We have a large garden of herbs, all kinds, especially exotic Asian types. There's nothing better than being able to sprinkle fresh rosemary, thyme or lemongrass into your cooking. Mmmmm... No vegetables though, except some (very) hot peppers. For fruits, we have several pear trees, one apple, one persimmon, and even some grapes which did excellent last year.
This year, we've removed a rose bush to plant a fig tree... we also have a plum tree, an apricot tree, a bunch of blueberry bushes, and kiwi berry vines. Along with the garden beds with kale, strawberries, mint, lemon balm, parsley, and onions... Anything that likes damp, cool weather does well here.
Today paid 50% more for organic chicken. Its worth it. Eating drug resistant flesh eating bacteria makes me lose my appetite.
This year I planted carrots, tomatos, garlic, Texas white onions, red/yellow bell peppers and sweet yellow peppers. I also have basil, dill, tarragon, oregeno, thyme, lemon balm (can be invasive), Italian parsley, mint (in a pot), chives and fennell (bronze). I grow rosemary seperately as a specimen hedge around my carrots. Rosemary helps deter deer and rabbits. Here in south central Carolina, all my herbs come back every year except basil. I plant herbs under existing shrubs to maintain moisture control and shelter from harsh sun. I put additional basil by each tomato plant since basil is a companion plant to help repel certain insects and provide organic tomato health. By the way, parsley and fennel are host plants for swallowtail butterflies, so I harvest parsley carefully and wash thoroughly! Finally, in my butterfly garden, I use milkweed as a natural host plant for monarchs. Remember when milkweed was a common roadside weed? Now, it's becoming hard to find. Since this is the grammar thread, how's my writing? I have tendency to shift tense and plurality.
What's funny - not in a 'ha ha' kind of way - is that my vegetarianism usually only becomes a topic of discussion when a group of us sit down to eat. And that's when people ask why I stopped eating meat. Trust me, of the things I've learned and the stories I've heard and the studies I've read, you do not want to hear these things when you're about to eat.
Ooops, thought this was the grammar thread turned organic. That's why I asked, "How's my grammar?" As I posted in another thread, old age is what happens to other people!
I don't support the willy-nilly antibiotic dosing of food animals. But this press release is lacking in details. Primarily, what classes of antibiotics were the bugs resistant too. The drugs fed to animals aren't classes used for treating human disease. It's done that way to lower the chances of pathogens becoming resistant to human meds. If these studied strains are resistant to animal classes of drugs, it's still a concern, but it isn't a health threat.
I'm guessing the farmers don't have to tell anyone what they're pumping into the cattle. On the other hand, we all might get in trouble for discussing this. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_libel_laws"]Food libel laws - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] What do you know about Food Disparagement Laws? « Under The LobsterScope Food Slander Is Now A Crime
It appears the FDA is already against the use of antibiotics in livestock, except for treating illness. FDA: Antibiotics in Livestock Affects Human Health The article is from a year ago, and no regulations were added, just voluntary guidelines.
Tada!! We have established the role of the FDA in driving change in the food industry. Pretty hard to drive anything with your hands tied behind your back. Man, I wish my wife would give me voluntary guidelines on what she would like done and then just get the Heck out of my way and leave me alone.
I just say "Oh I just love animals a lot". It is the main reason and people generally don't argue with that.
