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And that is exactly the reason Monsanto is so powerful-they put a LOT of money into politicians' pockets. Monsanto is, unfortunately, a necessary evil for most farmers-they are very close (despite their claims) to being a monopoly.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily...135253110.html |
....are we all ready to grow our own produce, raise our own meat products, weave our own cloth? Aren't those places called third world countries? Most of us would not survive without stores.......
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"....are we all ready to grow our own produce, raise our own meat products, weave our own cloth? Aren't those places called third world countries? Most of us would not survive without stores...…"
not necessarily, much of Europe still exists like this, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Greece, to name a few. Russia and Most of europe has been boycotting and trying to ban Monsanto from coming in and setting up GMO crops, its been a long hard battle but they are winning, although Monsanto won't stop, they are finding GMO crops in Europe that weren't planted there or allowed, Monsanto still insists on opening up big headquarters throughout Europe and they continue to fight them off. Much of Europe has banned most of the pesticides and herbicides that we use all over this country, along with GMO. There should be and are alternatives to the disgraceful poisoning of our ecosystems, animals, and produce. but its big business, and heavily infiltrated into the political processes of this country. |
Vinigar with a small amount of Dove soap added can get rid of a lot of weeds. If you have an area with weeds that you don't want to plant again use 1 gal vinigar 2 cups epsom salts and 1/3 cup dove soap.
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Originally Posted by nativetexan
(Post 7160410)
I still see commercials with professionals spraying someone's lawn, wearing regular clothing and shoes and walking forward as they spray for weeds, bugs, etc. When i spray for dandelion's, I walk backward and don't spray on windy days either. I hate chemicals but do use them. carefully.
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another area where we can do something as individuals is to quit using household cleaners with phosphates
Our beloved dishwashers with their high phosphate content soaps... "The category got a lot less sleepy in July 2010 when, for environmental reasons, several states banned the use of phosphates as an ingredient in dishwasher detergent. (Phosphates can cause algae overgrowth in lakes and ponds, disrupting the ecosystem.)" from http://www.slate.com/articles/busine..._of_2011_.html although the same info is on hundreds of websites. An area of my state (spokane washington) was one of the areas were it was banned. My SIL orders it in from other states. Are we, here, willing to forgo convenience for healthy ecosystems? I doubt it, far easier to shout about what someone else is doing wrong. |
Originally Posted by vschieve
(Post 7161520)
I read once a few years ago there is a way to deter the weeds from coming back in the spring. I printed the method and filed it away and would have to search for it at this point, but what it entailed was two different spreading applications of natural substances about 2 weeks to a month apart when rain would not be imminent. Like first layer in late January or early February and second layer following. All I can remember at this point is that one of the applications had corn meal in the mixture. Supposedly what this does is suffocate or smother out the seeds from germinating that were dropped into the ground from last years weed crop. I have seen a mixture in bags at Lowe's that has the corn meal for the lawn. Anyone familiar with this?
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Similar thing w/corn. My husband walks a rural route wherein the sprayer unloads weed killer on weed & ground and drops the corn seed at the same time. The seed germinates in these chemicaled soils and then we ingest them when we eat the corn.
Several years ago Monsanto (I think the source for RoundUp) sued a farmer for using seed he'd save from his crop of the previous crop. Needless to say, no corn or corn products in my home. Folks on Pinterest are suggesting full-strength white vinegar as a weed killer. Will be using it this summer. |
We don't use anything like that. I had Ivy growing where I didn't want it to grow. I tried pulling and digging it out, I ended up pouring a gallon of white vinegar on it and it killed it but now I have dandelions growing. I will try it on them. Would probably work on our gravel driveway.
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We don't use anything on our lawn either. I don't mind dandelions (our bunnies and chickens love them) but the really bad weeds, we just pull. Like those dang stick-tight things that get on everything-I try to pull those when they're small and don't have stickers yet. We don't use any fertilizer either. It just fends for itself. lol.
But as far as the food supply, we're at the mercy of what the farmers use. |
Also, I read that for weeds that grow through cracks in a sidewalk or patio, pour table salt on them and then boiling water. I might try that this summer.
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A TV doctor looking for ratings? Not a source I would use when making a choice about what to use or not to use.
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[QUOTE=PB from MN;7161214]There is a great deal of misinformation available and unfortunately we have people such as Dr Oz and the media, who only like to give part of the story. Here is an article with more information:
http://www.askthefarmers.com/glyphos...-a-carcinogen/ PB from MN That seems to be old info...World Health organization just declared it a cancer risk, and probable cause.. http://www.theguardian.com/environme...ho-glyphosate- How long did we dump DDT on everything before we realized it KILLED things? Look up Monsanto if you want to be scared...they create genetically modified seeds that they call "roundup ready"...this means they can dump gallons and gallons of that stuff on your vegetables several times during the growing season..it is supposed to kill the weeds and leave the vegetables standing. 2 problems with this...first is, Glyphosate gets absorbed right into the tissue of the vegetables, so you cannot just wash it off, it's all through the plant. Second problem is that the weeds are adapting, and they are evolving into roundup resistant weeds...weeds that even roundup can't kill! They just passed a law, allowing Monsanto to use another, harsh, nasty chemical in conjunction with roundup to combat this problem..( known as 2,4-D)...so..instead of thinking that if 1 weed killer created mutant weeds that can't be killed, and just deal with problem, they decided to dump more chemicals on the problem. Glyphosate has been linked to the monarch butterfly decreasing numbers, as milkweed is technically a weed, and it is their preferred plant to lay their eggs on..roundup has wiped it off the map in many of the monarch's usual nesting areas. It has also been linked to colony collapse in some bee hives...although there are several factors, Glyphosate being just part of the problem. Roundup ready vegetables are everywhere...and if you eat processed food, chances are excellent you're eating it...it's in 90% of the corn, wheat and soy grown in this country. If you look at graphs of disease overlaid with graphs showing the increased usage of roundup, they are almosy identical in their rise over the last 30 years. This our new DDT..and we better wake up. |
Originally Posted by Linda71
(Post 7164085)
A TV doctor looking for ratings? Not a source I would use when making a choice about what to use or not to use.
"The World According to Monsanto" "Food, Inc" "GMO's OMG! " the library might have them, netflix has them, and they may be on your TV search guide |
http://www.fool.com/investing/genera...santo-bus.aspx
I just came across this - it is on this topic. The last paragraph references home use. I know some folks will not use it at all and some will. So, here it is. |
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