Gardening Organically at Home

Last night, Wayne Porter, the Area Horticulture Agent from Mississippi State University Extension Service, presented a workshop on organic gardening. The information was for home gardeners, not for those wanting to sell their produce. If you're local, you might want to attend some of his workshops at the MS State Extension office in Lamar County.
He discussed the three primary concepts in organic gardening. First, he said that the building and maintaining the soil's organic content is important especially in the south. Rainfall and high temperatures break down organic matter much faster than in a cooler climates. Before planting it would be beneficial to have your soil tested so that you know what nutrients your soil needs. The testing should also give you the pH (or alkaline) of the soil. Ideally, the pH should be between 4.7 and 6.5 for vegetables. Here in Mississippi soils are acidic and need something like sulfur to lower the levels. Other adjusters include wood ash, organic matter, crushed shells and limestone. Organic matter is material that was once living.
Secondly, natural materials should be the source of your soil's mineral nutrients. Sources of organic matter include cover crops (like rye or wheat), compost, manure, crop residue and dead organisms. Cover crops are grown to control erosion and can be incorporated into the soil as green manure. Composting is a great way to deal with plant residue and is an essential component of organic gardening.
Using cultural and biologival pest control is the third concept in organic gardening. If necessary, you can purchase organic fertilizer, like blood meal, green sand, fish fertilizer, cottonseed meal, or manure. The advantage of purchasing organic fertilizer is that these fertilizers gradually release nitrogen through out the growing season. Depending on the size of your garden, the cost may make it make it difficult to get the required amount of material. For example, you would need 1,000 lbs of chicken maunre per acre to get the necessary nutrients for your plants. Also know that fresh chicken manure contains large amounts of ammonia and can damage plants. There is no guarantee that the product is organic if it's not labeled certified organic.
The healthier the plants, the less susceptible they will be to disease. Some of the strategies for disease management include crop rotation, proper plant placement, purchasing plants that are disease resistant, proper watering, and weed control. Also, if the seeds are planted at the correct time and in the ideal temperature they will have a better chance of survival. There are products like Neem Oil, Spinosad, sodium bicarbonate, Diatimaceous Earth, lime-sulfur, Rotenone Insecticide, or Bordeaux mix that can protect against predators and disease, but there are other options if you don't feel comfortable using these products. There are beneficial insects like ladybugs and praying mantis that can keep harmful insects in check or you can practice bagging of fruit, shaking, and hand picking. Ideally, planting varieties that are resistant to disease, are rapidly growing, and have a shorter growing season will decrease the chance of insect and disease. An additional problem is weed management. Tilling, flame cultivation, hand pulling, hoeing and mulch are all traditional methods of reducing weeds.
If you are interested in gardening organically, start by identifying your problem areas, gather information on management strategies, develop a list of resources, practice daily scouting, take immediate action, and practice Integrated Pest Management.

Additional resources: Sustainable Agriculture and Research and National Substaniable Agriculture Information Service

Green Gift Monday

Now that Black Friday is over it's time to focus on Cyber Monday. Five years ago Cyber Monday became the biggest on-line shopping day of the year. The Nature Conservatory wants to turn Cyber Monday into Green Gift Monday. The goal here is to give green gifts this holiday season.

The Daily Green has some great green gift ideas for everyone on your shopping list. I especially like their eleven ideas for not giving 'stuff.' I for one would love a volunteer vacation or a year of farm fresh produce. Treehugger also offers up some great ideas ranging from organic baby toys to recycled dog beds. If you really feel that you have to have a gift wrapped and placed under the tree Why Go Ecotourism offers eco friendly polar fleece blankets and reusable grocery shopping bags as gifts that can be given year round.

For those of you that like to send flowers why not send an organic bouquet this year. Or if you'd rather, Fiddler's Green Farm offers organic gift baskets at very reasonable prices. Of course you're going to need Christmas cards so why not buy your cards from Pear Tree. They have a variety of green holiday cards to choose from.

Don't forget that all that wrapping paper is only going to end up in a land fill unless you try out some more creative ideas. You can make the wrapping a part of the gift. Why not use a scarf or towels instead of paper or maybe give a tea pot with a gift card inside to that chef who has everything. If you are a die hard traditionalist the Green Field Paper Company offers 100% recycled wrapping paper. Have a very green Christmas!

give more; spend less

Today is Advent Sunday. This is a season that we, as Christians, prepare for the coming of Jesus. I want this season to be about more than running around to parties, fighting the traffic and getting the right gift. In preperation our family went and served Thanksgiving lunch downtown at Brownstone's Free Thanksgiving Dinner. It felt good to be take a small amount of our time and help out those who are under resourced.

Last year our church introduced us to The Advent Conspiracy.
The AC encourages congregations to, "think of meaningful acts of kindness as meaningful gift options to replace traditional gifts." This grassroots movement also supports Living Water International. LWI is addressing the world's water crisis in Ethiopia, Brazil, Haiti, and Mexico just to name a few places.

Another organization that has recently entered the scene in the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. They want to, "empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures." Vampire Support has teamed up with the IS Foundation and is selling t-shirts where, "All profits made will go directly to the IS Foundation. [The foundation] will set aside the money from the shirts for projects with The National Wildlife Federation and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill clean up efforts."

If you are interested in supporting an organization that's goal is to end poverty and hunger, you may want to give to Heifer International. We had the opportunity to tour Heifer International's green office in Little Rock, AR several years ago. HI believes that they can't end world hunger without also saving the earth. Their philosophy is offer a long term solutions by empowering those in poverty and encouraging them to pass along their knowledge and the off spring of their animal to others is their community.

Rice and Bean Ministry is trying to feed 500 families for a month. It takes approximately 100 to feed each family. I know Fred and his team would appreciate your support. They are, of course, trying to feed families all year around in Costa Rica. It only cost $10 dollars to buy a bag a food to feed a family for a week.

If you are ready to give more and spend less (two of the AC founding principles) I encourage you to consider giving some of what you would normal spend on Christmas gift to one of these worthwhile causes.

GM Foods

I spoke to a farmer recently that, like many in is business, support genetically modified crops. His argument was that the poor wouldn’t be able to feed their families if crops were grow organically because it is so much more expensive to raise crops using natural methods. He also said that the extra expense would spill over into other products like sugar, milk, and bread. I can’t argue against the cost of growing GMO’s, but I can’t support it just because it’s more cost effective. According to US Department of Agriculture the percentage of GM corn grown in the United States grown from 7 to 70 percent, and 93 percent of the soybeans grown in the US are GM.

I’m sure you’ve read Jonathan Berr's article that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA )is considering whether to approve the production and sale of genetically modified fish, or frankenfish as it’s being called. Apparently, the argument is over labeling. The biotech industry is concerned that consumers won’t buy the fish if the product label spells out that the fish is genetically modified. Most fish in the US are raised on fish farms, but salmon, by in large, is still caught in the wild. The fishermen aren’t able to keep up with the demand and the supply of wild salmon in this country is shrinking. I assure you, the solution is not to make a frankenfish. According to CNN

"The fish's rapid growth will be boosted by the injection of a combination of a growth gene (GH-coding sequences) from the Pacific Chinook salmon and genetic material (the AFP gene) from the ocean pout - a large, eel-like fish - into the fertilized eggs of Atlantic salmon, making the recombined DNA present in cells throughout the body of the fish. The Chinook gene promotes the growth to market size, and the pout gene allows the fish to grow in the winter as well as the summer."

The FDA is only looking at whether this fish is safe compared to other farm raised or wild salmon. Today is the last day for your voice to be heard concerning the labeling of this potentially dangerous fish. Aquabay Technologies plans to breed the salmon in an inland facility in Canada, however, they will raise the fish in Panama.

This past summer, according to Micheal J Crumb of the Associated Press, a California judge halted the planting of GM sugar beets until the USDA could complete an impact study on how these organisms affect the traditional crops. Fifty percent of the US’s sugar comes from sugar beets that have been planted with products like Genuity Roundup Ready Sugarbeets. The apparent benefit is that farmers are able to use pesticides on the crops without killing the plant itself. Companies like Monsanto would have you believe that farmers and consumers will suffer if GMO’s aren’t allowed to be planted, but that isn’t the case. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), an office of the USDA, has opened a comment period asking for input from retailers, farmers, university professors, dealers, and agricultural organizations on the Environmental Assessment. All interested parties have until December 6 to make their voices heard.

It is essential that we, as consumers, stay informed. The Non-GMO Project supports the verifying and labeling of products and that believes we have the right to make informed choices about whether we want to consume GM products. The Project’s role is to make certain we have accessible Non-GMO alternatives in our future. Voting Block is a site that allows you to tell your elected representatives where you stand on the issue and what they should to earn your vote. Remember to let your voice be heard!

************UPDATE*************

Article: "Public Says No To Transgenic Fish, Demands Mandatory Labeling "

precious presents

We are fast approaching the holiday season and with that, for some reason, the Christmas shopping season. This Friday is the dreaded Black Friday, named so because this is the day that retailers go from being in the red to being in the black.

Once again I want to challenge you not to fall into the commercialism of the season. One rebellious group, The Adbusters, are campaigning for us to join Buy Nothing Day where you can pledge to not shop from sunrise to sunset on November 26th. I think this is an interesting proposition, since we Americans have more waste that any other country. So, in addition to not shopping on Black Friday I want you to consider some other ways you can make changes this holiday season.

Did you know that 1.8 million people in under resourced countries die every year from dirty drinking water. The Advent Conspiracy who tells us to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all, is asking for support for Living Water International . There is a wonderful video where Chris Seay explains, from the streets of Haiti, how you can spend your Christmas money to save lives.

Samaritan's Purse offers aid to the worlds poor and sick. They have emergency relief programs that provide assistance to victims of war, famine, disease, and natural disaster. At Christmas time you can pack a shoe box and have it sent to a needy child through their Operation Christmas Child program. Their vision is through the story of the good Samaritan.

Fred Curry, of Rice and Beans Ministry, in Costa Rica is asking for support in reaching out to the poor people in the coastal, central and south pacific. Just ten dollars will feed a family for 4 days.

Of course there are children right here in the US that go to bed hungry every day. Many of these kids rely on the school lunch program to receive nutritious meals. On weekends and holidays there the program, Feeding America, that offers additional food through their Backpack Program. They fill children's backpacks with nonperishable and easily consumed food the day before the weekend or holiday. Our church is partnered with a local school and we provide these backpacks,. We are always in need of more backpacks and money to purchase food due to the increasing numbers of qualified applicants.

So, instead of giving into the commercialism of the season, I am begging you, please consider participating in one of these programs or look into another programs in you region where you can give the most precious gift.

A Trip to the Dairy

Just down the road is Country Girls Creamery, a family owned dairy

Twice a day the Smith family has to milk 85 head of cattle.

The cattle primarily eat grass, but are given feed 16-24 ounces of feed at each milking.

By law they must pasteurized the milk. This involves cooking the milk

for 30 minutes at 140 degrees.

The creamery also makes butter, yogurt, and cheese that is sold locally at the Turtle Creek Farmer's Market and at The Little Butcher Shop.

65% of the milk consumed is processed locally, the rest is shipped in from out of state.

Country Girls Creamery has natural, not organic milk. What that means is that they don't use hormones or antibiotics on their cattle, but the grain that they feed them twice daily comes from genetically modified corn. There is, however, an organic dairy in North MS.

GMO VS Organic; which do you want to eat?

Whether you have a garden in your backyard, buy your produce at the local farmer's market or purchase it at a superstore, organic food is better for the health of your family. Many years ago all of our crops were grown without the assistance of genetic engineers; that is not so now. Conventional farming today consists of any agriculture that demands high yields. This requires the use of genetically modified seeds, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

There are advantages and disadvantages to genetically modified organisms (GMO). Plants that have been modified by genetic engineers are drought resistant, tolerant to herbicides, have a tolerance to the cold, and are resistant to many diseases. There by providing an abundance of food at an affordable price. However,these crops do not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. In fact these plants are causing allergies and cancers in humans yet we continue to accept and consume them on a daily basis. If you don't believe me read this article about the effects of rats eating genetically modified potatoes.

Genetically modified foods are not only grown for our consumption, but for the consumption of animals. Once the animal eats the GMO feed it transfers foreign DNA into that animal which is then passed on to any humans consuming that beef, pork, or poultry. Even more disturbing, is that the FDA is considering approving the first genetically modified animal for human consumption. If you don’t want to eat genetically modified salmon, you can let your voice be heard here.

I understand that not everyone can grow a self sustaining garden in their back yard, but we can all make well educated decisions when shopping. We have the greatest influence on what is being offered. Europeans have shunned GMO’s. If we refuse to accept foods that have been genetically altered, the farming industry will stop giving into the genetic engineers and biotech companies. One of the ways to make your voice heard is to join the True Food Network. You can also reading labels, buying only organic meat and produce, and eating foods that are in season.

Distracted Driving

I have a friend that was seriously injured in this car accident recently because, the other driver (that ran a red light and plowed into my friends truck) was texting. Just weeks before that, it could have been me that cause that wreck. Yes, I am guilty of texting while driving, I admit it. I don't even have a good excuse, because the reality is, there is no reason that anyone should text and drive.

I read an article that reported that 81 percent of people in the US admit to texting while driving in their vehicle. Did you know that there are only eight states that prohibit using handheld devices while driving? Only seven are primary enforcement laws, which means that the police can pull you over without there being another traffic offence. Twenty eight states prohibit novice drivers from using cell phones while 30 stats ban texting while operating a mother vehicle.

Until the law catches up with technology, it has to be our responsibility to say no to text messaging while driving. While I'm not a huge Oprah fan, I am aware that she is against distracted driving. In fact, she has a pledge that you can sign that says you won't text and drive. I've agreed not to text and drive, won't you?

Ways to make a difference in the environment.

I realize that most of us aren't going to go out and live in a tree like my hero Julia Butterfly Hill . She live in the tree, Luna, from December 10, 1997 to December 18, 1999. But, there are some very simple things that we can do around our homes that can make a real difference.

Let's start with the no cost actions we can all take. The simplest is to just TURN OFF THE LIGHTS! I am the worlds worst, but I figure there are enough people in this house that if we just keep reminding each other, we'll eventually get the hang of it. Other simple step we can take are to unplug our electronics, air dry our dishes, and wash our cloths in cold water. Also, if you will wash your cloths in the cooler part of the day the heat generated by the dryer won't cause your air conditioner to use more energy trying to cool your home. Unless of course, you're willing to forgo to dryer all together and hang you clothes out on the line to dry.

Now get out your shopping list. I promise none of these suggestions will break the bank, in fact you might find some nice savings on your electric bill this year if you'll give them a try. The first thing I want you to do is to buy energy saving light bulbs. Then when it's time to replace your old bulbs they will be in the cabinet ready to use. I know the cost may be slightly more than what you're used to spending, but you will be saving money because they use less power and have a longer rated life. Just keep in mind that they contain small amounts of mercury and need to be recycled so that the mercury doesn't leach out into our water supply. If you will take your unbroken bulbs to any Home Depot we can leave these bulbs on the positive side of your shopping list. (To read more about Home Depots CFL Bulb Recycling Initiative just click here)

While you're making that environmentally friendly shopping list, go ahead and add an air filter. Make sure you write down the correct size so you don't get confused with all of the choices. If you are unsure of how often you need to change your air filter or which one to buy you can find answers here.

Now add weather stripping and caulk to your list since they can save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill. If you don't know how to install the stripping just check these these simple steps from BobVila.com.

And finally, make sure you don't leave off the washers and gaskets because according to the Environmental Protection Agency, your household is losing 10,000 gallons of water each year due to dripping faucets and other water leaks, besides fixing leaky faucets can lower your water bills by 10 percent.

Turn your pencil over and start erasing. I want you to stop buying single use batteries. They contain lead, nickel and mercury. When incinerated toxic substances are released into the air that you breath. There are perfectly good rechargeable batteries available so buy them instead.

You will also need to take off all those cleaning products that contain toxic chemical. Imagine what those chemical are doing to your respiratory health. If you're really brave you can make your own or simply read labels.

Now that you're filling your cabinets up with eco friendly products don't make the mistake of tossing out products that are dangerous. For example, did you know that it isn't safe to throw away or flush your prescription or over the counter medications because they are harmful to wildlife and to our water supply. Just recently DREAM (Drug-free Resources and Education Alternatives in Mississippi ) teamed up with local law enforcement and hosted a drug drop off day where people in our community were able to turn in their medications so that they could be properly disposed of instead of contaminating our enviroment. If you aren't sure how to properly dispose of your medications just read this this article.

When it comes to tossing things in the trash don't dispose of any electronics. They contain lead and it may even be illegal to toss out that old computer monitor or antiquated TV. Think about donating or recycling it first.

Also remember that if you currently have products that are toxic, like paint and pesticides, they need to be disposed of properly. Most cities have a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal site . If you aren't sure where to take them Earth911 offers easy access to drop-off locations in your area. I have discuss the problems with pesticides in a separate post, but know this: PESTICIDES ARE DANGEROUS!

I also want you to remember what I said about freecycle and cloth bags. If you've forgotten just click here and I'll refresh your memory. If you'll pick up one or two cloth bags every time you go to the store, you'll have enough to cut out using all those horrible plastic bags.

If you have, or are planning to have, children consider using cloth diapers. If not all of the time, you should at least use them when you're home, we did. With the advances in cloth diapering system it's really much easier because they have all-in-one diapers and biodegradable inserts.

I've said it before, stop buying bottled water and get yourself a water purification system and some reusable bottles. It's not only good for Mother Earth it's better for your health.

Stop taking bathes and start showering. A bath takes up almost twice as much water as a bath. You can even improve on that by shortening your shower times or better yet shower with a buddy!

Don't forget to buy locally! Take advantage of that farmers market or farmer on the side of the road, you will not only be helping your local economy you will decrease food miles and intern decrease carbon emissions.

If you live somewhere that you access to public transportation, take advantage of it, but if you must drive keep in mind that a properly maintained car will improve it's performance there by decreasing your cost at the pump.

Another simple step you can take is to go paperless. Do you really need all of the bills sent to you by mail when you have a perfectly good email account just itching to fill up. Not only can you receive your bill electronically, you can pay them that way too. No more running out of stamps, hunting up a pen that actually works to write out a check, or forgetting to get it in the mail in time.


This week is national recycling week so, don't forget to recycle, recycle, recycle!

A cup of tea for your garden

I have heard from every organic gardener I know that I should use compost tea in my garden. Up until three years ago, I had no idea what compost tea was or why I should use it. Well, there are a number of benefits to using it. First, it will improve your soil structure. Second, it enhances the taste of your fruits and vegetables. Third, it is safer for you, for animals and the environment because it is natural/organic. And finally, it helps to fight off disease in your plants by increasing the number of organisms on and around the plant that will compete with disease-causing organisms.



So now that you know the benefits, here is how to make a batch of simple compost tea.

You will need:
5-gallon bucket
mature compost
Water (not tap water)
Cheesecloth
Spray bottle

1) Fill the bucket about 1/3 of the way with mature compost. Then fill the bucket with water, leaving room to stir the mixture without spilling.
2) Leave the bucket out of direct sunlight, stirring at least once per day for 5 to 7 days. Stirring the mixture at least once a day will provide adequate oxygen for the tea making process. Without enough oxygen, anaerobic bacteria can start to grow and make your compost tea useless.
3) Strain the compost tea by pouring the tea through cheesecloth into a separate 5-gallon bucket.

The finished compost tea is concentrated and will need to be diluted before you apply it to your plants. Add approximately 10 parts water (not tap water) to every 1 part of compost tea.

To apply, simply fill a spray bottle with compost tea and use it to spray plant foliage. It's best if you spray the plant's leaves early in the morning or in the evening near dusk. Apply once or twice per month to control garden pests and to attract beneficial insects.

Do you have the right diagnosis?

Five years ago, while living in Monroe, LA, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. At that point we had two children. We hadn't had any problems getting pregnant the first time, but we did the second time around. In fact, I took Clomid for six months after trying unsuccessfully for almost a year. We moved shortly after I was diagnosed and the doctors that I used after that ignored the diagnosis since we were no longer trying to get pregnant.

Infertility is not the only symptom; it's a syndrome. If you are not familiar with PCOS, keep in mind I'm not just talking about cyst on your ovaries. This is a metabolic disorder that effects ovulation. Other features include excessive facial hair, obesity, acne, high blood pressure, impaired liver function, sleep apnea, thinning of scalp hair, and excessive amounts of androgenic (masculinizing) hormones. The symptoms and severity of this syndrome vary a great deal from woman to woman.

Most physicians treat the symptoms that their female patients complain about without looking deeper into what is causing the problems. Like I said, I was put on Clomid. Many women are put on birth control pills. Neither of these options will treat the real issue. Hopefully you and your doctor will able to piece together what's really going on, so that you can to receive the appropriate treatment.

That brings me to an important feature of this syndrome; most women find that they are insulin resistance. My blood sugar is within normal limits, I am not and hope to never become a diabetic, but when I was treated with the diabetic medication called Glucophage, I began to lose weight and my menstrual cycle returned. Of course that didn't last for long since I couldn't find a doctor that would agree to prescribe me a medication that isn't approved for the treatment of PCOS. Trust me I've found one now and feel confident that I can lose weight and get off of blood pressure medication through diet, exercise, and taking the right medication.

I have a friend out there that has had the same struggle except that she had thyroid problems. My point is this: if you feel like you aren't receiving the treatment you need, keep looking. There is someone out there that will listen.

What You're Really Eating

I've talked about how important it is to buy locally and eat seasonally. Neither of which are very easy things to do when we are so used to getting what we want when we want it. So yes, I buy produce at the grocery store, all of the time.

Now if I'm eating my own fruits and veggies I know I can just rinse them off and they're safe. If I buy from my local farmers market I can just ask the guys I'm buying from if they use any pesticides. Of course I won't buy from them if they're using anything stronger than compost tea. But what about the lettuce I get at the Corner Market?

Did you know that there are pesticides that are actually absorbed by the plant? Systemic pesticides circulate through the plants tissues. The idea is to increase food production by killing the insects that feed on the plant, but unlike traditional pesticides, you can't wash off the residue because it's in the plant's tissues. These chemical are absorbed by the plant and poison all of the plant including the pollen and nectar of the flowers. The butterflies and bees that pollinate these plants are in turn poisoned. Imagine how this affects our entire ecosystem. After a good soaking with these pesticides, this poison is not only eking its way into the tomatoes you’re planning on putting in your salad, it’s in the soil. Now imagine that it rains, those poisons are being washed into our public water supplies and our streams where they are contaminating the fish and other sea food that we eat. Pesticides are poisonous! The most notable case would have been the Bhopal, India disaster in 1984. I realize that may be an extreme example, but people are poisoned by pesticides every year.

There are alternatives to buying contaminated produce. You can purchase organic produce and you don’t even have to search out a speciality health food store anymore. Organic fruits and vegetables are offered at most grocery stores, in fact, I’ve seen them at that big superstore that we invariability run to every week for some necessity. However, you may need to ask for organic fruits and vegetables if they are not currently being offered in you local grocery store.

Another option for avoiding contaminated produce is to support organizations that are trying to protect the health of people and the environment. One such group is the Northwest Coalition of Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP). Supporting organizations like the NCAP is a great way that we can help make pesticide use nothing but a bad memory.

If you want to read more about systemic pesticides you can find an article in the October/November 2010 issue of Mother Earth News .

Uncovering Dyslexia

My dear sweet child was not reading on grade level. We started out using a phonics program called Explode the Code, and then we used Hooked on Phonics. We also tried a program call Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I really thought we were making progress, so we started using old Dick and Jane readers, and graduated up to Level/I Can Read books, but we kept getting stuck and worse yet, we were slipping backwards.






Let me back up and say that, our dear sweet little boy had some significant articulation issues when he was younger. We thought it was because he had so many ear infection as an infant. His speech issues were so severe that we had him in speech from the time he was 3 years old.

I sympathized with him because I had speech issues and problems reading when I was younger too. My sixth grade teacher recommend to my parent that I get my eyes checked by a doctor specializing in vision issues, not an optometrist. The doctor said my eyes weren’t focusing together and that I didn’t 'see' the middle of the word. I was given bifocals and my school work seemed to improve.

Fast forward back to my child, I was feeling like a failure in several different arenas. The obvious was that I couldn’t teach my child to read. The other, to put it bluntly, was that I gave him some crappy genes. Being the persevering homeschooling momma that I am, I talked to anyone that would listen and diligently research our problems on the internet.


The program that I decided to last this year was called Reading Horizons. It uses an Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading. Which by the way, so does the local private dyslexia school, DYNAMIC DYSLEXIA DESIGN “3-D” School, which cost over 1,000 a month. You also have to have a number of very expensive test to get the right ruling before you can even be considered for admission. They won’t take any child above 3rd grade and you have to make a two year commitment to the school with full time enrollment. Sorry, there are reasons we decided to homeschool so, that option was out.

Back to Reading Horizons. We, my son and I, started using this very different method of learning to read, and well honestly, there were days I felt like we were making progress and days that I feel like we were spinning our wheels. I noticed that he seems to 'miss' the middle of a lot of words so I scheduled an appointment with a pediatric opthamologist. In the mean time, I went to a dyslexia workshop, present by Susan Barton the founder of Bright Solutions. This is where I finally started to get some answers about dyslexia.

The first thing to understand that there are 5 main points of dyslexia. Most importantly, it’s inherited. If a parent or grandparent had dyslexia, then there is a 50% chance the offspring will have dyslexia. Second, the brain of the dyslexia is different than that of someone without dyslexia (it's bigger). Dyslexics process language differently, in other words it is a language process issue not a reading issue. Next, you will see issues with directionality in dyslectics. And finally, there are two types of memory issues in people with dyslexia 1) sequences that seem illogical and 2) wrote random facts.

Since dyslexia is inherited, it is important be able to identify it in other family members. For so long we denied that anyone in our family had dyslexia because we didn’t have a clue as to what it was to begin with. So, let look at what some of the characteristics of an adult with mild dyslexia may look like. They were probably solid C students, and may have had difficulty taking notes. Their written work was always their weakest skill. They most likely can read, but they are slower, and they probably have to re-read technical things. They dread reading out loud, and are terrible spellers. They are very intelligent, but their written work doesn’t reflect how intelligent they are. They had trouble learning a foreign language, and they probably had trouble with left/rights, up/down, before/after, north/south/east/west. Most importantly, when they are tired, hot, sick or stressed they probable fall back into difficulty with the above problems including confusing b and d and the like.

Did you know that 15-17% of the population is left-handed and that 50% of dyslexics are left-handed and 50% are female? The classic warning signs for dyslexia are that the persons must have problems spelling and 3 or more of the following issues.

-family history

-not speaking by 12 months

-used multi-syllable words out of sequence

-r & l, m & n articulation issues

-slower auditory processing

-smaller auditory memory

-significant auditory discrimination

-chronic ear infections

-problems tying shoe

-problems differentiating between left and right

-late to establish a dominate hand

-problems saying/writing the alphabet (memory & sequencing issue) and includes spelling the last name, address, phone number, remembering abbreviations, letter names and the sound they make, days of the week, months of the year, multiplication tables) -poor spelling and inventive spelling because there are often no vowels they don’t see the letters in the middle of words, often times looking at patterns to decipher the word.



-poor penmanship (dysgraphia) odd pencil grip, inconsistent slant to letters, odd beginning points, inconsistent spacing, can’t copy from the board (this is related to problems with fine motor skills, fading visual memory for two dimensional objects)



Keep in mind that normal style reading test are NOT accurate test. To determine if there is a problem, have them ‘cold read’ from individual word list because they will use picture and context clues to help them decide on a word.

Some of the most common types of mistakes are as follows:

1) girl – gril, form – from, first – fast (same shape)

2) was – saw, who – how, (not backwards reading, it’s sequencing)

3) big – dig, may – way, big – pig (L and R confusion)

4) needed – need, shoulder – should (up/down confusion)

You may also notice that when reading in a book they switch out prepositions because they are more focused on the big words. They may also switch out horse for pony, small for tiny because they are using context clues and not looking at the word.

Be aware that a person with dyslexia can’t break down the individual sounds they are hearing. This is the core and causal factor that separates normal readers from disabled reader. It is an auditory issue to hear and manipulate sounds with in a one syllable worked in your head. Rhyming is an essential pre-reading skill that dyslectics lack.

Remember when I said that dyslexic had bigger brains? Well, they do! The left hemisphere of a normal person in 10% smaller than the right hemisphere, but not so in the dyslexic person. Their left hemisphere is 10% larger than the normal person. They are talented in graphic design, architecture, landscape design, athletic ability, and vocal and instrumental ability (but do not require reading of sheet music). They have wonderful people skills, they are highly intuitive, are creative, global thinkers that are extremely curious. They have mechanical skills; they think logically and often excel in science, medical, and computers or as engineers.

Being dyslexic is not a curse, it is just essential that the problem be recognized so that it can be properly treated. Here is a list of what won’t work:

- Hooked on Phonics

- Reading Recovery

- Reading Naturally

- Accelerated Reader

- Vision Therapy (or colored overlays)

- Brain Gym

- Sylvan, Score & Kuman Centers

- Fast Forward - Ron Davis’ Gift of Dyslexia

- Special Diets

Keep in mind that is better to do nothing that to do the wrong thing.

Here is what will work: Orton – Gillingham (if they are ready for it)

Approved programs include:

- Slingerland

- Alphabetic Phonics

- Project Read

- Wilson - Language!

- Barton Reading & Spelling System

There is an Educational system called Kurzweil that offers comprehensive reading, writing and learning software solution for any struggling reader.


I also recommend reading Overcoming Dyslexia by /Dr Sally Shaysitz. If you want to know more about dyslexia check out the International Dyslexia Association or contact your pediatrician. I am not an expert; this is just some information I've gathered. So please feel free to give me feedback, ask questions, or just tell me your story.

Cotton Picking

Before WW II, in the Arkansas River lowlands, it was common to see people out in the fields planting cotton with harrows being pulled by mules. During the fall, those same people were out in the fields picking cotton. Everyone was expected to help with the most time consuming labor in the cotton industry. In the evenings, after picking cotton all day, they sat around and removed the seeds by hand. In 1793, thanks to Eli Whitney, the cotton gin took over the tedious task of stripping the seeds from the cotton.
Yesterday afternoon we went on a field trip to the Plantation Agricultural Museum in Scott, Arkansas. Having an opportunity to experience the process of picking cotton, trying to remove the seeds by hand, using a small hand cranked cotton gin and even combing the cotton first hand gave my children the thrill of a life time. We even had an occasion to see what some of the first cotton gins looked like and tour The Continental Gin Company.
We learned that pickers would drag 9 foot long bags behind them, if the sack was packed tightly enough it could hold up to 100 lbs. The cotton was then weighed on scales suspended from a homemade tripod. The pickers wages depended upon the selling price in the open market. In 1938, Scott, AR pickers were paid .50 cents for 100 lbs. Many pickers were able to pick up to 300 lbs in a day, bringing home only $1.50 for a days wages.

What Makes Food Organic?

First and foremost organic foods must not be genetically modified. It must be produced according to certain production standards, meaning it is grown without the use of conventional pesticides (including herbicides), artificial/synthetic fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and it cannot be processed without ionizing radiation or food additives.

Organic production standards also include strict rules on the composting and application of manure. Organically raised livestock must be given organic feed and kept free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Organic farm animals must have access to the outdoors, including pastureland for grazing.

When buying organic, look for the following regulated terms on food labels: Food labeled "100% organic" has no synthetic ingredients and can legally use the USDA organic seal. Food labeled "organic" has a minimum of 95% organic ingredients. It is eligible to use the USDA organic seal. Food labeled "made with organic ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. It is not eligible for the USDA seal. Meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy labeled "organic" must come from animals that have never received antibiotics or growth hormones.

Go here to read more on organic safeguards.

Suzuki Violin Method

The Two Grenadiers

Central Arkansas Suzuki Association's

monthly recital.

I really do believe that playing a string instrument raises ones IQ. In fact, a 3-year study in Switzerland looked at 1,200 children, and found they actually learn faster, when they had more music classes. The kids who were given the extra music classes, were actually better at language, and as good at maths, as the other kids - even though they had had fewer language and maths classes. The music class kids were also better in retelling stories that had been read to them - whether they wrote it in words, or drew it in pictures. And the kids that had the extra music classes also were quicker at learning how to read.

Yet another study showed that playing the violin, can make your brain grow bigger. When you're playing the violin, your bow arm (the right arm) provides intricate balance and precision, as it moves the bow back and forth over the strings. But the fingers of your violin hand (the right hand) have a very hard task. They have to press exactly on the right spot on the right strings, for exactly the right amount of time, and do this all, very accurately, and often, very rapidly.
This study found that the part of the brain that controls the fingers of the left hand, (which is usually the weaker hand) is actually bigger in violin students, as compared to everybody else.

If you are interested in learning more about the Suzuki method just click here.

Herbicides, more than just weed killers

I recently read an article about and epidemic called colony collapse disorder (CCD) that is wiping out commercial bee hives. It seems that this is another one of those cases where pesticides are having a negative impact our food supply. You can go here and watch PBS's introduction to the series "Silence of the Bees".

I read an article in the Oct/Nov issue of Mother Earth about how Dow's herbicides persist for years. These herbicides have been found to to contaminate compost. Confront, Dow's clopyralid, was found to be the contaminant that killed many nursery and home garden plants in several states. You can go here and read more.





If you don't know what GEO's are then think about it this way. You want your corn to have specific characteristic, such as being drought resistant, so a scientist inserts specific genes into your corn's genetic make up without having to go through the trial-and-error process of selective breeding.

Some farmers have been planting round-up ready seeds. Round up is a herbicide that kills everything it touches. By planting these roundup ready plants the farmers can spray round up without killing their crops. This is supposed to reduce production costs and increase yield, so food becomes less expensive. Now how do you feel about eating a plant that was genetically altered to resist a herbicide?

The bio-tech industry is exploiting the nations concerns about the future by telling us that GEO are the only way we will be able to feed ourselves in the future and this just isn't true. They are hoping that this scare tactic will allow them to expand there GE crops into other countries. I believe we need to think of the human health concerns.

The studies just don't show that GE crops are yielding more that natural crops. In fact, there ares some weeds that have developed a resistance to the herbicides that are being used with the GE crops. We can garden naturally and get better results if we simply put some for-thought into our crop rotation. For more information on GE foods go here.

Heifer International

I first heard about Heifer International several years ago when our church handed out small plastic ark banks to the children. The idea was for each child to fill the bank and return it as a donation to to the Heifer project. Heifer's mission is to end hunger. They work with communities all around the world providing livestock and training to small-scale farmers and communities worldwide.

Heifer has a central office in Little Rock. Yesterday we went on a tour of the Heifer Green Building. It is one of the most "earth friendly" buildings I have ever visited. They offer free tours twice daily during the week. You can learn about what Heifer International does and even more about why the building is designed in such an unusual way by going on the tour.

As you look at the building you can tell that it is very long and narrow with many window. That design allows the building to be lit primary with sunlight. The building also captures rain water which it utilizes for the toilets, heating and cooling.

There are a videos here or go here if you want to learn more about how you can help.

Genetically Modified/Engineered Foods

Are you aware that many of the foods you buy every week have been genetically modified?

Do you even know what that means?

Plants have been genetically modified in the laboratory to enhance the desired traits. This was traditionally done through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Whereas genetic engineering can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used.

Now having drought resistant, herbicide tolerance, and pest resistant crop does have it's advantages. But I think it's important to look at some of the disadvantages too. I am mainly concerned about the human aspect. One big concern is the unexpected allergic reactions that can occur especially in children. There really aren't many studies but there are several papers that tell about the monarch butterfly and the rats eating GM potatoes that I encourage you to read. If you are still not concerned about the risk go here.

I have a few updates on what's going on with your food from some fellow blogger that you might find interesting.

Anne over at Twice Bloomed Wisteria talked about her bees and GM corn, you might want to stop by and see what she has to say.

Also, Tocco from Coffee, Coffee, Coffee just posted about how "leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will be sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered sugar beets" If you stop by to see Tocco she has also provided a link to sign a letter if you don't want genetically modified sugar.


I recently read that the Arkansas rice farmers have filed a law suit against Riceland. The lawsuit claims Riceland knowingly withheld information from Arkansas rice farmers that one of the company's genetically modified strains had mixed with their crop in 2006. The mixture led to major international rice customers rejecting the crop because of strict policies against such foods.

On a happier note, at Life in the Lost World Jayedee informed us all that the Clabbergirl family of products have come out and clearly stated that they will put no genetically modified corn in their product. Clearly our voices can be heard.

A Spirited Child

We were so excited to be bring home this sweet little baby boy. He was perfect, ten toes, ten fingers; everything about him was just what we’d always hoped for. As a baby he had one ear infection after another which resulted in tubes and eventually speech therapy. It wasn’t that he was sick a lot or that he was a problem baby, he was just different than our daughter, besides I wasn’t supposed to compare him to his sister much less anyone else. A wise late night TV host once said, “It’s an exhibition not a competition” so I try to keep that in mind everyday.
There were so many days that I feel defeated. When he was two I’d jokingly call my husband and ask him to bring home a priest for the exorcism. We have tried a number of different discipline techniques all of which seemed to fail. He’s winning.
If it’s not one issue it’s another. Right now he has a very short temper, I’m never sure what going to cause his frustration, but the outcome will be bad. He will yell, slam doors, spitting and refuse to follow directions. He’s even disappeared before; I found him hiding under a table at church when he got upset over something small. He’s gotten into arguments with his friends, not listened to adults, like his grandparents, it’s all so overwhelming. Then he turns on the charm. He can be the sweetest most loving, affectionate child you’d ever hope to meet, who is this Dr, Jekyll Mr. Hyde living in my house?

Other small issues that stand out are his fear of thunder, his sensitivity to pain (he seems to overreact to getting a scratch), a past episode of grunt-like ticks, and problems in learning to read. He loves video games, but it is impossible to get him to get off. When he does get off, his face is flush and he’s behavior is out of control. Every other day is “…the worst day of my life” because things don’t go exactly his way. He eats constantly; He can eat as much a grown man at dinner and come back thirty minutes later ready for something else. He’s not shy one bit, once he climbed up on a stage and participated in a magic show even though he wasn’t call on stage.
We need help. I love this child with all my heart and soul. What can we do to save him from himself?