Here is what we are reading as we contemplate France’s hard-headed exit from the World Cup Finals.
Boston Globe: At least one major brewer has decided to test the organic beer market. Local organic beers have been around for a number of years and include: Butte Creek Brewing (California); Fish Brewing (Washington); Peak Organic Brewing (Massachusetts); Wolaver’s from Otter Creek Brewing in Vermont; Laurelwood, Roots Organic, and Lucky Lab (all from Portland, Oregon).
The Seattle Times: What’s wrong with growing crops in the desert, growing excess crops (such as corn) that need a lot of water, and watering the lawn for hours during high summer heat? Those and other practices are depleting the Ogallala aquifer, which provides water for 8 High Plains states that grow a significant amount of the country’s food. A new book looks at the drain on the aquifer. (Spoiler: The water is being used far faster than it can be replenished. Drought, people, drought!)
Southwest Farm Press: Additional background on the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer, from 2003.
Oroville Mercury-Register: Chico State University has switched their dairy farm to organic production. The University of New Hampshire will switch to organic at the end of the year.
The Seattle Times: Reynolds, Indiana, nicknamed Biotown USA, hopes to produce 74 times their energy needs using pig manure.
The Guardian: Another look at the problems that come with growing plants to turn into fuel. The requirement for arable land is met by deforestation and drainage of swamps, both of which result in large releases of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The Guardian: George Monbiot takes an interesting look at dwindling sources of Omega-3 fatty acids and argues that the lack of Omega-3 in human diets could cause an evolutionary step backward. An interesting counter to his article is the June 20 comment from Doug Young, which claims that grass-fed meat provides adequate Omega-3 fatty acids (a claim worth checking further).
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