Green Products & the New Eco-Green Movement

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PRELUDE(1)-


With the economy still in recession, the basic near-term prospects for herbal and organic ventures is mixed.  We feel that people who are normally frugal and conservative with their finances will succeed." - The Editors


I. INTRODUCTION-
In doing research for this page, we were struck by the huge amount of stuff on the Internet about the eco-green movement, and herbal and organic gardening.  There are over 2 million web-sites devoted to the environment and the “green movement,” and an equal number of web sites on growing herbal or organic products.  Putting our best organizing and analyzing skills to use after looking at 100’s of web-sites, we hopefully are able to present a thorough and informative picture of the major topics of interest.


The future that is envisioned by most environmentalists, using this word in the broadest terms, is a radically different world than the one we live in now.  Without passing judgment on the practicality of their recommended changes, it would appear that a truly “green world” would be a world without automobiles, electric power plants, factories, highways, or massive urban areas.  It would appear that in a totally environmentally friendly world, we would all be working on small farms (without chemicals, and pesticides), raising large families, and traveling by some yet undeveloped mode of transportation.

If the verdict has been rendered that all electric power plants are environmentally unfriendly, and that most internal combustion engine vehicles(2) pollute the atmosphere, and that current farming techniques ruin the soil and poison us with toxic substances, then, in a sense, we must turn back the clock one-hundred years.

Not unlike the advent of the automotive age, which fostered the rapid growth of American cities, the revolution of present day entrepreneurs to replace old-technology with “smarter & cleaner” products will fundamentally alter the industrial base of current society.  However, in view of economic and energy-power realities, one must be a little skeptical, in thinking that these titanic changes will easily occur.  And in view of history, it is inevitable that conflict will result, if change occurs too rapidly.

Therefore, we urge caution and a pragmatic approach to the “greening of America.”  As we go about replacing and outlawing previously workable products and machinery, it would be prudent to consider all the consequences of such actions(3).  Some critics of the green movement argue that the proliferation of green products and lifestyles only encourages more consumption.  So, instead of reducing and conserving products and energy we are actually spending and using more. 
Additionally, with the explosion of non-profits, sustainability centers, and other “green” organizations, workers for these agencies more than likely drive cars, eat at fast food restaurants, use up hundreds of sheets of paper when telling us to conserve our resources, and otherwise pollute the world, just as we ordinal mortals do.  Perhaps the best solution would be if we all stayed home and did nothing. 

“Green will need to make good on its promise to be efficient and frugal while helping people learn to save versus spend”(4).

However, we do encourage individuals to conserve-- both in disposal & consumable products, and in the use of energy.  While many people may want to become 21st century eco-farmers, we think there is nothing wrong with reflecting on the sublime beauty of nature, whether it is on a long leisurely walk through the woods, or starring out the window on a field of meadows in the early-light of a sun-streaked morning.

Now that we’ve “cultivated” your interest, these two pages have been plotted & furrowed into the following fields-(5)
PLOT A (Page 1) contains: I.  Intro- A. Green Products & the New Eco-movement, B. Herb & Organic Farming Job Prospects, II.  Differences between Herb & Organic Gardening & Farming III. FOR THE GARDENER, A-1.)  Popular Herbs for Growing, A-2.)  Urban Gardening, A-3.)  Growing (Herb) Plants Indoors, A-4.) Overview of Light, Soil, & Drainage, a.)  Light, b.)  Soil, c.)  Drainage, d.) Preparation, e.) Planting Herbs-Ways to Propagate, f.) Direct Seeding, B.) Growing Organic Products, C.) Harvesting Your Crops, C-1.) Harvesting Herbs, C-2.) Harvesting Organic Food, and D.)  Where Most Popular.

PLOT B (Page 2) contains: IV. FOR THE FARMER, A.)  Most Common Organic Products, B.)  Organic Certification, C.)  Setting Up an Herb Farm, D.) Other Sources of Income for the Small Farmer, E.)  Organic Farm Business Plans, F.)  Financing Your Farm, G.)  Non-Traditional Markets for Organic Products, V. State, National, & Global Markets, (including A. herbal supplements, B. herbal spices, fragrances & soap, C. organic food, and D. The New Organic’s Consumer), VI. Summary & Conclusions, VII.  Private & Public Food Outlets, (which includes Key Organic Food Coops, Key Food Banks, Organic Retail Stores), VIII. Herbal & Organic Seeds, Plants, Tools, Equipment & Supplies Vendors, IX. Colleges with Alternative Farming Programs, X. Other Key Web-Sites, XI. Top Organic Shopping Web-Sites, XII.  Top Gardening Web-Sites, XIII. Green, Alternative, & Sustainability Web-Sites, XIV.  Top 10 Green Jobs for 2009, and finally, XV.  Top Green Products for 2009.

SEEING THE LIGHT-

Steady Growth in Organic & Herbal Farming Jobs clearly signals a strong trend for the future.

The prospects of measurable growth in herbal and organic farming shed some light on the future direction of many Americans.  We are pleased to report that according to the U.S. Dept of Labor, 2008-09 Employment Projections(6)- organic farming and specialty horticulture farming will see relatively big increases.  Here are some excerpts from their report:
  A.) Horticulture and organic farming will provide better employment opportunities.
  B.) Small-scale farming is a major growth area and offers the best opportunity for entering the occupation.

“Overall, the U.S. Dept of Labor has seen an increasing number of small-scale farmers who have developed successful market niches, which involve personalized, direct contact with their customers.  Many are finding opportunities in organic food production, which is the fastest growing segment in agriculture.  Some small-scale farmers belong to collectively owned marketing cooperatives that process and sell their product.  Other farmers participate in community-supported agriculture cooperatives that allow consumers to directly buy a share of the farmer’s harvest.”
“Two types of farmers that are growing in importance are horticultural specialty farmers and aqua culture farmers.  Horticultural specialty farmers oversee the production of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants used in landscaping, including turf.  They also grow nuts, berries, and grapes for wine.  Aqua-culture farmers raise fish and shellfish in marine, brackish, or fresh water, usually in ponds, floating net pens, raceways, or recirculating systems.  They stock, feed, protect, and otherwise manage aquatic life sold for consumption or used for recreational fishing.”
“Aqua-culture may continue to provide some new employment opportunities over the 2006–16 decade.  Concerns about over fishing, and the depletion of the stock of some wild fish species, will lead to more restrictions on deep-sea fishing, even as public demand for the consumption of seafood continues to grow.  This has spurred the growth of aqua-culture farms that raise selected aquatic species—such as shrimp, salmon, trout, and catfish—in pens or ponds.  Aqua culture has increased even in landlocked States, as farmers attempt to diversify.”


Job prospects.  “Job prospects are expected to be favorable for those who want to go into farming.  With fewer people wanting to become farmers and a large number of farmers expected to retire or give up their farms in the next decade, there will be some opportunities to own or lease a farm.  The market for agricultural products is projected to be good for most products over the next decade, and thus many farmers who retire will need to be replaced.  Farmers who produce corn used to produce ethanol will be in particular demand as ethanol plays a greater role in energy production as fuel for automobiles.  Farmers who grow crops used in landscaping, such as trees, shrubs, turf, and other ornamentals, also will have better job prospects, as people put more money into landscaping their homes and businesses.”

According to TrustOrganicFood.Com, in late 2008 the American National Restaurant Association has put organic produce, wine, and cocktails in its top 20 trends, with locally grown produce at the top of the list.  They also referred to a report the United Nations issued in Jan. 2009 that showed organic farming can feed the world.  “The core organic consumers are sticking with their values,” the Organic Trade Association’s Barbara Haumann said recently.  “They will shop around, or find other things they can cut.  The food Americans feed their families has become a number one priority.  They would rather stint on new clothes or replacing the old television than sacrifice the quality of their food.” Therefore, we feel that this trend is gaining momentum.

Furthermore, we see more colleges and universities are offering certificate and degree programs in specialty farming, organic farming, and aqua-farming.  (See Topic # VII below for more info on this.)

II.  The Difference between Herbal/Organic Gardening & Farming.  The main difference between organic or herbal gardening and organic/herbal farming is the size of the operation.  Many people have an “herb garden” in their backyard, and some people may grow a few organic fruits and vegetables, but when it comes to herbal or organic farming, the operation becomes more of a business. Herbal plants are used primarily for spice additives to food and for medicinal purposes, while organic products cover a wide range of food, cloth fibers, and personal care products.  While most organic products are subjected to major processing before the final product is ready for market, the processing of most herbs is not as extensive, and primarily concerns washing and detoxifying of certain herbs to ensure maximum health benefits.

Aside from the larger costs and size involved in growing herbs on a farm than in a backyard or community herb garden, farmers will need to have larger more powerful machinery to help them with planting, cultivating & harvesting their crops.  Since farmers will be raising herbs for a living, they will be more cost conscious and more aware of crop-yields, than someone who does not raise herbs for their main income(7)
When selling products to another party, farmers will have to be versed in product preparation, packaging, and moving the finished product to their market customers.  Then there are a few attitudinal differences.  Gardeners will not be on as strict of a time schedule as farmers.  They may view their gardening activities more like a hobby.  However, both farmers & gardeners will need to have a “learning period,” because producing good healthy plants will take some “trial & error,” at first until they understand the exact growing conditions needed for each plant.

III. FOR THE GARDENER-
A-1. Popular Herbs for Growing and Key Growing Techniques-
 Here is a list of the top 23 Organic Herbs which are grown for personal or commercial use: a.) Sweet basil, b.) Borage, c.) Chervil, d.) Oregano, e.) Chives, f.) Dill, g.) Lavender, h.)  Sweet Marjoram, i.) Mint, j.) Sage, k.) Summer Savory, l.) Sesame, m.) Thyme
(8), n.) Bay, sweet(9), o.) Caraway, p.) Coriander, q.) Hyssop, r.) Lemon balm, s.) Parsley, t.) Rosemary, u.) Savory, summer, & winter, v.) Tarragon, and, w.) Green Tea.

A-2.  Urban Gardening, Growing Herbs Indoors-

  • City-dwellers, Townhome owners, or apartment and condo-dwellers most likely lack a small plot of land to grow plants.  “But even if you live in the tiniest of apartments, you can raise fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants.  You can raise plants hydroponically in pots, or individual containers and adapt your hydroponic garden to any size space available.  Hydroponics allows a gardener to grow plants, fruits, and vegetables in a more efficient and productive manner... and with less labor, time and gardening area needed.  However, if you want to grow strictly organic it may be difficult to grow indoors year-round since large plants need allot of water and rich soil.”  For more information on resolving this dilemma and coming up with just the right growing solution for your needs, go to www.interiorgardens.com, and click on the links for hydroponic and organic gardening.  If you live in Minnesota, a drive into “the cities” may be worth your while.  Interior Gardens is located at 1620 Central Avenue NE, Suite 115, in Minneapolis(Their phone numbers are: 612-870-9077 or 800-498-4178Their able staff will be more than happy to work with you.)

  • Urban gardeners these days find themselves in new environments with new challenges and limitations.  “Rooftop gardens, hydroponics, and container gardening are examples of how urban gardeners have adapted to these new conditions.”  (For more info, go to: urbangardeninghelp.com-"modern").

  • Container gardens are the backbone of many city gardens-
    “A pretty collection of pots grouped on the stairs to your house can hold tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and pretty much whatever your heart desires.  Be creative in what you use for a container and don’t limit yourself to using ceramic or plastic flower pots.”  (Source:
    urbangardencasual.com-"create-more-growing-space." 

Another good article by urbangardencasual, is: “Useful Seed, Plant, & Organic Product Finders”: (Source: http://urbangardencasual.com/)

A-3. Growing Herbs Indoors(10)- (including indoor fluorescent lights, open plant windows, starting seeds indoors, & cold frames)
“You can grow many herbs indoors, but they will be less productive than those grown outdoors.  They require the same conditions as herbs that are grown outdoors: plenty of sunlight and good, well-drained soil.  Select a south or west window.  During winter, they need as much light as you can give them.  If a bright location is unavailable, supplement existing light with "grow lamps" or fluorescent lights.  Good drainage is important.  Never leave herbs sitting in a saucer of water.  Water well, so a little water runs through the pot but does not accumulate.  Allow moderate drying, but not wilting, between watering.  For herbs in pots, use a mix of about two parts potting soil to one part coarse sand or perlite™.  Because most herbs prefer a non-acid soil, add a cup of ground limestone per bushel of soil or about one teaspoon per 5-inch pot." 
“You can seed annual herbs in pots in late summer.  They will go through a life-cycle indoors.  Perennial herbs will improve and be more productive if you place them outdoors during the summer.  Outdoors, keep potted herbs in an area that provides good light but gives some protection from intense heat or winds.  In the fall, bring your potted herbs indoors before the first hard frost.  A light frost on some herbs, such as chives, mint and tarragon, won¹t is harmful.  Fertilize lightly as you would houseplants, and trim as needed for use & to maintain an attractive appearance.”  (Source:
Savvygardener.Com-"Growing-Herbs-at-Home")

  • Indoor Fluorescent Grow Lights, & LED Growing Lights for Indoor Gardens-
    Some people say that the new LED grow lights are the best because they offer a full spectrum of natural light compared to the standard fluorescent grow light.  But, according to HomeHarvest.Com, “High-output fluorescent lamps have a very low heat factor that allows the fixture to be hung extremely close to plant canopy, increasing usable light levels and greatly improving plant growth.”  (Source:
    HomeHarvest.Com-"high-output-fluorscent-standkits."
 
 

You can read more about this or order light kits by visiting their web-site.

  • LED vs. fluorescent grow lights-
    One reviewer gave a mixed opinion of the LED vs. fluorescent grow lights.  He commented from littlegreenhouse.com, that the LED lights were cooler and cheaper to run, but did not do better than the HD fluorescent lights in fostering plant growth.  The best overall grow light, according to him was the Metal-halide bulbs.  “This HD Light produced an abundance of light in the blue spectrum.  This color of light promoted plant growth; it is excellent for green leafy growth and keeping plants compact.  It is the best type of light to be used as a primary light source (if no or little natural sunlight is available).  If you compare their lumen (brightness) per unit of energy consumed, metal halides produce up to 125 lumens per watt compared to 39 lumens per watt with standard fluorescent lights and 18 lumens per watt for standard incandescent bulbs.”  (Source: littlegreenhouse.com-guide-3.")  This site also has a wide variety of greenhouse and plant supplies.

 

  • Open plant windows are different from normal plant windows because plants grow in a large box or container that is deeper than a normal window sill. “The container extends the entire breadth of the window. A closed plant window should be located on the west or east side of the house.  It should be linked to the electrical and water supply of the house as well.  You should have the plant containers built into it.  Temperature, ventilation, and humidity should have a way of being regulated.  You should have a blind installed on the exterior of the window if it faces south.  This will provide shade when needed.” (Source: gardeningknowhow.com-"growing-plants-indoors")

This site also has articles on indoor gardening & organic gardening, urban gardening, and herbs gardens.  Gardening-Know-How is located in Bedford, Ohio.

  • Seed Starting & Starting Your Seeds Indoors- the hardest element to provide indoors is light.
    “It is possible to start seeds in a room or on a window-sill, which receives a full day (at least 8 hours) of bright light.  Most gardeners will need to supplement their seedling lighting with special plant or grow lights that simulate the full spectrum of the sun.  Even then, the lights will need to be left on for 12 - 15 hours per day, for your seedlings to grow as strong and healthy as they would in sunlight.”  (Source:
    gardening.about.com-"seed-starting.").

  • Starting seeds indoors require some type of supplemental plant lighting-
    “Your choice of plant lights depends on how many seedlings you're starting & the area you need to light.  Choices range from single lamp bulbs on up to 1000 watt high intensity lights.  You can set up a simple shop light system or purchase a ready-made, movable set-up.  Whatever system you choose, you should put your plant lights on a timer.  Indoor lighting is less intense than sunlight & needs to be left on for 14-16 per day.  A timer works better than your memory.  Follow these guidelines to choose which plant light system is right for you.”  (Source:
    gardening.about.com-"plant-lights.")

  • Cold-Frames-
    “To get the most out of a garden, you can extend the growing season by sheltering plants from cold weather both in early spring and during the fall.  Very ambitious gardeners harvest greens and other cool-weather crops all winter by providing the right conditions.  There are many ways to lengthen the growing season, and your choice depends on the amount of time and money you want to invest.
    Fall is also a good time for sowing some cool-weather crops in frames.  If provided with adequate moisture and fertilization, most cool-season crops continue to grow through early winter in the protected environment of the cold frame.  Depending on the harshness of the winter and whether or not additional heating is used, your frame may continue to provide fresh greens, herbs, and root crops throughout the cold winter months.”  (For more information, visit thesavvygardener.com.  (Source:
    savvygardener.com-"features-cold-frames.")

A-4. Overview-Light, Soil, & Drainage- Generally speaking, herbs grow best in warm to hot weather, sandy soil and light moisture while organic fruits and vegetables grow best in mild to cold weather, minerally rich soil, and moderate to heavy moisture. Excerpts from the article that follows, provides more details for the five key growing elements.


 “Setting Up an Herbal Garden for Your Home(11).”  (From the article: Growing Herbs at Home,” by Ray Rothenberger)  The 6 key points of Rothenberger’ s article are,” In setting up a home garden it is important to consider the following factors:

  • Light-
    “Most herbs are easy to grow, but you must select the proper location to grow them.  Most herbs need a sunny location, and only a few, including angelica, woodruff, and sweet cicely, are better grown in partial shade.  The oils, which account for the herbs’ flavor, are produced in the greatest quantity when plants receive six to eight hours of full sunlight each day.  If you don¹t have a good, sunny location, many herbs will tolerate light shade, but their growth and quality will not be as good.”

  • Soil-
    “Herbs will grow in any good garden soil.  The soil should not be extremely acid or alkaline; a soil nearly neutral is best for most herbs.  A pH reading between 6.5 and 7.0 produces the best herbs.  Most herbs do not require a highly fertile soil.  Highly fertile soils tend to produce excessive foliage that is poor in flavor.  Herbs grow best when soils have adequate organic matter.  In preparing average soils, add several bushels of peat moss or compost to each 100 square feet of garden area to improve soil condition and help retain moisture.”

  • Drainage-
    “When selecting a site for an herb garden, you must consider drainage. None of the important herbs grow in wet soils, but a few, such as mint, angelica, and lovage, thrive in moist soils.  If the only area available is poorly drained, you need to modify the area.  Build raised beds or install underground drainage tiles to grow herbs successfully.

  • Preparation-
    “Once you select a site, cultivate the soil to a depth of 12 to 18 inches, and then level it.  If only a shallow layer of topsoil exists above hard subsoil, remove the topsoil temporarily.  Break up the subsoil, adding organic matter.  After improving the subsoil, put it back.  Even though the topsoil may be better than the subsoil, the topsoil may also need additional organic matter.

  • Planting Herbs-Ways to Propagate-

"There are many ways to propagate herbs in your herb garden.  Depending on the type of herbal plant that you are trying to grow, you may need to propagate your herbs by way of planting seeds, splitting the roots, taking cuttings, or using runners, which are shoots that are produced from the root”.  (Source: GardeningKnowHow.Com-"herb-propagation.")

Direct Seeding-

  • “Some herbs benefit from being directly seeded into prepared garden soil.  Members of the Umbelliferae family (dill, cilantro/coriander, chervil, parsley, fennel, and anise) readily re-seed themselves each year.  Most perennial herbs, if direct-seeded, grow slowly at first.  In Alabama, perennials grow best when planted in the garden as transplants during the fall.  This allows the plants to establish roots before putting on new vegetative growth the next year. When direct-seeding, sow seeds in garden furrows late March to early April or after the chance of frost has passed.  Cover the seeds lightly with a shallow sprinkling of soil, or, as a rule of thumb, cover them no deeper than twice the seed diameter.  Firmly tamp the soil for good seed-to-soil contact, and water using a fine mist or spray to avoid washing the seeds away.  As the seedlings germinate and develop their true seed leaves, thin the plants to approximately 1 to 2 inches to avoid spindly plants that crowd one another.”


B. How to grow Organic Products (Companion Plants)-
“By planting organic plants next to or near some other kinds of plants (companion plants), the risk of pests infesting your organic plants can be minimized.  For example if you plant Basil next to peppers, tomatoes and marigolds, it will keep flies and mosquitoes away.” (For more information on growing organic and herbal produce, go to:
The Gardener's Network-"Herbs.")

C. Harvesting Your Crops

Harvesting Herbs-

  • “Harvest herb plants just before they bloom.  After blooming, all of the plant's energy will be invested in producing seed.  If the leaves are what you are interested in, make sure to encourage your plants to make leaves, not flowers, by harvesting leaves and stems before blooms appear.  If you do this, you will extend the useful life of your plant, and can still harvest seeds later in the season.  This is also a good way to delay bolting.  For slow growing perennials like rosemary, harvest new growth in summer and fall.”  (Source: TheHerbalGardener.Blogspot-"harvesting-herbs.")
  • Harvesting Organic Food-

1.) Asparagus-“Begin harvesting the third year after planting.  Harvest when the spears, are 6 to 10 inches above the ground but before the heads open.  Cut or snap spears off at the soil line.  Stop harvesting if spears show a marked decrease in size.  Maximum harvest period is 6 to 8 weeks.”
2.) Onions-“Correct harvesting stage is determined by the type and product use.  Harvest onions grown from sets when they are 6 to 9 inches tall for immediate table use.  Onions grown from seed for fresh use should be harvested when the bulbs are 1/4 to 1 inch in diameter.  Harvest seed grown onions for boiling when the bulbs are 1 1/2 inches in diameter.  Harvest for storage (seed or set grown) when the tops have weakened and fallen over and the bulbs are 2 or more inches in diameter.  Harvest before hard frost.”
3.) For this and 37 other expert harvesting tips, go to:When to Harvest Your Garden Vegetables,” by the Savvygardener at
savvygardener.com-"features-harvesting-vegetables."  You’ll find this link to be very “fruitful.”

D. WHERE MOST POPULAR-

  • Recent trends indicate that gardening; especially vegetable gardening is becoming very popular.


According to the National Gardening Association in 2005, there were 90 million households in the US with a yard and garden. Approximately 35 million households said they were conventional gardeners, while 5 million households said they were organic gardeners, and 31 million reported they were hybrid gardeners. If current trends continue, by 2010 there would be about 10 million organic gardeners.


In 2009, the National Gardening Association reported that,” food gardening in the U.S. is on the rise.  Seven million more households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or berries in 2009 than in 2008 — a 19 percent increase in participation.  This anticipated increase is nearly double the 10 percent growth in vegetable gardening from 2007 to 2008; this reflects the number of new food gardeners starting this year.  More Americans are recognizing the benefits of growing their own produce, including improved quality, taste, and cost savings.  In 2008, gardeners spent a total of $2.5 billion to purchase seeds, plants, fertilizer, tools, and other gardening supplies to grow their own food.  According to NGA estimates, on average a well-maintained food garden yields a $500 return when considering a typical gardener’s investment and the market price of produce.  Furthermore, with the recent recession, more and more people are turning to raising their own crops and produce to save money.  (Source: NGA GardenResearch.Com-"organic."
) 


The USDA 2006 Specialty Garden & Crop Census shows that the U.S. Major areas of production are California, the Pacific Northwest, New England, Southeastern states, Texas, and Arizona.  And a report from Local Harvest.Org, located in Santa Cruz California states, “CSA gardens around the country have grown from around 50 in 1990 to more than 2,200 last year.  We now have about 17,000 members, and are growing by about 20 new members every day.” The number of CSA farms has risen to 12,549 farms in the United States(12).  The top 7 states with the most CSA gardens-farms are: 1) California, 2) Texas, 3) Kentucky, 4) Iowa, 5) Michigan, 6) Missouri, and 7) Wisconsin.

  • The States that have the most Herbal Gardening/ Farming are: “The largest domestic herb suppliers were California (63 percent of the total) and Florida (15 percent).  Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, and Hawaii were minor suppliers”(13).

  • The States that have the most Organic Farming are: According to the USDA, in 2005, “California, North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas were the top Organic Farming States.  While California and Wisconsin grew more organic fruits and vegetables- North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota grew the most organic field crops.  Field crops include grains, beans, oilseeds, and hay/silage.  Organic grains include both traditional & non-traditional grains.  Traditional grains are corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and rice.  Non-traditional grains are: Millet, Buckwheat, Rye, and Spelt”(14).

Endnotes:

1.) If you would like, I could send you .pdf versions of all the reports, referred to on this page, for a small fee.  E-Mail your request to: bigguy@yourworldoutdoors.com

2.) It is difficult to imagine automobiles or any piece of machinery running without oil, since oil is used both for propulsion and for lubrication.

3.) An interesting article on the value of carbon trading from the forestry industry viewpoint, can be found at:The Financial Crisis and the Wood Products Industry"

4.) An interesting viewpoint on the “Green Movement,” can be found at Treehugger.Com-Will the Real Green Movement Please Stand Up?" 

5.) The most extensive listing of reports & how-to documents available on-line is ATTRA’s free publication page at:ATTRA.Org-"Marketing-Reports."  

6.)U.S. Dept of Labor-Bureau of Labor Statistics-"Outlook."

7.)The link for this article at Herbal Gardening Tips.Com is “Organic Herbal Gardening, 2005.”

8.) Source: The Backyard Gardner.Com, http://www.backyardgardener.com/herb/index.html

9.) Source: The Savvy Gardner.Com, http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html

10.) More information on 'Growing Herbs Indoors', can be found at “NGA’s Gardening Tips,” by Conrad Richter.

11.) “Growing Herbs at Home,” by Dr. Ray R. Rothenberger, Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension Division at Columbia, 1999, published on-line by the Savvygardener.com.  (Link is: http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html)

12.) UDSA Alternative Farming Systems Information Center-National Agricultural Library, Community Supported Agriculture, Table 44.  Selected Practices: 2007.  “2007 Census of Agriculture - State Data”. p. 606.  (Updated in 2009)  [Link is:http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml.]

13.) Source: “Specialty Vegetables and Herbs - Statistics on Romaine, Butterhead and leaf lettuce, Chili peppers, Chinese cabbage, Fresh Culinary Herbs including Garlic and Parsley, and organically-grown Tomatoes, Carrots and Russet potatoes,U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service Report(1991)

14.) Source: "Recent Growth Patterns in the U.S. Organic Foods Market", by Dr. Carolyn Dimitri and Dr. Catherine Greene, Economic Service, USDA, AIB-777. Updated Study "Organic Food Trends Profile", Marsha Laux, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University,(2009)

 

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Four Seasons Harvest: All Year Long

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices

 

   

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