 states.

• Since 78 percent of organic farms report planning to maintain or increase organic production over the next five years, the organic sector will continue to play a large role in revitalizing America’s rural economy through diversity in agriculture. And lots of folks in rural America need help right now.

• The USDA is paying attention. Recently Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack noted that the USDA is creating financial assistance for organic

Produce

It Looks Like We've Made It!Organic production continues to growby Mark Mulcahy, Organic Options

(continued from page 1)

Organic Farming

wholesome chemical-free foods. Through Farmer’s Organic Plant Food Company, his farm became certified organic in 2008.

Berry Farms is a bio-intensive organic farm located just outside of Vidalia, Georgia. Jason Berry and his wife Stacy Berry continue to own and operate it as fourth-generation Georgia farmers, but this time as organic farmers. Jason initially became interested in reducing pesticide and fertilizer usage on their conventional vegetable farm. An eclectic way of thinking has led the Berrys to now solely concentrate on organic growing, with a specific emphasis on managing soil microbiology. With a new philosophy of building a diverse ecosystem and a balanced soil food web, they truly have attained a sustainable method of farming that produces higher-quality and better-tasting food.

Organic farming is not easy by any means, but the benefit it brings far outweighs its hardships. With passionate farmers like these and the dedicated distribution that Destiny Organics provides, the vision of a healthier, sustainable future for all is growing stronger. ❧

because they recognize organic as a part of the strategy to rebuild rural America.

• Forty percent of organic operations added jobs in 2010. In addition, 96 percent of organic operations are planning to maintain or increase employment levels this year, and 46 percent of them are planning to increase employment levels three times the rate of businesses as whole.

• Organic agriculture and the organic industry are fueling America’s growth. U.S. Census data shows that on average, U.S. organic farms have higher sales, higher production expenses, and higher operating profit than the average for all U.S. farms, thus creating real opportunities for

rural economic livelihoods. In fact, organic farms were shown to have an average operating profit nearly double that for all farms ($45,697 for organic versus $25,448 for all farms).

This comes as welcome news when the farming population is aging and young people are looking into farming as a career. Perhaps Congress should be looking to our industry for ideas to jumpstart the economy.

My favorite statistic? The leading food category for 2009 in organic (drum roll) was fresh fruits and vegetables which grew at 14% and now represent 38% of all U.S. organic food sales. Yahooo! Once again organic produce leads the way. It makes sense as produce has long been considered the gateway into the world of organic for most consumers.

This amazing growth couldn’t have happened without the dedicated farmers and quality stores who have always believed in the value and benefits of organic agriculture and have provided customers with the finest quality organic produce available. Or you, for that matter! Somewhere along the line you decided organic was the best choice for you and your family and have been supporting your store and organic farmers, which has enabled them to grow and serve you better. We all play a part in the positive outcome, and if anything shows that voting with your food dollar really works, this new study certainly does.

So share a rich juicy organic melon with a friend and celebrate that organic has come a long way and is poised to go even farther. ❧

© 2009, 2011 Organic Options Mark Mulcahy of Organic Options, an organic education and produce consulting firm, can be reached 707-939-8355 or at [email protected].

Anujah Bala is the Marketing Manager at Destiny Organics, a significant supplier to Sevananda of local, organic produce and dairy. You can find Destiny at www.destiny-organics.com and Anujah at [email protected].

in Commerce. Bouchard, a medical doctor by profession, started the Veggie Patch, which is now a Certified Organic and Certified Naturally Grown farm. They grow a large variety of produce with both naturally-grown and organic methods and use absolutely no pesticides or commercial fertilizers. They use sustainable agriculture methods, OMRI-certified organic fertilizers, OMRI-certified organic pest management, and spring-fed water sources. Currently the farm is harvesting lots of summer produce including watermelons, cantaloupe, squash, peppers, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs.

Chad Heard, deeply who was taughtabout the true essence of organic farming in his earliest years, transformed his farmland after 35-plus years of farming conventionally and raising poultry. Chad has been driving tractors and planting crops since he was 10 years old. He was fortunate to have learned non-chemical-additive farming techniques by his father. Later, noticing the health of the American people in decline, about 4 years ago Chad decided to convert 200-plus acres to organic food production. He believes people will grow healthier by eating

images to Left from page 1 story:

(top) Chad Heard

(bottom) Jason Berry and family


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Organic Farmingsevanandatestsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/cooptions-sept-… · Gloria Hawkins Wynn (678) 698-6803 Jen Macuch Kato (404) 296-2767 Leslie Harmon 404-797-3440