Happy Earth Day!  As we usually try to bring something of ecological importance to your awareness on Earth Day, we are sharing something different but equally important with you this year.

In the past couple of years, we have seen many movements against GMOs (genetically modified or engineered organisms) across the U.S., and throughout the world.  We have seen many food manufacturers who Support the use of  GMO ingredients in their products.  These companies are usually against the labeling of GMO ingredients.  Other food manufacturers are very much dedicated to only using organic and non-GMO ingredients.  Obviously, these companies Support labeling efforts, and many have taken it upon themselves to label their products as being Non-GMO Project Verified.  

What we'd like to bring to your attention is the group of companies who seem to say one thing, presumably to gain your business, and then do the opposite.  We have found several companies over the last year or two who began with a label (and ingredient list) of "organic" or "non-GMO" on their products, only to very quietly drop the label and the ingredients.  We have seen companies who were offering organic products quietly change to offering non-organic products that are "non-GMO" on their labels.  

So, our caution to you is to always read the labels on everything you purchase.  Don't hesitate to send an email in to a company who seems to have changed their ingredients or their labels.  If you are not continuously aware of what you are eating, you may find yourself outside your choices of consuming only organic and non-genetically engineered products. 

If you'd like to start your review of your favorite foods, you can begin with our list of favorites to see if any of them are there.  If you have a favorite that you'd like to recommend, don't hesitate to drop us a note and let us know that, too.  

To really make your review easier, please visit the Non-GMO Project Verified website to peruse their roster of verified non-GMO companies.

If you're a person who's committed to living Peacefully, you may be dreading the holidays.  If you're concerned about Peaceful meals, but don't have an alternative to the traditional holiday fare, we have a suggestion for you.  

You might want to give the Tofurky vegetarian roast or the entire Tofurky feast a try.  As we have conversed with the folks at Turtle Island Foods (makers of the Tofurky products), this NON-GMO Project certified company is dedicated to using only organic, non-GMO ingredients in their products.  We can attest to the wonderful flavors and aromas of the Tofurky, as well as the great ease in preparing it.  So, if you are between the proverbial "rock and hard place" for keeping your holidays meals special and Peaceful, give the Tofurky a try.  

Most laundry detergent has quite the cocktail of chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens.  These chemicals end up in our waterways and aquifers when they are done in your washing machines.  If you are looking for a chemical-free way to clean your clothes, we suggest giving Dr. Bronner's a try!  Check out this video from Lisa Bronner demonstrating how easy Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds is to use as an alternative to commercial laundry soaps.

For those of us who don't like to use chemicals in our homes and lives, giving our pets a bath can be a challenge.  Many soaps and shampoos are heavily laden with all kinds of chemicals that just aren't good for a healthy pet (or human).  The answer we have found for our pets is Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile soaps.  These soaps are gentle, chemical-free, non-irritating to the skin, and smell great!  They're inexpensive, too.  

In this video, Lisa Bronner is demonstrating with the use of the peppermint liquid castile soap.  We have used almond and rose, as well.  We like to add a few drops of organic lavender, lemongrass, and/or tea tree essential oil to serve as a natural flea and tick repellent.  Our dog Loves his baths!  He comes out of it relaxed and smelling wonderful.  

While we all know that breast feeding is best for baby, there are certain instances where this is not an option.  Before you choose a formula for your baby, please check to see that it does not contain GMO soy proteins.  The vast majority of soy grown in the U.S. is genetically modified.  This soy has not been through long term testing to ensure its safety for ingestion for anyone, especially infants.  All indications at this point are telling us that GMOs present serious and long lasting health hazards.  Please Protect your baby by using only organic, non-GMO formula! 

Sacred Earth Organics has teamed up with the Green Living Resource Center and Sacred Earth Gardens in a new Facebook page!  We see so many great ideas on Facebook, that we felt it was waste to not share them with all of you.  So, we created a page just for sharing "green ideas"!  The new page is called "Grow Green, Eat Green, Live Green with The New Gaea Foundation.  You can connect with it here, as well as on the sitemap, under the "Blog Log", and under the sitemap area here on this page.  We hope you enjoy it!  See you there!

If you visit or live in California, you really need to see this video!  In this "sting operation", undercover cameras find Whole Foods - an adamant non-GMO supporter - knowingly selling GMO foods in a tactic referred to as "bait organic, switch to GMO".  This video is quite an eye-opener to those not familiar with the way GMOs are hidden in our foods or sold in health food stores.  It is packed with information on a variety of fronts, including listing those giant corporations who are actively opposing GMO labeling.  Monsanto and other food manufacturers who use GMO ingredients are pouring millions of dollars into opposing Proposition 37 coming up to be voted on in California.  Prop 37 would require mandatory labeling of all GMO ingredients and foods.  

If you live in California and value your health and your right to know what is in the foods you eat, vote yes on this proposition!  For those who do not live in California, please do what you can to Support this vote, and contact your congressional representatives to make GMO labeling in your state mandatory. 

Don't you have the right to know what you are putting into your own body?

In Support of The Art of Peaceful Sustenance and chickens everywhere, we would like to share The Chicken Song - Livin' in a Cage by Finding Violet.  

If you are looking for dairy replacements, here are a few ideas for you.  The brands shown are those that come highly recommended.  Be sure when you are choosing your products that they are organic, non-GMO, and fair-trade (although not all items are available with fair-trade designation).  If you are in doubt, send a message to the company and ask them if their products are organic, non-GMO, and fair-trade designated.  Most of the time, they are very happy to tell you if they are.  If you get no response, the answer is likely "no".  

Milk
Coconut milk (So Delicious)
Almond milk (Pacific Natural Products)
Rice milk
Oat milk
Soy milk

Ice Cream
Coconut milk (Luna and Larry's)
Rice milk 
Soy milk (Tofutti Cuties)

Yogurt
Coconut milk (So Delicious)

Cheese
Soy/tofu “cheeses”

Butter
Coconut oil (Nutiva or Spectrum)
Safflower oil (Napa Valley Organics)
Olive oil (Spectrum)

If you have a tried and true favorite non-dairy food that you'd like to share, please let us know.  You can make a comment on this blog (look to the right of the date on this blog), or you can email us.  We'd Love to hear from you! 

Legislation in the works, Monsanto may be given immunity from Federal laws that govern the testing of new crops, specifically genetically engineered crops.  In short, the legislation would open up a situation of plant it first, then test it for safety.  Take a look at this interview with Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of the Organic Consumers Association.

Just how Peaceful is your yogurt?  How about your ice cream cone?  Perhaps you like a slice of cheese?  These things seem simple and Peaceful enough.  No animal was killed to produce them - right?  Perhaps not!  Take a good look at these videos and give your dairy products some serious thought.  

It is important to note that not all dairies function as these shown here do.  But, it is the responsibility of every dairy consumer to know where their dairy products have come from, how the dairies they buy from work, how the animals are treated, and so on.  You are what you eat!  When we knowingly participate in the cruelty, violence, mistreatment, and death of another, it becomes our Karma.  How do your dairy choices lend themselves to the creation of your Karma?  

These videos may be difficult to watch, but we all need to know the Truth of the choices we make in Life.

As you saw if you watched the seriously inappropriately titled video above, calves are very much fun-loving, affectionate beings of Life.  They are intelligent creatures who deserve far better than the treatment the dairy industry commonly showers them with.  As those of us at The New Gaea Foundation can attest to, all animals are people, too.  They just aren't human.  We have had many interactions with a multitude of different forms of Life.  They all have thoughts, feelings, ways of communicating and interacting.  

It's time to let go of the old "top of the food chain" and "God-given dominion over animals" paradigms and embrace the Truth of Life.  Humans may have once been intended to be stewards of our non-human brothers and sisters (although the Great Mother/Universe does not concur with this idea), but we were never intended to subject them to our will or our mistreatment.  It is no wonder that our human world cannot find Peace.  Our Karma would dictate otherwise!

Check your dairy products out!  Don't be a part of this continuing Karmic saga!

(Note: If you haven't read the Healing Arts Center's article entitled "The Art of Peaceful Sustenance", you can find it in the HAC blogs or in the article section of the HAC menus.) 

Have you taken a look at hemp clothing lately?  Here is a video from a Santa Cruz business that designs and manufactures hemp clothing for men and women.  You can find out more about their products at www.dashhemp.com.

The next time you are looking for a good source of essential fatty acids, you might want to consider hemp oil.  In this presentation, Integrative Medicine Nutritionist, MaryBeth Augustine, covers the nutritional profile of hemp.  Check it out.  You might be surprised!  

Before you buy foods for your pets again, please take a look at our Health Alert for Pets on the Healing Arts Center blog.

Here is part 2 from the Alex Jones channel interview with Jeffrey M. Smith.  We all need to know these things. Awareness is the key to avoiding the dangers of GMOs and making the necessary changes to stop them.

Those of us at Sacred Earth Organics and The New Gaea Foundation feel that GMOs are a very real threat to the health and the survival of all those who ingest them.  Please take a look at this most presentation here from Jeffrey M. Smith.  We think you will agree that GMOs are something that we should all refrain from - and that includes what we feed to our pets and livestock, too.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are something that everyone needs to know about.  GMOs are changing our world, and in ways that may not be evident for years to come.  They are a threat to our health, our survival, and our world.