Movie Night: 'Fed Up' Screening 12/18

We're kicking off educational movie night season at Better Farm at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, with a screening of Fed Up.



This documentary takes a scathing look at the sugar industry, exploring how our brains and bodies react to sweeteners, why the calories-in, calories-out method of dieting doesn't work ,and the truth behind low-cal, low fat-foods. The film ventures that everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the past 30 years is dead wrong. Fed Up is the film the food industry doesn’t want you to see. From Katie Couric, Laurie David (Oscar-winning producer of An Inconvenient Truth) and director Stephanie Soechtig, Fed Up will change the way you eat forever.

There is no charge to attend Better Farm's educational movie nights. Please pre-register by emailing info@betterfarm.org. Learn more about Fed Up here.

Sustainable and Budget-Wise Living go Hand in Hand

By Helen Young

Many people assume that sustainable living is expensive and a luxury that only the very wealthy can afford. After all, organic vegetables cost more than regular vegetables,  and organic and sustainable living is very popular in the most affluent as well as the most forward

-

thinking areas of the country. 

This is a huge misconception.

Anyone can choose to live a sustainable lifestyle

 and pay attention to the environmental impact of the food they eat each day, and this can go hand in hand with budget living. In fact, you may even find that living sustainably is cheaper than living a mainstream lifestyle! Thinking about making the move to sustainable living and eating but have no real idea where to start? Here are a few hints and tips to gently introduce yourself to sustainable living:

Think About Where Your Food Comes From

One of the first and most simple changes to make if you’re working towards sustainable and environmentally friendly living is to 

think about where your food comes from

. Of course surest way to eat sustainably is to grow and produce everything you eat yourself; but whilst some people may relish the idea of starting their own small vegetable patch, very few will have the land available to grow absolutely everything they need. If that’s the case then why not try to source all of your fruit and vegetables from local organic farmers instead? There are many benefits that come from buying direct from your local farm: firstly you’ll know where your food is coming from and can speak to the farmer directly about their growing methods and any chemical processes they may use. In buying locally you’ll also minimize the number of food miles your veggies have to travel before they reach your plate thus lowering the ultimate carbon footprint of their production. Concerned about your budget? It may surprise you to know that buying your veggies directly from where they’re grown is 

often cheaper than heading to the grocery store

, provided the veggies you are looking for are in season and plentiful. Farmers are often pleased to sell on their surplus at a lower price, particularly items that don’t meet the grocery stores stringent aesthetic rules about size and shape but are otherwise tasty and delicious.

Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

It is the simplest of all sustainable methods and one that most children are taught at elementary school. 

Reuse, reduce, recycle

. Reuse whatever items you can, reduce the amount of waste you send to land fill, and recycle whenever possible. Yet it is mind boggling and amazing how few adults manage to stick to this simple lesson! If your keen to make your home a more sustainable environment then start thinking about the waste you are producing; what could you be recycling, what could you be reusing? Small changes, such as purchasing a reusable shopper bag and using it in lieu of a plastic bag whenever you visit your local store is a very minor change but can have a big impact. Reusing and recycling can also help you to save money; you simply need to readjust your mindset and think creatively about the additional purposes goods you might ordinarily throw away could serve.

Work With The Wider Community                     

One of the most important ways that you can begin your journey towards a sustainable lifestyle is by embracing the sustainable community and working together with your own community leaders. This will prove particularly useful if you are new to the concept of sustainability and would like some guidance and support: there are many local sustainability groups located throughout the country. Here you will be able to swap hints and tips, organic growers will be able to share or swap any surplus of produce and you may even find a volunteer network that you can join with the aim of supporting local projects and simultaneously spreading the sustainable message.

There’s no denying that true sustainable living is hard work and will take a huge amount of dedication. But it is possible to begin taking steps towards sustainable living, and bring an important sustainable message to your family, without making too many significant changes to your existing lifestyle.

Helen Young is a contributing writer to Better Farm's blog. She worked in health for more a decade before

becoming a mother made her reassess things. With work being so busy and intense, she wanted to step back, spend more time with her babies while they were still young, and develop her passion for writing. Helen's work covers many topics from physical and mental health topics to food, nutrition

and sports.

Food and pH as Health Care (or Cancer Cause)

Does pH hold the key to preventing cancer? Some say cancer cells can not thrive in an alkaline environment.

While most of us now acknowledge the link between food choice and waistline, there's quite a bit more work to be done to educate the masses about how food can function as health care—or can work against us, even as a link to things like cancer.

A carcinogen is, quite simply, anything that causes cancer. Many carcinogens are not immediately toxic, making them seem less harmful than they are. Common carcinogens include things like cigarette smoke; but your food can carry whopping amounts that can wreak havoc on your health.

Cooking food at high temperatures (i.e. grilling or barbecuing) can create the formation of carcinogens comparable to cigarette smoke.The known animal carcinogen acrylamide is created in fried or overheated carbs (French fries, potato chips).

Here's a list of the top-10 foods that may contain carcinogens that can cause cancer in your body (info gleaned from

Natural Health News And Discoveries

), due to carcinogens and high acidity levels

:

1. Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). It goes without saying that GMOs have no legitimate place in any cancer-free diet, especially now that both GMOs and the chemicals used to grow them have been shown to cause rapid tumor growth. But GMOs are everywhere, including in most food derivatives made from conventional corn, soybeans, and canola. Avoid them by sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified, and locally grown foods that are produced naturally without biotechnology

2. Processed meats. Most processed meat products, including lunch meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, contain chemical preservatives that make them appear fresh and appealing, but that can also cause cancer. Sodium nitrite and nitrate have been linked to significantly increasing the risk of colon and other forms of cancer. Choose only uncured meat products made without nitrates, and preferably from grass-fed sources.

3. Microwave popcorn. Bags of microwave popcorn are lined with chemicals linked to causing infertility and liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers. The EPA recognizes the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in microwave popcorn bag linings as “likely” carcinogenic, and several independent studies have linked the chemical to causing tumors. Too, the diacetyl chemical used in the popcorn itself is linked to causing lung damage and cancer.

4. Soda pop. Like processed meats, soda pop has been shown to cause cancer. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals and colorings, soda acidifies the body and literally feeds cancer cells. Common soda pop chemicals like caramel color and its derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to causing cancer.

5. ‘Diet’ foods, beverages. Even worse than conventional sugar-sweetened soda pop, though, is “diet” soda pop and various other diet beverages and foods. A recent scientific review issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners, causes a range of illnesses including birth defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and various other artificial sweeteners have also been linked to causing cancer

6. Refined ‘white’ flours. Refined flour is a common ingredient in processed foods, but its excess carbohydrate content is a serious cause for concern. A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to a 220 percent increase in breast cancer among women. High-glycemic foods in general have also been shown to rapidly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which directly feeds cancer cell growth and spread.

7. Refined sugars. The same goes for refined sugars, which tend to rapidly spike insulin levels and feed the growth of cancer cells. Fructose-rich sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are particularly offensive, ascancer cells have been shown to quickly and easily metabolize them in order to proliferate. And since cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other popular, mostly processed, food items are loaded with HFCS and other refined sugars, this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days

8. Conventional apples, grapes, and other ‘dirty’ fruits. Many people think they are eating healthy when they buy apples, grapes or strawberries from the store. But unless these fruits are organic or verified to be pesticide-free, they could be a major cancer risk. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that up to 98 percent of all conventional produce, and particularly the type found on its “dirty” fruits list, is contaminated with cancer-causing pesticides

9. Farmed salmon. Farmed salmon is another high-risk cancer food. Farmed salmon not only lacks vitamin D, but it is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, PCBs, flame retardants, pesticides and antibiotics,

10. Hydrogenated oils. They are commonly used to preserve processed foods and keep them shelf-stable. But hydrogenated oils alter the structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating diseases such as cancer. Some manufacturers are phasing out the use of hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other safer alternatives, but trans fats are still widely used in processed foods.

Here's some more food for thought:

Cancer thrives in an acidic environment and cannot survive in an alkaline environment.

Cancer cells make your body even more acidic as they produce lactic acid. So if you have cancer, your pH levels are low and your body is too acidic.

Taking action to make your body more alkaline is vital in the battle against cancer.

Unfortunately, the majority of food and drinks we consume are acidic, such as meat, grains and sugar, with colas and other soft drinks being highly acidic. So unless you have been eating a very healthy diet, full of fresh fruit and vegetables, chances are good your body is too acidic, providing the perfect environment for cancer to grow.

Actually, too much acidity is an underlying factor in many degenerative diseases -- diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia and more. A basic maxim of natural physicians is: Balance the biological terrain. Do this first, then everything can come back to normal. There is a long history of reversing cancer simply by alkalinizing the body. It is one of the basic strategies in the battle against cancer and for improving your health in general.

In order for our bodies to maintain the best living environment,

the optimal level is close to 7.4

. This is at a slightly alkalizing state. Although, 7.36 to 7.44 is also an acceptable range

Virtually

everyone

with cancer has low pH levels. Low pH causes your body to store more toxins in cells, and reduces oxygen levels, both of which are fundamental to the development of cancer. When cancer cells grow, they produce even more acid, making it very difficult to raise pH levels.

When you take supplementation to increase pH levels, your cells notice the difference and start to dump some of the toxins they are holding back into the bloodstream now that they have a chance to get rid of them. Because the cells are releasing these stored toxins, your pH levels drop again. This detoxification process can take months to get through.

In addition, because cancer cells pump out lactic acid as a byproduct of their energy production, they create even more acidity. It can take a long time to normalize pH because of these factors, but, as you do, you can make your body, in a sense, "cancer proof".

Here's a cheat sheet of foods that increase the alkalinity in your body (list compiled from

Dr. Oz

,

Natural News

and

Health Extremist

):

• Root vegetables—Due to the healing "yang" nature of these foods in traditional Chinese medicine, and their tendency to be more rich in minerals than many other vegetables, it may be safe to say that you can't get enough of them. Look for radishes especially (black, red or white), as well as beets, carrots, turnips, horseradish and rutabaga.

• Olive Oil

• Cruciferous vegetables—broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts

• Leafy greens—kale, Swiss chard, turnip greens and spinach - of which spinach may in fact be the best pick. Known especially for its rich vitamin K and folate content, spinach is also packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants and fiber, helping to improve digestion and even vision.

• Garlic—A true miracle food, garlic appears at the top of innumerable lists of foods that encourage overall health, and alkaline-forming food is no exception. Among its other benefits are its ability to promote cardiovascular and immune health by lowering blood pressure, cleansing the liver and fighting off disease.

• Cayenne peppers (capsicum)—With enzymes essential to endocrine function, cayenne is among the most alkalizing foods. It is known for its antibacterial properties and is a rich supply of vitamin A, making it a helpful agent in fighting off the harmful free radicals that lead to stress and illness.

• Raisins

• Watermelon

• Avocado—These are also at the top of the list of alkalizing foods. Avocados contain high amounts of essential vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids.

• Red wine

• Celery

• Lemons—Lemons may be the most alkalizing food of all. As a natural disinfectant, it can heal wounds while also providing potent and immediate relief for hyperacidity and virus-related conditions, as well as coughs, colds, flu and heartburn. Lemon also works to energize the liver and promote detoxification.Try starting your day with a warm glass of water and lemon.

• Bananas

Cancer thrives in an

acidic environment

and cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Cancer cells make your body even more acidic as they produce lactic acid. So if you have cancer, your pH levels are low and your body is too acidic.

Taking action to make your body more alkaline is vital in the battle against cancer.

Unfortunately...

The majority of food and drinks we consume are

acidic

, such as meat, grains and sugar, with colas and other soft drinks being highly acidic. So unless you have been eating a very healthy diet, full of fresh fruit and vegetables, chances are good your body is too acidic, providing the perfect environment for cancer to grow.

Actually, too much acidity is an underlying factor in many degenerative diseases -- diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia and more. A basic maxim of natural physicians is: Balance the biological terrain. Do this first, then everything can come back to normal.

- See more at: http://www.cancerfightingstrategies.com/ph-and-cancer.html#sthash.qcbH7hSf.dpuf

Garden Goes Berserk; Bulk Food Orders Now Available!

Sweet potato squash!

Better Farm's gardens are literally bursting forth with delicious, fresh produce—which means we're now taking discounted orders for organic food that's available for delivery, pick-up, or pick-your-own on a one-time, weekly, or daily basis.

Look at all this beauty!

Organic, heirloom tomatoes: perfect for sauces, salads, sandwiches, and more!

Tomatoes, onions (red, white, yellow), garlic

White Scallop Squash

We are offering a pick-your-own bag sale, in which you can fill a grocery bag with as much produce as you can pick for $15. Or, place an order now for up to 50-percent off bulk rates of the following organic produce items:

• Apples (heirloom)
• Beets
• Borage (edible flowers, great as garnishes)
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Elderberries (frozen)
• Kale 
• Leeks
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Cucumbers
• Lettuce 
• Mint
• Nasturtium
• Onions
• Oregano (giant red, standard)
• Pumpkins
• Raspberries
• Rhubarb
• Soybeans (Edamame)
• String Beans
• Sweet Potato Squash
• Swiss Chard
• Wheat Grass
• White Scallop Squash

 Place your orders or set up a pick-your-own visit by calling (315) 482-2536 or emailing info@betterfarm.org.

Braiding Isn't Just For Hair

Native to central Asia, garlic is one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants. Throughout history, it has been cherished in many cultures for its culinary and medicinal uses. The sulfur compounds in garlic are especially beneficial, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic is also a great source of calcium, copper, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Its bold, aromatic flavor is guaranteed to transform any meal, and soon, my taste buds will be thanking me, because the garlic from our garden is ready!

Once Mollica and I saw the tops of the bulbs start to emerge, we dug around the sides of the bulbs to loosen them up, avoiding the roots to prevent damage to the garlic.

We brought them to the kitchen and washed off the dirt.

Now onto the fun part—braiding the garlic. Using six at a time, I braided in pairs, starting at the bulbs and making my way down to the ends.

Ever the resourceful person, Mollica attached the braided garlic to a clothes hanger and hung it from the kitchen arch. Once the garlic is dry, I'll try to restrain myself from using it in everything!

 

For further information about Better Farm's Sustainability Education Program, click here.

Soap-Making for Rainy Days

Have I entered the world of Little House on the Prairie? On a rainy day last week, I decided to make soap. No, I didn't use animal fats—I'm not that hardcore—but I did pick some fresh lemon balm, oregano, and sage from our herb garden to add to the concoction.

chopped herbs

I cut off a piece of soap brick from our handy soap-making kit (Life of the Party: Moisturizing Clear Glycerin Soap) and melted it using a double boiler method (put a glass bowl over a saucepan).

 I added the herbs to bowls...

...and poured the melted soap into them. After they dry, I have the perfect gift for my parents :)

Better Mud Run Recap

The fierce youth competitors of last Saturday's Better Mud Run.

Redwood Volunteer Fire Department members who came out to soak the course.

Last Saturday marked the First Annual Better Mud Run at Better Farm, which raised funds for Better Farm's wellness outreach as well as for nearby USO Fort Drum.

Hosted by Better Farm and featuring more than 20 obstacles, the Better Mud Run invited the fiercest  athletes and thrill-seekers to the Better Farm campus for agility obstacles, a road run, scaling mountains, and—of course—getting really, really muddy. There was an abridged course for younger competitors—and even the Redwood Volunteer Fire Department got involved, agreeing to take time out of their day to wet down the course:

Our grounds crew worked tirelessly the week prior, getting everything in order for the day:

Finally, the big day arrived. Here are some shots from the event itself:

Many thanks to Doc, Carl, James, Mollica, and our other organizers; Cheesman for running the tree-stand shootout tower, all our volunteers, and to everyone who came out to support such great causes. See you in 2015!

What Your Unhealthy Food Cravings Mean

Sure, we all have moments in which we crave junk food. But do you know what your body is actually trying to tell you? We found this gem over at Natural News about what your unhealthy food cravings mean. Read on and be amazed!

Chocolate: magnesium
Chocolate is the most commonly-reported craving in the Western world, so it shouldn't surprise us that it is linked to a nutrient in which a huge number of us are unknowingly deficient: magnesium. According to recent statistics, up to 80 percent of Americans are lacking in this essential macromineral, which is needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including reactions that relate to relaxation. In fact, magnesium is nicknamed the "relaxation mineral," since anxiety, irritability, insomnia and high blood pressure are its main deficiency symptoms. This is the reason why magnesium-deficient people temporarily feel better after eating a chocolate bar: the small amounts of magnesium in it (derived from its cacao content) relaxes them. But, of course, there are far healthier sources of magnesium than processed chocolate. Dark leafy greens, seeds and nuts, fish, beans and blackstrap molasses are all excellent sources of magnesium and will help end chocolate cravings.

Sugary foods: chromium, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur and/or tryptophan
The second most commonly reported craving in the West is high-sugar foods. This is the most complex craving to pin down, since deficiencies in no less than five nutrients could be causing it: chromium (helps to regulate blood sugar levels), carbon (one of the elements from which sugar is made), phosphorus (helps the body produce energy), sulfur (helps remove toxins) and tryptophan (a serotonin regulator). Therefore, the best way to end incessant sugar cravings is to simply improve your diet, which will help remineralize your body in all areas.

Refined carbohydrates: nitrogen
A craving for refined carbs like pasta and bread signals a deficiency in nitrogen. Nitrogen compounds are an essential component of nucleic acids and protein, and deficiencies in them can result in malnutrition due to a related protein deficiency. Therefore, if you find that you're craving a lot of refined carbohydrates, add more nitrogen-rich foods to your diet. Most foods contain nitrogen in organic or non-organic form, but fruits and vegetables are especially rich in it.

Other cravings
The following cravings are less common than those detailed above, but are still regularly reported in today's society:

Oily and fatty foods: You are deficient in calcium. Good sources of calcium include raw milk, cheese, turnip greens and broccoli.

Ice: You are deficient in iron. Eat more iron-rich foods like leafy greens, meat, blackstrap molasses and sea vegetables.

Salty foods: You are deficient in chloride and/or silicon. Try adding more fish, nuts and seeds to your diet.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.ruled.me

http://eatwiseteens.org

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.tandurust.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:

Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website,

Spiritfoods

, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.

Delivery CSA Coming to the North Country?

Better Farm

is in the process of outlining a grant that would provide the sustainability campus with start-up funding from SARE to create a network of farms providing a delivery CSA to residents living in the region, and is looking for local farms interested in participating in the proposed programming.

The Northeast Chapter of the

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Pr

ogram

(SARE) is offering partnership grants to agricultural agencies, organizations, businesses, or local governments working directly with farmers to address issues that affect the farm community. Farmers must be partners in the planning process and the proposal. SARE funds production, marketing, on-farm demonstrations, and community development efforts that address key themes in sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is understood to be agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound, provides a good quality of life for farmers, and is beneficial to the community.

To that end, Better Farm is seeking local farms to partner with for the following proposal:

Better Farm plans to increase access to fresh, locally produced foods for community residents in and

around Redwood, N.Y., while strengthening farmer-consumer relationships and supporting local agriculture by creating a delivery CSA service to people living locally. Community-Supported Agriculture programs provide weekly stipends of fresh food to a community; Better Farm enhances this programming by bringing fresh fruits, vegetables, jams, syrup, meats, cheeses, eggs, and milk from a variety of local farms directly to neighbors' doors. Better Farm would act as liaison between individuals, families, and farmers; creating the network of farmers necessary to provide people with a diverse assortment of weekly groceries for a low rate. Redwood is a small community of 500 people with limited access to food. Shopping at a grocery store in Alexandria Bay is a 20-mile round trip; Watertown a 50-mile round trip. Funding would allow Better Farm to coordinate with local farms and families, create inventory lists and price sheets, convert a diesel truck to run off refined vegetable oil thereby eliminating gas costs, and put the program into its first year of production. With EBT cards now accepted at farmers' markets and farm stands, this programming encourages even those with the lowest incomes to purchase local food at a premium rate. 

How It Works

This is a buy-in program. In its first phase, Better Farm partners with local farmers interested in selling their goods at a bulk rate to individuals and families living locally. 

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Those farms provide Better Farm with available products and bulk rates, along with seasonal information. Then, Better Farm will disseminate information via radio, print, online, and mailers to homes in the community alerting them to this available program. Signing people up will involve educational workshops, greeting people at their homes, calling campaigns, and public seminars. Individual and family seasonal rates will be available, as well as tiers:

• Vegetarian (with or without packaged goods, checking all that apply: maple syrup, jams/jellies, lotions/salves, fibers/yarns, dairy products, eggs)

• Omnivorous (with or without packaged goods, checking all that apply: maple syrup, jams/jellies, lotions/salves, fibers/yarns, dairy products, eggs)

Rates will include fees to cover all-inclusive delivery fee (driver rate, basic maintenance of delivery vehicle, fees due to participating farms, and overhead costs for future marketing efforts) and will be payable via EBT card, check, credit card, or through monthly or weekly installments.

Interested participants will be given a survey at the beginning of each season to go over their expectations, what products they would be interested in purchasing, and their budgets. A similar survey will be distributed at the end of each season to gauge customer satisfaction with products received, chances of having return customers, and suggestions for improvements.

What

It Does

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-->

Better CSA solves the problem of a

food desert

in several ways. One, it creates a network of local farmers offering a variety of goods at competitive rates. Two, it creates a network of buyers that can then purchase food at a bulk rate. Three, it uses a “green” vehicle (a diesel pickup truck converted to run on spent vegetable oil) to deliver the food to people's doorsteps, reducing their fuel costs and amount of time spent grocery shopping.

This project enhances sustainability in the following ways:

• Reducing pollution from vehicles going to and from several supermarkets to get groceries

• Reducing pollution associated with the import-export of produce, meat, dairy products, and eggs

• Shifting demand from large-scale agricultural practices to more sustainable, family operations

• Encouraging local farmers to employ sustainable, organic practices

• Encouraging consumers to eat more nutritious food that sustains healthy lifestyles in the long-term

• Educating children (and adults!) in the community to make healthier food choices and to enjoy a larger diversity of products in their diets

Farmers interested in partnering with Better Farm on this project should email

nicole.caldwell@betterfarm.org

.