Take Action TODAY or alfalfa is not just the kid on the little rascals with the bad hair

A few years back, Monsanto illegally won USDA approval for its genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa by convincing regulators to bypass a mandatory environmental review.

In response to a lawsuit by consumer groups, the courts then stepped in and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA followed the law.

In December, the USDA finally released its review of Monsanto's GE alfalfa seed and determined that Monsanto's alfalfa met government standards, despite the risk of organic contamination.

This conclusion came despite the acknowledgment by USDA researchers that GE alfalfa is virtually certain to "contaminate" normal seeds. Cross-contamination is the number one concern with genetically engineered crops!

Organic contamination is devastating for organic farmers, especially organic dairy farmers, most of whom use organic alfalfa for feed. The presence of even the smallest amount of GE material can cause a farm to lose its organic certification.

And court documents indicate that early plantings of GE alfalfa did contaminate conventional alfalfa. Yet the USDA maintains that Monsanto's existing safety protocols are good enough which is ridiculous.

The USDA also concluded that the possibility of contamination of organic fields is of no concern, since consumers won't care if their organic food or milk contains genetically engineered components. (!!!!)

The USDA is accepting public comments on Monsanto's application through Wednesday, March 3.

If you have a few seconds to take some action on this here is some possible wording:

"I am writing in regard to Docket APHIS-2007-0044, and I demand that the USDA reject Monsanto's application to market genetically engineered alfalfa. The USDA may not believe it matters if GE alfalfa contaminates organic and other non-GE crops, but I certainly do.

Consumers must be able to avoid genetically engineered products. Farmers must be free of the threat of contamination and the USDA must not put organic farmers' livelihoods at risk. The USDA admits that approval of GE alfalfa will make transgenic contamination inevitable. This is unacceptable.

Therefore, I urge you to reject Monsanto's application to sell genetically engineered alfalfa."

Here is the USDA link.

GIVEAWAY - Inkling Prints GORGEOUS Cushion Cover CLOSED

CLOSED- AND THE WINNER IS HOLLY AKA GOLLY! Chosen by Random.org True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 571
Result:
14

Inkling Prints is a new shop from the United Kingdom with beautiful hand printed pillows and bags. Each design is hand printed onto fabric.

Kiran creates and carves her designs on lino and individually prints each item in her Leicester studio. She also just discovered she is expecting a new baby and she is busy moving and moving her studio, so she is one busy lady!


We are so luck to have one of her gorgeous pillow covers for our giveaway this week!

WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive this gorgeous hand printed Inkling Prints oblong pillow color in red!




HOW TO WIN:

Check out Inkling Print's amazing shop and let Kiran know which item is your favorite!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, March 14th! Good luck!! CLOSED

I Don't Like Mondays or I will be back in 168 hours

If life were a dog race that would be me way in the back there trying to catch up.

(I do look kind of cute, though, don't I?)

So, as I try to get my website finished and my linesheets finished and get Olive's butt into our first tradeshow, I am going to avoid posting here for 168 hours

(or 7 days or 1176 hours in dog years)

to get some things done.

I have extended last week's giveaway for one more week and everyone who entered last week will get double entries! It's a good one, so if you haven't entered and like to eat actual food that was prepared by a real person and not a machine- check it out.

This no posting thing is going to be hard though because I really want to whine about discuss the marketing 'guru' who ripped me a new one, what my Crest white-strippiest smile has done for me lately and Olive's stunning genetic history ... and I will .... in 168 hours

(or 7 days or 1176 hours in dog years)

well, I'm off now to watch the Wife Swap marathon get alot of work done and I need to play with Olive for a bit because she is really pissed about that random pug picture ...

Friday Finds or this week's roundup of some goodies to inspire the creative genius inside of you!

Lovin' what Foulard Threads is doing with these oxfords!



This ad campaign by Marithé and François Girbaud S/S 2010 line with the tagline "This is a Crazy World" can't help but make you smile!



The amazing artist collaboration of metalsmith 3Squares and fabric designer Daisy Janie has resulted in some totally stunning work you don't want to miss!



The fascinating magic lanterns created by Victor Vague of GhostHaus.


Namolio's gorgeous crochet pin cushions!



Brittany Harriman's fun petpeeve hangtag series.


Designed by Merav Eitan and Gaston Zahr as part of the Green Garden Exhibition, this giant birdnest is all about breeding new ideas!


Have something to say? Check out Life Tokens.


This little cookie cutter from William Sonoma can pop a little message into your cookies- just the ticket for those of us with too much to say!



Great packaging idea for these little notebooks- don't you think?


Adorable hand-painted drawer pulls from Sweet Mix Creations.


A collection of 30 retro cereals- I don't remember most of these- where's Quisp?




The gorgeous illustrations of French artist Christelle Huet-Gomez and yes, she has a locket!

Thoughtful Thursday - time to JUMP into the unknown

Old American/World Dream:

eep your head down
Follow instructions
Show up on time
Work hard
Suck it up ... and you will be rewarded fired


New American/World Dream:

e remarkable
Be generous
Create art
Make judgement calls (not judgements)
Connect people and ideas ... and you will be rewarded
(I promise)

Words from "Linchpin" by Seth Godin, amazing print by the equally amazing Jess Gonacha Swift, promise from life to everyone