Pets and people alike swarmed the B Street block between 27th and 28th Streets in Golden Hill Neighborhood when Brian's Farmers' Markets opened a fourth herbicide-free, pesticide-free and organic market.

2011 could be the year luck begins to finally favor the small, local farmer.  Two trends bode well for these folks. 

 Because organic food is produced on a smaller scale, it tends to be more pricey.  But if you are dedicated to the more robust flavors and health benefits of organic produce, you can find ways to save.

 The healthy lifestyle can be a challenge. Restaurant choices are limited. Products are misleadingly labeled. Accurate information about pesticide-free, non-GMO foods and other goods gets buried by powers like Monsanto. Luckily, the blogosphere provides those living organic with some trustworthy voices. These bloggers translate news headlines and dig for important facts big media can pass over.  Becoming a regular reader can help you feel like you have an expert in your corner

 The right whole grain can be an even better source of antioxidants than some fruits and vegetables.  Learn how to find convenient sources of whole grains in "Whole Grain Love on Valentine's Day."  

Wikileaks' Julian Asange strikes close to the farm! 
 

Genetically modified foods made the news recently when whistleblower website Wikileaks  released a document  from 2007 by Craig Stapleton, U.S. ambassador to France in 2007 and good friend of then-president George Bush.  In his secret cable,  Stapleton criticizes the European Union's skepticism of genetically modified organisims (corn in this case) and  recommends U.S. officials create a "target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU [European Union]"  in order to "strengthen pro-biotech voices."

Three Ways to Optimize the Nutrient Density of Your Diet

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live and Disease-Proof Your Child, is encouraging health-conscious Americans to consider becoming--not necessarily vegetarian--but  "nutritarian."  His The Nutritarian Handbook  encourages readers to focus on the amount of micronutrients (vitamins) available for each calorie a food item contains. The three points below will get you started on a more nutrient-rich, disease-resistant path.

THE SECRETS OF QUINOA
When I hear people talk about quinoa it's often in wonder about what it is, or what it is used for or why it is good for you. I've wondered myself...and off the top of my head I think of it being a good source of protein from a whole grain - a good replacement for other pastas or couscous. But what are some of the deeper secrets of this special grain??

Budgeting Blues
I'm constantly battling with my budget. There have been times when I have felt so free within the constraints of my budget. But just as I start to feel good about it, it seems I let go of the discipline and before I know it I am lost out at sea in a storm of impulse buying or just not knowing where my money is going.