Organic Living – 5 Things You Can Do in Your Home

Contributed by: Tom D.

As members of a cooperative grocery store that has a strong focus on providing its customers with organic and environmentally friendly products, we are setting an example to the community.  But there are many more things we can do to promote the spirit of the co-op in public and in our homes. Many of you already do some of these things, but we can always do more and encourage others to do the same.  Here’s a short list of 5 things you can do in your home to promote the idea of organic living:

=> Boycott foods that are not organic
Be a label reader and look for the certified organic logos.

=> Learn how to cook from scratch with natural ingredients
Get a good cook book, buy all the ingredients and discover the joy of being your own chef!

=> Eat only organic, grass-fed meat
Non-organic meats are loaded with hormones, antibiotics and other additives you don’t want in your body or the bodies of your loved ones. Grain-fed meats tend now to be fed on genetically modified corn and soybeans, neither of which are organic.

=> Shop with local farmers, at farmers’ markets and, of course, your local co-op
Finding a source you trust, that either farms or supplies the kind of high-quality, fresh and organic foods that you want. Many local farmers are even more stringent than the FDA organic label demands because they value their local customers and survive because of them and their repeat business.

=> Start your own garden; even if it’s small, and grow organic.
It doesn’t take much land to produce a surprising amount of food for a family. Even if you only have enough room to produce a few things, you are ahead of the game.   Produce like lettuce grows easily and takes very little room for the amount produced.  Zucchini is a plant that will grow tons of delicious food in a pretty small space.  Potatoes can be grown in towers which maximizes the yield per square foot of ground, minimizes watering and is easy to do.

The list goes on an on and we can all do something to help ourselves and our communities.

The inspiration for this article came from the “Organic View” newsletter put out by the Organic Consumers Association. You can keep up to date with developments in the organic world at their website, http://www.organicconsumers.org/

Summer Fruit Skin Savers

In-Season Skin Savers


What's so special about this trio of fruits? Check out their unique protective benefits.

· Cherries: Eat a daily handful and you may enjoy fresher, less puffy skin. It's all thanks to the inflammation-fighting anthocyanins and melatonin in cherries, writes Tannis. Melatonin may boost UV protection and cell growth as well -- two great ways to keep wrinkles at bay. Tart cherries tend to be highest in melatonin. (You might also consider adding sweet cherries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries to your bowl. All of these goodies are rich in anthocyanins and other phytochemicals that pack an antiaging, anticancer wallop, according to research. The compounds stopped certain cancer cells from growing and even helped kill some off in lab and animal studies.)

· Nectarines: These smooth-skinned sisters of the peach provide a mini-spa's worth of nutrients that may help correct sun damage from the inside out, according to Tannis. They offer skin goodies like lycopene, lutein, niacin, copper, and vitamins A, C, and E. The A, C, and E trio also works to control inflammation and free radical damage in both the watery and the fatty layers of skin.

· Watermelon: Nibbling on watermelon wedges has the power to refresh your face as much as your palate, thanks to the high water and lycopene content. Lycopene helps protect and preserve connections between skin cells so skin is tighter, smoother, and better able to retain moisture. (Eat at room temperature to get the most lycopene from it).
 
Look for all 3 of these delectable fruits at the Co-op. Especially the readily available Rainier Cherries, grown in Washington!

Spices Play Role in Reduced Cancer Risk

Many people have an idea about the critical role herbs and spices play in disease prevention and even cures. The attached link from June 15, 2010 talks about specific cancer fighting spices. The Dr. Mercola website is a wealth of information about a variety of health related issues. Hope to see you in the Co-op picking up some super spices soon!

Spices Play Role in Reduced Cancer Risk

Welcome to the Yelm Food Cooperative Communication Center!

Having been at the store now for almost one month I marvel at the vast amount of product knowledge held by our members. It seems each day I talk with someone new about the benefits or detriments of a product. As I began to realize how useful this information is and how impossible it is for all of the important information concerning food to be properly shared in the store, I had the idea of creating this blog as a forum for members to share knowledge and resources regarding ingredients, food safety, recipes, news and other related topics.

The Yelm Food Coop is the platform for educating the community, to allow us to make informed decisions about the foods and other products we use in our daily lives. By leveraging the knowledge of our members we can build a strong, local, healthy food system in our community for ourselves and our future.

I look forward to sharing information on this site and in the store!

Aaron Rodriguez
Manager, Yelm Food Co-op