organic
prized pickles
The wonderful folks over at Woodstock have received a 2012 Foodie Award nomination for their mouthwatering organic kosher dill pickles.
Head over to Vegetarian Times to vote for Woodstock’s delightful dills!
the more you know…the more you grow
It’s no secret that we here at Foerstel have a passion for all things organic. As a design firm dedicated to sustainable practices for over two decades, we provide food companies with beautiful and effective packaging that complies with organic food industry standards. As such, we are honored to be asked to partner with CCOF and OES for a second consecutive year.
Founded in 1973, the California Certified Organic Farmers Association (CCOF) was one of the first organizations to perform organic certification in North America. In addition to being a full-service organic certification and trade association, the CCOF has been a leading provider of information, resources and advocacy for organic food and agriculture for more than 30 years.
With their latest Organic Labeling webinar around the corner, CCOF is preparing to give insight into the most common mistakes companies make with their organic labels. Because of our knowledge, experience and commitment to the industry, we were asked to provide a variety of packaging images, tailored specifically to enhance their presentation. This educational event will use our real-world examples as a resource in defining a step-by-step process for developing labels that comply with the USDA National Organic Program.
If you are planning to update your organic label or create a new product line, you won’t want to miss this informative event.
Webinar Dates:
Wednesday, May 9, 1:00-2:30 p.m. PST
Wednesday, May 16, 9:00-1:00 a.m. PST
For more information and to register, click here
Mother Nature’s Graffiti
Graffiti is an art that usually carries a negative connotation. It’s illegal in most areas and let’s face it, there aren’t many things worse than aerosol spray cans. However, there is an awesome way to become an eco-friendly graffiti artist. By following a simple recipe, you can create moss graffiti that looks really cool and is good for the planet!
While we don’t recommend tagging any structure without explicit permission of the owner, we do suggest trying this out on rocks, bricks, or concrete walls that you may find around the house.
The success of the recipe itself can be very hit and miss and is very much dependent upon choosing exactly the right location and weather conditions; moss thrives in the damp and can most often be found growing near a leaky drainpipe or rain-soaked wall.
Recipe for Moss Graffiti:
• 1 can of cheap beer OR 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• A few handfuls of moss
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Blend until the mixture is smooth
You can use a paint brush or spray bottle to apply the moss to concrete walls, rocks or brick. Mist the moss once a day and before you know it, you’ll have a thriving work of green graffiti!
Photo by Anna Garforth
10 ways to get green on earth day
With April 22 fast approaching, we agree with our friends at Care2 that Earth Day is a holiday that deserves attention, and is worth celebrating.
We are a design firm deeply committed to all things organic and sustainable since 1985. We believe that Earth Day should be about giving back to the earth ~ appreciation for our environment and the small planet in which we all share.
The team at Foerstel is planning to get a little dirty and show the Earth some extra love while remembering that taking care of the only planet we have is something to be celebrated all year long!
What are you planning to do to celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few simple ideas from Care2 to help you get your Earth Day groove on!
1. Avoid running appliances – and keep the lights off turned off
2. Try to keep your car parked at home and opt to run, walk or pedal to your destination
3. Make a meal using only foods made with ingredients that have been sourced locally
4. Reap what you sow by planting a garden (even a simple container garden, or raised beds) will make you feel great and improve your carbon footprint
5. Make your yard look great by planting a tree and the fruit varieties will eventually provide you with healthy and delicious snacks
6. Try to indulge in meatless meals throughout the day
7. Do some exercises outside (yoga, cardio or weights)
8. If you already recycle, Sunday would be a great day to organize your containers. And, if you haven’t started, Earth Day would be a good day to learn about what items are recyclable and set up holding containers for the various items
9. Compost, compost, compost is nourishment for your garden and is a great way to dispose of food waste
10. Volunteer some of your time to your community. Find a mission that interests you and give back to help others.
set your site on artful sustainability
We like art (obviously) and sustainability is near and dear to our hearts, so when we found this web site that combines the two, we were instantly engrossed.
“Sustainability” is one of those words that the more that it is used, the more confusing and undefined it becomes. The Lexicon of Sustainability had undertaken the deconstruction of this vocabulary and has made the overworked idea fresh and approachable again with captivating photos and playful approach.
Pop on by the web site to learn about the edible school yard project pioneered by Alice Waters fifteen years ago or the advantages of biodiversity over monoculture farming. The format–coined as information art–is addictive and you’ll be a sustainability savant in no time!
dr. oz loves our clients
Recently, two of our clients were featured on the same episode of the Dr. Oz show ” Solutions to Break Your Food Addictions.” First, Teeccino and then Melt Buttery Spread.
This is a perfect example of why we are so proud of the work we do, and the companies we do it for. Both of these clients make delicious products that help people live a healthy and thoughtful lifestyle, while contributing to a healthier planet.
farm bill cuts to organic agriculture
The deficit-reduction procedures adopted as part of the debt ceiling deal that became law in August 2011 have had a great impact on federally funded programs. We are in a budget-cutting environment, like it or not. The House and Senate Agriculture committees are working on cutting Farm Bill spending by $23 billion over the next 10 years.
Despite the growth of the organic food industry in the last decade, the federal budget for organic farming, research, and conservation is very small, and anticipated budget cuts will have an impact on the organic food industry.
The voice of the organic and sustainable community is making itself heard in Washington, with independent farmers and organizations submitting their budget recommendations to Congress. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, one such group, provides an informative look at budget cuts and their effects. They are basically asking for restored funding to programs that spur jobs, innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Read more about the Farm Bill.
what is the future of organic farming ?
The upcoming 2012 Farm Bill budget cuts are threatening the growth of organic farming and the independent small-scale organic farmer is feeling the heat. Currently the Farm Bill funds the National Organic Program which provides for organic product standards, data collection, crop insurance, organic certification, organic research and assistance for farmers transitioning to organic. We are left wondering how the budget cuts will affect the future of organic agriculture.
A new report by the Organic Farming Research Foundation cites the overwhelming economic benefits of organic farming over those of conventional farming. Maureen Wilmot, executive director of the nonprofit organization, says the report is a long-anticipated review of the American scientific literature concerning organic farming in the United States. Studies compiled in the report show that the organic industry has grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $29 billion in 2010. Speaking to the strength of the organic food movement is the fact that federal assistance has only been in place for the last four of those 13 years.
Some interest groups are concerned that budget cuts will endanger the organic food supply and that organic food prices will increase. Whatever the outcome of the Farm Bill, and despite the impact that may be felt, we must remember that there is an organic revolution under way. Our world has seen the effects of processed foods and industrial farming on our health and our environment, and we are not willing to let those negative impacts continue.
Ensure the continuing strength of the organic revolution by getting involved. Sustainable agriculture needs your support. Educate yourself, and learn more about the Farm Bill budget cuts to organic agriculture. Make your voice heard, and support organic farming.
what is the farm bill?
This broad and complex piece of legislation comes up for renewal every five years and is due to expire September 2012. The Farm Bill is a nickname for the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act and covers much more than the name implies. It allocates federal funds for conventional, organic, and industrial farming, land conservation, renewable energy, rural economic development, and nutritional assistance programs.
It is responsible for large-scale commodity-farming subsidies and crop insurance, but also includes programs that affect small-scale, sustainable farmers and organic research. The majority of the bill funds the $70 billion-a-year food stamp program, with very little allotted for organic agriculture.
The Farm Bill is not easy to understand given the various interest groups with budgets at stake, the intricacies of politics, and the complex nature of the bill. In their download, ” Farm Bill 101, “ American Farmland Trust outlines the issues covered in the bill, along with how the legislation impacts farmers of all sizes.
Learn more about the Farm Bill budget cuts and how they will affect the future of organic farming.
winter produce bounty
We’ve collected some exceptional resources for organic, local winter produce, and put together some great tips for healthy winter eating at Organic.org, Foerstel’s organic consumer website.
