Learn how to make your own DIY (do-it-yourself) all natural and organic garden bug spray at home to naturally kill and repel those annoying garden bugs such as whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, and other garden pests.

This easy step-by-step guide will show you exactly how you can do it using commonly available kitchen ingredients and essential oils. By the way, here’s a video where I show you this too.

Affiliate disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t get charged extra. Mahalo for your support! Safety disclaimer: please keep all garden bug spray ingredients and tools out of reach of children. Not for human consumption. Garden use only. Header image by: Matt Davenport.

“Like most gardeners, I used to buy natural garden bug spray from the garden store. But then I thought to myself: “Why not make my own bug spray that’s better and cheaper?!” So I did! And now I’d like to share my special DIY recipe with you in 3 EASY STEPS!”

Natural Garden Bug Spray Ingredients and Tools

You will need the following ingredients:

• 3 cups of purified/filtered water (regular water from the tap is OK, but I recommend filtered especially for edible plants). Advanced Gardening Tip: (optional) use colloidal silver water instead of regular water to reduce soil/plant pathogens like bad bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• Organic vegetable oil You probably already have this in your kitchen. You can use any non-gmo oil made from vegetables, seeds or grains. Soy, sunflower, grapeseed, safflower, corn, coconut, avocado, etc.
• Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap This can be any natural soap in liquid form. I like Dr. Bronner’s because it has peppermint in it already (bugs don’t like it) and it’s a great company with a great message and trusted ingredients. I regularly use it as body wash, so it’s multipurpose.
• Peppermint essential oil – if your soap doesn’t have it, this is a good essential oil to add and have on hand. Helps with headaches and just a great refreshing essential oil to diffuse in the house, when not spraying bugs
• Tea tree (Melaleuca) essential oil – another must have essential oil. I also use this one on mosquito bites to relieve the itch fast with other beneficial antimicrobial uses – even in toothpastes.

You will need the following tools:

• Spray bottle (for minor applications) or Pressure sprayer (for large areas of the garden)
• Measuring container (optional) – to measure your ingredients, otherwise you have to eye it out.
• Measuring spoon (optional) – to measure your ingredients, otherwise you have to eye it out.
• Smart scale (optional) to measure your ingredients, otherwise you have to eye it out.
• Water filter (optional) to filter out chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants

Step 1: Create the Solution

Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of natural soap. Add liberal amounts of essential oils (peppermint and tea tree): 20-30 drops. Stir.

Step 2: Dilute the Solution

Add 1.5 teaspoons of Solution to every cup of water. Or 1 tablespoon for every 3 cups of water. Or about 5-6 tablespoons of Solution per 1 gallon of water. Then stir or shake.

Step 3: You’re done!

Fill up your sprayer with your freshly created garden bug spray and SPRAY! Spray your plants from above and BELOW.

Make sure the Sun is not out when spraying, so early morning or evening are best. If you think your plants might be sensitive, do a test run: spray only part of the plant to see how your plant reacts before spraying everything just to be safe.

Reapply every 7 days, as needed, until the bugs go away!

I hope this natural DIY garden bug spray works out for you! It certainly did for me and that’s why I wanted to share my homemade recipe with you. Let me know how it goes in the comments below! Mahalo!

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral for human health and plant health.

In humans Mg is responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions and is a required mineral for proper heart function, good mood, muscle relaxation, better sleep, and more.

In plants Magnesium is required for proper photosynthesis. Without Magnesium plants cannot properly capture Sun’s energy. Now that’s important! It also helps plants uptake Phosphorus – a critical plant nutrient.

Medical Disclaimer: If you have a medical condition please speak to your doctor regarding any dietary changes or supplements. Information in this article is not a prescription or medical advice. Affiliate disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t get charged extra and we make a small commission that supports Organic Hawaii. Mahalo!

Lots of people are deficient in Magnesium because their diet and lifestyle don’t provide enough Mg and/or leach it out of the body.

Therefore, it’s crucial that the food we eat provides sufficient daily Magnesium levels. By the way, some of the highest sources of organic Magnesium in food are found in organic cacao, organic sprouted pumpkin seeds, organic hemp seeds, and organic sprouted sunflower seeds.

In supplement form Magnesium is all bout absorption. We prefer and supplement with either Pure Magnesium Glycinate or Magnesium Citrate.

So how can we safely, easily, and quickly add Magnesium to our garden plants, like veggies, leafy greens, and our soil?

The answer is: Epsom Salt aka Magnesium Sulfate!

Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) is made from about 10% Mg and 13% Sulfur (S). It’s widely known as an additive for warm foot soaks and baths, but it’s actually a great fertilizer part of Organic Gardening and Organic Farming, especially if it’s OMRI listed Epsom Salt.

Deposits of Magnesium Sulfate commonly occur naturally at the bottom of dry lake beds or they can be created by combining essential minerals. Epsom Salt does not contain actual “salt” (sodium). It’s called “salt” due to it’s crystalized appearance.

As a matter of fact, it’s listed as an organic fertilizer in two of our very own books on Organic Gardening: Organic Gardening for Dummies (p.91) and 1519 All-Natural All-Amazing Gardening Secrets (p. 173 and p.209). Epsom Salt is especially recommended for roses, nightshades such as potatoes, tomatoes and peppers, citrus, carrots, and greening up plants including the lawn.

More so, according to The Epsom Salt Council: “Epsom salt – actually magnesium sulfate – helps seeds germinate, makes plants grow bushier, produces more flowers, increases chlorophyll production and deters pests, such as slugs and voles. It also provides vital nutrients to supplement your regular fertilizer.”

From our own gardening experience Epsom Salt also adds vibrant red color to red stemmed Swiss Chard and purple color to Red Russian Kale – a sign that leafy greens benefit and readily absorb Magnesium sulfate.

Magnesium Sulfate is nearly pH neutral, which is great since it won’t alter your soil’s pH. It’s also water soluble meaning that it easily and quickly dissolves in water making it’s application quick and easy.

How do you know your soil needs Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)?

Generally, the surest way is to have your soil tested in a lab to see if there is a Magnesium and/or Sulfur deficiency.

However, not everyone is willing to test their soil due to cost or time constraints. So for those who don’t want to test their soil the following can be used as a general guide.

1. If your plants look healthy, then you probably don’t need it. (If it’s not broken don’t try to fix it.)
2. Are your plants are turning yellow, then you probably DO need it.
3. Do you already fertilize with a fertilizer that has Magnesium, then you probably don’t need more of Mg. Check the back label for minerals in your fertilizer.
4. If you live an an area with heavy rainfall, then you probably DO need it since Mg is water soluble with time it washes out of the soil, especially sandy soil.
5. Even if you don’t live in an area with high rainfall, but you do water your plants on a normal basis, then your plants probably do need it every now and then.
6. Magnesium doesn’t occur out of the blue in regular or poor soil, so it should be added to soil in one way or another.

How to apply Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) to fertilize your plants?

There are three ways you can fertilize your garden with Epsom Salt.

Method 1: Foliar spray – spray the leaves with Epsom Salt

Step 1: Mix 1 tbs. (tablespoon) per 1 gallon of water until dissolves.
Step 2: Add the mixture to a spray bottle or a pump sprayer.
Step 3: Spray the leaves of your plants in the early morning or evening when direct Sun is not hitting them, once a week.

Method 2: Water the soil with Epsom Salt

Step 1: Mix 1 tbs. (tablespoon) per 1 gallon of water until dissolves.
Step 2: Add the mixture to a watering can.
Step 3: Water the soil under your plants.

Method 3: Sprinkle Epsom Salt onto Soil

Step 1: Follow manufacturer’s directions to measure the right amount needed. Usually 1tbs. per 1 foot of plant height.
Step 2: Sprinkle directly onto soil around the plant’s drip line.
Step 3. Water thoroughly.

Caution: Don’t overuse Epsom Salt because it contains sulfur. Although sulfur is essential to plants (especially the Allium family like onions and garlic, too much sulfur may kill beneficial (and bad) bacteria and microorganisms in your soil.

Now that you know how to easily and affordably add Magnesium to your garden plants, veggies, leafy greens, lawn, and soil try it out and let us know your experience in the comments below.

Mahalo and happy organic gardening!

GMO food (updated Feb. 1, 2020) remains unlabeled in the US despite consumers wanting to know (and having the right to know) what they are eating and drinking. Some US companies started voluntarily disclosing that their food products are made using genetic engineering, yet they don’t specify exactly which ingredients are GMO. Supposedly, if a product code on produce (PLU) begins with the number 8, then it’s genetically modified.

By the way, here’s a video summary of this article, in case you’re short on time or would like to hear it instead.

With the introduction of CRISPR technology we have entered a time when practically any living organism can be genetically modified. The list of processed food products which use these GMO food ingredients is very, very long. For now, however, the list of approved genetically engineered whole food is relatively short.

This won’t last long, as new GMO food varieties are approved every year. So, it’s not too late to start avoiding GMO food and products by switching to non-gmo, organic, wholesome food, since most GMO food is found in processed food (and drinks) that are not certified organic or non-gmo.

Affiliate disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t get charged extra and I make a small commission that supports Organic Hawaii. Thanks for your support.

List of GMO Food

Updated as of February, 2020. Listed by the number of GMO varieties approved and deregulated in the US. All GMO food in this list are approved for food use in the United States. Other countries may have different approval status. GMO food and their derivatives are mostly found in processed mainstream food, drinks, and animal feed. (Sources: USDA, FDA, ISAAA)

1. Corn

GMO corn is the king of GMO food with more than 33 genetically engineered varieties taking up 80%-90% of all corn farmland in the US. GMO corn derivatives are a staple in non-organic processed food ranging from the notoriously unhealthy HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) to Ascorbic Acid (synthetic Vitamin C), corn starch, and much more. GMO corn can produce their own pesticide in the form of bT bacteria toxin, as well as resist applications of highly toxic herbicides which contain glyphosate i.e. RoundUp. Could be the reason why lots of people have a corn allergy. GMO corn is also used to feed livestock. Mainstream beer is not required to list any ingredients, but it’s highly likely using GMO corn derivatives such as genetically modified corn syrup.

Instead we prefer food made with organic corn. You can even grown your own corn from organic corn seeds and varieties such as organic blue corn, organic sweet corn, and even black corn.

It’s interesting to note that organic blue corn is very healthy due to it’s anthocyanin content. (Source: Dr. Michael A. Smith) Eight blue corn chips with each meal are even recommended by Dr. Lawrence Wilson for a healthier life.

2. Soybeans

GMO Soybeans are another heavyweight GMO food. If Genetically Engineered corn is the king of GMOs, then GMO Soybean is the queen! Hard to believe, but there are at least 20 approved GMO soybean varieties. Like GM corn, the GMO soybeans are mostly found in non-organic processed food. Soybean oil is extensively used in shortenings, margarine, baked goods, salad dressings, etc. Of all vegetable oils, Soybean oil accounts for 55% of US consumption – the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the United States. (Source: USDA) Many people are allergic to soy. Genetically engineered herbicide tolerant soy makes up around 94% of all soy crops grown in the US. Now that’s a lot of herbicide! Is this why people are allergic to soy?

We don’t eat non-fermented soy products due to their estrogen-mimicking compounds. Instead we love to use this gluten free organic Tamari Soy Sauce. It has great flavor without any GMOs or bad preservatives like sodium benzoate common in regular soy sauce. Lots of mayonnaise (even organic) has lots of soybean oil in it. Instead, we prefer this organic mayonnaise made with organic sunflower oil.

3. Rapeseed/Canola

Rapeseed and Canola are closely related. Canola plant was derived from the Rapeseed plant. The two plants share about 10 genetically engineered varieties. Canola oil is the second most widely consumed vegetable oil in the U.S. after Soybean oil. You can find GMO canola in processed food such as canola oil, vegetable oil, margarine, emulsifiers, and packaged food. It’s estimated that 90% of all canola grown in USA and Canada is Genetically Modified. More so, GMO Canola has become a major source of genetic contamination, escaping into the wild. According to Monsanto’s environmental policy lead Tom Nickson, you can expect around 90% level of roadside GMO canola contamination. This happens usually when genetically engineered Canola seeds fall off into the wild during transportation and become part of the ecosystem.

We never cook with rapeseed or canola oil even if it’s organic because canola oil is inflammatory and disturbs the omega 3 ratio, which many people are deficient in. However, lots mayonnaise products are made with canola and or soy oil base. We prefer this organic mayonnaise made with sunflower oil instead. For cooking with use either organic butter or extra-virgin unrefined organic coconut oil.

4. Potato

There are at least 9 approved varieties of GMO potatoes in the US. Potato is a major staple in the Western diet a source of energy through carbohydrates. As a result, the GMO potato could be the next big GMO food on the market. Genetically modified potatoes are engineered to withstand bruising, viruses, fungi, bugs, and expected to exhibit low levels of acrylamide. J.R. Simplot’s new generation of GM potatoes is expected to be more marketable. In the Summer of 2014 about 400 acres worth of Simplot GMO potatoes sold at Midwest and Southeast grocery stores. The company aims to significantly increase it’s output of genetically engineered potatoes in 2017. GE potatoes will be marketed to grocery stores and restaurants due to their longer shelf life and “prettier” appearance, since the don’t bruise. Potatoes, just like tomatoes are part of the Nightshade family. People who follow AIP (Autoimmune Protocol diet) tend to avoid members of the Nightshades.

We actually stopped eating potato chips and fries (organic or otherwise) due to their unhealthy, although delicious status. Unhealthy because potato chips and fries create inflammation, contain carcinogenic acrylamide, make the body more acidic, and distort the omega 3 balance, since they are fried in vegetable oil.

Having that said, potatoes are actually high in potassium, which is an essential mineral required for proper heart function. So we still eat potatoes. But to avoid acrylamide (a carcinogen) and inflammatory vegetable oils organic potatoes need to be boiled or steamed. You can even try growing your own non-gmo organic potatoes!

5. Papaya

Most GMO papayas are grown in Hawaii on the Big Island. Lots of Big Island locals have a general dislike for the GMOs and there have been cases of destruction of GMO papaya fields by activists. A big portion of genetically engineered papayas, known as Rainbow papaya, is exported to Japan, where by law it’s supposed to be labeled. In Hawaii GMO papayas are not labeled, so buying organic Papayas is the way to go.

Papaya is considered a superfood known to contain a beneficial enzymes that are good for digestion, anti-oxidants, and vitamins. Organic non-gmo papaya seed extracts in tincture form, papaya leaf extracts, and papaya leaf tea are popular natural remedies.

6. Zucchini and Squash

GMO zucchini and squash have been deregulated in the US since 1994 according to USDA and approved for human consumption since 1995 by the FDA. There are 2 genetically engineered varieties.

7. Beet and Sugar Beet

More than 50% of all processed sugar comes from GMO sugar beets. You can avoid it by switching to sugar that comes from sugar cane, honey, or agave. Safest bet is to make sure that it’s certified non-gmo and organic.

8. Alfalfa

GMO Alfalfa is commonly used to feed livestock. Alfalfa sprouts is a popular health food too, so if you’re trying to avoid GMOs make sure your Alfalfa sprouts come from organic seeds. GMO alfalfa seeds may be treated with synthetic chemicals and have residues from herbicide/insecticide applications.

9. Flax

GMO Flax was developed by the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. It was approved by the USDA and the FDA for use as human and animal food in the late 90’s. GMO Flax is supposed to tolerate herbicide sulfonylurea. This chemical is also used as an anti-diabetic pharmaceutical drug! Flax and flax oil are known as a health food, but are they still healthy when sprayed with a chemical that induces hypoglycemia in animals and humans?

10. Apple

GMO apple, also known as the Arctic Apple was also developed by a Canadian company. GE apple was approved by the FDA and USDA in 2015, making it one of the more recent approvals. The GMO Apple is modified to prevent browning due to oxidation when sliced.

11. Plum

In 2009 the FDA approved the GMO Plum, which is modified to be resistant to the plum pox virus. It was developed by the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

12. Salmon (farm raised)

At the end of 2015, the FDA approved the first genetically engineered farm-raised Salmon known as AquAdvantage Salmon. This GMO Salmon is anything, but local. It is bred in Canada, the eggs will be transported and raised all the way in Panama, and then supply the United States (and other countries). GMO Salmon is not required to be labeled as such, so if you want to avoid GMO salmon, you will have to get wild caught salmon. Luckily, Alaska and New Zealand have still a good amount of wild salmon. GMO Salmon is a cross between salmon and a sea eel, which makes that genetically engineered salmon grow faster and double the size.

13. Cloned Meat

In 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cloned Meat and it’s derivatives, such as milk for human consumption. The FDA concluded that ‘(cloned) food from cattle, swine and goat clones is as safe to eat as food from any other cattle, swine or goat.’ For the purposes of this list, cloned meat is considered a Genetically Engineered product, since it requires precise, lab controlled replication and propagation of host DNA, and does not occur in nature.

14. Yeast, Enzymes, and Hormones

GMO Yeast is used in non-organic winemaking. Enzymes isolated from GMO fed animals are used in non-organic cheese making. You can expect GMO yeast and enzymes to be used in other areas of food and supplement production. Many mainstream brand vitamins and supplements rely on genetic engineering. In Japan genetically modified yeast used in the production of a popular supplement Tryptophan was behind the deaths of several dozen people in 1989 shedding light and raising questions about the safety of genetic engineering. Synthetic sugar substitutes such as Aspartame are made using genetically modified bacteria. rBGH and rBHT are genetically engineered artificial hormones injected into dairy cows in the US to produce more milk.

15. Pineapple

GMO Pineapple is the latest GMO fruit to be approved for human consumption as of December, 2016. It’s a product of Del Monte and is characterized by pink flesh on the inside. The pink Pineapple was genetically engineered to have higher levels of carotenoids.

16. Rice

GMO Golden Rice (Provitamin A Biofortified Rice) was approved for human and animal consumption in the United States in 2018. For direct food use and food processing. But not crop cultivation. This means GMO Golden Rice is grown in other countries and then imported to the United States, as well as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Rice is a main staple food for billions of people and more than half the word’s population rely on it as a source of energy. Two strains of GMO rice was approved by the FDA for human and animal consumption in 2000, but did not achieve commercialization. The patent belongs to Bayer Crop Science. GMO rice is meant to withstand applications of persistently toxic herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. In 2006 30% of US rice production were affected by trace amounts of unapproved GMO rice variety. 

Another genetically engineered strain of rice called Golden Rice (see above) was created by Syngenta, but started out as a project of the Rockefeller Foundation in the 80’s. An experimental plot of GMO Golden Rice crops was uprooted in the Philippines by eco activists in 2013.

17. Sugarcane

GMO sugarcane was approved in the United States in 2018, as well as Canada and Brazil. It was created in Brazil by the largest sugarcane research center in the world known as Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (CTC). It’s not approved in the US for cultivation, where the GMO sugar beet is a readily available, but GMO sugarcane is approved for human consumption. This means GMO sugarcane is grown in other countries and then imported to the US for direct food use and processing.

Additional GMO Considerations

There are always on-going experimental trials of GMOs all over the world. This includes many plants, animals, and other life forms that are not listed above or below. Hawaii remains the capital of GMO experimentations due to it’s all year round favorable climate and good infrastructure. Other tropical places, such as Africa, Philippines, Brazil, Costa Rica, and even French Polynesia currently have or have had GMO trials. Of course, Europe and Asia are not exceptions.

1. Cotton

Around 90% of all cotton grown in the US is GMO cotton. This means that it’s highly likely that your cotton clothing, personal hygiene items, towels, bedding, etc. are made from genetically modified cotton, unless it says non-gmo or organic cotton on the label.

2. Tobacco

GMO tobacco – is this the reason why tobacco is so toxic? After all, many genetically modified crops are modified to withstand high levels of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

3. Humans

Sounds unbelievable, but England became the first country to legalize three-parent GMO human babies in 2016. Early in 2017, the first peer-reviewed study was published on Chimera – a human pig hybrid created by Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. Mostly pig, but having human genes Chimera was the first step toward growing human organs inside of pigs. Also, GMO babies were secretly and illegally created in China in 2019. These GMO babies were genetically modified using CRISPR technology to supposedly withstand HIV. The scientist involved, He Jiankui was sentenced to three years in prison on December 30, 2019 for this.

4. Grass: GMO Creeping Bentgrass

While many Americans were focused on the presidential inauguration, the USDA approved GMO Creeping Bentrgass on January 18, 2017. It’s expected to be used primarily for golf course greens. It was USDA’s first GMO approval of 2017.

5. Trees and Flowers

Roses are.. genetically modified, at least some. Flowers grown in the garden or purchased could be genetically engineered. The idea of a GMO forest is not farfetched, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea, since environmental risks have not been established. Eucalyptus (Brazil) and Poplar (China) are examples of GMO trees.

6. Tomato

Currently there are 11 approved genetically modified varieties of Tomato, but they are not commercially available (supposedly). The first GMO tomato was approved back in 1992. Commercial production stopped in 1997. Lots of people love tomatoes or its derivatives, such as ketchup. However, tomatoes are part of the Nightshade family of plants which could be an irritant to certain people with digestive issues. This is why Nightshades are not part of the AIP (Auto-Immune Protocol diet).

7. Wheat (Colombia, New Zealand, and US)

Glyphosate resistant GMO wheat was created by Monsanto (now Bayer). It was approved in 2004 for human consumption, but not cultivation. Could it be coming from other countries? GMO wheat is not approved in the US for cultivation, but that didn’t stop it from growing in Washington. In 2016 the USDA confirmed that an unapproved strain of Monsanto’s GMO wheat was growing in Washington state. This caused a panic in global wheat trade in 2016.

8. Chicory/Radicchio

GMO Leaf Chicory also known as genetically engineered Radicchio was approved by the FDA and USDA back in 1997. The patent belongs to a Bejo of Netherlands. It was modified to be tolerant to herbicide glufosinate-ammonium, which is classified as persistent by the EPA. Although it’s still approved for cultivation and consumption in the US, it seems that GMO Chicory/Radicchio is not on the market. Additionally, Bejo (the company behind it) switched to non-gmo and organic farming methods. Nice move!

9. Melon and Cantaloupe

Application for growing GMO Cantaloupe in the US was withdrawn from USDA in 2004. Yet, it remains approved for consumption by the FDA. Could this GMO food be coming from other countries?

10. Bananas

GMO bananas are probably the next big GMO fruit to be approved. Genetically modified bananas are currently part of multi-million dollar on-going experimental trials happening in several places around the world, including Hawaii.

11. Mosquitoes

Another controversial GMO animal – the GMO Mosquito created by Oxitec of England was approved by the FDA in August of 2016 to be released in Florida. The genetically engineered mosquito is supposed to wipe out non-gmo mosquitos by making them sterile. Thousands Oxitec mosquitoes were released in the Florida Keyes in 2016. The GMO mosquito is supposed to be identified by it’s green glowing eyes. Seriously.

12. Stevia

The popular sugar substitute Stevia comes from a plant by the same name. The Stevia plant itself is not a GMO. However, chemical compounds that mimic Stevia’s sweet taste are synthesized from genetically modified yeast by Cargill. They call it EverSweet and the best way to avoid it is by buying organic or non-gmo verified Stevia containing products. (Source: Dr. Mercola)

GMO potatoes: the latest. As of May, 2017 there are at least 9 approved varieties of genetically engineered potatoes in the US. The GMO potato made it to #4 (out of 15) on our updated list of GMO foods.

The potato is a major staple in the Western diet and source of energy through carbohydrates. Indeed, potatoes are very popular, therefore patenting them through genetic modification is highly lucrative.

Genetically modified potatoes are engineered to withstand bruising, viruses, fungi, and bugs. GE potatoes are also expected to exhibit low levels of acrylomide – a carcinogenic toxin produced by cooking potatoes. (Source: www.innatepotatoes.com)

J.R. Simplot is one of the largest suppliers of potatoes in the US. J.R. Simplot’s new generation of GMO potatoes is expected to be more marketable. It’s called “Innate.” In the Summer of 2014 about 400 acres worth of Simplot Innate GMO potatoes sold at Midwest and Southeast grocery stores.

Simplot aims to significantly increase it’s output of genetically engineered potatoes in 2017 by planting more than 6000 acres. These GMO potato varieties come from: Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Atlantic, and Snowden potato cultivars. (Source: USDA APHIS)

Genetically engineered potatoes don’t bruise or turn brown when cut, unlike non-gmo potatoes. GE potatoes will be marketed to grocery stores and restaurants due to their longer shelf life and “prettier” appearance. J.R. Simplot has been the main supplier of potatoes to McDonald’s. Even so, McDonald’s made a pledge that it won’t be buying Simplot’s Innate GMO potatoes.

Special Note: Potatoes, just like tomatoes are part of the Nightshade family. People who follow AIP (Autoimmune Protocol diet) or people with leaky gut tend to avoid members of the Nightshades, since they are thought to be irritating to the gut regardless of GMO status.

Different varieties of potatoes. Image credit: Scott Bauer, USDA ARS

How to Avoid GMO Potatoes?

1. Buy certified organic potatoes. The surest way to avoid the GMO potato is to make sure your potatoes are organic. Organic farming specifically prohibits use of GMOs. The other benefit is that your potatoes won’t be grown in artificial chemical concoctions of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, bio-sludge, irradiation, and other unhealthy farming methods.
2. Avoid non-organic processed food with potato ingredients. This includes frozen meals with potatoes, powdered potatoes (including mashed potato powders), canned soups with potatoes, potato chips, etc.
3. Avoid Russet-looking potatoes when eating out. Unless the company or the food prep manager can tell you with 100% certainty that the potatoes they use are 100% non-gmo. This includes restaurants (big and small, fast and slow), deli departments, ready-made-meals at grocery and convenience stores, gas stations. The amount of Russet, Snowden, and Atlantic varieties of potatoes being GMO is increasing over time.
4. Switch to sweet potatoes. If organic potatoes are not available or the non-gmo potato status cannot be verified, opt-in for the sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are healthy and delicious. Currently there is no GMO sweet potato on the market. There are several varieties of sweet potatoes. They can be identified by their color on the inside such as the purple “Okinawa,” the orange sweet potato, the yam, and the white sweet potato. Our personal favorites are the purple and the orange organic sweet potato.
5. Switch to non-Russet potatoes. If organic potatoes or sweet potatoes are not available or the non-gmo potato status cannot be verified you can reduce your chances of bying GMO by getting potato varieties that haven’t been genetically modified. So, stay away from: Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Atlantic, and Snowden potato cultivars. These can be identified by light brown skin and off white inside.
6. Switch to other sources of non-gmo carbs. Potatoes are carbs. Carbs are required by our bodies for energy production. Too much or too little carbs is not good. Other sources of non-gmo carbs, other than the sweet potatoes mentioned above include: rice, carrots, pumpkin, beans, pasta, bread (if made with non-gmo ingredients) etc. Basically any carb or starch that’s not on our list of GMO Foods.
7. Grow your own! Gardening is fun, grounding, and connects us directly to what sustains us: our food, water, the Sun, nature. Potatoes are relatively easy to grow. There are techniques using barrels or large pots that allow you to really multiply the harvest substantially by adding more and more soil into the container as the potato grows. You can even go to a grocery store or farmers market to get your initial potato starters. Just make sure you start with fresh organic potatoes.

Organically grown Russet Burbanks potatoes. Please note: GMO version exists. Image credit: Steve Caruso

Blue Swede (non-gmo) purple potato variety. Image by Paebi

Recently Hawaii experienced it’s worst honey bee die-off since the survey began seven years ago. It’s estimated that a total of 38% of Hawaii honey bee colonies collapsed according to the latest 2015-2016 annual survey by the Bee Informed Partnership. California honeybee loss was at almost 40%. Highest honey bee loss in the entire US was in Mississippi at over 71%!

This is a sharp rise in honey bee die-offs from the previous survey year. In 2014-2015 only 14% Hawaii bee colonies experienced collapse. That year Hawaii had least die-offs in the entire US. We wrote about it because it was significant and very positive news. But, unfortunately things changed for the worse very quickly.

The Yellow-Faced Bee: Now Endangered Specie

For the first time in US history bees were added to the Endangered Species list. Seven species of yellow-faced bees native to Hawaii were added to the Endangered Species Act in 2016. Although, this protection came right after the recent 38% honeybee die-off, it took the Xerces Society almost a decade to convince the government to protect these Hawaiian bee species.

Potential Causes of Bee Deaths

The million dollar question is: “What caused a 2.7 time increase in Hawaiian honey bee deaths in just one year?” Indeed, there are numerous factors that can hurt the bees: pollution, toxic agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, loss of habitat due to development, as well as biological enemies such ants, mites, and viruses like varroa and nosema.

Luminous vapor trail of tri-methyl aluminum (TMA). Credit: NASA

One less-talked-about potential bee-killer is Geoengineering. Geoengineering is also known as Weather Modification – a form of climate control practiced all over the world, including Hawaii. It’s ironic that the scientific community often dismisses it as “chemtrails conspiracy theory,” while on the other hand it promotes it as areal atmospheric spraying and cloud seeding.

For example, NASA admits using atmospheric “tracers” containing aluminum, lithium, barium and other particles. Lithium is also used in batteries and as an anti-psychotic drug. Aluminum is a neurotoxin with strong links to Alzheimer’s and nerve damage. Aluminum is also toxic to plants. Barium is toxic, as well.

Image of a daytime lithium trail from a sounding rocket launched from Wallops Island, Virginia, in July 2013. Credit: NASA

Another example is straight from Harvard University. In 2018 Harvard scientists are planning to spray an aerosol into the stratosphere to reflect the Sun’s heat to combat global warming. These researchers want to test several undisclosed materials. However, from our own research aluminum oxide particles are one of the main ingredients used for this purpose due to their reflectivity and low weight.

Furthermore, a 2015 research study on wild bumble bee population and aluminum exposure found that the bumble bee pupae were heavily contaminated with Aluminum in the UK. According to the study: “The significant contamination of bumblebee pupae by aluminium raises the intriguing spectre of cognitive dysfunction playing a role in their population decline. (…) colonies with high concentrations (of aluminum) in the pupae tended to have smaller pupae.”

Considering all of the above causes behind bee deaths it is our conclusion that it is not a single cause, but rather a combination of above causes responsible for collapses in bee populations.

Fake Substitutes Instead of Real Solutions?

RoboBee. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University

Tech companies and researchers are rushing to capitalize on the sharp decline in bees and other pollinators. After all, humanity and plants’ lives have depended on real living pollinators for thousands and millions of years, respectively. Why not replace them with artificial robots.

So now, instead of finding real solutions, some are quick to offer fake substitutes in the form of robot bees. or Autonomous Flying Robots is not science-fiction, they are tiny insect-like-drones developed by Harvard University.

It’s ironic that Harvard is also behind the proposed 2018 geoengineering experiment (mentioned above), which could harm real bees with aluminum oxide aerosol. There are other similar bee-robot developments taking place around the world, including Japan.

Real Solutions to Save the Bees

1. Live the Organic Life. As much as possible, buy organic food, naturally derived household and personal care products. Organic farming specifically prohibits the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides and many other agricultural chemicals that are harmful to the bees and other beneficial insects, such as the Monarch butterflies. In addition, conventional, non-organic agricultural chemicals wreak havoc on our own health through toxic residues in food. So it’s a win-win for the bees and for our own health when we buy organic.
2. Start an organic garden. Turn that plain-old boring lawn into a mini-biosphere where bees can thrive. Bees need flowers to pollinate. Grow bee-friendly plants. Where there are no flowers, there’s no sustenance for the bees. In addition, your family can harvest healthy, ultra-fresh organic produce without having to go to the grocery store every time. Organic gardening is very grounding and a great way to connect to nature, while making a difference for the bee community.
3. Awareness and sharing. Keep it simple. Share this knowledge with everyone and anyone. If everyone on Earth followed the first two steps outlined above the whole world would change and transform into a welcoming habitat for the bees and other beneficial pollinators. The whole world would heal and become harmonious once again.

The following photos are from our visit to an organic honeybee farm on the Big Island in 2016.

Article sources:

Bee Informed Partnership
OrganicHawaii
Natural Society
Xerces Society
GeoengineeringWatch
NASA
Dr. Mercola
NaturalNews
PLOS.org
Harvard University

OrganicHawaii is honored and excited to be selected as part of the FoodTank and James Beard Foundation 3rd annual GOOD FOOD Org Guide featuring organizations creating a better food system across the United States! You can download the guide for FREE here.

Food Tank is a leading organization focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters. FoodTank spotlights environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable ways of alleviating hunger, obesity, and poverty and creates networks of people, organizations, and content to push for food system change. (Source: FoodTank.com)

The James Beard Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor America’s diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire. A cookbook author and teacher, James Beard was a champion of American cuisine who helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. (Source: jamesbeard.org)

Anointed the “Dean of American cookery” by the New York Times in 1954, James Beard laid the groundwork for the food revolution that has put America at the forefront of global gastronomy. He was a pioneer foodie, host of the first food program on TV in 1946! (Source: jamesbeard.org)

We at OrganicHawaii firmly believe that the best kind of food is local, organic, non-gmo, and wholesome.

MAHALO for your support!!!!

Canoe Plant Festival Celebrates National Farm-to-School Month

KALIHIWAI – On October 16th, 2016 Malama Kauai will host a Canoe Plant Festival gathering to celebrate National Farm-to-School Month and the fall harvest at their Community Farm in Kalihiwai Ridge from 10am to 5pm.

A wide variety of activities and workshops will be offered, including chef demonstrations and cooking workshops, as well as agriculture and growing-focused workshops, all centered around canoe plants, such as taro/kalo, coconut/niu, breadfruit/ulu, and others. There will also be music and vendors.

Adult tickets are $15 and those who purchase advanced tickets online will receive a special gift upon check-in at the event. Children 18 & under are free and there will be a variety of keiki activities offered.

The event is brought to you by Malama Kauai, a local nonprofit celebrating its 10-year anniversary of focusing on sustainability and food production issues for Kauai. Their programs include the 7-acre Community Farm that this event will be held at, as well as the Kauai School Garden Network, Hawaiian Charter School Food Program, Village Harvest Gleaning Project w/Kauai Master Gardeners, Kauai Ag Internship Program, and more.

This event is sponsored by Hawaii Tourism Authority, The County of Kauai, and KauaiFestivals.com. For more information on the event, including schedule of activities or to purchase tickets, visit www.MalamaKauai.org or call 828-0685 x12.

Mahalo!

Recently Hawaii became the first state in the US to pass legislation providing tax breaks for local farmers to offset the cost of getting certified organic! This bill would allocate up to $50,000 to each qualifying farm operation to cover such expenses as organic certification costs and equipment, for example.

Hawaii governor David Ige hasn’t yet decided whether he will sign it into law. You can take action and tell governor David Ige why it’s a great idea to have more organic farms in Hawaii, so he can sign this bill into law!

Here are some good reasons to support this cause, which would create: #1. more availability of certified organic/healthy food! #2. cheaper/sustained prices on organic (more supply = price goes down) #3. better for the environment and health!! These 3 reasons alone are a huge incentive to sign this legislation into law!

TAKE ACTION! Submit your comments to Gov. David Ige by June 27 deadline IN SUPPORT of “HB1689” HERE!

Mahalo to Hawaii representative Chris Lee, Hawaii Center for Food Safety and all those who support these positive changes!

Updates on this measure are published here

Earth Day 2016 is officially on Friday, April 22nd. Additionally, many Earth Day events in Hawaii will take place on other days during the second half of April. This year’s Earth Day theme is Trees for the Earth! Here’s a growing list of Earth Day events scheduled to take place across Hawaii. If you know of another event that we missed, just let us know and we’ll add it!

Oahu

UH Mānoa Earth Day

Friday, April 22 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location: University of Hawaii Mānoa Campus Center and Legacy Pathway

Annual Earth Day Celebration at UH Manoa including food, activities, live music, and information, all in the name of sustaining our planet! An annual tradition promoting sustainability efforts on-campus and in the community to foster networking, involvement and inspiration.

Mauna to Makai Earth Day at Waikiki Aquarium

Saturday, April 23 9am-4:30pm (Free Admission!)
Location: The Waikiki Aquarium
This event will highlight the impact we make on water sources from Mauka to Makai. The Waikiki Aquarium and 15 other organizations will provide educational activities for both children and adults on how to preserve and protect our diverse environment.

The North Shore Country Market

Saturday, April 23rd, 8am-2pm
Location: Sunset Beach Elementary School
The North Shore Country Market is a non-profit market dedicated to sustainability and community. NSCM will be hosting an Earth Day celebration on April 23rd from 8-2pm across from Pipeline at the Sunset Beach Elementary School. NSCM will be having a plant and seed swap for community members to bring and trade seeds, plants and cuttings with others. NSCM also have organic plants for sale from Lokahi nursery, local produce, food, live music, yoga at 11am, keiki activities and more!

Yoga for Earth Day

Saturday, April 23 at 2pm – 4pm
Location: Still & Moving Center
1024 Queen St, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
Cost: $30 or $50 for two if you bring a friend. 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter.

In celebration of Earth Day, join us in an exploration of how the teachings of yoga can guide us to be better stewards of the planet and help us to acknowledge both our love and pain for the world. We will also learn about and honor threatened and endangered native Hawaiian animals through a short asana practice and cultivate interconnectedness and loving kindness towards the world through guided meditations. This workshop is for anyone who would like to become more empowered to become better activists on behalf of our island Earth. Native plants sale provided by Hui Ku Maoli Ola.

Waimanalo Beach Park Earth Day Cleanup and Ultimate Sand Sifter Competition

Saturday, April 30, 9am-2pm
Location: Waimanalo Beach Park

9:00am – check in, 9:30am-12:00pm – Clean Up, 12:00pm-2:00pm – live music, games, and more!
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and Partners bring you the 2016 Earth Day Cleanup and Ultimate Sand Sifter Competition. Everyone is invited! Check in is at 9AM at Waimanalo Beach Park. Winners receive a $1,000 prize and all entrants get a goodie bag!

Maui

2016 Maui Earth Day Festival

Sunday, April 17, 10:00am – 6:00pm
Cost: $7 entrance fee, kids free
Location: Ke‘opuolani Park Amphitheater, behind the Maui Nui Botanical Garden
19th annual Maui Earth Day will be celebrating with two stages of live music, information booths and a silent auction. There will be food booths providing delicious, healthy foods and vendors offering all kinds of eco friendly products and a healing zone with massage therapists, intuitive healers and body workers. There will be a Keiki Parade and much more!

Kauai

Earth Day Rising VI

Sunday, April 24, all day
Location: Malama Kauai Community Farm in Kalihiwai Ridge
Cost: $15 advanced donation online, $25 donation at door, keiki 16 and under FREE

The 6th annual Earth Day Rising Festival will have workshops and panels on sustainable living, agriculture, and conservation, farm kids activities, clothing swap tent, seed and plant giveaway, music, food, and more!

Big Island

Earth Day at Kahakai Elementary Kona Hawaii

Friday, April 22nd

Painted Trees of Hawaii will be planting 250 eucalyptus trees to celebrate Earth Day. Special guest, Kelly Dunn, fine art photographer will give a presentation to the students about these beautiful trees.

GMO bananas coming soon!

Several GMO banana varieties are currently being developed around the world and have already been approved for experimental growing in field trials in the US (Hawaii), Israel, Australia, and Uganda. Commercial use of genetically modified bananas for food and vaccination purposes is expected in the near future. The Gates Foundation has invested a large interest in developing GMO bananas in Uganda known as the Banana21 program.

One GMO banana variety being developed and tested is the common Cavendish banana. The other GMO banana is the East African Highland banana locally known as Matooke – a staple food of Uganda. The highly controversial Vaccine Banana is also in development.

Most people in developed nations are used to seeing the familiar Cavendish bananas in grocery stores. They often come from Ecuador and other South American countries. These bananas are usually grown by Dole and Chiquita brands. Non-organic Cavendish bananas are known to lack taste. What’s worse is they may have been grown with highly toxic pesticides such as DBCP and irradiated.

Check out the Bananas* movie, which is banned in the U.S. and the Big Boys Gone Bananas* for more info. These documentaries expose how the non-organic bananas are grown with super toxic chemicals that cause infertility (DBCP) and the lawsuits that followed against Dole, Dow, and the filmmaker, as a result. Organically grown Cavendish bananas are sweet and much healthier for you and the planet.

Cavendish Bananas on the cover of Bananas* movie

GMO bananas to the rescue.. or?

A new strain of the Panama fungal disease (F. oxysporum) called Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is quickly spreading across the world and putting the South American banana monoculture industry at risk, where 80% of Cavendish bananas are grown. Hence, the GMO Cavendish banana is promoted as the solution by the biotech industry, as it’s supposed to be resistant to the fungal disease.

A GMO version of the Matooke banana, also known as the East African Highland banana is being promoted in Uganda by the Gates Foundation. The Matooke banana is a cooking banana, which is also a staple food in Uganda.  The GMO Matooke banana was developed in Australia and field tested in the U.S. and Uganda.

The supposed benefit of the GMO Matooke banana is a better nutritional profile of the essential pro-vitamin A and iron when compared to non-gmo bananas, but in Uganda not everyone is happy about it. The introduction of the GMO Matooke banana has sparked an anti-GMO row in Uganda. GMO banana opponents insist that health risks and environmental impacts are unknown. They warn that multinational corporations behind GMO foods take advantage of local governments and farmers.

How to avoid GMO bananas!

The World of Bananas in Hawaii: Then and Now (book)

Solution #1

Since GMOs are not labeled in the U.S. the safest thing to do is to avoid them by buying certified organic Cavendish bananas. Certified organic bananas are certified to be non-gmo, have better taste, and are ecologically better for the environment and for those who grow them, since synthetic chemicals like the highly toxic DBCP may not be used.

Solution #2

Try other types of bananas, such as the excellent Apple Bananas, Saba, Ice cream, or the Cuban Red variety. Farmers markets, natural grocery stores such as Down to Earth, Wholefoods, and Kokua Market in Hawaii are usually a good place to find them. You can also grow your own organic bananas if you live in a tropical climate. Check out “The World of Bananas in Hawaii: Then and Now,” probably the best book on bananas out there.

Solution #3

Vitamin A is very important for health and there are healthy non-gmo organic alternatives out there that are readily available. The Hawaiian Lele banana is known to contain more vitamin A than any other variety of bananas known. If you live in a tropical climate plant some Lele bananas.

Also, you can get a non-gmo natural source of vitamin A from cooked organic sweet potatoes, cooked carrots, cooked kale, cooked butternut squash, and dried apricots. These foods are known to contain the highest amounts of vitamin A out there.

Non-gmo organic bananas are in the public domain, so that anyone can freely grow them and consume them while avoiding the risks of controversial GMO bananas.

Thai bananas grown in Hawaii

Bananas at a farmers market on Oahu, Hawaii

Saba bananas grown in Hawaii

Saba bananas – sweet and rich