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OCCUPY THE FOOD SUPPLY!

GMOs are an extension of chemical agriculture: developed and sold by synthetic pesticide production and seed monopolizing companies such as Monsanto, DuPont, Dow, Syngenta, Bayer Crop Science and Scotts.

In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food.

In the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food.

Alfalfa (first planting 2011)

Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)

Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approx. 988 acres)

Soybean (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)

Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)

Zucchini and Summer Squash (approx. 25K acres)

Soon to be? GMO Fish and Scott’s GMO Blue Grass

Nearly 50 countries, including Australia, Japan, Peru and all of the European Union, have significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs.

Experimentation on the social and environmental hazards of GMO’s are lacking!

Possible risks of GMO’s could include:

Alteration of unique biodiversity of heritage crops which have ecological, social, economic and scientific values. (CEC 2004) http://www.cec.org/maize/

Creation of more vigorous pests and pathogens and intensification of their effects through hybridization in relation to GMO’s; harm to nontarget species such as soil organisms, beneficial insects and birds. (Snow, A., D. 2005)

Realizing Social Effects:  Loss of food independence, migration and concentration of agribusiness. (Pengue, W.A. 2005)

 

Monsanto Ties: researchers, attornies, lobbyists 

* FDA’s Metabolism & Endocrine Advisory Committee - Dr. Virginia Weldon – Sen. Vice President for Public Policy Monsanto

* USDA, EPA - Lidia Watrud –Mgr, New Tech.

* Dir, USDA NIFA - Roger Beachy –Dir, Monsanto Danforth Center Clarence Thomas – Former Lawyer for Monsanto

* Commissioner of FDA - Michael A. Friedman – Sen Vice President for Clinical Affairs

* Hillary Clinton –Rose Law Firm, Monsanto Counsel     

For more visit: occupy-monsanto.com

Broody Hen's Broody Twin

Yes, that's right, an identical sister, except for blonde nails on her center toes. Well that and she's about a year younger, quieter and has been people shy since she was a chick. Hatched by Little Black Broody Hen herself, her twin is already showing the inherent bantam broodiness just two months after coming of age. For the past two days, she's been setting on her chosen nest at night and taking only one very short leisure during morning feed out before quietly clucking her way back to her nest. Less hurried than Broody hen, maintaining the same calm social stance instead of becoming distant and fleeting from the flock. She will displace only one hen's laying spot. I gave her my normal 2-3 day trial of commitment period while I collected suitable eggs. Then, with fingers crossed and much needed babying and attention for a distant and avoiding hen, hopefully she will transition into motherhood flawlessly and personable.

As for Lil Black Hen's latest hatch, a flop.

An egg exploded on her clutch early on, smothering eggs, spreading bacteria and death. This was a new endeavor with her in the Aframe while broody. She would sneak out in the quiet morning for her stretch before I was awake; Therefore I did not get a daily glace for cleanliness of her nest. Although a breath stopping stench clued me in. I changed and added new bedding, along with some fresh thyme and chocolate mint to freshen the air.

Late on the day of hatch, I looked over an unbroken egg in my hand. I feared for the chick inside, dark, cramped and seemingly alone, waiting to feel the heat retention of dry feathers. I clucked to the egg and pressed it to my ear. I thought maybe a single mercy crack would help. I found a small suitable stick, rethinking my actions at every moment: 'what if I hurt the chick?', too concerned for it's livelihood I give it a quick tap. The pressurized sound of that egg POP, immediately followed by the milky green ooze now covering my hands and splattered on my face were enough to make me nauseous. Obviously a learning experience I power-walked to the house, mouth tight in fear of tasting this vile sludge. Five hand-washes later and I could still smell the wrenching wreak of death. Either way, half of the clutch rotted into vile, verdant, liquid, pressurized bomb shells. The horror.

The next morning I opened the back of the Aframe to find a still damp chick, cast behind her, cold and limp. “What happened?” I exclaimed in a soft yet high pitched voice. Broody hen with sadness in her eyes looked back between me and the chick and gave a low growl. The next day another lifeless body. Three of the ten survived, my livelihood numbers are plummeting!

Currently thriving at just about one month are: A white feather-legged chick with black splashing, a quick growing all white and a red. The red's baby feathers are similar to nine roos I adopted just a few days after LBHen's hatch, seeminly RIRs. She however, would not take to this rambunctious crew of at least a week older, already scurrying, play-fighting, and tugging at her eyes and comb while her chicks stood as a new foal. She has already set them a place on the pecking order, right at the tip of her beak.

Today I stroked the very top of Broody Twin's head (if I choose better names I will only be saddened further by loss) and placed six good sized eggs under her alongside one of her own. I'll keep the clutch small in case this ends in forgetfullness.  Good luck and good ridden because her eggs are too small to sell, silly bantams.

Broody Hen, broody again.

Good ol’ gal, yes she’s setting again. Although she tried midwinter, I knew the weather wouldn’t hold out for her so I stole her eggs away. Now that winter has seemingly ended and the snow has dwindled away, the flock is buzzing around the yard. She seems to feel the quiet calm near the coop without the bustle of winter crowding.

She and I however are having some disagreements this time around. I’m sick of her taking over the most used nest box to hatch her eggs. Other hens lie on top of her, push her out, sully her eggs and add eggs that take precious body warmth away from hatching eggs.

So I made a decision to put her in my small Aframe now. She is not excited about this and after her morning routine time off the nest, paces trying to get back to her chosen spot. I found she does not settle on her own. Therefore it easiest to let her out of the Aframe so she can run to her spot clucking like a fiend and then I pick her up and put her where I want her.

I’ve given her just a couple eggs to get her started. I want to make sure she is settled and concentrated before giving her a real clutch without adding too many extra days to her laying time. If all remains well today I will put them under her tomorrow morning. I have collected good sized and round shaped eggs today and yesterday for hatching. I choose rounder rather than the more pointed eggs because of the myth that they are females. This proved good for me last hatch when I ended up with only 1 male in 6.

If she can settle the issue of the Aframe as her spot I hope that from here on out if she wants to go broody, she will choose to go to the Aframe. We’ll see.