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Cultivate Simple 24: Say No to GMO

April 1st, 2013

This week on Cultivate Simple we talk about random topics and get a little political, sharing our frustrations about living in a society where not many people act on their convictions.

Don’t you love our potting bench/studio?
potting bench 1
potting bench 2

The Survival Podcast – Defining the Machine Podcast about how government is bought and paid for.

Reader Questions

Daina from FrontYardFoodie: I know you like to buy local and use farmers but where do you get things like dish soap and baking soda, etc?

Soap and other bulk items are often purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs. Their castile soap is particularly good, here’s a post I wrote about it.

The automatic dishwashing detergent from Tropical Traditions is the best you’ll ever find (even over non-green options).

Brian’s Geeky Corner

Angie asked about keeping data on an external hard drive. Brian recommends these hard drives: G-Technology Hard Drives

Sign up for BackBlaze and start backing up today!

Book of the Week

Check out Heidi Egerman Designs– Thanks for the support Heidi!

11 Comments to “Cultivate Simple 24: Say No to GMO”
  1. DebbieB on April 1, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    Interesting insights today, and a lot to think about. I enjoy hearing you talk about issues that hit close to home with passion and conviction.

    I’m excited about the 5×5 challenge start, and also about the Seed Starting ebook. It’s warm this week and I’m eager to get started!

    My husband keeps a few goldfish in a resin fountain/pond on the patio. He dreams of digging and maintaining a small pond, so I’m looking forward to the episode about ponds.

    Reply to DebbieB's comment

    • DebbieB on April 1, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      Oh, and I’m off to check out BackBlaze!

      Reply to DebbieB's comment

  2. Barry Kidd on April 1, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    I set down and listened to Patrick Barron’s pod cast linked at the top and though I was short on time I “made”myself set through the whole thing. It wasn’t because it wasn’t interesting but because I have things that I need to get done.

    Though I’m not a tinfoil hat kind of guy I do think the system is screwed and just needs a fresh new start. The real question is how. It would need to be a clean sweep and all done at once. It can’t be done little by little. That’s the sad thing.

    Thank you for sharing,

    Barry

    Reply to Barry Kidd's comment

    • Mr. Chiots on April 1, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      We typically don’t wear the tinfoil either but I thought that explanation was eye opening. Not that we didn’t know it was happening but it makes you realize just how much and how often it happens.

      I say term limits and no retirement benefits. They are public servants after all.

      Reply to Mr. Chiots's comment

  3. Melissa on April 2, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    I love when you say- We are gonna try to keep it short and I look in iTunes and it says almost 2 hours for the length! Cracks me up every time. I like them long anyways though – gives me more to listen to as I work!

    On the LGD issue- have you ever heard of Nature’s Harmony Farm (http://naturesharmonyfarm.com/livestock-guardian-dogs/) ? They definitely aren’t local to you (Elberton, GA) but they have great LGD stock from what I’ve heard on their old podcasts– which if you have never listened to them, you’d really enjoy them! Great info and stories about their first few years farming.

    I’m interested to hear about what you think of your ducks once you get them processed and cook your first one. I’ve been cooking them for about 6 months and I feel like I can finally do one justice now. The muscovy is definitely a different taste and texture from other duck I’ve had. But we’ve come to really like it and now that I’ve figured out how to cook it, it’s a regular around our house.

    Reply to Melissa's comment

  4. Melanie in Ca on April 4, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Commenting late this week because I’ve been listening (and re-listening) during my commute. I share your passion, and ire and periodic sense of futility. Voting with my dollars and my feet and my lifestyle is the best I can do. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply to Melanie in Ca's comment

  5. Mike on April 11, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    Finally caught up to this episode in my podcast manager. This was definitely a random one as you put it. One thing I wanted to recommend if you haven’t tried it yet is CrashPlan. I’ve used them for years now without any issue. Not sure if Backblaze can do this but with CrashPlan you can back up to other computers for free which is nice if you’re on a tight budget. Plus, it’s available to Linux users like me.

    I just started listening to Cultivate Simple not too long ago – love it. Keep up the great work!

    Reply to Mike's comment

  6. Dorothy Donatello on April 12, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    Thank you both for an inspiring podcast. I found you on pintrest and am so thankful I found this blog . I have been trying very hard to do local shopping. I
    shop at Trader Joe”s and sometimes Whole Foods.. I have found places through Local Harvest ,several locations I will be trying. We have a great farmers market in Chicago in Oak Park which is huge! The fact that I am a nurse and see all the immunity problems and cancer, it makes you stop and think why the medical assoc. does not look at diet? I see it time and time again. Also I ordered my garden seeds from Renee’s Garden. And the vegetables are doing very well. Funny thing I noticed I have a old catalogue from Shepherd’s Garden Seed’s from 1996 and it’s the same company! I was so happy to find them again. Thank you guys for all your input. Dorothy

    Reply to Dorothy Donatello's comment

  7. angie h on April 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm

    I loved hearing you two speak out about this issue…and hearing Susy get fired up, lol! You guys are definitely making a difference, I know you have influenced me in many things and definitely inspired me towards more intentional/authentic living. Not that I didn’t think about these things before I came here, but I really felt helpless as in “what can I do about it anyhow?” and when you feel that way you tend to just go along doing what you always did before you knew better because you don’t know any other way. It is empowering meeting others who share your thoughts and see how they take action.

    I think people know this is in their power-voting with their dollars-but are only willing to do it when it is convenient and when it’s what all the cool kids are doing. I mean, it is kind of a first world problem when you are boycotting chick-fil-a or starbucks or some other popular brand/store front and instead go across the street for coffee at Caribou and a Wendy’s chicken sandwich . To really make a difference I think it has to cost you something real and tangible (time, money, reputation).

    I think the online petitions give people a false sense that they are doing something and that the people they are petitioning will really care…it is just as easy for the petitioned to ignore the online stuff as it is for people to sign online petitions . If the same people were calling and writing and standing on their doorstep, and voting with their dollars it would be a whole different story.

    And I also hate how there is this division you have to be all or nothing in politics. And how people dismiss people who don’t think like them. I love nothing more than a friendly but passionate debate/discussion with people who listen as much as they talk. I am always looking at all angles of things and I enjoy hearing how others see an issue. But, if someone is hateful and considers someone stupid for having a different opinion I don’t even want to discuss stuff with people like that. During elections my fielding question for people is usually, tell me one thing you like about the person who is not your candidate or tell me something you disagree with your party on, if they can’t answer either of those questions it is usually a sign. But, as I fall further down the rabbit hole I don’t have many people to discuss politics with these days…I will join the Chartreuse Party with you guys.

    As for the computer issues, I am definitely taking your advice :) Happy to say I’ve gone Mac and I ain’t going back! A friend’s husband works for a company that does data/hard drive recovery and he fixed me up. Apparently, using Geek Squad at Best Buy is never a good decision for data recovery, so I was glad I asked around. I wasn’t out of memory, my computer thought it was b/c there were multiple damaged sectors on the drive from heat and a faulty fan. Thankfully, he saved everything for me and lesson is learned. I have dropbox, 2 external hard drives, and will be downloading backblaze through your link.

    Reply to angie h's comment

  8. Heron on June 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    I just read an article in the July/August issue of “Hobby Farms” about LGDs “Rehabilitating Rover” Its an article about abandoned, discarded, surrendered etc LGDs being rehabilitated to be a working dog or a companion depending on their temperament.
    Its a great article and it makes me so happy that there are rescues who honor and respect what the breed is. Those rescues have working farm and would train suitable dogs to be LGDs.
    PLEASE check out the article. The names feature on the articles are Jackie Church of Windance Farms in upstate New York, Sandra Moore of Haven Acres Farms near Austin, Texas and Victoria Marshman of Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue in Richmond, VA.
    That same issue also include articles on Dry Farming and improve pastures with tree plantings. Very interesting articles. I’ve never even heard of the term “Silvopatures”

    I am not caught up with all your podcasts yet and I look forward to it.
    I have a suggestion if you haven’t done it yet.. How about a podcast on selecting your homestead. What resources to use, what to look for, where to look for etc..

    P.S: I dryfarmed 5 tomatoes plants this year, so far they are looking good, just starting to bear fruit.

    Reply to Heron's comment

  9. Heron on June 29, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Another quick note. I do not support Monsanto but I just want to clarify on the patent on the genes. Nobody “own genes” but they patent the sequencing of the genes. Another example of sequence patent is bikram yoga. Nobody “owns yoga” but Bikram sequenced the yoga positions patented it, and called it “Bikram Yoga”
    Just my two cents :)

    Reply to Heron's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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