Son of a Farmer

Despite the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which prevented selling of genetically-modified alfalfa in the country, GMOs continue to dominate American commodity crops, particularly canola, cotton, corn, and soybeans.

GMO Crops Planted in the United States

Soybeans – 91%

Corn – 85%

Cotton – 88%

Canola – 80-85%

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted how GE (genetically-engineered) canola is spreading wild across the landscape in ditches, yards, etc. How will this impact the rest of Nature? Good question. We’re still Monsanto’s experimental greenhouse.

I continue to get frustrated with my fellow farmers. A recent conversation confirmed this with farmers from two different generations. They tell me they don’t have a choice but to grow Monsanto’s GMOs because of weed issues in fields.

The longer we rely on chemicals, the more difficult it will prove to be to survive in the near future. As we continue to destroy soil quality in exchange for cheap crops and products, we’ll find the true value of our future sooner than later.

An environmental group in France invaded a vineyard that had been conducting experiments with GE or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) grapes. Dozens of French protesters destroyed two vineyards, uprooting all 70 plants. I would like to personally congratulate these people on a job well done.

As if dominating commercial agriculture with four major commodity crops isn’t enough, these genetic corporations such as Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta, and others continue to seek higher profits and further domination of our world’s food supply. As long as they exist, no crop is safe these days. We must continue to safeguard our food and seed supply not just in America but in each nation. As farmers, gardeners, and naturalists we must join forces to ensure these companies do not take over yet another aspect of life as we sit idly by. Stand up, speak up, and refuse to do business with such corporations.

Here we are four months after the original explosion and leak of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well in the Gulf of Mexico, and no end is in sight. As BP, our own Federal Government, and others continue lying to us, we’re suppose to accept what they say as sincere. We’re suppose to take their ‘damage control’ commercials extorting common people stating “we’re doing everything we can” and feel like everything is okay.

Talking heads on television were at first comparing this as Obama’s “Hurricane Katrina” in terms of relating it to President George W. Bush’s failing of acting presidential in catastrophic times. I believe it to be Obama’s 9/11. As our government continues to cover-up the real story of what happened and what is continuing to happen in and along the ocean. Dedicated workers (fisherman, etc.) trying to help contain the spill are forced to sign a contract forbidding them from speaking of the truths with the media.

More reports are coming out of a second well that is leaking six to seven miles away. Matthew Simmons, former energy advisor to W. Bush and Peak Oil expert, was sounding this horn months ago. Simmons, author of Twilight in the Desert, died suddenly of a heart attack this past week.

The real horror in this is that yet again we’re being lied to, mind-controlled by yet another corporation more concerned with profit margins and stock holders than our beloved ocean and environment.They wanted to control the leak with chemical dispersents (more toxic than the oil itself), pushing it under the water and out of site, causing more long-term damage to ocean life and humanity.

It is difficult to trust anything our government and especially BP is or is not saying about this catastrophe. For those who live in or near the Gulf, I encourage you to speak up and relay the truth to the rest of us.

Latest interview on Be the Change Radio in New York. A big thanks to Amy for a nice conversation. Bulk of it entails what we’re putting into our bodies, and its effects on our energy level and overall health.

As we experienced yet another crazy summer in West Texas, Mother Nature was a little neurotic. Early July gave birth to widespread rainfall and flooding across the South Plains. This was followed by two weeks of cloudy weather and little-to-no sunshine. This was followed by mild temperatures with highs in the low 90s. August has been unmerciful with highs near 100 everyday. Rainclouds rolled through on August 9th, blessing thirsting crops.

No matter who I talk to, plants are maturing late this summer. From the tomato plants of gardeners to cotton crops, blooms and fruit are setting late. With the rainfall, it is easy to expect more than what is there, but it appears the flooding rains and two weeks of minimal (and vital) sunshine set the maturity of all plants back a tad.

One friend who is a beekeeper, said his hives produced no honey this past month. Scratching his head, he figures with the crazy weather, they must have eaten their own honey in order to survive the cloudy spell and few blooms.

Quite bizarre. Interested to hear other weather stories elsewhere. Reports worldwide of “hottest summer ever” but that hasn’t been the case here.

I’ll be speaking at the 10th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair in Fredericksburg, Texas, this fall. It has grown into the largest extravaganza on sustainable living in the entire south.  There will be about 50 different speakers covering informative and interesting topics, as well as countless businesses and individuals marketing clever products, inventions, etc.

I’ll be speaking on Saturday, September 25th, concerning global food and fiber crop productions. The topic will address how everyone will be effected by Peak Oil, genetically-modified food/crops, and continuing droughts and flooding, which is making crop harvests more unpredictable to feed 7 billion people on our out-dated production system.

Saw Dirt! The Movie (narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis) last night. Very inspiring and informative documentary concerning our world’s precious topsoil. It reveals in alarming fashion how the Earth’s flesh is being ripped apart simply for financial gain to get to precious metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. We are ignoring our main source of food and living to make money. Also includes vital work initiated by brave leaders across the globe. I highly recommend everyone watching this documentary.

A big thanks to Mike with Blue Planet Almanac radio show in Los Angeles and Amy with Be The Change radio in New York. I really enjoyed being on their shows this week. Give a listen if you get a chance.
Farm life is busy as insects, foliar feeding, plowing weeds, etc. are in high gear. Hopefully rain is on its way for everyone. blue planet almanacbe the change

Gentle rains continue to fall in West Texas, as well as massive flooding in areas.
Communities from Tahoka to Brownfield received up to 15 inches last weekend, flooding crops and shutting down Highway 87 for several days. Never knew it could rain that much at one time here on this desert prairie. Most playas and ponds are spilling over as cloudy, cool weather dominates the days.
We’ve received around 5.5 inches on our farms since June 30th. In total since Thanksgiving we’ve had over 20 inches of rain. Incredible, considering we averaged 10 inches in 2008 and 2009.

Books arrived over the weekend. Hopefully those of you who pre-ordered have or will receive your copies in the next few days.

One editing oversight in regards to book references in Chapter 1. Two books were scrambled and joined together as one.

Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Modification is by William F. Engdahl

Seed to Seed is by Susan Ashworthe

The two titles were jumbled, causing confusion. My apologies to those two authors.

Staring into the blurred reflection of our actions and intentions of modern living, everything has boiled to a melting point of what we’re willing to accept, admit, and change immediately. In the wake of the catastrophic oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, each day millions of people wake up to find out their lives have been severely changed and livelihoods ruined. For those of us not living near the Gulf Coast, it is easy to pretend like we’re not impacted directly by this leak. But make no mistake about it, life will never be the same for any of us now living.
Perhaps that sounds melodramatic to some. But everything from ocean life being completely destroyed to pristine ecosystems flooded with a swampy mess of tar and poison is a painful reminder our zest for oil will forever hinder our existence. We’ve managed to fuck up an entire ocean. We’ve managed to destroy millions of species simply to afford a lifestyle that never made sense in the grand scheme of things. We continue to follow the lead of a broken system simply because we pretend we don’t know any better.
Greedy corporations and corrupt governments continue to rule this world. While the rest of us watch in horror, we feel helpless, frighteningly submissive to simply do as we’re told, believing more lies and daring not to question authority. Why? Have we been beaten down so badly by generations of megalomaniac tyrants and billionaire thieves, we are so emotionally paralyzed to pursue the proper rebellion that inspires change?
Where has our sense of self-respect vanished? Where is our backbone to stand?
The real question is not what can we do? That is adolescent, at best. The real question is why haven’t we already done it?
While many abhor the presidency of Jimmy Carter, the man put solar panels on the roof of the White House over 30 years ago. As soon as Ronald Reagan took office, he had them removed. Each of the past eight presidents have made empty promises of our country’s push for alternative energy to wean ourselves off the dependence of foreign oil. As Richard Nixon promised energy independence by 1980 (in the last six months of his presidency), Ronald Reagan and George Bush Sr. made the same type promise by the year 2000 (also in the weaning months of their terms.) Even George W. Bush laughably pushed alternative energies such as hydrogen and ethanol, which are ridiculous methods once you study their inputs extensively. And now we have dear old “change we can no longer believe in” Barack Obama making the same vile promises by 2025. By then, it will be too late to save us from ourselves. By then we’ll have another empty suit projecting a future date in which we can expect what we should’ve had 20 years ago – energy independence in an environmentally-friendly manner.