Garlic is recognised as a valuable ingredient in maintaining a healthy life and combating disease. However what looks to be perfectly natural could in fact be treated with all kinds of chemicals. So the question is where is your garlic from and how has it been treated? Now think about this: The bulk of the world’s garlic is produced in China. Also garlic from China is doused in chemicals to stop sprouting, to whiten garlic, and to kill insects and plant matter. It also is grown in untreated sewage which I figured over the years. So………. what does that tell ya?  Tells me to get out there and plant my own. And remember this. My new gardening book will be on the shelves around the first of May.  Talk Soon

As I have been saying for years that, links between pesticide exposure and rates of  cancers, hormonal disruption, and immune system disorders in humans are on going, should we heed the warning signs provided by birds and animals, or do we continue to pay the high environmental and social costs of rampant pesticide use? Here are a few thoughts and figures to consider. The benefits of pesticides are often cited in terms of their contribution to world food production, and yet it is estimated that crop losses to pests would increase only 10% if no pesticides were used. Between 1945 and 1989, pesticide use in the U.S.& Canada increased tenfold and yet crop losses doubled from 7-14%. Consider also that all of us, everywhere, are exposed to some pesticide residues in food, water, and the atmosphere every day. Residents of the United States & Canada eat an estimated 2 billion pounds of imported produce tainted with banned pesticides each year.  Kind of makes one think doesn’t it?  The only ones that can stop this craziness is us humans.  Will it happen? Not likely and I kind of think it might be to late.  Just one more reason to grow your own.

The mystery of bee deaths has been pretty well solved.  Also note here that I have been trying to tell folks this for the past forty years.   Colony Collapse is poisoning with a known insect neurotoxin. Clothianidin, a pesticide manufactured by Bayer.

Isn’t it interesting that a major pharmaceutical manufacturer, Bayer, also makes a product that is a poison by design? Bayer is not an exception. Many, if not most, do business in both arenas. That alone should give pause for thought.

Here’s a list of corporations — not expected to be complete — that profit in both pharmaceuticals and pesticides:

* American Home Products

* AMVAC

* Astra Zeneca

* Aventis

* BASF

* Bayer

* Dow Chemical

* Dupont Chemical

* Merck

* Monsanto

* Novartis

* Pharmacia

Is it an accident that most of Big Pharma also manufactures pesticides? Is there a connection between the two types of products? Do the pharmaceutical arms of these corporations profit on the illness caused by the pesticide arms? These questions are rhetorical. We’ll let the reader decide.

Organic gardening refers to growing fruits, vegetables, seeds, or grains using only natural means. In other words, no pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, or other poisonous chemicals or fertilizers are used in the process of growing food. Instead, the soil is tilled and prepared using gathered mulch, composted manure or food and leaf remains. Also, the plants are sprouted and grown with the aid of sun, water, minerals from compost, companion planting, and your own loving touch. Organically-raised produce is harvested and eaten with the confidence that it is grown naturally and poison-free.  So there you go now you know what Organic is all about and don’t forget my new gardening book which is coming out this spring.  For ordering just leave me a message here on this blog in a comment I will get back at you that is if you let me know where to reach ya.  Talk Soon.