Kim’s Journal

Kim’s Journal – What I’m doing to stay healthy in 2013

Kim's Journal, Nutrition and Prevention
Published on 6 Comments on Kim’s Journal – What I’m doing to stay healthy in 2013

From time to time friends and acquaintances, who know that I’m into health and nutrition, ask me what I’m doing to stay healthy.  They want to know what I’m eating and what I’ve stopped eating and what products I use.  This post is my way of answering those questions while providing some resources that have helped me in this journey.

I am very passionate about health because I know the pain, fear and anxiety that often result from ill health and disease.  Sickness is like a thief that robs us of joy, energy, hope and financial resources. We can’t always avoid it but there are things we can do to prevent the chronic diseases that have become so commonplace in our world.

I have done a lot of investigation and study over the past few years in the field of nutrition and natural health.  The movies “Food, Inc.”, “Food Matters” and “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” inspired me to start educating myself about how to take control of my own health.  Of the many books I’ve read on nutrition, four stand out:  “Deep Nutrition”, “Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health”, “Health and Nutrition Secrets that Can Save you Life”, and “The Maker’s Diet”.   These books have provided the foundation for my current diet and healthy lifestyle.  Now I am working as an assistant for John Smothers, a clinical nutritionist in Memphis, where I’m continuing to learn new things every day.

Here’s a summary of the steps I’ve taken to improve my own health and well being.

What I’ve eliminated:  Industrial Food

  1. Hydrogenated oils and trans fats (Crisco, margarine, etc) from my diet.
  2. Processed Vegetable oils (canola, soybean, corn, etc..) .  For cooking I only use organic, pastured butter, ghee and coconut oil. I do use extra virgin olive oil, avocado and macadamia nut oil but not for cooking.  Other vegetable oils are toxic to the body.
  3. Artificial sweeteners.  Aspartame is a genetically modified food with dangerous side effects.  More and more is being discovered each day about how damaging this and other artificial sweeteners are to the body.  They are also implicated in weight gain.
  4. Processed Sugar.  Cancer cells thrive in the presence of sugar and it disrupts your body functions and impairs your immune system.  I use dextrose, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar and stevia instead.
  5. Foods and drinks made with high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup. No sodas!  They will damage the liver, are converted immediately to body fat, and increase LDL cholesterol.  I don’t drink store bought juice for the same reason.
  6. Grains (wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rice). Foods that contain gluten can lead to everything from thyroid disorders, trouble losing weight, depression and other mental disorders, digestion diseases, malnourishment, and so much more.  Here are some good reasons to go grain free.
  7. MSG (in the majority of packaged foods) is a dangerous Neurotoxin that also causes weight gain.
  8. Soy products of any kind unless they are organic and fermented (miso, tempeh, natto).
  9. Conventional dairy products.  Occasionally I will drink raw, organic, grass-fed milk and I eat raw cheese. I also use organic pastured butter and ghee. Click here to learn more about dairy.
  10. Food or drinks in plastic, unless it is in my own BPA-free water bottle.  I never heat foods in plastic containers.  I don’t store food in plastic unless it’s BPA free.  Note: Ziploc bags and Gladware containers are BPA free.
  11. I avoid using a microwave oven.
  12. Teflon coated pots and pans.  Teflon is toxic.  I only use stainless steel, glass and hard anodized pots and pans for cooking.
  13. Aluminum Foil because it leeches into the food and aluminum is a toxic heavy metal.
  14. Canned foods. Unless labeled otherwise, cans are coated with toxic plastics that enter the food when the product is processed.  Acid foods like tomato sauce are the worst offenders.
  15. Alcoholic beverages.
  16. Caffeine because it keeps me up at night.
  17. Microwave popcorn because it has dangerous chemicals, preservatives, sodium and GMO corn.
  18. Farmed fish to avoid mercury, pcbs, and dioxins. Wild, Alaskan salmon is safe.
  19. Genetically modified foods (corn, potatoes, canola and soy products).  Organic produce is more nutritious due to the quality of the soil it is grown in.
  20. Pork (with the exception of organic, pastured bacon) and shellfish to avoid parasites, viruses, bacteria and toxins.
  21. Pesticide laden vegetables and fruits.  I use the dirty dozen list to choose clean produce. (http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php)
  22. I’ve eliminate almost all processed foods from my diet.
  23. Dental amalgam fillings because they contain mercury.
  24. Meat from animals raised in feed lots.  These animals are fed GMOs and injected with growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics.  They are miserable, sick and stressed.

What I Eat:  Real Food

  1. I eat mostly fresh or frozen organic vegetables.  I try to eat at least 50% of my vegetables raw in salads, smoothies or juices.
  2. I eat organic pastured meat (beef, turkey, chicken, bacon, salmon, sardines) and my free range backyard eggs (2-3 a day).  I try to eat 4 servings of protein and 4-6 tablespoons of healthy fats every day.
  3. I eat 1 or 2 servings of organic fruit every day.
  4. I eat raw nuts and seeds in moderation.  Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts and others all have minerals and fats that are vital to helping the body function optimally.
  5. I eat Kerrygold cheese and butter and organic Greek yogurt.
  6. I also eat organic potatoes and sweet potatoes for carbohydrates.  I always eat plenty of fat or protein with my carbs to keep my insulin stable.
  7. I LOVE COCONUT OIL!!  I use it in almost everything.
  8. I eat lots of avocados.
  9. I frequently eat spinach salads with fruit, nuts, vegetables (dressed with olive oil and Himalayan salt) and salmon or whatever meat I have on hand.
  10. I use dextrose, coconut palm sugar and stevia to sweeten foods and beverages.  Coconut palm sugar or nectar is delicious, nutritious and has a low glycemic index.
  11. I love coconut ice cream and organic dark chocolate.
  12. I drink coconut milk and almond milk instead of cow’s milk.
  13. I drink 2 cups of green tea every day.
  14. I make bone broth every week to use in soups, stews and vegetables (instead of MSG/bullion cubes).  Bone broth is a delicious super food which is loaded with glycosaminoglycans, glycine, collagen, gelatin and minerals.
  15. I use a good quality juicer (Greenstar) and blender (Vitamix) to prepare my juices and smoothies.  I try to eat plenty of raw food every day.  I love to add flax seed, chia seed and hemp seed to my smoothies.
  16. I drink water from a reverse osmosis filter (to eliminate the fluoride, chlorine and other toxins in our municipal water supplies).  Fluoride contributes to many health problems in America, including thyroid disease, bone cancer, dental fluorosis and decreased IQ in children. Chlorine destroys the healthy fauna in our GI tract, weakening our immune system.
  17. I’ve switched to Celtic Sea Salt and Himalayan Salt.  There are many different minerals that can be found it sea salt that our bodies need.  Himalayan salt has over 80 essential minerals (table salt only has one, iodine).
  18. I eat prunes.  Prunes have been shown to help keep the calcium in our bones much better than calcium supplements.

Other changes that I have implemented

  1. I’ve switched to an all-natural deodorant (no aluminum). I’m also careful to buy bathing products, sunscreens, lotions and makeup that do not contain toxic substances.  Many are endocrine or brain chemistry disruptors.  (google “toxic cosmetic” to see lists of ingredients to avoid.)
  2. I use natural cleaning products and avoid bleach.
  3. I’ve switched our entire family to a non-fluoride toothpaste.  The fluoride we consume contributes to our out-of-whack thyroids and can make us gain weight and make it more difficult to lose weight.
  4. I exercise regularly.
  5. I try to get some sun every day. 15-20 minutes in the summer without sunscreen (before skin turns pink) for optimal vitamin D levels and also to improve and maintain good vision.
  6. I try to get at least 8 hours of quality sleep per night in complete darkness between the hours of 10:00 and 6:00 AM.
  7. I’ve done everything I can do to decrease exposure to electromagnetic frequencies in my bedroom (no alarm clock, CFL light bulbs or cordless phones by my bed. I sleep on a grounding pad and use a Qlink nimbus to bring harmony to the chaotic EMF fields in our house and bedroom).  We even moved our bed away from the power box outside my window.
  8. I NEVER get the flu shot – I refuse to knowingly put aluminum, formaldehyde and mercury in my body.  Instead I maintain a strong immune system through diet, stress management, exercise and supplements. (http://www.flu-treatments.com/flu-shot-ingredients.html)
  9. I spend time in prayer and meditation every day.
  10. I stay connected with friends.
  11. I exercise every day.  I love yoga, walking, plank work and plyometrics.
  12. I maintain boundaries and plenty of white space in my life to prevent and alleviate stress.
  13. I find ways to give back.  Sharing what I’ve learned about health and nutrition as well as my faith is meaningful and fulfilling for me.  I also find great fulfillment in being an active, thoroughly engaged mother and wife.

* I use these guidelines at home but when I’m eating at someone’s house I eat whatever is served 🙂

I do take supplements

  1. Vitamin D3 – 1000 IUs in the summer and 5000 IUs in the winter.
  2. Krill/Fish oil – essential fatty acids and astaxanthin for brain health.
  3. One good quality, whole food probiotic daily to build healthy flora/fauna and immunity.  I also eat sauerkraut, coconut kefir and kimchi which are loaded with probiotics.
  4. On occasion I take a whole food multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.  Synthetic vitamins are not easily absorbed by the body.
  5. Magnesium with Vitamin B6 and Folate
  6. Digestive Enzymes
  7. Melatonin for sleep (also a powerful antioxidant).
  8. Garlic, coconut oil, manuka honey and apple cider vinegar – to stave off bacteria and viruses.
  9. Gingko Biloba for memory enhancement, improved vision and blood circulation.

You can read more about my journey to health at: http://transitionnow.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/transitioning-to-clean-food/

The Perfect Health Diet is a good template for how I eat:

Perfect Health Diet

Some of my favorite things:

My favorite whole food supplements and nutritional products come from:

Favorite Books

Favorite Cookbooks

My Favorite Skin Care Products

Read More:  Kim’s Kitchen Essentials

Kim’s Journal: Detoxing Grace

Kim's Journal
Published on 5 Comments on Kim’s Journal: Detoxing Grace

Grace’s Health Journal (Test Results and Detox) – January 2012

Recently we had our daughter, Grace, tested for food sensitivities, heavy metals and brain inflammation due to immune reactions to food and environmental toxins.  She had been complaining of chronic stomach pain and was suffering for two months with constant asthma attacks (up to 8 a day) and a recurrence of eczema due to mold exposure in our home. She also had frequent ear infections and had to have her adenoids removed and tubes put in.  Grace has struggled for years with a sensory disorder (dyspraxia) speech delay and difficulty concentrating/remembering along with general irritability and moodiness.  She has also never been able to sweat and overheats very quickly when exercising. Grace has been on and off of antibiotics and steroids her entire life.  She also received all of her vaccines (46 shots on her immunization record).

Grace’s blood test results showed that her immune system reacts strongly to many different types of food because her intestinal tract has been torn up by antibiotics, steroids, vaccines and wheat (gluten), leaving holes where food falls through into her blood stream (Leaky Gut Syndrome).  Her good digestive flora was wiped out allowing pathogenic bacteria to colonize her gut.

Grace’s stool test showed that she has the pathogenic bacteria, helicobacter pylori, in her gut, parasites and yeast overgrowth along with pancreatic insufficiency (her pancreas struggles to produce the proper enzymes needed for adequate digestion).  The test also showed traces of mold still in her body.

Grace’s heavy metal blood test results revealed that she has elevated (very high) levels of mercury (thimerosal), lead and aluminum in her body.

One month before taking the tests I started Grace on a special diet (GAPS Diet – no wheat (gluten), dairy, or sugar) which was helping.  Immediately after receiving the test results, John Smothers, (a local nutritionist/herbalist who practices functional/integrative medicine) removed other foods she’s sensitive to like eggs, potatoes, cashews, tomatoes, onions, pineapples, and lemons. He started her on a special detox/treatment protocol which included natural supplements, herbs, powerful probiotics, enzymes, medical food, and chelators for heavy metal removal.  I also added freshly juiced organic fruits and vegetables to her diet.

Once on the protocol I was able to take her off of all her medications (steroids, cough and sinus drugs, benadryl, albuterol).  Her stomach pain and constipation stopped within the first few days of the protocol.   Her asthma greatly decreased but from time to time still flared up.  I purchased grounding sheets for her bed thinking that she might be sensitive to electromagnetic fields in our home.  Kid’s with high levels of heavy metals are much more sensitive to EMFs.  The grounding pad helped and her asthma attacks stopped.  She’ been 100% asthma free for six weeks.

Although her eczema has greatly improved she still has flare ups.  I stopped using medicated lotions and followed John Smother’s advice to use coconut oil and give her Bentonite Clay baths.  I also put a filter on her shower to remove fluoride (she’s extremely allergic to it) and chlorine from her water) and she uses fluoride free toothpaste.  We also use a reverse osmosis system for clean drinking water. This is helping.

Grace

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Grace’s Supplements/Medical Food:

  1. GI Barrier Repair 180 Capsules by NeuroScience – $42.00 – http://www.forresthealth.com/GI-Barrier-Repair.html
  2. GI Reset/NS – $60.00 –  http://www.forresthealth.com/GI-Reset.html
  3. Therabiotic (probiotic) – $34.95 – http://www.forresthealth.com/Ther-Biotic-Women-s-Formula.html
  4. Integrative Therapeutics, Tyler Similase GFCF 120 Veg Capsules (Enzymes) –  http://www.healthdesigns.com/integrative-therapeutics-tyler-similase-gfcf-120-veg-capsules
  5. NuMedica, ImmunoG PRP 240 capsules (bovine colostrum) – $36.95 – http://www.healthdesigns.com/integrative-therapeutics-tyler-similase-gfcf-120-veg-capsules
  6. UltraClear Renew Protein – $71.70 – http://www.healthdesigns.com/integrative-therapeutics-tyler-similase-gfcf-120-veg-capsules
  7. TheaNaq (nuero transmitter regulator) – $45.00 – http://www.healthdesigns.com/integrative-therapeutics-tyler-similase-gfcf-120-veg-capsules
  8. ADP 60/Biotics (Kills yeast)- $40.00 (120 Tablets) – http://www.healthdesigns.com/biotics-research-a-d-p-120-tablets
  9. SacBoulardii DF (probiotic)– $39.90 – http://www.healthdesigns.com/numedica-sacboulardi-df-250-mg-60-vegetable-capsules
  10. FC – Cidal Biotics (Kills yeast)- $27.00 – http://www.healthdesigns.com/biotics-research-fc-cidal-100-capsules
  11. GastroMend HP – 60 vcaps – $40.00 – http://www.thin-site.com/products/353 (Buy from Dr. Smothers)
  12. Porphyra-Zyme (detox from heavy metals)- $16.00, or Porphyra-Zyme (270 Tablets) – $39.00 – http://renewalenterprises.com/porphyrazyme2.html
  13. LipoFlow 2 oz EDTA – (detox from heavy metals) $28.00 http://www.smhomeopathic.com/store/product1259.html

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Journal of Grace’s Treatment and Recovery:  March 8, 2012

Grace is doing amazing well. She’s been on the protocol for a little over two months.  Her stomach pain and constipation have completely disappeared.  Her asthma has stopped although I fully expect it to return with allergy season.  She is extremely allergic to grass and tree pollen.

Grace’s skin is improving and she actually sweat while running a few weeks ago.  Grace has never been able to sweat and I learned that this is a common symptom of heavy metal toxicity.

This past week I’ve noticed a big improvement in Grace’s ability to focus.  For the first time she’s been able to sit and work through all of her homework without constant help and redirecting from me.  In fact, she didn’t require my help or redirection at all.  She has been unusually relaxed and pleasant.  In the past she would often melt down, lose control, physically hit her sister when irritated and cry multiple times throughout a given day.  She’s always been very fidgety, restless, shy and frequently emotionally unstable.  I’m happily noticing that her mood and self control are improving along with her self confidence and social skills.  She even enjoys lying still in bed and reading at night. I am so grateful!!

In July we will have her tested again to see precisely how the protocol is working insider her body.  Dr. Smother’s believes that most of her food allergies and sensitivities will go away once the mucosal lining of her intestine is restored and the food stays in her digestive system. This along with the heavy metal detox will greatly reduce the inflammation in her brain that has caused much of the psychological, sensory and behavioral issues that she’s struggled with.

Helpful Articles related to Grace’s issues

** I was very surprised and upset by Grace’s heavy metal test results and started doing some research to find out where she acquired her heavy metal load. Here are excepts from some articles that I found:

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Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning (Grace has had 19 of these symptoms)

  • irritability
  • anxiety/nervousness, often with difficulty in breathing
  • restlessness
  • exaggerated response to stimulation
  • fearfulness
  • emotional instability
  • lack of self control
  • fits of anger, with violent, irrational behavior
  • loss of self confidence
  • indecision
  • shyness or timidity, being easily embarrassed
  • loss of memory
  • inability to concentrate
  • lethargy/drowsiness
  • insomnia
  • mental depression, despondency
  • withdrawal
  • suicidal tendencies
  • manic depression
  • numbness and tingling of hands, feet, fingers, toes, or lips
  • muscle weakness progressing to paralysis
  • ataxia
  • tremors/trembling of hands, feet, lips, eyelids or tongue
  • incoordination
  • myoneural transmission failure resembling Myasthenia Gravis

Sources of Mercury
Exposure to mercury can be particularly hazardous for pregnant women and small children. During the first several years of life, a child’s brain is still developing and rapidly absorbing nutrients. Prenatal and infant mercury exposure can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, deafness and blindness. Even in low doses, mercury may affect a child’s development, delaying walking and talking, shortening attention span and causing learning disabilities.

In adults, mercury poisoning can adversely affect fertility and blood pressure regulation and can cause memory loss, tremors, vision loss and numbness of the fingers and toes. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to mercury may also lead to heart disease.

Mercury pollution can be a serious health threat, especially for children and pregnant women. Over the years, many companies have used mercury to manufacture a range of products including thermometers, thermostats and automotive light switches. Although the metallic mercury in these products rarely poses a direct health hazard, industrial mercury pollution becomes a serious threat when it is released into the air by power plants, certain chemical manufacturers and other industrial facilities, and then settles into oceans and waterways, where it builds up in fish that we eat. Children and women of childbearing age are most at risk.

Mercury and a High-Fish Diet
Humans risk ingesting dangerous levels of mercury when they eat contaminated fish. Since the poison is odorless, invisible and accumulates in the meat of the fish, it is not easy to detect and can’t be avoided by trimming off the skin or other parts. Once in the human body, mercury acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the brain and nervous system.

Once mercury enters a waterway, naturally occurring bacteria absorb it and convert it to a form called methyl mercury. This transition is particularly significant for humans, who absorb methyl mercury easily and are especially vulnerable to its effects.

Mercury then works its way up the food chain as large fish consume contaminated smaller fish. Instead of dissolving or breaking down, mercury accumulates at ever-increasing levels. Predatory fish such as large tuna, swordfish, shark and mackerel can have mercury concentrations in their bodies that are 10,000 times higher than those of their surrounding habitat.

A July 2005 report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that one in 17 women of childbearing age have mercury in their blood above 5.8 micrograms per liter of blood — a level that could pose a risk to a developing fetus. This is an improvement from the prior report in 2003 which showed that one out of 12 women had mercury in their blood at this level. Newer science indicates, however, that mercury actually concentrates in the umbilical cord blood that goes to the fetus, so mercury levels as low as 3.4 micrograms per liter of a mother’s blood are now a concern. Nearly one in 10 women of reproductive age in the United States has mercury in her blood at or above this level, according to the new CDC study.

Dr. Jane Hightower, a doctor of internal medicine at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco also linked fish consumption to elevated mercury levels when she tested her own patients. Her 2003 study found that 89 percent of the participating patients — chosen because of their fish-heavy diets — had elevated mercury levels. Many had levels as much as four times that which the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe.

Other Sources of Mercury
Power plants are the largest source, emitting around 50 tons of mercury pollution annually. Cement plants are the fourth largest emitter of airborne mercury in the United States, and facilities that recycle auto scrap are another big source of mercury pollution, historically pouring 10 to 12 tons of mercury into the air every year. Chlorine plants, which use massive quantities of mercury to extract chlorine from salt, “lose” mercury when mercury volatilizes during maintenance and other operational activities. The most common way Americans are exposed to mercury is through tuna fish.

  • Thimersol = Mercury (some vaccines)
  • an “Allergen Patch Test” it contains 2% thimersol
  • 36 nasal sprays have thimerisol in them
  • Contact lens solutions have thimerisol in them
  • Hemorrhoid medications have thimersol
  • Otic and Ophthalmologic Drops (some designed for children) have thimersol in them
  • Mothers who have metal amalgams in their mouth should have their newborn baby’s hair tested for mercury.
  • Autistic children can’t detox mercury poisonings.
  • Antibiotics decrease mercury excretion. Mercury goes into tissues not the blood.

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Symptoms of Aluminum Toxicity (Grace has had all of these symptoms except impaired intellect as far as we know).
Aluminum is particularly poisonous to the nervous system with a range of symptoms that can include disturbed sleep, nervousness, emotional instability, memory loss, headaches, and impaired intellect. It can stop the body’s ability to digest and make use of calcium, and  phosphorus. This prevents bone growth and reduces bone density. Aluminum can also cause conditions which actually force calcium out of the bones. Either of these situations can bring on weakness and deformation in the bone structure with crippling effects. Toxicity can also result in aching muscles, speech problems, anemia, digestive problems, lowered liver function, colic and impaired kidney function.

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Sources of Aluminum

Aluminum cookware and utensils: Boiling water in aluminum pots produces toxic hydro-oxides, boiling meat produces chlorides and frying bacon in an aluminum pan increases nitrates. Aluminum teapots should be avoided because the tannic acid in the tea tends to allow aluminum to leak into the tea.

Food Additives: The following food additives contain aluminum compounds: E173, E520, E521, E523 E541, E545, E554, E555 E556, E559. Aluminum is a common food additive found in foods such as processed cheeses, table salt, baking powders, pickles, bleached flour, prepared dough, cake mixes, non-dairy creamers, vanilla powders and some donuts and waffles. Milk formulas for babies can contain up to four hundred times more aluminum than breast milk.

Medications: Antacids quite often contain aluminum trisilicate as does buffered aspirin. Antacids can contain 200 milligrams or more of elemental aluminum in a single tablet. Certain popular antacids contain aluminum hydroxide. Aluminum is present in popular over-the-counter and prescription medicines such as certain pain-killers and anti-diarrhea medicines.  Many Vaccines also contain aluminum adjuvants.  To find the list of immunizations containing Aluminum go to: http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/vaccine-components/aluminum-adjuvants-vaccines

Other products containing aluminum: Aluminum can be found in toothpastes, nasal sprays, anti-antiperspirants, dental amalgams, cigarette filters and pesticides. Some metal cleaners contain aluminum oxide.

In order to prevent becoming a victim of Alzheimer’s disease, it is prudent to avoid all colorants, additives, toxic chemicals, pesticides and polluted air and water. Drink alcohol in moderation and with meals only. Make sure blood sugar levels are normal and avoid refined sugars and carbohydrates. Some experts recommend taking a daily Vitamin C and Zinc supplement.

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Symptoms of Lead Poisoning  (Grace has experienced all these symptoms except joint pain, metallic taste, vomiting and loss of Appetite)

  • headaches
  • muscle and joint weakness or pain
  • excessive tiredness or lethargy
  • behavioral problems or irritability
  • difficulty concentrating
  • loss of appetite
  • metallic taste in the mouth
  • abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
  • constipation

Sources of Lead


Lead can be found in many products and locations. Some you might never have thought of, including some imported candies, toys, and traditional medicines. The most common cause of lead poisoning is dust and chips from old paint. However, some non-paint sources, though less common, can cause severe cases of lead poisoning.

  • Paint (older homes, old toys, furniture, crafts)
  • Dust
  • Soil
  • Drinking water
  • Air
  • Folk medicines, ayurvedics, and cosmetics
  • Children’s jewelry and toys
  • Workplace and hobbies
  • Lead-glazed ceramics, china, leaded crystal, pewter
  • Imported candies or foods
  • Imported food in cans
  • Firearms with lead bullets
  • Mini-blinds
  • Other common sources of lead (car batteries, radiators, candle wicks, some inks, etc.)

Kim’s Garden Soil Recipe

Gardening, Kim's Journal
Published on 2 Comments on Kim’s Garden Soil Recipe

I am often asked about the soil in my raised beds.  What do I use? How much? Where do I buy it?

The last two years I’ve attempted to garden directly in Germantown’s hard, unforgiving clay.  Even after adding lots of compost I still had low yields.

This is the first year that I’ve used raised beds, so I did some experimenting.  The nursery blend didn’t appeal to me because it lacked the high levels of compost and manure that I was looking for.  I decided to blend my own based on what I was learning from Patty Moreno, the Garden Girl, and the Square Foot Garden technique.  I couldn’t afford to follow their exact recipe so I improvised within my budget.  I’m not sure how many bags of soil I purchased from Lowe’s and local nurseries but it was a lot!  I tried to use 3 equal parts Pete moss/garden soil, compost/manure and top soil (instead of top soil, the square foot garden experts recommend vermiculite). In some beds I was able to use a higher percentage of compost/manure than the other ingredients.  It’s more expensive if you have to buy it but the results are excellent.

My garden soil ingredients: Top soil, Black cow composted manure, organic garden soil, Pete moss, Nature’s Own garden blend, cotton burr compost, worm castings, a few have chicken manure and most have some rabbit manure. All of my beds had a layer of fall leaves at the bottom that I raked in last winter.  One had homemade compost from my backyard composter.

This year I plan to do more aggressive composting so that next spring I can rely on my own animal manures and compost to enrich my soil.  Buying all of this can be expensive so my goal is to build a self sufficient and sustainable system in my backyard.


I’m still experimenting with plant food.  I love the tomato tone and garden tone the best.  The liquid seaweed is still in the experimental stage.  I use the tomato blossom spray only when the blossoms are falling off or are slow to set and grow tomatoes. When my rabbit manure catcher is full I empty it right into whichever bed looks hungriest. I also use my worm castings around a plant’s roots whenever the leaves start to yellow.

One very important ingredient that I always add to my beds after they’ve been planted and everything has grown to at least an inch, is mulch.  I use hardwood mulch around every plant to inhibit weed germination and growth, to hold in soil moisture, protect my plants from drying out quickly, moderate soil-temperature fluctuations, and add nutrition to the soil. There are many different types of mulch to choose from including straw, hay, grass clippings, leaves, wood chips and Pete moss.

Kim’ Composting System

Gardening, Kim's Journal
Published on 1 Comment on Kim’ Composting System

A few weeks ago I cleaned out my old composting box which I built with hardware cloth and wood two years ago.  The leaves and grass broke down into beautiful compost but the branches, roots and twigs were still solid.  I decided to redesign my structure into two simple forms and use only grass clippings, leaves and kitchen scraps  (no meat or diary products) in these.  Instead of building the big boxes that I wanted, I decided to go with simple and cheap (in this case free) since my resilience money has run dry. I used my old 5′ tall hardware cloth.  I secured the sides with twisties.  I may pull a couple of black garbage bags over these to heat up the compost and speed up the whole process once they fill up.

Simple and cheap composting design
Secure with twisties

I also use a large trash can that I drilled holes in for composting but I have to be careful to keep the green a brown matter equal.  Too many fruits and veggies without the addition of leaves, dirt or paper products result in maggots.

Occasionally I help out the city garbage collectors by picking up the neighbor’s leaves all bagged up on the curb.  In the late fall there was plenty to fill up my entire composter and cover my dormant garden beds.

My worm composter works well but slow.  It takes a while for the worms to break down our scraps.  The best thing about this composter is the compost tea that comes out the spigot every time it rains. I’m hoping the bottom tray will be full of castings by the end of summer.

Worm composter from Can-O-Worms
Worm castings inside my can-o-worms

The chickens are the best composters of all.  They eat EVERYTHING and turn it into gold (eggs and manure).   We don’t have eggs yet but it won’t be long now.

My best composters

My Suburban Homestead Photo Gallery

Becoming Resilient, Gardening, Kim's Journal
Published on 3 Comments on My Suburban Homestead Photo Gallery

Kim’s Journal Entry:  May 13, 2011

I’ve been gardening in Germantown for three years now and I’ve had a tough time bringing in a substantial harvest.  Last year all my squash and zucchini plants died when I mulched with pine straw (too much acid) and my tomatoes stopped producing during the drought because I had a poor irrigation system.  I’ve had to deal with squash worms and aphids too.  I really believe that companion planting and using rabbit and chicken manure along with worm castings is really making a difference for me this year.  But the biggest change that I’ve made is planting in raised beds. I LOVE raised beds!  Creating my own nutritious soil mix without having to till and work our clay soil has been a huge plus.  The beds keep the rabbits away and make it easy to attach trellises, netting and connect hoop houses for winter crops. Weeding is also much easier to do with raised beds.  The floods and strong winds this spring would normally have hurt my garden but with raised beds every plant fared well.

Over the past three weeks I’ve added five new chicks and four bunny rabbits to my homestead experiment.  I also planted a small orchard in the back yard and built a chicken fence.  I planted peach and apple trees in my orchard and built a small grape trellis. All my raised beds are finally planted and I’ve been harvesting fresh, organic spinach, kale and romaine lettuce for two weeks now.  We are finally picking ripe strawberries too.  The girls like to help pick leafy greens for salads and pizzas.  It’s so much fun to eat this way!  I love the cut and come again romaine lettuce and spinach plants. YUM!

Here’s a list of the plants that I’m growing this year:

Vegetables: spinach, lettuce (romaine and loose leaf), kale, broccoli, onions, garlic, potatoes, green beans, squash, zucchini, cucumber, eggplant, green, purple, red and yellow bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, carrots, corn, celery, tomatoes, okra, lima beans, black beans, alfalfa.

Fruit: grapes, peaches, tangerines, apples, lemons, strawberries, blueberries, oranges (I’m hoping to plant cantaloupe, watermelon and pumpkins soon).

Companion Flowers: nasturtiums, marigolds, pansies.

Herbs:  basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm, chocolate mint, lavender, dill, mint, sorrel, stevia, apple mint, rosemary.

Here’s my latest photo gallery:


Homesteading in the Burbs – My Journey to Resilient Living

Becoming Resilient, Kim's Journal
Published on 1 Comment on Homesteading in the Burbs – My Journey to Resilient Living

March has been an incredibly busy month for me. When my husband and I discussed how to spend our tax refund this year we were unanimous in our decision to spend it on building resilience.   We decided to take the plunge into backyard homesteading.  It’s one thing to store some food as a hedge against rising fuel prices, inflation and emergencies but growing your own is an entirely different ball game and one that requires time, resources, education and commitment.  The crisis this month in Japan, the unrest in the Middle East and the rising cost of fuel have only added to my resolve to take this plunge!

I made my list and drew a diagram of what I planned to do with the backyard to maximize our sunny real estate.  Using the system designed by Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl, I began to build raised beds, a rabbit cage and a chicken tractor.  I purchased my six chicks the first day they were available from the tractor supply store.  My daughters were thrilled with their new pets!  The cages that I built fit neatly inside my raised beds and can be moved around to fertilize my soil between plantings.

Chicken tractor in a garden bed in the garage

Along with the beds, cages and chickens, I purchased four different apple tree varieties to start a small orchard.  I found a small greenhouse at Lowes that worked perfectly for seed starting and we installed three rain barrels on the patio. Then I was off to the nursery to buy soil, compost, manure, peat moss and mulch.  In three weeks I’ve finished all my building projects and have vegetables and fruit growing in 10 of my 18 raised beds.  We also hired a lumberjack to remove some trees and stumps to increase our sun exposure and free up some space for the new orchard.  With the extra wood as a resource, I decided to purchase to fire pit and make wood ash for the garden beds.

Our chickens

Luckily for me, I love this kind of work!  I find it to be therapeutic, calming, noble and meaningful.  I love that the kids are learning right along with me to appreciate God’s creation, to make wonderful things grow out of the earth and to care for animals that will in turn care for us by providing eggs, meat and fertilizer for our garden.  It’s fun to learn which systems work together to sustain life.

My neighbors have gotten involved too, especially their children.  I love having the help turning the compost, watering plants, feeding chickens and clearing the land. It turns out, gardening and chickens are a huge draw for kids. Some of my neighbors are asking for help to design and begin their own gardens.  I’m hoping they follow through.  The more resilient our neighbors are, the better off we’ll all be when hard times come.

Rain Barrels

I’m also inspired by my close friends who are starting their own back yard gardens.  Maybe we can barter and trade.  I’d love to learn from their successes and mistakes too.

I’ve added a few new resources to my indoor resilience supply closet.  I purchased a hand mill  for grinding grains, nuts, seeds and corn. My next experiment will be learning to mill and bake my own organic bread.  I also purchased an excellent water purifier in case we need to drink water from our rain barrels.

Me and my chickens

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I never stop learning so here’s my list of books and films for the month:

BOOKS

  1. You Grow Girl, Written and designed by Gayla Trail, the creator of YouGrowGirl.com – You Grow Girl is a hip and humorous how-to for the blossoming generation of crafty gals who want to get their garden on.
  2. The End of Food by Paul Roberts – In this carefully researched, vividly recounted narrative, Roberts lays out the stark economic realities beneath modern food

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FILMS

  1. Gasland – This film is well worth watching!  It was nominated for an Oscar this year.  Don’t miss this one
  2. Flow
  3. Tapped

Making Preparations: Kim’s journal entry for 2/8/11

Becoming Resilient, Kim's Journal
Published on 2 Comments on Making Preparations: Kim’s journal entry for 2/8/11

Today a friend and I went to the local hardware store to buy seed starting kits and I was able to get my spinach and broccoli started indoors.  I’m wondering when Spring will arrive this year.  The seasons seem a bit off lately.

I’m currently reading, ‘Just in Case: How to be Self-Sufficient when the Unexpected Happens‘,  by Kathy Harrison

This book is easy, informative, practical and fun to read.  I’m realizing how little I know about food storage and preparation for emergencies, especially long term ones.  I’m only about half way through.  The review below is helpful if you’re interested.

Editorial Review from Publishers Weekly: With the assumption that many of us have a false sense of security… assuming that technology will prevail or that some government agency will bail us out in a crisis, this extensive guide gives detailed, down-to-earth advice on what to do when disaster strikes, be it a house fire, an ice storm or biological terrorism. Aided by charmingly retro illustrations vaguely reminiscent of a 1940s air raid brochure, Harrison (Another Place at the Table) presents her OAR system for preparedness—organizing, acquiring and rotating supplies—and techniques to safely and even comfortably survive any kind of emergency. She shows how to prepare for a short-term crisis: building a supply of food and water; preparing first aid and evacuation kits; planning communication and a family meeting place in times of crisis. She also presents long-term strategies for self-sufficiency: eliminating debt and securing a supply of cash in your home; planting a garden, canning food and making cheese; replacing an inefficient fireplace with a woodstove; building a solar oven. Harrison shows that learning to do it yourself, besides providing some security in an increasingly insecure world, brings less obvious but perhaps equally important benefits: an incredible sense of self-sufficiency and independence. And pointing out that family preparedness can build community, she reminds readers, crisis can bring out the best in people, or the worst. Strive to be one of the good guys.

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On The Health Food Front

Lately, I’ve been soaking my beans instead of using canned ones (which incidentally, should be rinsed before cooking to help eliminate BPA and excess sodium).  It takes time to get used to living without the convenience but planning ahead helps.

For the past few months I’ve been purchasing my organic chickens whole (it’s cheaper than just buying the breast meat) and roasting them on a bed of potatoes, onions, carrots and garlic.  Then I simmer the bones for 8-24 hours to make bone broth which I use to cook vegetable soup the next day.  This way I get several very healthy meals out of one chicken and the bone broth is excellent for my husband’s joint problems and building our collective immunity.   Read the ‘Health Benefits of Bone Broth’.

There’s a fabulous documentary on food that I highly recommend entitled, ‘Food Matters’.  I was reminded of it today when my friend posted the trailer to it on facebook.  So I’ve decided to post it here for you to see.  ‘Food Matters’ is available on Netflix if you have it.

‘FOOD MATTERS’, – This film has been seen by hundreds of thousands of people in 9 different languages.

‘Food Matters’ discusses:

  • How to use food as medicine
  • Who needs vitamins?
  • Is organic better?
  • How safe is our food?
  • Natural treatments for lowering Cholesterol
  • Foods that fight Anxiety and Depression
  • Natural therapies for Cancer
  • Which drugs might do more harm than good?
  • The best ways to detox, lose weight and keep it off!

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Another documentary that blows my mind in the area of food and health  is Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days. This film is an independent documentary that chronicles six Americans with ‘incurable’ diabetes switching their diet and getting off insulin.

The film follows each participant’s remarkable journey and captures the medical, physical, and emotional transformations brought on by this diet and lifestyle change. We witness moments of struggle, support, and hope as what is revealed, with startling clarity, is that diet can reverse diabetes and change lives.
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Preparing for Emergencies

I’ve added some items to my emergency kit wish list.  I’m still hoping to be prepared before we face a crisis like the folks in Texas and New Mexico did this past week with prolonged water shortages, rolling blackouts and for some, days without any electricity.  I’m not entirely ready for that yet.  We have stored a good bit of water and food (three days worth) but that’s about it.  We are definitely in the market for a good generator.  Let me know if you have one to recommend.  Here’s a few items that are on my wish list:

1. Ambient Weather WR-088 Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio, Flashlight, Cell Phone Charger (Blue) with Cables:

  • The Ambient Weather WR-088 Weather Band provides assured access to news, weather information and illumination whenever and wherever you need it. The rubberized finish makes the WR-088 splash-proof. This robust and dependable radio, with integrated LED flashlight, offers a choice of self-charge, solar and external recharge power options.
  • The WR-088 delivers complete independence from wall power or disposable batteries, ensuring sustainable access to vital information and the peace of mind that you’ll never be without power. Ambient Weather’s self-charge technology means unparalleled playtime performance, and the compelling design makes the WR-088 a great everyday radio, as well as the perfect companion in emergencies.
  • The WR-088 will play for approximately 20 minutes at normal volume per 1-minute wind, and can be rewound at any time for as much playtime as you want. An LED charge level indicator tells you the best speed to wind. In direct sunlight the WR-088 will charge itself and play continuously – the internal Ni-MH battery can be fully charged from both the solar panel and an external USB charging adapter. Order ASIN: B0049J2FIS or B0049J43EW optional AC adaptor or DC car charger converter.
  • A must for any emergency toolkit or your everyday portable radio, the compact WR-088 is an AM/FM NOAA Weather Alert Radio and a powerful 3 LED flashlight, with cell phone, MP3, MP4, Amazon Kindle (TM) and USB charger, all in one tiny package. The WR-088 is a five way charger – charge from a USB device (computer), AC or wall power (with optional converter), DC or car charger (with optional converter), hand crank, or solar panel. The Ambient Weather WR-088 is a radio that you and your family can depend on, anytime, anywhere, any weather.
  • The WR-088 sets itself apart from other crank chargers – you can fully charge the WR-088 through the USB/AC/DC adaptor, and when you need it, charge the cell phone/mp3/mp4/USB with no cranking. Other crank chargers require continuous hand cranking to charge a device. Optional adaptors are available for AC (house) and DC (car) charging. Includes mini and micro cell phone adaptor cables, which cover about 90% of the cell phone market. EXCEPTIONS: Does not charge Apple IPhones and Ipads. Some cell phone adaptors sold separately.

2.  Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2-Burner Modular Cooking System, Black – The Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2 Burner cooker is more than just a camp stove, this modular outdoor cooking system allows you to create easy gourmet meals at home, camp or at the game. Includes a 3-sided windscreen ,Clover Leaf cooking surface and appliance-style temperature controls enable easy adjustment of output, making cooking fast and easy. 2×30,000 BTU

3.  Wonderwash –  -This is a hand-cranked, non-electric mini washing machine that washes loads clean in only 1-2 minutes using 90% less water and detergent. No maintenance required.

4.  HYBRID SOLAR POWERED FLASHLIGHT WITH EMERGENCY BATTERY BACKUP BLACK (*2-pack*) – Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight! Doesn’t Need To Be Left In The Sun! Once Charged It Can Be Stored Anywhere And Holds A Full Charge For Over 3 Years! The Hybrid Solar Light uses revolutionary technology that generates power from sunlight and stores it. When fully charged the Hybrid Solar Light can hold a charge for years. It is environmentally friendly, durable and guaranteed for life*

5.  Mini Countertop Spin Dryer Clothes Spin Dryer Portable Clothes Dryer – Works in only 2-3 minutes 2.2 lb capacity for dry laundry (about 1-2 pairs of jeans per load) 1600 rpm spin speed Portable, only weighs 11 lbs Compact, measures 13.5″ x 13.5″ x 15″ Very quiet Perfect for use with our Wonderwash 110V, uses 82W Important: please note that this is a spin dryer, not a regular tumble dryer. It extracts much more water from the clothes than a regular washing machine spin cycle, they come out slightly damp.  (this is more for energy savings that a black-out since it does require 82 Watts of electricity)

6. Global Sun Oven® – World’s Best Solar Oven – The Global Sun Oven? is the world’s most widely used solar oven. Solar cooking has been around for centuries, but up to now, not many people have had the opportunity to try cooking with the sun. Using the most advanced materials, the Sun Oven takes all the hassles out of solar cooking to create the ultimate solar appliance.
Features:

  • Rust-proof, highly polished, mirror-like anodized aluminum reflectors
  • Sets up in minutes
  • Lightweight with carry handle
  • Easy temperature monitoring
  • Will reach temps of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

The sun oven can be used in the winter as well as summer. It has been used very successfully at below zero conditions at a base camp on Mt. Everest. Measures 19″ x 19″ with an average depth of 11″. The total weight is only 21 pounds. You can bake bread, make cookies, pizza, muffins, or anything you could prepare using a conventional oven.

7. Honda Inverter Generator

EU3000iS (EU3000iSAN, EU3000iSAC)
  • 3000 watts, 120V
  • Power for your furnace, fridge, microwave, most 13,500 BTU RV AC units, and more
  • Super quiet
  • Convenient electric start
  • Fuel efficient – up to 20 hrs on 3.4 gals of gas
  • Inverter – stable power for computers and more

Transitioning to Community: Kim’s Journal Entry on 2/4/11

Kim's Journal
Published on 3 Comments on Transitioning to Community: Kim’s Journal Entry on 2/4/11

The Value Of Community

Kim’s Journal Entry: 2/3/11

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of community, of people coming together to get through hard times, like the times we are in and the times that are coming, as food, water and energy become more scarce.  We Americans are very independent, self reliant folks and we like to have our space, privacy and entertainment.  But often we are lonely, isolated and we miss out on the richness of true community.  It’s normal in my middle class neighborhood for everyone to own a spade, shovel, car, tv, computer, wrench, rake, you name it, everyone has one. When I lived in Indonesia and in Africa, the people in those cultures had a different mindset about things. They were happy to share what they had with their neighbors because not everyone could afford one of everything or had the space to store it.  People knew what was going on with each other and they took care of one another.  Yes, being poor often necessitates sharing.  People in the neighborhood all gathered at Mr. Dani’s house to watch TV since his was the only one in the area and they would pass around Yotji’s guitar so everyone could play.  In poor communities it’s not uncommon to trade and barter, my chicken eggs for your goat’s milk.

Of course to share in this way requires trust and relationships and that’s one thing we Americans are often short on.  I’m thinking that it’s time for me to get to know my neighbors a whole lot better because in the days and years to come I’m probably going to need them and they are going to need me.  Transition communities are all about building resilience together because we all know deep inside that if things really go bad we can’t make it on our own.  In light of what we are facing I believe that we should be proactive as a community and work together to create a better future for ourselves and our children instead of fearfully waiting for the inevitable.  Peak oil provides a strong incentive to do this.

Yesterday I watched the documentary, ‘The Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil’. Due to artificial plunges in oil imports, the Cuban people had to radically cope with the hardships of profound change.   Cuban’s faced starvation because the lack of oil imports meant the end of conventional farming in Cuba and at that time more than 80% of the food came from conventional farms.  The people of Cuba survived because they came together and started gardens and shared what they had.  They learned how to grow their food organically, without chemical pesticides and fertilizers which had so devastated the soil that it took between 3-5 years to revive the earth to where it could support life again. So they started by turning their yards, roofs and shared community spaces into gardens and small farms.  As a result they now have stronger communities and are much healthier.  There is still much suffering in Cuba but the people there have shown a great deal of resilience.  I was inspired by their story.  Could we do that here?  I think so.

So this year I’m going to work on my relationships, on bringing people together in my community.  I truly believe that as food and energy prices soar, our lives are going to become much more localized and we will be more dependent on our immediate community to meet our needs.  I hope that I will have something to offer to them.  The more resilient we all are, the easier the transition will be as we move from our dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.  I have no idea how painful that transition will be, how long it will last, what it will do to our economy, our food system and our lives, but I’ve read enough to know that it’s going to happen (it’s already happening in many places) but if we are proactive we can be prepared, gain strength from each other and build a better future together.

What’s encouraging to me is that there are many transition communities all over the world that are doing this.  Here’s an excellent example of just such a community in the USA.

Video: Transitioning Whidbey a Transition town in North America

Visit Transition USA to learn more about transition communities all over the USA

Video: The Transition Movement Comes to the USA

Kim’s Journal Entry for 1/28/11

Kim's Journal
Published on

Lately I’ve been so busy reading the news and posting articles that I’ve gotten behind on documenting my own journey.

This week I put together our 72 hour emergency grab bag.  We live on a fault line so it’s important to be ready for an earthquake and there’s always the possibility of tornadoes in our area.  So today I bought a small fire proof document case that I filled and packed in our hideout with lots of power bars, water, a water purifier, flashlights, first aid kit, radio, candles, lighters, sleeping bags,  and batteries.  I found a very cool LED headlamp at Lowes.  In an emergency it’s good to have light and be hands free. I still need a few more items to make it complete but it feels good to be getting prepared. I stored 12 gallons of water in there as well. Next, I’ll be working on an emergency kit for the car.

I shopped with my good friend, Teri, at Whole Foods this week and I picked up a very nice 50 gallon rain barrel with a screen top and built in hose attachment.  The rain barrel is safe for organic gardens (no BPA),  is jet black and was just $99.00.  I’ll need to build a platform and hook up my saoker hose to it soon.

With food prices predicted to increase this year (gas too) I decided to go ahead and get started on my food storage plan.   I filled up large bags of dried beans, quinoa and organic brown rice at Whole Foods and purchased large boxes of organic canned food at Costco.  I ordered the seeds for my garden at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company.  Their seeds are all non-hybrid and non-GMO.  I can’t wait to start planting!

I was also politically active this week.  I contacted my senators because I’m hoping to help prevent Islam Siddiqui from being confirmed as the chief agriculture negotiator in the office of the United States Trade Representative.  President Obama just installed him but the senate will be voting on whether or not to confirm him soon.   Islam Siddiqui is the “inside man” in the Obama Administration for his former clients at CropLife (a front group for genetic engineering and chemical-intensive agribusiness corporations including Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont and Dow Chemical).  From the article…

Another Washington wheeler-dealer using the revolving door between government and big business, Siddiqui formerly worked for Clinton’s pro-biotech USDA. Siddiqui gained notoriety in 1997-98 as an insider pushing for the infamous proposed USDA regulations for national organic standards that would have allowed toxic sewage sludge, irradiated foods, and genetically modified organisms to be labeled “organic.”

You can watch the video and read the article by clicking here.  Ask your senator to refuse his confirmation at the bottom of the site.  It’s so easy to do.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey for me is building community.  A few of my friends have decided to start working together to help each other get their gardens going.  We share news, recipes and nutrition advice.  I would love to see this community grow!

I also read an amazing book this week entitled, “The End of Food”.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who eats!

The End of Food

Here’s a good book review of ‘The End of Food’:

In this carefully researched, vividly recounted narrative, Roberts lays out the stark economic realities beneath modern food—and shows how our system for making, marketing, and moving what we eat is growing less and less compatible with the billions of consumers that system was built to serve.

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At the heart of The End of Food is a grim paradox: the rise of large-scale, hyper-efficient industrialized food production, though it generates more food more cheaply than at any time in history, has reached a point of dangerously diminishing returns. Our high-volume factory systems are creating new risks for food-borne illness—from E. coli and Salmonella to avian flu. Our high-yield crops and livestock generate grain, vegetables, and meat of declining nutritional quality. Overproduction is so routine that nearly one billion people are now overweight or obese worldwide—and yet those extra calories are still so unevenly distributed that the same number of people—one billion, roughly one in every seven of us—can’t get enough to eat. In some of the hardest-hit regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, the lack of a single nutrient—vitamin A—has left more than 3 million children permanently blind.

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Meanwhile, the shift to heavily mechanized, chemically intensive farming has so compromised the soils, water systems, and other natural infrastructure upon which all food production depends that it’s unclear how long such output can be maintained. And just as we’ve begun to understand the limits of our industrialized superabundance, the burgeoning economies of Asia, where newly wealthy consumers are rapidly adopting Western-style, meat-heavy diets, are putting new demands on global food supplies.

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Comprehensive and global, with lucid writing, dramatic detail and fresh insights, The End of Food offers readers new, accessible way to understand the vulnerable miracle of the modern food economy. Roberts presents clear, stark visions of the future and helps us prepare to make the decisions — personal and global — we must make to survive the demise of food production as we know it.

So that’s my week in a nutshell.  Hopefully the weather will be nice enough next week for some outdoor work.  I’m itching to get started in the garden but first I need to read,  “The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!”