The Organic View

Honeybees have been under severe stress for several years. One of the key reasons is the loss of control options for the invasive parasitic mite varroa destructor. The Varroa mite is the parasite with the most pronounced economic impact on the beekeeping industry. It may be a contributing factor to colony collapse disorder (CCD), as research shows it is the main factor for collapsed colonies in Ontario, Canada. NOD Apiary Products has developed an organic treatment product using formic acid as the active ingredient, in a bio-degradable matrix. It is currently under the pesticide review process at the EPA. My guest in this segment of The Organic View will be Mr. David VanderDussen. David has been a beekeeper since 1975. By the time he finished high school he had 75 colonies of bees. Obviously, his parents were very accommodating. David started working with commercial beekeepers in 1979, and in 1981 started his own commercial beekeeping outfit. David has been active in the Ontario Beekeepers Association. He served on the Board of Directors and is a past President. Varroa mites were found in Canada in 1992. NOD Apiary Products was founded in 1997, to be a vehicle to register organic treatments for bee diseases, and to encourage the adoption of sustainable beekeeping practices. David was a founding partner in NOD Apiary Products, incorporated in 1997. He is the CEO of NOD Apiary Products, which manufactures Miteaway, http://www.miteaway.com

Imagine if you live in an area where drug dealers and gang members were killing animals randomly in order to sell more drugs and commit more crimes with the money they gained? A group of people are dealing with this very issue in South Africa and they decided to do something about it. They pooled their resources and reached out to the community and started Africam.com. Millions of people now tune in to this live stream that is coming directly to their PC’s, blackberries, etc in order to view these beautiful creatures as they exist in their natural habitat. Each of the cams has a unique history and infrastructure that supports it. Africam.com requires the commitment of many people and organizations that include the nature reserves, conservation bodies, game parks and dedicated people whose passion it is to share their love of wildlife. One of the most heinous situations that this group is dealing with is in regards to poachers who are mercilessly and cruelly slaughtering rhinos just for their horn and hooves. These poachers are very sophisticated and are armed with night vision, automatic weaponry as well as chain saws to hack off the animal parts while the poor creature suffers a very painful death. Often, these low lives will kill the mother and leave the calf behind with no hope of survival. On this segment of The Organic View, I will interview Mr. Paul Penzhorn, founder of Africam.com who will talk about the efforts of the organization which is dedicated to the preservation of all wild animals in their natural community. Stay tuned!

Annie Christopher founded Annie’s Naturals in 1984 and has produced some of the most popular organic foods that kids absolutely adore. The company has come a long way and has also introduced its new line of healthy, yummy and organic fruit snacks which have become a much welcomed part of every kid’s lunchbox. In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, I am going to talk to the folks from Annie’s to discuss why organic snacks are so important to children and how to introduce organic foods into your child’s diet. Stay tuned!

Imagine if you are pregnant and can’t eat the crackers that are available because of all of the chemicals that are in them. This was exactly the case with Nicole Bernard Dawes, President and CEO of Late July Organic Snacks. She will be my guest today to talk about what it was like to take the steps that she did to create America’s favorite organic snack cracker!

Mr. Donald Trump is known for being a brilliant businessman, author, producer and connoisseur of the finer things in life. He clearly is someone who demands excellence. It is no surprise that recently, the Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago announced that they will now be the first luxury hotel in North America to offer a certified organic, in-room dining menu! This first time organic certification was issued in accordance to the organic standards by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) which is an internationally recognized symbol of organic integrity. OTCO provides a system that combines strict production standards, on-site inspections, and legally binding contracts to protect the producers and buyers of organic products. Oregon Tilth is also a nonprofit research and education membership organization, dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. This is major breakthrough for the organic industry! For the first time in the North American hotel industry, the downtown Chicago luxury hotel will provide discerning guests with innovative meal options that utilize the freshest ingredients available, sourced daily from local and sustainable farmers. For world travelers such as myself, this is extremely important because now I can enjoy my dining experience knowing that the food is certified organic. When you have chemical sensitivities, it is impossible to find restaurants that offer organic food. This is clearly sending a message to the hotel industry that the bar has been set. Organic cuisine is here to stay! On this segment of The Organic View, I have the pleasure of speaking to Executive Chef Frank Brunacci and the Director of Operations, Philipp Posch of Trump International Hotel & Tower. These gentlemen have been instrumental in the facilitation of this unique certification. They will explain why this certification is so important and the extremes involved with obtaining such a certification. Stay tuned!

Fall is often a time when people begin to relax. Summer is over and the weather is no longer suitable for beach attire. Long sleeves and pants conveniently cover up our bodies as we begin to move at a slower pace. This is the time of the year when kids are going back to school and parents begin to juggle an even more hectic schedule. It is just too easy to slip into old habits which often lead to putting the pounds on. If you are a new mother or father, for that matter, it is especially difficult to fit some kind of routine into your schedule. On this segment of The Organic View, Kristin Steede, from The Biggest Loser, Season 7, will be on to talk about the struggles she faces as a new mother and the difficulty she has incorporating exercise into her daily routine. Also on the show, Lisa Welko, President of Ellipse Fitness will talk about the innovative techniques she has developed to help people keep in shape without spending all day in the gym. Stay tuned!

Although people may love their pets they seldom recognize patterns of behavior that are associated with the elements and often shrug it off, assuming that it is a plea for food or affection. Animal behavior is not even remotely considered as being a valid indicator when it comes to inclement weather, much less natural disasters. Entomologists have shown that bees are very sensitive to barometric pressure changes. Ornithologists have also documented the change in flight patterns of birds due to changing weather conditions. It is also common knowledge that birds will fly south for the winter when cold weather is coming. Scientific research has been very helpful for predicting severe inclement weather, but still has a long way to go. For people that understand geography, when they see that the ocean is receding, they know to flee immediately for higher ground. According to experts, a receding ocean is a valid indicator but can only give a 5 minute lead time for evacuation. This is simply not enough time, especially when it is a natural disaster. In 2004, when the Tsunami hit, over a quarter of a million people perished. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. This was clearly one of the worst natural disasters in our lifetime. According to rangers and wildlife trackers, flamingos fled to safer forests several hours beforehand. Elephants broke their chains and stampeded. As buffalos fled to higher ground, their shepherds followed, saving them as well. Animals everywhere could not be stopped. Oddly enough, the animals survived! Throughout the ages, animals have always given us early warning signs about changes in the earth. In this segment of The Organic View, Ms. Lassiter will explain the correlation between the animal kingdom and our world in order to reconnect with nature as changes unfold.

In the 1970’s there was a big push for everyone to stop using glass. Glass was bad! Plastic was the new golden child! Everyone all over the world was demanding plastic. Even in the supermarket, the battle continued with the option of “paper or plastic” bags. The plastics industry took over like an invasive weed. According to the Glass Packaging institute, glass bottles and jars are 100 % pure, made of sand, soda ash, limestone, and recycled glass. They are endlessly recyclable! This makes glass containers an idea choice for you and our planet. Glass is the ideal package for organic foods and beverages as it does not leach the chemical from the plastic container into the product. The glass can also be reused and recycled infinitely. Consumers who recycle glass bottles and jars make a significant impact in the amount of waste they no longer contribute to landfills when using plastic. There is also big energy savings when recovered glass is used to make new bottles. The glass container industry in the U.S. set a goal to use 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacturing of new glass bottles and jars by the end of 2013, which will make glass bottles and jars even more sustainable! In this segment of The Organic View, I will interview Mr. Joseph J. Cattaneo, President of the Glass Packaging Institute. He will discuss the resurgence in popularity in the organic industry, the GPI sponsored blog, “Keep It Organic “, how to properly recycle glass, Recycle Glass Week, and the health benefits of choosing products with a glass bottle or jar as opposed to plastic. Stay tuned!

It is that time of the year when children and parents are facing yet another new school year. With this new school year comes a whole slew of new challenges that are accompanied by stress. For some it may be a whole new school along with new friends and teachers. Others may be dealing with a bullying situation. New schools often mean dramatic changes in work schedules as conflicts occur with school schedules. Then there are the day to day stresses of time management, educational hurdles, peer pressure, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Now more than ever, it is important to develop your own personal routine in order to combat stress. On today’s segment of The Organic View, Life Pro Coach, Lydia Proschinger will be my guest to talk about how parents can cope with these stresses as well as help their children in order to simplify their lives. Now more than ever, people need to deal with these issues before it makes a negative impact on their health. Lydia is an expert at energy management and her concepts are very effective, even under the most stressful conditions. Stay tuned!

For dog owners, Biobags have become a household name. Cleaning up after your dog is not only part of your responsibility as a pet owner but is the law. Many people had always felt that by using the plastic shopping bags from the supermarkets, they were simply adding to the landfills. When you think about how many times you have to walk your dog and multiply that by how many dog owners there are just in your own town, the numbers do add up. When I first discovered Biobags, I was at a trade show. Someone approached me asking me if I had a dog and wanted to try a certified biodegradable and compostable bag. I was thrilled to find out that such bags existed! To boot, they even made cat pan liners, compost bin liners as well as a whole slew of biodegradable products. Amazing! After spending some time learning about the company and also looking at the industry as a whole, I soon learned that this technology had taken years to develop. Biobag was in fact, the head of the pack. It wasn’t because they held so many patents. It was because Biobag went the distance. Their bags are actually tested after they are produce to verify that they are in fact, certified biodegradable and compostable. This was clearly a company that not only was environmentally responsible but really lives up to its motto of changing the earth, one bag at a time! On this segment of The Organic View, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dave Williams, President of Biogroup USA. This company not only has taken the time to manufacture one of the most important products to help reduce our landfills but has actually helped to educate the public as they work to keep our world a greener place! Stay tuned!