We don’t have to work too hard to find cause for celebration.  This Sunday was no exception.  Our dear friend Stewart (one of Mother Earth Meal’s first followers) is off to the University of Tulsa to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English Language and Literature.  Yes, we do socialize with a very savvy crowd.

Anyway, we couldn’t allow Stewart to leave without a proper send-off.  After all, Stewart is usually the ringleader, planning chili cook-offs and grilling events and putting out food with the precision of a Top Chef Master.   Since the guest of honor is not supposed to bring anything, we kept the celebration simple.  Hamburgers, brats, Caprese salad, BBQ butter beans, fruit and brownies.  And of course beer, lots of beer.

Our loss is Tulsa’s gain.  We are inspired by Stewart’s drive, proud of his accomplishments and honored by his friendship.  We wish Stewart the best as he begins the next chapter in his life.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of “good health” and I have come to the realization that it really is a relative term.  What it means to me, may not be the same as it does to a teenager, or anyone else with their own ideas of being healthy.  So, I’ve decided to do my own random, non-scientific survey on the wide variety of the term “healthy” just to prove my point.  So, here’s what I found:

Question:  What does “Healthy” mean to you?

Ariel –age 17:  “Eating and exercising”

Mickey – age 58: “That you are not sick and you don’t usually get sick.”

Clara – age 59: “ Exercise, see a physician regularly and diet.”

Al – age 61: “Keeping track of the amount of food you eat and keeping your mind healthy too.”

Rory – age 16:  “ Eating well but not being overweight”

AnnaLeigh – age 57: “Eating well, exercising consistently and enjoying life.”

Kristen – age 29:  “Mental, physical and spiritual balance.”

Colleen – age 19:  “Someone who eats a nutritious diet full of produce with very little process stuff like soda and junk food.  I also think that a healthy person exercises regularly.”

Pamela – age 55:  “Healthy means not to be plagued by illness (having one’s God-given health both mind and body.) Living a healthy lifestyle is to eat properly, exercise often and finding a good balance between work, play, spiritual life and life goals.”

So, there you have it.  My attempt at research and you know what?  I think we are all wanting the same things.  So, here’s to good health!

Merriam-Webster defines organic as “relating to, yielding, dealing in, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides.”  If we each were to write our own definition of “organic”, it probably wouldn’t be far off from this statement.  In other words, foods made or grown without the aid of synthetic products.

The USDA created the National Organic Program whose mission is to ensure the integrity of our organic products.  This mission is accomplished through the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).  The board is made up of farmers/growers, environmentalists/resource conservationists, consumer/public interest advocates, handlers/processors, a retailer, a scientist and a USDA accredited certifying agent.  All sounds pretty reasonable, right?

The NOSB definition of organic is quite a bit more complex than Merriam-Webster’s: Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.  In my opinion, this definition opens up a lot of wiggle-room in its interpretation.

The NY Times recently published a very interesting article calling into question the influence of big business in the definition and labeling of the term “organic”.  The fact is, “organic” has become a lucrative business, and as such, has big business influence.  This trend is reflected in the makeup of the board with four seats going to members with ties to big business (Earthbound, Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Whole Foods, and Zirkle Fruit Company).

I do believe everyone has a vested interest in producing high quality food, including large business.  However, the list of inorganic products on the approved list continues to grow.  According to the NY Times, there are over 250 inorganic products/items on the list, some of which have caused quite a debate among purists.

I don’t know about you, but this is a big concern for me.  How are we to trust our food labels and make informed purchases?  I want to be assured that the food I buy and feed my family is free of pesticides, herbicides, carcinogens and synthetic materials.  If you are concerned about the direction we are heading in, contact the NOSB and let the Board know what you think!

Well, the country is sizzling in heat and the idea of cooking is the farthest thing from my mind.  So, I’ve decided to just take this blog and list my top ten favorite summer treats. Then, I’d love to hear your favorites as well so please, comment so I can expand my list.  Here we go:

Top Ten Summertime Special Treats

10. Home grown tomatoes

9.  Frozen fresh grapes

8.  Fresh, juicy peaches

7.  Fresh squeezed lemonade

6.  Homemade ice cream

5.  Sun tea (green tea of course!)

4.  Homemade healthy Popsicles

3. Cold, sweet, juicy watermelon

2. Fresh right from the field sweet corn

1. S’mores

Have a safe and happy July 4^th!