You’ve been hearing quite a bit from us about the “forever chemicals” PFAS found at extremely high levels in pesticides and how the PFAS are then taken up into food crops we eat. Stopping this unnecessary and dangerous PFAS contamination is the focus of the Maryland bills SB158/HB319 we are working on to ban PFAS in pesticides in our state. The sad truth is that our opponents – the well-resourced pesticide manufacturers and agro-chemical lobbyists – are doing a really good job confusing and misinforming Maryland legislators in their efforts to kill SB158/HB319.
So, if it sounds like we are pleading with you… we are!... please help us get these 2 companion bills over the finish line. Both House and Senate committees will be voting on the bill very soon and we need each Maryland legislator to receive several hundred emails, at least, to move their needle to a YES vote – and we are honestly not there. Please take just one minute to make your voice heard and be part of the needed community that pushes the bills forward. Legislators count emails from their constituents before voting in their committees, and then, on the House/Senate floors.
While we're focused on getting these bills passed, we are also very aware of pesticide-related issues constantly in the news and share these with you in this month’s newsletter.
Vote With Your Wallet, Vote With Your Fork! GO Organic! How to go organic in all you do – even on a budget!Learn more
Thoughpest species may cause some problemsfor you as a gardener, they are also a crucial part of the garden ecosystem upon which you, as a gardener, depend. This article argues for letting some pests stay in your organic garden. Learn more
Check out this scorecard from Cornucopia that details eco-friendly dish soaps. The Cornucopia Institute provides needed information to family farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders in the good food movement. Learn more
New USDA requirements in the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule aim to strengthen the integrity of the National Organic Program through both enhanced oversight and enforcement of existing program regulations, and the introduction of new ones to address occurrences of fraud in the organic supply. Learn more
Your appreciation for organic food threatens industrial agriculture’s bottom line, so they invest in misinforming the public with claims of “organic isn’t healthier," "threatens the environment," and more. Cornucopia Institute debunks four common misconceptions about organic food and farming.Learn more
A new study from Pesticide Action Network North America identifies how pesticides, from the manufacturing stage to the application stage, are a key contributor to global warming. Learn more
News on PFAS Forever Chemicals
No PFAS in our food! Maryland Senators and Delegatesheard from experts and advocates on the dangers of PFAS in pesticides and our food during hearings for SB158/HB319: Pesticide Registration – PFAS Testing – Requirements.Learn more
PFAS found in organic eggs! PFAS are thought to bind to the protein in egg yolk. When we consume them it can take 3 to 7 years before the PFAS concentration is even halved. Learn more
A new study from Ireland shows the extreme risk pollinators and humans face from glyphosate exposure; nectar and pollen that had not been sprayed tested above the maximum permitted level for glyphosate.Learn more
A new study links colony collapse disorder to “the presence of parasitic mites, extreme weather events, nearby pesticides, as well as challenges with overwintering.” Learn more
In the wake of stronger, more unpredictable storms, organic regenerative farming proved the most resilient option, as shown by regenerative farms currently weathering California’s unprecedented rainfall. Learn more
Check out this website from the Rodale Institute expands on healthy and organic growing methods for farmers and how these methods decrease soil erosion and make waterways cleaner. Learn more
What does an Organic Reset look like? Paying organic farmers and ranchers a fair price for what they produce. Including them in financial rewards for sequestering atmospheric carbon in soils, plants and trees. Recognizing the value of providing key environmental services – preserving clean water, improving soil fertility, protecting biodiversity, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and rehydrating and reforesting parched landscapes. Learn more
Please help support our work to protect our babies, bees, and the Bay!
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