0rganic's topics - tribe.net

Best Organic skin care products?

2008-04-05T18:11:14Z

Looking for info and opinions on this. I know most people have differing views, but i would like to hear what people think.

posted in 0rganic - 29 replies

scary world

2008-02-26T17:15:29Z

how does one live organically in a conventional world?

posted in 0rganic - 9 replies

festival treats and tinctures

2008-02-02T23:49:24Z

good day love,

I am currently working the menu for an amazing raw foods and herbal elixar vendor. Cafe La Vie is located in Santa Cruz and we are going to be expanding to music festivals, hopefully harmony, LIB, earthdance, solfest... etc. I want to know what YOU want to see at these places. I am thinking lotz of super food bars/chocolate/cookies, cacao tacos, granola and also teas and tinctures. I am open to all possibilities and ideas, so please, let me know what you would like to feed your beautiful body!!

Blessings

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Honey; Buy Local and know your source

2008-01-29T19:33:43Z

Below is an old case but a good example why you should buy local and know your source. when buying Honey.

U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE AND FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION UNCOVER DUMPING SCHEME INVOLVING CONTAMINATED HONEY IMPORTS FROM CHINA
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Customs Service (Customs) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that they have discovered bulk imports of Chinese honey that were contaminated with low levels of chloramphenicol (CAP), a potentially harmful antibiotic and unapproved food additive. The contaminated honey was detected during an investigation into a widespread scheme to evade payment of U.S. anti-dumping duties on bulk imports of Chinese honey.

To date, the investigation has resulted in the detention of more than 50 containers of bulk Chinese honey at U.S. ports. In an effort to evade U.S. anti-dumping duties, this honey had allegedly been illegally transshipped through third-party countries on its way from China to America.

Some of the bulk honey in these containers has tested positive for chloramphenicol, an antibiotic used, in most cases, only to treat life-threatening infections in humans when other alternatives are not available. Use of chloramphenicol is limited because this antibiotic is associated with a very rare, but potentially life-threatening side effect - idiosyncratic aplastic anemia. For the very small number of people susceptible to this side effect, exposure to chloramphenicol could be serious. A "safe" limit of chloramphenicol for such people has not been established. Nevertheless, the probability of this reaction occurring in the general population from food exposure is thought to be very low.

To protect the public from unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful substances, food and animal feed products containing chloramphenicol are illegal in the United States. Currently, Customs is stopping all suspect bulk honey imports to this country for the FDA to determine whether they contain chloramphenicol. Any shipments containing chloramphenicol will be detained. The FDA is unaware at present of contaminated honey being on retail shelves, but is continuing its investigation into this matter. Thus far, no illnesses have been reported in association with the imported honey.

As part of the investigation, Customs and FDA agents during the past week have executed search warrants on businesses and residences in Los Angeles, Newark, Tampa, and other locations. Australian Customs, Royal Malaysian Customs, and Royal Thai Customs have also executed warrants in Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Additional enforcement activity is anticipated in the investigation.

"This investigation should serve notice that U.S. Customs will not tolerate unfair trading practices, especially those that pose potential health risks to the American public," said U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. "This case is an excellent example of cooperation between U.S. Customs, the FDA, as well as authorities in Australia, Thailand, and Malaysia."

"We will continue to work with our federal and international partners to ensure that products that cross our borders meet our high standards for food safety," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford. "The FDA will take whatever action is necessary to protect the public health from these kinds of activities."

The probe into this scheme began primarily as a dumping investigation. Dumping of a product occurs when merchandise manufactured outside of the United States is sold in the United States at a price that is below the cost of production, or below the price sold in the foreign home market. Foreign manufacturers and or/importers may dump products on the U.S. market in order to gain market share because of political or social concerns or to maximize profits/minimize losses in production.

In Sept. 2000, several U.S. honey producers filed an unfair trade case alleging dumping of honey imports from China. In May 2001, the U.S. Commerce Department issued a notice of preliminary determination which required U.S. Customs to collect anti-dumping duties on imports of natural bees honey from certain Chinese companies. The duty rates increased between 34 and 184 percent.

The U.S. Customs Attaché in Bangkok, Thailand, subsequently received information that certain honey exports from China were allegedly being illegally transshipped through Thailand en route to the United States. The purpose of the alleged transshipment scheme was to circumvent payment of anti-dumping duties on Chinese honey imports to the United States.

In June 2002, U.S. Customs Attachés in Bangkok and Singapore launched an investigation and began working with their law enforcement counterparts in Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Officials from the Royal Thai Customs, Royal Malaysian Customs, and Australian Customs provided substantial assistance. Several domestic U.S. Customs offices joined the investigation, including those in Los Angeles, Newark, Tampa, Houston, Detroit, and Seattle.

Soon, Customs agents found that U.S.-bound Chinese bulk honey was allegedly being transshipped through Australia, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and other nations to evade U.S. anti-dumping duties. During the investigation, Customs officers in Los Angeles drew samples of bulk Chinese honey from several detained containers that had arrived at the local port. A laboratory analysis found that the honey samples contained chloramphenicol. Customs notified the FDA, which immediately joined the investigation given the health issues associated with chloramphenicol. Analysis by FDA laboratories confirmed the presence of chloramphenicol in the imported Chinese honey.

Since the discovery of chloramphenicol in the Chinese honey imports, Customs has been stopping all suspect bulk imports of honey for the FDA to test for the presence of chloramphenicol. The FDA has developed a method to confirm chloramphenicol levels in honey at one part per billion.

The FDA and Customs are continuing to coordinate their enforcement strategies and will be detaining or seizing any honey imports that contain chloramphenicol to ensure that they are not released for human or animal consumption in the United States.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00831.html

posted in 0rganic - 3 replies

Baby Healing Project Needs Your Votes for Funding!

2008-01-23T08:54:13Z

Your Vote is Needed to Fund a Free Aquatic Baby Bodywork Clinic!

I am a Finalist in the www.IdeaBlob.com Contest to win $10,000 to fund a small business or project. Your support will allow me to create a free monthly clinic for pregnant women, babies, and children to receive Aquatic CranioSacral Therapy in the therapeutic, warm, salt-water pool at the Tamarack Center in Eugene, OR.

Please vote for the WaterBaby CranioSacral Therapy Project!!! Every vote counts!
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

Thank you!!!!!!

Here's what Mothering Magazine, www.mothering.com, has to say about my project:

Healer's Project Needs Your Votes for Funding

When it comes to bringing aid and comfort to mothers and babies, Kara Maia Spencer, www.maiahealingarts.com, has credentials galore—she is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, CranioSacral Therapist, Holistic Childbirth Educator & Consultant, Homebirth Midwifery Assistant, Reiki Master & Energy Healer, and is Certified in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year.

Dedicated to providing gentle, non-invasive, effective healing—as well as creating community among new parents—Kara intends to facilitate a free monthly CranioSacral Therapy clinic for pregnant women, mothers and babies, at a community therapeutic pool near her home in Eugene, Oregon. She has entered a funding contest with the hopes of winning $10,000 with which to rent the Tamarack Wellness Center's, www.tamarackwellness.com, warm, salt-water, solar powered therapeutic pool (the most eco-pool in Oregon) each month to host the free community clinic.

Please vote here to support Kara's goal—each vote counts, and registration is very quick and free.
http://ideablob.com/ideas/1225-WaterBaby-CranioSacral-Therapy-

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

BUYING Healthiest Grains, Flours, Rice, etc

2007-11-11T17:28:54Z

Going to be buying a few 25 pound bags of organic grains, flours, rice, etc.

Not sure what to get. Figured Organic wheat flour for bread making.

Some organic brown rice, though not sure which is healthier: short grian, long grain, basmati?

Which is healthiest.

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

TRUTH IS FREE; so is my RETREAT --Vermont

2007-11-05T17:49:38Z

I'm looking to network with folks, to extend an invitation to visit Bald Mountain Retreat (www.baldmountainretreat.com) as my guest. Like-minded people who appreciate rustic accommodations are welcome to come up at no charge. (Those who require a private room can inquire about those accommodations as well.)
Basically, I'm offering people the opportunity to come stay with a retired naturopathic doctor in a truly amazing natural setting, secluded, idyllic, peaceful...
Also, if you might like to lead a retreat, please contact me.
Thank you and you are welcome,
Dr David

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Going Raw for 30 Days

2007-10-19T18:14:48Z

Has anyone seen the trailer for "Raw For 30 Days"? It's a documentary about six people, who normally eat fast food, who decide to go 100% raw for a month. It features interviews with doctors, experts, and raw foodists including Gabriel Cousens, David Wolfe, and Woody Harrelson.

I am new to raw foods and very interested in hearing from others who are raw foodists and people who are trying to change their lives for the better. Many people in my family have diabetes and I have changed my diet and gone raw to prevent myself from also getting diabetes.

The trailer on Youtube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuqCMld00w

There is also a new two-disc DVD set that is available for order called RAW FOR LIFE, which is a encyclopedia of Raw Food, perfect for beginners like me and Raw Food enthusiasts. I have found it to be very helpful, as I have been transitioning to raw foods. It’s about how to live raw, the Raw Food philosophy, why to eat a raw food diet, important medical facts and nutritional information. It’s a very practical guide to becoming raw and staying raw.

Visit the Raw For 30 Days site at:

www.rawfor30days.com

Another great resource I have found is the Raw Summit site, which is at:

www.rawsummit2.com

I joined for the first Raw Summit and found it very helpful and interesting and it’s FREE!

Who here is raw?

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Japanese Beetles!

2007-09-22T06:57:59Z

The little monsters are eating my passion fruit to nothing and the smelly traps are not working!
I have been shaking the vines and squishing bugs - any better ideas??

posted in 0rganic - 4 replies

Corporate Organic

2007-09-22T06:47:07Z

Just a quick note here....

More and more large farms and now corporate farms are producing organic.
Please remember to shop directly with the organic farms that you like. Try to buy much of your produce at local farmers markets and at Co Ops. This gets your money directly into the farmers hands and it helps to maxamize his profits. If you buy your goods through large chains you have to consider that they may not be buying from your small local farmers and that at some point the small farms may go out of business.

I know you know this and most of you do a great job on your buying and trying to keep a direct connection to your farmer friends. I just had to say it again.

Thanks

Gary

posted in 0rganic - 2 replies

"An Apple A Day..." - Cider Vinegar Health Benefits

2007-09-03T05:10:26Z

Many people are now convinced—Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), that wonderful “old-timers” home remedy, cures more ailments than any other folk remedy and has been highly regarded throughout history. In 400 B.C. the great Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, used it for its amazing health qualities.

The reported cures from drinking Apple Cider Vinegar are numerous and include: allergies (including pet, food and environmental), sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, Candida, acid reflux, sore throats, contact dermatitis, arthritis, gout, and even heart pain. Apple Cider Vinegar breaks down fat and is widely used to lose weight. It has also been reported that a daily dose of apple cider vinegar in water has soaring blood pressure under control in two weeks!

For centuries, the benefits from cider vinegar to fight infection, promote digestion, fighting osteoporosis, have been well known. One of the first goals on the way to great health is to restore the body's pH to the alkaline range. As nearly all chronic illnesses take place in a body that has become acidic due to the gradual depletion of its mineral reserves, it is logical to check on the body's acid/alkaline balance and to work towards maintaining it in the alkaline range. The state of the body's acid/alkaline balance can be easily measured by testing the urine using pH strips.

INTERNAL BENEFITS:
. Rich in enzymes & potassium
. Naturally supports a healthy immune system
. Helps control weight
. Helps soothe dry throat
. Promotes healthy digestion & pH balance
. Helps remove body sludge & toxins

ACV is also a natural antibiotic germ fighter, fights E. coli and other bacteria. It is an excellent remedy for food poisoning and helpful in digestive upsets. ACV helps control and normalize weight and improve digestion. ACV helps relieve arthritis stiffness and rheumatism.

Use two teaspoons (2 t.) in a pint of water daily for yourself—or one teaspoon in the dog or cat’s drinking water—as a healthy tonic. Drink a daily tonic of apple cider vinegar to help you keep the right pH balance in the urinary tract, since the proper acidity creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria and yeasts that cause these infections.

EXTERNAL BENEFITS:
. Helps maintain healthy skin
. Helps promote a youthful, healthy body
. Soothes irritated skin
. Relieves muscle pain from exercise

ACV helps to maintain healthy skin, promote youthful, healthy bodies. Soothes pain of sunburn, the itch from bug bites, and the sting from plants. ACV helps prevent dandruff, itching scalp, baldness, and dry skin. ACV soothes tight aching joints, sore muscles. Apple cider vinegar also removes sebum and environmental and product buildup on the hair shaft.

COMBINE WITH NATURAL BEE HONEY TO:
. Relax the nervous system
. Promote deep sleep
. Relieve rheumatism
. Relieve arthritis
. Relieve bone and muscle pain and soreness
. Relieve heart ailments
. Relieve stress
. Relieve insomnia

Mix organic apple cider with pure raw honey and drink at night before going to bed. Great for calming nerves, promoting relaxation and relief of bone related ailments. Adjust the amount of vinegar and honey for comfort and taste. See my recommended recipe here:

RECIPE:
250 mL (8 oz) Purified Water (warm enough to melt honey)
1 to 2 teaspoons Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (Organic recommended)
1 to 2 teaspoons Honey (Local, raw, non-GMO recommended)

(Honey comes from flowers and has a very light energy. I recommend honey from flowers that are known to provide support for heart and lungs. Use local honey to help provide relief from allergies and build immunity.)

Apple Cider Vinegar is proving very beneficial to people and animals with arthritis because it breaks down calcium deposits in the joints while re-mineralizing the bones. It has shown to be equally beneficial to dogs with hip dysplasia. ACV is also effective for urinary tract infections, and it lowers high blood pressure. In animals, it is helpful in skin and coat problems and in replacing potassium depletion. (Cranberry juice is also a well-known home remedy for urinary tract infections. It prevents bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.)

A new University of California-Davis Medical Center study shows that daily consumption of 12 ounces of apple cider or apple juice can reduce the risk of heart disease. And the benefits don’t stop there. A recent Cornell University study found that the antioxidants in apples also inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

ACV has been found to protect arteries from harmful buildup of plaque. Many heart attacks are caused by high amounts of fats and cholesterol in your blood. The fiber in ACV helps to absorb fats and cholesterol by expelling them from the body as waste materials.

ACV is used to promote the health of veins and capillaries; it is also useful in assisting in the health of the heart. The potassium found in apple cider vinegar is also beneficial to the heart.

The dietary fiber in ACV is beneficial in controlling glucose levels in the blood. Minerals like manganese, calcium, magnesium, silicon and iron develop bone mass and make them stronger. It is also a rich source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

ACV boosts the immune system and acts as a natural antiseptic and anti-biotic. Apples contain Vitamin C and flavonoids, which helps with wound healing and in reducing the severity of colds and flu symptoms. Apple cider also has acetic acid, plus ion-futynic lactic and propionic acids. It is the richest source of amino acids known.

Apple cider cannot cure cancer, but it is valuable to have around to help fight free radicals in the body. Beta-carotene, found in apple cider vinegar, is a powerful antioxidant, which helps to neutralize the free radicals formed in the body through oxidation. To prevent these free radicals, and to keep them in check, we need antioxidants to rid our body of these potentially dangerous compounds. Left alone, free radicals have the run of our bodies; they damage cells, which leads to cellular degeneration. The pectin in apple cider vinegar adds fiber to the diet, which helps prevent cancer, especially colon cancer. Fiber binds with certain cancer-causing compounds in the colon, and speeds up their elimination from the system.

VITAMINS IN APPLE CIDER VINEGAR:
. Vitamin C
. Vitamin E
. Vitamin A
. Vitamin B1
. Vitamin B2
. Vitamin B6
. Pro-vitamin beta-carotene
. Vitamin P

MINERALS & TRACE ELEMENTS IN APPLE CIDER VINEGAR:
. Potassium
. Calcium
. Magnesium
. Phosphorous
. Chlorine
. Sodium
. Sulfur (the mineral - not the sulfa, which some people are allergic to)
. Copper
. Iron
. Silicon
. Fluorine

BENEFITS FOR YOUR DOGS (AND OTHER PETS):
Every home with dogs should have Apple Cider Vinegar. It has multiple uses for dogs, including: alleviating allergies and arthritis, and establishing correct pH balance of the system.

Added to your pet's drinking water, ACV has shown to maintain the acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract. To find your dog's pH level, get some pH strips at your local drugstore. First thing in the morning test your dog's urine. If the strip reads from 6.5 - 7.0, then your dog's system is what it should be. If the pH is higher, then the system is too alkaline, and ACV can help to establish a correct pH balance.

Use a few drops in your dog's ears after cleaning to avoid ear infections. ACV can be used in the prevention of muscle weakness, arthritis, calluses on elbows, hocks and joints, pimples, and sore joints. It has also been shown to be useful in the prevention of bladder and kidney stones, and bladder and kidney infections.

A dog with a correct pH balance is less likely to be bothered by fleas, black flies, ticks, and other external parasites. Its regular use results in less chance of ringworm, staph infections, streptococcus, and mange. If you are already experiencing these problems, dilute ACV with equal amounts of warm water and sponge onto your dog's coat.

You can also mix a 50/50 vinegar-water solution and add to a spray bottle to spray the coat. The ACV balances the pH of the skin and makes it less desirable to bacteria, bugs and infection. Not only that, but their coat is very soft and shiny. Applying undiluted apple cider vinegar to the affected area can soothe bee and wasp stings, as well as itchy mosquito bites.

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION:
I have personally used and highly recommend Bragg® Certified Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. It is unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized, has 5% acidity, and contains the amazing Mother of Vinegar, which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.

Bragg® Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is made from delicious, healthy, organically grown apples. Processed and bottled in accordance with USDA guidelines, it is Certified Organic by Organic Certifiers and Oregon Tilth; and is Kosher Certified.

Bragg® Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is full of zesty natural goodness. It is a wholesome way to add delicious flavor to salads, veggies, most foods, and even to sprinkle over popcorn.

Bragg® Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar has a pH of 4.075, Concentration/ Strength = 63 grain, Acetic Acid = 5.14 %, Potassium = 24mg/T. <2% DRV / RDI.

Many blessings,

Craig Combs
6-Cimi (Death/Transformer)
www.Galaxy2Go.com
www.OrbsOfLight.com

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

Coffee

2007-09-03T05:08:39Z

Can anyone clarify for me whether coffee is good for you or bad for you? I am getting mixed messages about it...Is there organic coffee and is it ok?

Thanks!

posted in 0rganic - 7 replies

No more raw almonds?!?

2007-08-27T16:28:15Z

NOOOOOO!

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=225

Isn't it bad enough that the price of almonds skyrocketed in the last year or so? Now the government is requiring that all almond manufacterers must pasteurize their almonds. For the few exceptions to the rule (small farmers, organic farmers, etc), now the price will have to go even higher, and the demand will exceed the supply once again.

Is anybody else frightened by this precedent? Or will this just help the organic/local food movements in the long run?

posted in 0rganic - 2 replies

Spiritual Sexual Predator

2007-06-29T05:47:59Z

An open response to Tantric M (people.tribe.net/894389d7-...dfb363dc1)

Let me tell you a story about me and LilShadow, the woman you called a liar on the Burningman Tribe (bm.tribe.net/thread/a6c9...6a77591132b)

It's in our Testimonials to each other.
I asked her to be a friend.. She said no. I accepted that. I didn't ask again and again. I respect women. Hell...I respect people!
We met on the Playa, held hands, and drank blood together.
We have been fast friends ever since. Walking each other through some seriously tough times, laughing and sharing the good. Talking on the phone at least once a month ever since.
She is an Angel!
One thing she has never done is lie. To me, or to anyone I know.

You questioned the integrity of a good woman. That was your first mistake.
Your second was picking on someone that you thought was weak.

Since then, I have been contacted by other women that you have preyed on.
One has only to look at some of the degrading photo's of women, of seriously sick Porn mixed in with 'Prayer Wheels' to see your character.
Personally...I think you are a new phenomenon.
The 'Spiritual Sexual Predator'.
I just evicted one from the Ranch I'm on. (See my Blog)((people.tribe.net/kamikazek...comments)) He, like you, was pathetic. Spouting New Age buzz words as a self described 'Enlightened Master' while eating our food, not working, and hitting on jail bait.
Every woman felt creeped out (like the women on Tribe I've talked to) 'hit on' by a dirty old Hippy.
Sound familiar??
Many women have come to me with tales of you.
Your actions speak much louder than your words.
Your past is verified by several independent sources.
Abuse has been notified.
If any other women than the 8 tonite who have contacted me want to speak to this issue, an issue (in my opinion) of a 'Spiritual Sexual Predator', please band together, speak out, and notify abuse at
www.abuse@tribe.net
KK
ps
I intend to cross post this on every Tribe that Tantric M subscribes to. If it gets me kicked off Tribe...so be it.
My intentions are as if I were a Father watching out for my Daughter.

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Please Take ACTION!!!!

2007-05-19T19:02:19Z

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11401

posted in 0rganic - 3 replies

favorite organic snack

2007-05-19T14:29:07Z

mine right now is kashi granola bars and organic milk. mmmm cereal without the mess.

posted in 0rganic - 25 replies

Seattle Area- Free Kombucha Culture

2007-04-27T01:53:48Z

I have a culture that i would like to pass on to another
person who would like to start making their
own kombucha...

posted in 0rganic - 3 replies

The Eat Local Challenge

2007-04-03T16:36:23Z

Hi all,

I was curious if anybody has participated in the Eat Local Challenge in the past..

http://www.eatlocalchallenge.com/

My boyfriend and I are trying to prepare for the sept challenge so i'm gathering as much info as possible

Thanks
Paul

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

SF Area: Organic happy hour Tues 1/23!

2007-01-29T05:24:50Z

Om Organics (www.omorganics.org) is throwing a casual happy hour tomorrow, Tues, in San Francisco. It would be great if you could stop by! It's at a new restaurant focusing on organic foods... Please rsvp to info@omorganics.org. See you there!

B Restaurant & Bar
720 Howard / 3rd St. (go up the stairs on Howard b/w 3rd and 4th)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jfeOjuMf-kaQm5aaJEGWKA

Tues, 1/23
5pm-8pm
Free to attend; $3 organic wine, $3-5 small plates, $5 organic cocktails

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

Cachaça Gabriela - Organic

2007-01-16T16:46:21Z

Cachaça Gabriela - Organic

Cachaça Gabriela is my name. Explaining: cachaça is the same of spirit, schnaps, eau de vie. That's a brazilian name for the spirit made from the sugar cane juice. Typical from Brazil.

But, I'm better than the cachaças I know you already know: I'm organic and artisan made.
That means that we follow the principles to being totally integrated with the environment. Plants are grown without any kind of chemical products giving the sugar cane full organic status. And the way I am produced is really similar to an art: we have to have patience and wait for my right time to drink: at least one year I rest at brazilian's wood barrels: jequitibá-rosa, amburana, bálsamo, amendoim.

http://people.tribe.net/552a7710-72b0-461f-abf3-f5615d39f0c1

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

New tribe: FEEDING THE TEMPLE DIET MAKEOVER 2007

2006-12-17T02:14:34Z

A new tribe for everyone who wants to make a permanent, super healthy diet change for the new year.

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Free E-Book called Chemical Cocktails

2006-07-21T16:03:42Z

HI There,

MiEssence Products are certified organic, chemical free and carry the IFOAM, BFA, ACO and USDA logos on them ensuring there are no chemicals in any of their products.

I am a rep for One Group and use all their products everyday and they are fantastic.

Please visit our website to download an E-Book called chemical cocktails which has a list of the many chemicals in our bathroom products

To find out more information about any MiEssence products or One Group
please email me or vist our website

To your health and well being
_________________
Cheers

Geoff and Alanna Chandler

Aussie Organics R Us
Phone: 61 8 08 84114859
Email: geoffandalanna@aussieorganicsrus.com
Website: www.aussieorganicsrus.com

Download a Free E-Book - Chemical Cocktails -www.aussieorganicsrus.com

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

The Product of Misinformation

2006-07-20T15:35:14Z

Great book, it's about cosmetics, from chemical to organic, what's in them, how they affect us and how to read labels . . .

Just thought I would throw that out there!

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Building A Vegan Community by Robert Cheeke (OrganicAthlete)

2006-07-13T00:24:29Z

Composed for OrgnanicAthlete www.organicathlete.org

Building A Vegan Community
by Robert Cheeke

For many of us, adopting a vegan diet is the best decision we've ever made. We all seem to share the same postive results from an important dietary and lifestyle change to veganism. We tend to feel more at peace with ourselves and our environment, experience an increase in energy and vitality, and we thrive with rejuvenated health.

As a vegan for more than ten years, I have focused on consuming plant-based foods, avoiding all animal products in all forms, and have been promoting this lifestyle in many forms of media. I thought I was doing everything right for most of the past ten years, but recently realized that eating organic foods was really the key to optimal health and optimal environmental sustainability. Being vegan is great, but supporting non-organic food companies and non-organic mega corporations are not the most environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices. There are numerous reasons to eat organic foods, and supporting local organic farms is ideal in my opinion.

One of my goals is to build my own vegan community of friends and aquaintences. I go out of my way to promote veganism within my community and network with others who share the same lifestyle. I started my own vegan company (Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness) in 2002 and have developed a large online community based on our www.veganbodybuilding.com website. Today, many of us within a geographical region meet-up in person on a regular basis at vegan potlucks, animal rights protests, and just to enjoy each other's company watching a movie, going for a walk, or during a weight training session.

I have met a lot of vegans over the past decade and unfortunately some of the people have given up their vegan lifestyle because they did not know any other vegans and did not have the support of like-minded people. Building a vegan community can play an important role in the lives of young vegans and people new to the vegan lifestyle. Any dramatic lifestyle change can be eased with the support of others who have "been there and done that."

Eating a vegan diet comes quite naturally since fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds are all foods we evolved on. The possible difficulties being vegan in today's society is the fact we've moved so far from our natural diet, it is no longer the norm. Having friends and aquaintences who share the same moral and ethical values and eating habits, provides a supportive cast for your dietary choices and gives you someone to eat meals with who won't question or criticize your lifestyle.

As a vegan, I not only like to expand my own vegan communtity but I like to have an impact and positive influence on the non-vegan community. What are we doing if we aren't including the people we're trying to have an impact on? That is how we save human and animal lives and improve all life on Earth; by reaching non-vegans and informing them about the benefits to individual health and planet sustainability of a plant-based, organic diet.

I don't view veganism as a cult group out to recruit as many members as possible. I don't see it as a set of rules we must obey. I view veganism as a compassionate lifestyle with the goal of reducing and eliminating animal cruelty while providing our bodies with proper nourishment for ideal or optimal health.

There are a number of things you can do to impact the people around you and expand your own vegan community. I focus on participating in local vegan education groups, vegan potlucks, supporting local organic farms, and patronizing local vegan businesses. In all of these activities there is an opportunity to network with plenty of other vegans. The larger the vegan group, the greater impact you can have on your non-vegan community.

Search out events going on in your community, and better yet, start your own events. You can start small by making flyers promoting a vegan potluck or picnic. Invite your friends and family to ensure you'll have a decent turnout. Usually the larger the group, the more likely others are to join in and participate a second time. Be inclusive to non-vegans as well. Afterall, we can make a far greater impact on the planet by working with non-vegans than by soley hanging out with a group people who already see the big picture. An all vegan world, or at least an all vegan community, can be an ideal goal, but be open to the involvement of others too. You'll be surprised how many people you can influence by being a positive role model for a healthy vegan lifestyle. Most of the people I've introduced veganism to, and who are now vegans because of that introduction and interaction, were positively influenced by my role model approach rather than my judgements or criticisms of their lifestyle at the time. A favorite quote of mine is from an annoymous source and says, "When your actions speak for themselves, don't interrupt."

One of the exciting upcoming events I'm involved in is the 2006 Vegan Vacation that Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness is sponsoring and hosting in Portland, Oregon from August 3-9. This will be a week-long vegan fest full of activities including vegan dinners, potlucks and picnics, hikes, cycling, and running events, weight-training sessions, a trip to the Oregon Coast, and of course, lots of hanging out with fellow vegans. We will also have an impact on the Northwest community by outreach and activism we will be doing with our collective group.

The Vegan Vacation participants will be primarily members of our Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness online forum (over 2,000 members in total and dozens expected to make the trip out west) who will be traveling here from all over the country and from various other countries for our event, but we'll also have great involvement from the Portland community including participation from groups like Northwest Veg. For more information about the Vegan Vacation visit www.veganbodybuilding.com or e-mail robert@veganbodybuilding.com.

The more vegan community events worldwide, the more animal lives we can save, the more human lives we can save, and the greater our chances are of improving the quality of our planet. There are veg fests all over the world and I encourage you to attend one in your area to to get involved in your community. Another great upcoming event is the OrganicAthlete Conference on September 30 in San Francisco, California. Successful vegan athletes who talk the talk and walk the walk will be on hand to present their strategies for success and explain how they thrive on a plant-based diet.

Remember that healthy food defines you, and you are in a position to make a tremendous impact on your community and your planet. Embrace the opportunities before you and share your organic vegan lifestyle with the world, encouraging and motivating others along your journey.

Robert Cheeke is a member of OrganicAthlete's Pro-Activist Team and President of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness.
www.veganbodybuilding.com

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Organic Sun-Screen??

2006-07-09T15:56:08Z

Hey, does anybody have any tips for a totally organic sun-screen??

posted in 0rganic - 5 replies

Spiced Chocolate Heather Fruit Mead: Ambrosia Of The Gods!!

2006-06-30T21:34:56Z

I just mixed up 5 Gallons of the following potion 4 days ago:

1 1/2 Gal. Raw Organic Fireweed/Wildflower Honey
1 1/2 Gal. Raw Organic Orange Blossom Honey
1 Gal. Canned Black Cherries and Juice
1 Gal Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Gal. Blueberries
1 Quart Blackberries
5 Lb. Mixed Pineapple, Banana, Papaya and Mango
1 Qt. Mangosteen Juice
1 Qt. Pomegranate Juice
1/4 Cup Ginger
1/4 Cup Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Nutmeg
1/4 Cup Allspice
1/4 Cup Cloves
2 Oz. Dried Heather Flowers and Tips
4 Vanilla Beans
1 Cup Dark Raw Chocolate Powder
2 Cups Scottish Yeast and the 2 Cups of Beer it was stored in
2 Oz.Yeast Nutrients

It is chock-full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants and is very healing. Gauranteed to raise your spirits, too!!

It has just begun to ferment at the rate of one bubble every 30 seconds. Our batch of Dark Heineken got fermenting faster than 1 bubble per second! I hope it is ready for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I tried real hard to get Heather Honey, but had no luck. Can anybody help? I'm willing to pay quite a bit of money for it to be shipped from Scotland. I've read in Buhner's Sacred And Healing Herbal Beers that Pure Heather Blossom Honey is the consistency of Jello, which may account for the confusion over whether the Ambrosia of the Gods was a solid or a liquid.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Liquify all ingredients in blender.
Mix together all ingredients in a large glass water jug (carboy).
Wait 6 months to 5 Years, freely sampling as it progresses!!
Repeat making recipe and sampling as necessary. CAUTION!! There will be pieces of Cherry Pit in your Mead!!

When the Ancients made Mead, they used the enire hive, including the honey, wax, propolis, pollen, Royal Jelly and hundreds of angry bees. Bee Venom was considered an important contribution to the mix. The bodies of the bees and their larvae added protein to that already present in the yeast , making Mead a highly nourishing food. YUMMY!!

Although the fruit was "liquified", there is still plenty of pulp left. Gather this when you strain and bottle the Mead. You can use this pulp in cooking Immediately. It makes a great sauce for beef, lamb, poultry, and pork. Add some Cayenne Pepper and Horseradish for a great seafood dip. After 6 Months you can begin using Alcoholic Mead for partying. Luckily for us, Mead is also a potent aphrodisiac!

This is a very flexible recipe. Add any fruits and spices that get your taste buds quivering. The only ESSENTIAL ingredients for it to be Mead are Honey and Heather. Well, technically, only Honey. Preferably Heather Honey.

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

50 reasons not to mow..

2006-06-18T16:34:57Z

http://dontmow.blogspot.com

http://fruitarians.blogspot.com

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

Certified Vegan Over 70% organically grown ingredients!

2006-06-16T02:00:23Z

inky Loves Nature
http://inkylovesnature.com

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Kombucha

2006-06-10T21:33:26Z

The Kombucha Culture, sometimes mistakenly referred to as a mushroom, is a symbiotic colony of yeast and bacteria . Kombucha Tea is made by combining the culture, with a mixture of black tea, and sugar. The ingredients are allowed to "ferment", usually from 7-10 days. The resulting beverage contains dozens of elements, many of which are known to promote healing for a variety of conditions. Kombucha works with your body to boost its natural, inbuilt ability to fight sickness and disease as well as bring a healthy balance back to your metabolism and organs. Its very good for the skin, helps Psoriasis, aids Digestion, and detoxifies. It is known as a "cure all" in many countries. One Tradition in China and Japan is to give the bride a Kombucha as a wedding gift. The best thing is its always renewing itself, if you take good care, it will never die.
If your interested in getting a Kambucha pet of your own or trying kombucha tea. email me @ nadinesweetie@hotmail.com

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Organic Means Organic --a new grass-roots voice for the Organic community

2006-06-04T17:41:30Z

OMO is a coalition of famers/producers, distributors, retailers and consumers who pledge the utmost allegiance to the integrity and the ethic of organics, not necessarily to the label. We insist that there can be NO LEGITIMATE COMPROMISE to this integrity, and we will demand nothing less of ourselves in our economic choices. And we will not abandon those who have beenfaithful to the ethic --we will give them the voice they have earned!I think we could be at the cusp of something truly beautiful, and I hope you will choose to get involved. Any degree of participation is most welcome and extremely appreciated!!!

NAMASTE, J.Pierre Reville
www.foow.org/omeanso.html
email: omeanso@foow.org

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Organic food in jeapordy!!! Act NOW! STOP NAIS!

2006-05-23T15:42:35Z

Hello Everyone,

This is information on the NAIS, that I emailed you all about last week. Please take the time

to read this. It will effect all of us. Do you like buying your food locally? Do you like knowing who and how your food is being raised? Please read and call your representatives. This has got to be stopped now, before it is fully implemented. Thank you all.

Blessings on you,

Barb Gallegly

National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
Q&A-The Hard Questions

1. What is the NAIS? A scheme hatched by the federal government and corporate agribusiness to tag every animal in the US with an identity number and to track every animal through processing. The excuse for it is the discovery of two cases of mad cow disease (BSE or bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

2. What does it require? It requires every farm in the country to register as a “premises.” Each registered premises will then have to register & tag every alpaca, bison, cow, emu, goat, horse, llama, sheep, swine, and all poultry. (As far as we know right now, catfish and goldfish are exempted.) It provides no exemptions. If you have as much as one chicken, you must register.

3. What does it mean? This is not about controlling disease, it’s about controlling farmers. When social security was first introduced, the government promised the people that the number would never be used for “identification purposes.” But today you can’t get health care, insurance, a bank account, an apartment, a job, or your tooth pulled without giving a social security number.

4. Isn’t it voluntary? Only for now. The present USDA “Draft Strategic Plan” calls for making it mandatory by January 2008. “Mandatory” means that they will fine, arrest, or jail you if you refuse to comply. For the system to work, the government obviously must force every farm and every farmer to register every animal, and no one will be able to seek veterinary care, transport, sell, or process animals without registry. In other words, the freedom to farm that has belonged to mankind since Creation will be abolished.

5. Who and what is behind the NAIS? According to the USDA National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Draft Strategic Plan 2005 to 2009, page 3, paragraph 1, at http://animalagriculture.org/aboutNIAA/members/memberdirectory.asp, “In 2002, the National Institute of Animal Agriculture (NIAA) initiated meetings that led to the development of the U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP).” “Driving force – The strongest driving force for developing the NAIS is the risk of an outbreak of a foreign animal disease (FAD). There is broad support for NAIS among government, industry, and public stakeholders.” (“Stakeholders are defined as those individuals and groups in the public and private sectors who are interested in and/or affected by the Department's activities and decisions.” http://www.ci.doe.gov/cigapol.htm.)

6. Who is the National Institute of Animal Agriculture? NIAA website states, “The mission of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture is to provide a forum for building consensus and advancing solutions for animal agriculture and to provide continuing education and communication linkages to animal agriculture professionals.” http://animalagriculture.org/aboutNIAA/facts/factsheet.asp. In fact, the NIAA is a national agribusiness organization whose purpose appears to be lobbying government for laws and policies that favour agribusiness. A brief glance at the board of directors seems to confirm that, since all are drawn from agribusiness companies, industry groups, or schools of agriculture (which notoriously favour corporate agribusiness over small farmers and sustainable agriculture). http://animalagriculture.org/aboutNIAA/leadersstaff/BOD.asp. A list of members leads to the same conclusion. http://animalagriculture.org/aboutNIAA/members/memberdirectory.asp.

7. Who will bear the burden of NAIS? Small farmers, and especially those engaged in the New Agriculture (“permaculture” or “sustainable agriculture”). First, they will be forced to pay for NAIS, at least in part. Second, they will be forced to work for NAIS. In the words of the NAIS Draft Strategic Plan, page 14, paragraph 3, “All groups will need to provide labour.” NAIS will add yet another cost disadvantage to small farmers and the New Agriculture, and will make local agriculture less competitive with agribusiness. http://animalagriculture.org/aboutNIAA/members/memberdirectory.asp.

8. Won’t NAIS help prevent and control disease? No, NAIS isn’t about preventing or controlling disease, it’s about marketing. When a case of mad cow disease (or any other disease) surfaces, NAIS aims to protect meat producers’ markets by tracking animals through processing to “prove” that only a few animals are affected and so prevent a public revulsion against their meat. The most effective way to control disease is to produce meat and milk for local instead of national markets and “closed herd” techniques.

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

www.baldmountainretreat.com Vermont

2006-05-09T19:52:17Z

naturopathy +++

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

rise and fight the green scare

2006-04-12T22:14:06Z

dear friends ,kin and all the tribers in the USA
tho' I'm not in your continent
I just can't believe how far some criminals in high places dare to go
please read this and resist it as it would be horror
if this would happen ..

Gov. Rendell Meets With Anarchist Black Cross about HB213
***PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY***

Gov. Rendell Meets With Anarchist Black Cross

On Friday April 7th, about 25 people joined with organizers of the
Philadelphia Anarchist Black Cross in front of Governor Ed Rendell's
office to voice their opposition to HB213. This bill will label anyone a
"terrorist" who engages in civil disobedience against institutions that harm the earth or animals, and carry with it a 40 year jail sentence and/or $100,000 fine. It is designed to crush the environmental and animal rights movements, as similar tactics would not receive the same charge if waged against an abortion clinic.

After an hour of handbilling the Broad Street rush-hour traffic, two
spokespeople were invited to Governor Rendell's office to speak with him personally about the law. At the meeting, the Governor said that he had not heard of or read the bill he is scheduled to sign. When our people read it to him, he said he had strong reservations about it. He also said that if the Anarchist Black Cross drafted an analysis of HB213, he would consider it while making his decision on whether or not to sign the bill.

We are in the process of writing this analysis with lawyers, and will fax it to the Governor promptly.

We feel that this meeting is a very positive step in bringing down HB213, but we cannot ease up until the law has been totally defeated.

We are calling on all concerned citizens to CALL GOVERNOR RENDELL several times per day within the next week. Remind him that he hates this criminal move by the PA House and Senate as much as we do!

Here are the phone numbers for all of his offices:

Philadelphia: 215-560-2640
Scranton: 570-614-2090
Erie: 814-878-5719
Pittsburgh: 412-565-5700

The text of the bill is available online at:
www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI...3115.HTM

This law is part of a campaign being waged by all levels of government against the environmental and animal rights movements. The FBI has named this campaign Operation Backfire; those of us who know better are calling it the Green Scare, like the Red Scare which once targeted communists. To read more about the Green Scare, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Scare

If you would like to receive updates on or help organize resistance to the Green Scare, please send an email to philly_abc@riseup.net. Be in Philly on June 9-11 for a whole Weekend of Resistance Against the Green Scare.

NO MORE POLITICAL PRISONERS!! FREE EM ALL!!

Philadelphia Anarchist Black Cross

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Certified Organic skin, body, hair, cosmetic and health care products

2006-04-08T05:58:31Z

I have been living an organic lifestyle for about 10 years. I recently discovered a company with certified organic personal care products. They are certified organic to food grade standard. The only way to know if a product is truthful is by reading the ingredients lists on the label. If anyone is interested you can purchase the products online at: www.certified-organic-bodycare.com

Worth checking out if you are looking for legitimate organic personal care and health care products. The health care product is a probiotic, the world's only certified organic probiotic.

Regards,
Erin

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

We are the awarness of this Planet

2006-03-31T14:06:24Z

This Map of the Planetary Chakras is by Robert Coon
Taken form His Book "The Rainbow Serpent and the Holy Grail"

The one energy centre that stands out for Robert Coon is Glastonbury. The Tor is the earthly representation of the planetary heart charka, which spreads out through the landscape zodiac. The Michael and Mary lines pass through Burrow Mump (third eye of the landscape Unicorn), Glastonbury Abbey, Chalice Well (and White Spring) and the Tor, before moving on to the Avebury Complex.

Crown Chakra - Mount Kailas, Tibet
Third Eye Chakra - Currently at Glastonbury & Shaftesbury, England
Throat Chakra - Great Pyramid, Sphinx & Mount of Olives, Egypt
Heart Chakra - Glastonbury & Shaftesbury, England
Solar Plexus Chakra - Uluru. Australia
Sacral Chakra - Lake Titticaca, South America
Base Chakra - Mt Shasta, North America

Gaia’s energy system is remarkably similar to our own. Our connection to the earth is also far greater than we realise, especially when the 6th planetary chakra or 3rd Eye, is held not in the landscape but in the consciousness of people. It moves with the precession of the equinoxes to a new location, which is currently in Avalon for the Age of Aquarius (Piscean Age - Jerusalem). We are the awareness of the planet. Her birthing pains are ours, and the plundering of her resources we also feel as our own struggles.

for this and many more reason
we at family gathering are hosting an event
not just to celebrate ,also to bring consciouness
and reconnect with the sacred geometry of the land [see Glastonbury Zodiac]
and reconnect to the mystical powers
if you like info about our gathering go to :

www.sunrisecelebration.com

if you wish to know more about the Earth vortexes go:
www.rainbowserpentproject.co.uk

Peace
In Lack'ech
Namaste
Mitakuye Oyasin
Aloha

Samaya

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

anyone own a Green Star Juicer?

2006-03-31T06:02:14Z

Hi Fellow Tribesters,

I'm looking for feedback on the Green Star Juicer made by Tribest. Anyone currently own one? Ideally, I'm looking for someone in LA so that i can actually test it out before I plunk down the cash for it.

Thanks for your response
TBF

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Seattle Organic-ites, New Tribe

2006-02-02T18:34:11Z

New organic restaurant tribe for Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe in Seattle's University District...

http://tribes.tribe.net/chacocanyonorganiccafe

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

New Tribe for Raw Chefs

2006-01-04T15:37:52Z

To connect Raw Chefs for recipes, ideas, advice and tips!
http://tribes.tribe.net/rawchefs

Hope to see you there!

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T01:02:24Z

NAMASTE

May the new year bring each of you many blessing and love into your lives.

In Love and Light

Pritam

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Organic Food

2005-12-30T05:28:22Z

Any idea of any Organic Food Restaurants in India?

I have come across one called "Blue Tao" in Anjuna Beach, Goa. Its food was fantastic.

Regards,
Dancing Mind

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Fruits Are Filtered By The Stem, Roots, Twigs

2005-12-29T22:00:44Z

Fruit has the least toxic content of any food
because the plant.. its roots, trunk, and twigs..
filter out toxins

http://fruitarians.blogspot.com

posted in 0rganic - 0 replies

Congress Feels Heat from Consumers Over "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards by Food Processors & Grocery Chains

2005-10-31T01:36:35Z

Congress Feels Heat from Consumers Over "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards by Food Processors & Grocery Chains

October 12, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Ronnie Cummins (218) 226-4164
Ryan Zinn (907) 952-5486

Congress Feels Heat from Consumers Over "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards by Food Processors & Grocery Chains

More Than 250,000 Write Congress to Stop Industry "Rider"

Agricultural Appropriations Bill Could Allow Hundreds of Synthetic Substances & Non-Organic Ingredients in Organic Production without Public Comment and Strict Review

Washington, D.C - As Congress finalizes the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations bill in the House/Senate Conference Committee, more than a quarter million consumers have mobilized in the last three weeks from a broad cross section of the U.S. to stop an industry-sponsored "Sneak Attack" on Organic Standards contained in a "rider" to the bill. Members of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) have bombarded Congress with over 150,000 letters and 30,000 phone calls, heading off passage of the "Sneak Attack" rider in the U.S. Senate. Members of other groups including Citizens for Health, Health Freedom, Consumers Union, Public Citizen, the National Cooperative Grocer Association, and the Center for Food Safety have cumulatively generated more than 110,000 additional letters to congress against the industry rider.

The Sneak Attack rider would lower organic standards by allowing Bush administration appointees in the USDA National Organic Program to approve hundreds of synthetic substances and processing aids in organic products. Even worse, these proposed regulatory changes would reduce future public discussion and input and undermine the National Organic Standards Board's (NOSB) traditional lead jurisdiction in monitoring standards and controlling what substances are allowed on the "National List" of approved ingredients. What this means, in blunt terms is that USDA bureaucrats and industry lobbyists, not consumers, would have near total control over what can go into processed organic foods and products.

The backlash is also growing among many retailers, co-ops and some makers of organic foods. Eden Foods, a longtime organic industry brand leader and processor issued a statement on October 3 condemning the "Sneak Attack." Since then 200 businesses have joined OCA's campaign to Save Organic Standards. "Eden Foods strongly objects," said Eden Chairman and President Michael Potter. "As the oldest and a founding member of the organic foods industry that has never employed shortcuts, we believe that the fast, cheap, and easy route is counter productive in organic food production." A copy of the Eden Foods statement along with OCA's petition for businesses may be found online at http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/edenfoods100305.cfm .

Newly emerging organic industry giants such as Kraft, Dole, Dean Foods/Horizon, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Aurora, Smucker, and General Mills seek a streamlined "expedited" approach to modifying organic standards and inclusion of synthetic substances in processed organic foods in order to meet the booming public demand for organics, now a $15 billion industry. "The Organic Trade Association's credibility on organic standards has been severely tarnished by their 'Sneak Attack rider' and new cozy relationship with Kraft and other food giants who apparently care more about their bottom line than they do about strict public review and maintaining strict organic standards. These American food giants, with freshly painted organic facades, appear to be looking for an easy way to brand their products as 'organic' when in fact the rider they support would seriously undermine current organic standards," stated Ronnie Cummins, co-founder and National Director of the OCA. "After 35 years of hard work, the U.S. organic community has built up a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture, based upon strict organic standards and organic community control over modification to these standards. For the sake of the earth and the health of all Americans, we must stop this sneak attack by industry and preserve strict organic standards,"

More information may be found at http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm
###

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

OCA & Activists Move to Protect Organic Standards from USDA & Trade Group

2005-10-31T01:32:20Z

From: <http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2441
The NewStandard - Syracuse,NY,USA

Activists Move to Protect Organic Standards from USDA, Trade Group by F. Timothy Martin

As an industry association pushes Congress to make an end-run around recently revived organic standards, consumer advocates are scrambling to keep standards strict.

Oct 5 - A battle over the rules for including synthetic ingredients in organic foods has prompted consumer advocates to step up their campaign against a move they say threatens to degrade organic food standards.

At issue is a rider sponsored by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and attached to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would continue to legalize the inclusion of dozens of synthetic ingredients in foods bearing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) "organic" label. The OTA represents a variety of organic producers, but is increasingly accused of promoting the interests of larger corporations such as Kraft, Dean Foods and Dole, which have all acquired market share in the fast-growing organic-foods sector.

The Appropriations Bill unanimously passed the Senate on September 22, but as a compromise, lawmakers agreed to postpone their decision on the OTA rider.

"What this does is it takes away the traditional control of the organic community over organic standards and centralizes control in the hands of the politically-appointed Secretary of Agriculture," explained Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association, a Minnesota-based industry watchdog. "This rider shows they don’t have any more respect to consult with the traditional organic community."

The final rule governing allowable synthetic ingredients was established in 2000 after years of debate, which at one point included an attempt by the USDA to allow irradiation, genetically modified organisms and sewage sludge in organic production. Adopted in 2002, the rule has permitted foods labeled "organic" -- meaning 95 percent of the final product must be organic -- to include up to 38 synthetic ingredients without mention on the product’s label. These include substances such as ethylene, used to ripen bananas, and the synthetic lye that gives pretzels made by Neuman’s Own Organics their golden sheen. But this summer a 73-year-old organic blueberry farmer from Maine named Arthur Harvey won a court appeal against the USDA’s standards, arguing that federal regulations guiding organic food standards were less stringent than the original legislation had intended. The decision, among other things, places greater limits on the number of synthetic ingredients allowed in foods with the USDA "organic" label.

Small organic producers applauded the outcome. They argued that big corporations were behind efforts to water down industry standards. By adhering to the original guidelines, they said, organic producers would be forced to be more diligent in upholding standards, thus retaining consumer confidence in organic foods.

But the current rider, say opponents, would scale back the Harvey ruling, effectively re-imposing the state of affairs that previously existed. They say it would also make it easier for the USDA to permit up to 500 additional synthetic ingredients without rigorous review from the National Organics Standards Board, which regulates organic food production.

By caving in to corporate pressure to approve hundreds of new synthetics, critics worry there won’t be adequate safeguards put in place.

Moreover, language in the rider would loosen restrictions on the use of non-organic ingredients in cases where organic ingredients are deemed too costly and allow farmers to feed dairy cows with more non-organic feed and still apply the organic label to their milk and cheese products, according to the Organic Consumers Association.

The Organic Trade Association disputes their critics’ interpretation of the congressional rider and says that for decades a variety of synthetics have been safely used in small quantities during food production. The OTA points out that many permitted synthetic ingredients are just food-handling substances used, for example, to clean equipment, and are never directly added to the final product. Without the inclusion of benign synthetics, they say, rising production costs would make organic products less affordable.

"Organics are a market-driven success story," said Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of OTA, in an interview with The NewStandard. "The government doesn’t subsidize organics so that they’re competitive in price. In order to remain a success there needs to be products to buy – and they need to be affordable to a certain degree."

DiMatteo believes that limiting allowable synthetics would force many products into the less desirable "made with" label designating foods composed of at least 70 percent organic ingredients.

DiMatteo said critics of the rider are "shooting themselves in the foot," suggesting their high standards will shut them out of their own market.

"Once [these synthetic ingredients] are not allowed for use in the organic category, it’s going to take a lot of research and development money to find substitutes. Only the big companies will be able to invest. If part of this drive is to fight against big companies," she concluded, "it may backfire."

But a number of smaller organic companies see it differently.

"It’s not the small companies that are pushing for this [rider], rather it’s the large, publicly traded companies that have become subsidiaries of Kraft, Smuckers and other big corporations," said Tonya Martin, a spokesperson for Eden Foods, an independent organic food company that makes EdenSoy milk and other products. "Farmers have worked so hard to grow an authentically organic product. For them to turn their crops over to a company that’s going to adulterate their food is a violation of trust."

So what’s wrong with a dab of synthetic lye coated on the outside of an otherwise entirely organic pretzel? Most of the synthetic ingredients that would be allowed are considered benign – at least for now. But by caving in to corporate pressure to approve hundreds of new synthetics, critics worry there won’t be adequate safeguards put in place.

"None of these approved substances are scary," Cummins told TNS, "but if you change the process of rigorous review to a decision made by an appointed USDA bureaucrat, you open the door wide for massive erosion of standards."

The Organic Consumers Association fears that although the Senate reached a compromise to gather more information and wait on a vote for the proposed rule changes, lawmakers may nevertheless slip language into the bill as it is being discussed in the joint House-Senate Conference Committee. Consumer groups say opponents have sent over 70,000 letters to members of Congress and have encouraged countless other phone calls. Cummins says they face an uphill battle, but that he remains hopeful.

"The only thing that’s going to stop this is a massive outpouring by the grassroots, and based on what we’ve seen this week, it’s already started happening." © 2005 The NewStandard.

posted in 0rganic - 1 reply

Toronto's Now Magazine Takes on the Corporate Takeover of Organics

2005-10-24T13:38:48Z

Toronto's Now Magazine Takes on the Corporate Takeover of Organics

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-10-13/cover_story8.php

BIG BIZ'S ORGANIC GRAB CORPORATIONS HAVE INFILTRATED HEALTH STORES WITHOUT YOU KNOWING IT By ADRIA VASIL

Organic Toronto | The truth behind the labels | Big biz's organic grab |

Putting soul back in soil | Moral fibre | Beauty bests Ever wonder why your favourite mom 'n' pop crunchy granola organic cereal is suddenly appearing next to Tony the Tiger and Snap, Crackle and Pop in mainstream supermarket aisles? Well, it ain't because Pa scored a killer deal with the mega-grocers of Canada. Rather, crunchy granola has been taken in by another, better-connected family - Big Food - but it's all very hush-hush. If you walk into your local health food store, for instance, you'd assume nothing much had changed. Okay, so you're cereal of choice might have slightly jazzier packaging and five new spinoff varieties (like super crunchy granola with berries). But nowhere on the box is there any indication of corporate infiltration no little Kellogg's logo or Kraft insignia even though as much as 40 per cent of packaged organic foods on health store shelves like the Big Carrot's have been bought out by large American corporations.

"It's very inconspicuous. For the most part they try to hide it as much as possible," says Asa Copithorne, chair of the standards committee and floor manager at the Big Carrot, who notes the number of takeovers has grown rapidly over the last five years.

If nothing else, Big Food knows its new clientele enough to recognize the potentially devastating impact that throwing a corporate logo on something like Earth's Best baby food might have on a brand. "The heavy organic buyer would not only not be impressed, but the brand would have zero credibility, so it won't help sales," says York marketing prof Alan Middleton.

Not that sales are suffering. The organic food biz is now the fastest growing food sector, worth about $15 billion in the U.S. and $3.1 billion in Canada. Some would say all that corporate backing just means organic brands are available in more and more stores, to a wider and wider audience. Maybe we should be commending companies for taking an interest in healthy living? Ronnie Cummins, national director of the Minnesota-based Organic Consumers Association (OCA), doesn't think so. Not when dollar signs drive industry to water down organic standards. And Cummins says the Organic Trade Association (whose list of newer members includes Dole, Kraft and the Grocery Manufacturers of America) has been doing just that, quietly lobbying the U.S. Senate to legalize the use of certain synthetic processing and handling aids (ingredients deemed illegal in a recent court ruling) and make it easier to approve others without public input. OCA (a network of about 600,000 consumers) launched a massive counter-campaign and managed to derail the effort at least temporarily. But Cummins blames the whole mess on corporate interference.

"It appears the Organic Trade Association has been taken over by large corporate food processors. This is not the way the organic community ever acted before. This is the way Monsanto acts." (For more on the situation see article on page 24.) Why should we care about American dust-ups? When 90 per cent of our organics come from the U.S., their problems become ours. And with Canada's national organic standards finally coming into being (a draft is being voted on now that's expected to be made into regulations by March 2006), many worry that trade pressures will mean Canada's standards will look a little too much like our largest trading partner's. Joe Southall, head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's organic task force (the CFIA will be enforcing our standard), says that's not the case.

For instance, the U.S. system fails to specify the amount of square footage a chicken or cow should be given, but the Canadian standard does. However, like our neighbours, we don't provide much detail about how long those animals should be outside. In the U.S. that lack of clarity has been abused to the point where about a third of all organic milk comes from confined factory-style stalls without access to the outdoors. While some corporations like Whole Foods are pressuring the government to see American standards strengthened, most mainstream milk producers and retailers argue it's the only way to keep up with demand.

Is Canada leaving itself open to that kind of abuse here? Hard to say until the final regs are set in stone, but Toronto's most widely marketed certified organic milk, Organic Meadow, is co-op owned and guarantees its cows get to go outside whenever they like, except in frigid weather. But what is clear is that mega-retailers like Wal-Mart (which declared organics to be the chain's fastest growing food category) and Loblaws (Canada's single largest retailer and distributor of organics) are pressuring farmers to keep supply high and prices low. It's the kind of business mandate that terrifies organic farmers, says Laura Telford, executive director of Canadian Organic Growers. "Consumers say it's great that prices are coming down. But we cringe when we hear that because we want to create a sustainable food system, and I don't think we can at current prices." Few local farmers are reaping the benefits of all this supermarket exposure.

Thanks to centralized buying, Telford says, "big grocery stores all buy from the same farmer in California. Because they can get year-round contracts at low prices from [California], they won't go to Canadian farmers. They won't pay for local." Adds Telford, "It's a really, really dangerous phenomenon." Loblaws did not return NOW's calls for comment by press time.

Still, Katherine DiMatteo, head of the Organic Trade Association, says the advantages of having corporations on side are often overlooked. They can pay for more organic R&D, more supply, more conversion of lands to organic.

"Otherwise," says DiMatteo, "we, the organic movement, will remain a small niche market that doesn't deliver the changes we hoped would come from organic production the enhancement of the environment and of public health."

Maybe so, but Cummins worries the opposite is also true. "The fear in the organic community is, of course, if things go too far, we're going to have to have another label, something other than the the word 'organic. '"

Who owns what

Guess which corporations are hiding behind your favourite organic/natural brands.

GENERAL MILLS Sunrise Organic (Pete's tofu, Sunrise tofu and cereal) Muir Glen (pasta sauces, ketchup)

KELLOGG'S Kashi (cereal)

KRAFT Back to Nature (crackers, cookies) Boca Foods (soy "meat" products)

CADBURY SCHWEPPES Nantucket Organic Nectars

TYSON Nature's Farm, which owns Avalon Organics, Desert Essence (personal care products) and NOW supplements DANONE Stonyfield Farm (yogurt)

HEINZ Owns 16 per cent of Hain Celestial, which in turn owns Arrowhead Mills (cereal, flour) Health Valley (cookies, soup) Casbah (mediterranean food) Imagine (rice/soy milk) Yves (veggie meats) Westbrae (Westsoy) (soy milk) Earth's Best (baby food)

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Grist Magazine Readers Speak Out on Organic Trade Association Sneak Attack on Organic Standards

2005-10-24T13:37:23Z

Grist Magazine Readers Speak Out on Organic Trade Association Sneak Attack on Organic Standards

From: Grist Magazine <www.grist.org

http://www.grist.org/etc/letters/2005/10/14/index.html?source=daily
Oct. 14, 2005

Re: O Brother, Where Artificial Thou?, Muckraker, by Amanda Griscom Little Dear Editor:

The Organic Trade Association is trying to convince organic growers and consumers that my lawsuit will result in fewer organic ingredients used in manufacturing. Well, here are two cases where I detect a different outcome.

Stonyfield Farm has been saying that if their yogurt has to be labeled "made with organic ingredients" because of the synthetics it contains, then they will stop using organic fruit because it is more expensive. Well, if Stonyfield's label says "made with organic milk" while Horizon's says "made with organic milk and organic blueberries," which one will consumers prefer? Is Stonyfield going to give up market share in order to save on the cost of ingredients? I doubt it.

One of my processed products is organic blueberry jam, which we formerly thickened with a type of pectin that is classed as synthetic by the National Organic Standards Board. So we will have to change our label to "made with," or find a natural thickener. Guess what? Trials with organic apple pomace (which contains nearly all the natural pectin) are showing excellent results. So now organic cider makers have a new market for what they formerly discarded.

The moral of the story is that American ingenuity is not so dead as the OTA assumes. Whether the search for natural ingredients is done by large companies or small entrepreneurs, it will happen.

Arthur Harvey Hartford, Maine

Re: O Brother, Where Artificial Thou?, Muckraker, by Amanda Griscom Little Dear Editor:

How can the Organic Trade Association call itself organic in the first place?

Jim
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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Critics Fear USDA Will be Cowed by Large Dairies

2005-10-24T13:36:12Z

Critics Fear USDA Will be Cowed by Large Dairies

From: Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/health/chi-0510190209oct19,1,1285323.
story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Critics fear USDA will be cowed by large dairies
Loophole remains in `organic' definition

By Andrew Martin
Washington Bureau
Published October 19, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Seven months after a federal advisory board sought to close loopholes to ensure that organic dairy cows are raised in pastures, rather than in confined pens, the Department of Agriculture has yet to embrace the board's recommendations.

While department officials said they are seeking to clarify fuzzy regulatory language, some organic dairy farmers have accused the USDA of dragging its feet. They worry that the agency, under pressure from large dairy companies, may ignore the board's advice.

The debate may seem to be about an arcane regulation, but some organic farmers contend that unless agency officials close the loophole, the organic dairy industry would follow the same path as the conventional dairy trade, where industrial-size farms are quickly replacing small- and mid-size dairy farms.

Proponents of large-scale dairy farming, meanwhile, argue that such regulations constrict the growth of the organic industry.

The dispute boils down to how the USDA defines an organic cow. Among its requirements, existing rules call for dairy cows to have "access to pasture."

A handful of large-scale dairy farms have used an exemption in the regulation to raise their cows almost entirely in outdoor pens, where they eat organic feed. The exemption allows cows to be raised in confined pens during a "stage of production," such as birthing or the first six months of life; the large-scale dairies argue that lactation fits into the "stage of production" exemption too.

After listening to dozens of farmers argue that "access to pasture" meant that cows should spend most of their days munching on grass in open fields, the National Organic Standards Board in March voted to close the loophole so that milking cows would not be exempt from the pasture requirement.

At an August meeting of the advisory board, Agriculture Department officials argued that the new language for the regulation lacked precision and asked the board to revise it. The USDA has scheduled two hours for additional comments at the board's November meeting and hopes to hone the language for the pasture rule by next spring.

Barbara Robinson, deputy administrator for USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, which oversees the organic program, said more precise language is needed so the department can enforce the regulation and so that farmers don't find new loopholes.

"We weren't turning down their recommendation," she said. "What we're saying is, `Let's keep working on that.' . . . We need something that is legally defensible."

The USDA's decision promises to reverberate through the booming organic dairy business, which is growing at such a rapid rate that demand for organic milk outstrips supply by about 10 percent, said Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association. As a result, some stores are struggling to keep their shelves filled with organic milk, she said.

The organic milk business continues to be dominated by small- and mid-size dairy farms, and it has been championed as a way for small dairy farmers to survive--and even thrive--at a time when thousands of small conventional dairy farms are being replaced by large-scale operations.

The quest for lower costs

But the dynamic growth of organic milk has attracted investors who want to bring some of the scale and efficiencies of conventional dairy farms to the organic milk industry. Proponents of large dairy farms argue that their scale can make organic milk more affordable for consumers.

Clark Driftmier, senior vice president of marketing at Colorado-based Aurora Organic Dairy, which operates two large-scale dairies and is planning a third, said his company plans to comply with the new regulation on pasture. Nevertheless, he complained that some of Aurora's critics simply want to keep organic an exclusive club of smaller farms based in the Midwest and Northeast, where there are abundant green pastures.

Driftmier said that since the first large-scale organic dairy farm opened 12 years ago, smaller organic farmers have been contending that their demise is imminent.

Since that time, he said, demand for organic milk has steadily increased, as has the price of organic milk and the number of organic farms.

"The price is higher than it's ever been," he said. "All indications are that it's going to go up and not down in the future."

A guise for `factory farms'?

Mark Kastel, a co-founder of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy think tank, said large-scale dairy farms are simply "factory farms" that feed cows organic feed.

He argued that the USDA should have closed the loopholes years ago.

"They've allowed these farms to proliferate," he said.

Some of the larger farms have as many as 5,000 cows apiece, while an average organic farm in the Northeast or Midwest has about 50 cows, he said.

Kathie Arnold, an organic dairy farmer in New York, said she didn't know why the USDA was taking so long to revise the regulations.

But she said that most organic consumers expect their milk comes from cows grazing on pastures, a notion that is reinforced by advertisements.

"They never show cows eating on dry lots; they don't promote that fact," she said. "They promote green pastures, the idyllic view of cows on green pastures."

----------

ajmartin@tribune.com

Copyright © 2005, Chicago Tribune

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New York Times Article on Organic Bodycare

2005-10-24T13:35:25Z

New York Times Article on Organic Bodycare

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/fashion/thursdaystyles/20skin.html

The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 20, 2005

Skin Deep

Is It Organic? Well, Maybe

By JESSICA MERRILL

HUNDREDS of soaps, shampoos and skin creams call themselves organic, but their labels have long been confusing, even misleading. A moisturizing cream might be made with organic kiwi, strawberries, jojoba oil and aloe vera, but then mixed with synthetic preservatives. No government agency checked whether the ingredients were truly organic.

But now the Agriculture Department is applying its strict organic food standards to personal care products too. Two months ago, after years of wavering, the agency's National Organic Program declared that cosmetics can also be labeled with the familiar round, two-tone "U.S.D.A. Organic" seal.

Theoretically this is good news to the large and growing population of consumers who spent $4 billion last year for beauty products labeled natural or organic, often paying more for the satisfaction of buying products they consider pure or healthy. Megan Slate, 56, of Manhattan said that for her organic soaps and lotions were the third step in a progression away from synthetic substances that began with alternative medicines and organic foods.

"I also realize that it can be more labor-intensive, that you have to be careful about the source, that the shelf life might be a little shorter," Ms. Slate said. "I understand both sides, and I choose organic."

But much confusion is likely to remain over the Agriculture Department seal because so few organic beauty products are expected to qualify for it. Government licensed certifiers must examine the formulas of the products and determine that at least 95 percent of the ingredients are organic. Many more products will end up labeled "made with organic" ingredients, a murkier designation. Some products that do not meet even the lower standard could possibly still use "organic" in their trademark names. And the new regulations can do nothing to clear up whether an organic beauty product is always a good thing.

The government's extension of the organic seal was forced by a lawsuit brought by one of the oldest, most colorful makers of natural soaps, Dr. Bronner's, whose labels crammed with free adaptations of the wisdom of Longfellow, Chaucer and Confucius have amused bathers for years. "Enjoy sink body rub to stimulate body-mind-soul-spirit" is a typical label direction.

In June, Dr. Bronner's, based in Escondido, Calif., joined with the Organic Consumers Association, an advocacy group, in a suit against the Agriculture Department to include personal care products in the organic certification program, which was limited to food. Since 2002 foods both fresh and packaged - tree-ripened pears or bottled herbal salad dressings - can be labeled organic only if they are made of farm products grown without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically engineered seeds or irradiation.

Dr. Bronner's argued that organic olive oil does not become nonagricultural just because it is used in massage oil rather than in salad dressing. On Aug. 23, the eve of a deadline for the agency to respond to the lawsuit, its National Organic Program issued a memo to organic certifiers that it would now include beauty products.

"The U.S.D.A. decided that the content is what matters in a product, not end use," said Joan Shaffer, speaking for the National Organic Program. "Any agricultural product, regardless of its end use, that meets the N.O.P. standards and is certified may be labeled according to its organic content."

David Bronner, the president of Dr. Bronner's, said that without the government's action the word "organic" on cosmetics would not be meaningful. "The cosmetic industry is so full of hype in a bottle," Mr. Bronner said. "It's such a marketing-driven industry, and it's just kind of a corrosive influence on the organic program."

Dr. Bronner's has already put the organic seal on its Sun Dog's lotions and balms. Two other brands already using the seal are the Nourish line of body and face washes, moisturizers and deodorant (made by Sensibility Soaps in Beaver Falls, Pa.) and Aubrey Organics, which makes organic "body polish," massage oils and lotions. Terressentials in Middletown, Md., which sells organic cleansers, shampoos and skin lotions, is having its skin and hair products certified.

Yet many organic products are less than 95 percent organic and will not get the seal. Dr. Bronner's soaps, for example, are labeled "made with organic oils," because their main ingredient is made, as soap has been for centuries, by mixing an alkali (sodium hydroxide) with oil and water. No alkali remains in the finished soaps, Mr. Bronner said, but because it is used in the production it must be counted as an ingredient.

Some products mix synthetic and organic ingredients because the synthetics do things that organics cannot. "It's really very hard to make a shampoo or a skin-care product that is 95 percent organic," said Morris Shriftman, the senior vice president of Avalon Organics. "There are ingredients in those products that are not organic, and those are the things that clean your skin or get under the grime that is in your hair."

In shampoos and soaps, rich lather, clean scent and long shelf life often come courtesy of synthetic surface-active substances, perfumes and preservatives. Moisturizers, for their part, often contain petrolatum, a gelatinous substance derived from petroleum, and emollients like dimethicone.

Synthetic ingredients used in cosmetics are generally considered safe. The Food and Drug Administration requires that cosmetics makers make sure that their products are safe. And because each synthetic ingredient is typically used in a small amount, product users experience very low levels of exposure. Some synthetic ingredients, however, can be irritating to extrasensitive skin. And some have been linked in preliminary studies on rodents and humans to possible health problems when used in large amounts.

Certain studies have suggested, for example, that phthalates, which are used in making fragrances, lotions, shampoos and nail polish, may be associated with changes in male reproductive development. Others have indicated that parabens, which are preservatives, mimic the activity of estrogen in cells, and that has led to the hypothesis that they may be associated with breast cancer. The research remains inconclusive and controversial.

Andrew Jacobson, the president of the personal care division of Hain Celestial, the maker of Jason Natural Personal Care products, said it is more important for products to be safe and effective than for them to be 95 to 100 percent organic. His company and Avalon are among some 200 that have joined the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which advocates the removal from beauty products of any ingredients suspected to be carcinogens, reproductive toxins or mutagens.

Whenever a product carries the label "made with organic" ingredients, said Ronnie Cummins, the national director of the Organic Consumers Association, "consumers have to dig a little deeper for information and look at the back of the bottle." The word "hydrosols" high on the list should raise suspicion about the amount of organic ingredients in a product, Mr. Cummins said, because it may in some cases be just a fancy word for water.

Water is not considered an organic ingredient, according to government standards, but hydrosols, the water collected when herbs or flowers are steam-distilled, are. A manufacturer could therefore bulk up on hydrosols made with certified organic ingredients to justify a 70 percent organic claim.

Aloe vera is likewise used in large amounts in some products to boost the organic content to 70 percent, Mr. Cummins said.

Brands that have the word "organic" as part of their name may also be confusing to consumers, especially if their products are not even 70 percent organic. The National Organic Program does not categorically forbid this practice. The preamble to its regulations states that the word "organic" in a brand name "does not inherently imply an organic production or handling claim and, thus, does not inherently constitute a false or misleading statement."

That bothers Mr. Cummins as well as purists in the natural products industry. Mr. Bronner said he hoped the organic industry itself would limit use of the word in the names of beauty products. If it does not, he said, he will consider challenging the practice in court.

Many consumers are confused about the virtues of organic products, dermatologists say, because they assume "organic" always means gentle, safe and healthy. But some organic substances can actually bother the skin. Bergamot oil, for example, can increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, said Dr. Leslie Baumann, the director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center. Coconut oil can clog pores, and peppermint can irritate the skin.

"Just because something is organic doesn't mean it is better than something synthetic," said Dr. Bruce Katz, the director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Clinic at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. "Poison ivy is natural, but that doesn't mean you want to rub it on your skin."

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