GMOs- Rich Pecararo droppin some knowledge

 Boulder County farmer Rich Pecoraro of Abbondanza breakin it down on his view of Genetically Modified Crops.

http://vimeo.com/33322802

Happy Holidays- R.A.S. Farms Holiday Gift Baskets now available

 RAS Farms is offering a small variety of Holiday gift baskets. The gift baskets are an extension of our summer farm stand, with products from many of our farm stand/ CSA partners. The baskets are original and unique collections that represent the best of our local and global communities.

 The Small Market - $39 + shipping
1 can of coffee (RAS Farms x Conscious Coffees- Farmer's Select)
3 pack of RAS Farms handmade soaps
all packed in a small market basket from Bolga Baskets International

The Gardener's Basket- $76 + shipping
1 bucket of Vital Earth's Mega Worm castings
1 can of coffee
3 pack of soap
6 pack of seeds from Abbondanza Seeds and Produce
all in a medium Bolga Basket

The Farm Stand Basket- $103 + shipping
2 can set of coffee
3 pack of soaps
1 bottle of olive oil from Oils of Paicines
1 pack of quinoa from Keen 1 Quinoa
1 applesauce from Ela Family Farms in Colorado
1 peach jam from Ela
2 bags of roasted nuts from Olomomo Nut Company (1 small and 1 large bag)
all included in 1 large Bolga basket. Perfect for the farmers' market, grocery store, or garden

We are also open to custom orders. Please email rasagriculture@yahoo.com for a quote.

RAS Farms hemp/ organic cotton t-shirts and hoodies are available, along with soaps and coffee on our merchandise page. http://www.rasfarms.com/merch.html

Happy Holidays. We give thanks for the support.

GMO's in my green chilie?????

Right on the heels of the posting from yesterday-

http://news.yahoo.com/green-chile-lovers-fired-over-genetic-research-220534995.html

"It's been 10,000 years for some crops. They don't even remotely resemble their wild species anymore," said Pam Ronald, a plant pathologist from the University of California, Davis, who is known for her work with rice.

Ronald and others say the difference with genetic engineering is it's modern and more precise, and genes from unrelated species can be added to a plant's genome.

"It's a fine line philosophically what people will accept, and there are reasons of course for not wanting a particular type of crop," she said. "But if you think about the great issues of our time — sustainability, can we grow more food using less land and less water as resources diminish, can we reduce insecticides — if genetic engineering can enhance the sustainability, then why not use it?"

Who says any of us want "genes from unrelated species" in our crop plants. Also, it's not only a philosophical fine line, it's an ethical fine line. Just because Pamela Ronald and her cohorts think it's the wave of the future doesn't mean all of us want it.
The pro-GMO pundits >>>> http://www.biofortified.org/

Speaking of rice for example, Vandana Shiva writes "Now industry wants to turn malnutrition into the next market through genetic engineering and industrial fortification of food. An example of high-cost, highrisk ‘fortification’ proposals is Golden Rice, genetically engineered to provide more Vitamin A. In fact, the genetically modified rice provides seventy times less Vitamin A than coriander, fenugreek, curry leaves or drumstick leaves! In addition, since genetic engineering is based on the use of antibiotic – resistant markers and viral promoters, it introduces new and unnecessary health risks. GM rice is a high-cost solution. The Golden Rice is patented, and patents generate royalties. That is the objective of patents.
Governments might pay for these high-cost, high-risk options, but this still uses public money which could instead be used to promote biodiversity-based organic farming as an ecological fortification strategy. Corporate greed and deeper industrialisation of food through artificial fortification are not the answer to malnutrition. Greed robs the poor of food. It is at the root of hunger."

To be continued......

Socrates- Rest In Power

Socrates was one of my favorites when I fell in love with the game as a little dude. Sick player, activist, doctor. Not too many tall dudes playing back in those days.

Article- Monsanto spreads roots into modified produce

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2011/11/28/monsanto-spreads-roots-into-modified-produce.html

The consolidation of the seed industry sped up several years ago. The quote below is very telling......

'Monsanto’s goal: to dominate today’s $3 billion global market for produce seeds, much as it already has done with corn and soybeans.
“This isn’t a hobby. … We’re serious about it,” said Monsanto Chief Executive Hugh Grant, who expects the company’s vegetable-seed revenue to rival its $1.5 billion soybean business in the next decade.'

Save your own seeds. Preservation of genetic diversity is a must.

Values!! Conscious Coffees

http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_19426109

Here is a nice article about our friends at Conscious Coffees. I like the emphasis on having and maintaining your values...... business and otherwise. That's why we like working with their crew. Maximum respect to all our coffee farming people in Ethiopia!!!

RAS Farms x Conscious Coffees Farmer's Select Batch 1 and 2 are still available!
http://www.rasfarms.com/merch.html

Farmer's Select Batch 1 getting canned up. (Big up to Joel @ Conscious Coffees)