Organic and Sustanable Living Links

Links Updated:September, 2004

Jump to Topic

Biodiversity and Biology

Composting Links
Earthworms
Environmental, Agricultural, miscellanea
Herbs
Organic Cotton
Organic Garden links
Organizations for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture
Seeds & Plants for sale
Weeds and Insects and "pests"
NOT Organic

Biodiversity and Biology

Biodiversity and Biological Collections WWW Server
The Biodiversity and Biological Collections Web Server is devoted to information of interest to systematists and other biologists of the organismic kind.
Dictionary of Botanical Latin Terminology
for those interested in why your plants are called what they are
Entomology Index of Internet Resources-Iowa State
A directory and search engine of insect-related resources on the Internet.
Environmental Microbiology
For those who want to think about the chemistry of what's going on in the living soil, and the implications of what we add to it.
  Plant Genetic Resources
For those seriously interested in Agricultural Genetic resources
The Animal Diversity Web
University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology, lots of images! good info, not super techie
The Tree of Life Home Page-Wonderful!
The Tree of Life is a project containing information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their history, and characteristics. The information is linked together in the form of the evolutionary tree.

Composting Links

Compost info via ROT WEB (not available 9/20/04)
A jumping off site for lots of compost links
CORNELL Composting
This website provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.
UCCE - Worm Composting
Presented by University of California Cooperative Extension

Composting Toilets

Civilization and Sludge-Abby Rockefeller
Interesting essay by a long time champion of closing the biogeochemical loops in agriculture and keeping industrial waste out of the food supply.
Composting Toilet & Greywater Recycling Manual.
Includes plan and diagrams if you want to build your own
Composting Toilets-City Farmer
Site includes information on a large building which is not connected to the city sewers
Ekolet: Composting Toilets
Composting toilets in Finland
PHOENIX COMPOSTING TOILET
Another fine model
SUN-MAR COMPOSTING TOILETS
Home page of Sun-Mar composting toilets, over 25 years of experience
Technical Bulletin, No. 6: On-Site Wastewater Treatment
New Alchemy Institute: A classic on alternative wastewater treatment options

Earthworms

Another can of Worms. Phylum Annelida, polychaetes, oligochaetes, vent worms, etc.
Annelid resources, for those who love the earthworm and for those who do not, yet.
Earthworms
Nice page and FAQ thanks to Alan Tomlin, PhD
Effects of soil treatment on earthworms-U.Ky.
Discusses toxicity of various turf pesticides to earthworms
Introduction to the Annelida
At UC Berkeley. Has several other links
Oligochaete class information
Earthworms are oligochaetes!
The Burrow
If you only visit one worm site, make it this one!
Worm Woman's Web Site
Mary Appelhof's group. Mary Appelhof wrote the wonderful book "Worms Eat My Garbage" and got this whole worm composting thing into the public mind.

Earthworm Predators.

New Zealand Flatworm
Studies on the ecology and control of the New Zealand flatworm, from the U.K., wherein it is a problem
The earthworm-eater planarian, Artioposthia triangulata
More about the earthworm-eater planarian, Artioposthia triangulata

Environmental, Agricultural, miscellanea

Other stuff which may be of interest
A Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce
Just what the title says!
Agricultural Resources Center-excellent!
Site for pesticide issues and food policy, seeking ways to decrease use of toxics, using multiple approaches
Agriculture and Environment Resources
At the University of Maryland. Lots of links
Biocontrol Information
Links and searching for biological control information
City Farmer's Urban Agriculture Notes
This site is a link-mine for people interested in organic gardening and related environmental issues. Warning: you may feel a strong urge to relocate to Vancouver after reading this for a while.
Clip Art-farm& garden stuff
For when you need a picture
Garden Page at Virginia Polytech.
Lots of links to Gardening related resources
Giving gardens to the needy
One person's way of saving the world with gardens
Medicinal herbFAQ
FAQ on medicinal herbs, a good index, also info on culinary uses
MSDS Information
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all the stuff not used by organic gardeners
Organic Gardening Listserv
Sort of an intro to the Organic Gardening Listserve, an electronic discussion of organic gardening.
RACHEL INDEX
This is an index of nearly 600 articles about environmental concerns, agriculture, toxicology, and history of all three. The titles of each article are well deccriptive of its contents. Articles include references
The Paleolithic Diet Page
Remarkable site, many links. For the many among us who secretly wish to be hunter-gatherers when they grow up
The Solar Cooking Archive
The title says it all! The sun can power your oven directly, just as it powers the growth of your garden.
Herbs
Richters Herbs
An enormous selection of herb seeds and plants. Catalogue gives descriptions and mentions some of the herbs' uses. Not necessarily organic

Organic Cotton

The links under this heading all have some connection to organic cotton. Why buy anything you can't compost and use on your organic garden?
Fisher Henney Naturals (not working 09/04)
A commercial site for a vendor of organic cotton clothing, with some organic philosophy and history
ORGANIC COTTON EXHIBIT
This is very comprehensive, including history and environmental impacts

Organic Garden links

#583 (01/29/98): Organic Agriculture Endangered
Article from Rachel's Health and Environment Weekly
Don't Panic Eat Organic
This is an organic grower's home page. Tons of other links
EcoLandTech
Packed with info and links on sustainable agriculture and permaculture

Organizations for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture

Ecology Action
Ecology Action produces literature and conducts research in biointensive agriculture. Their yields on very small land areas are very impressive, and their attention to sustainability is unwavering
North American Fruit Explorers
Fruit Growers Organization, many varieties you will never see at the store
NORTHERN NUT GROWERS ASSOCIATION
North American nut growers association
OCIA International Certification Standards ( Organic Food )
Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), a well known certifier of organic foods
Pesticide Action Network North America
Mission is to reduce or eliminate pesticide use in our daily lives
RAFI Home Page
RAFI-USA is dedicated to community, equity and diversity in agriculture.
ReSource - Institute for Low Entropy Systems
A fine organization with a long history of promoting a sustainable waste policy with real, how-to information
Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute and their Regenerative Agriculture Resource Centers (RARC)
SOIL ASSOCIATION
An organic website in the U.K. The Soil Association is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, organic organization

Seeds & Plants for sale

Mostly, but not entirely, organic seeds and plants for sale
Future Foods
These folks are dedicated to back-garden biodiversity. They cannot sell outside the European Union, but this is worth seeing no matter where you are.
Grape Varieties
Site run by a grape expert who offers grapes and many unusual fruits by mail order.  Articulate gardening and agricultural writing as well. Worth a visit!
Plants of the Southwest
Specializing in drought tolerant native plants and seeds. Not organic; interesting stuff nevertheless
Redwood City Seed Company
Lots of interesting links in addition to the seed catalogue. Not exclusively organic.
Salt Spring Seeds Home
Untreated seed only, varieties adapted to northern climates
Seed Savers Exchange
Information of the Seed Savers Exchange, a group dedicated to conservation and dissemination of vegatable varieties. This is the best organization on earth.
Seed Savers-Australia
An Australian organization for folks who save seed
Seeds of Change
This is a commercial site. They sell certified organic seed and high quality tools. Strong organic philosophy.
Shepherd's Garden Seeds
Semi-organic, but sell some treated seed. Specify "untreated only" and they will respect your wishes. Many open-pollinated and nice varieties
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Home Page
This is a fine commercial site; much is organic, all seed is untreated. Many open pollinated varieties, links to other sites of interest
Sow Organic Seed Co
Certified organic by Oregon Tilth. They grow all their own seed.
Victory Seeds
Source of open-pollinated seeds for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
Very nice hardiness zone map.

Weeds and Insects and "pests"

Entomology Index-awesome
Iowa State Entomology Index: Electronic Publications, quite an extensive list
Insect Drawings
Some wonderful old insect drawings
Insects as Food - Insect Recipes
Just what it says. For those who are really concerned about world hunger problems and survival
Weed Images: wonderful
Weed photos from the collection of Dr. John Meade, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agent. Just about any farm, garden, or lawn weed in our area can be found here. Fun to browse!
WSSA: Weed Science Society of America
Weed Science Society of America Home Page- with Photo Herbarium- Weeds of North America

 
NOT Organic
There is information here, but the solutions to the problems tend to be right out of a petrochemical company sales manual. Proceed with caution and learn something.
Horticulture Solutions-Illinois Cooperative Extension
Horticulture Solutions-Illinois Cooperative Extension. NOT ORGANIC, but contains some useful information
Plant Pests and how to poison them (not organic)
University of Kentucky, NOT ORGANIC but may contain useful information.
U.of Arkansas newsletter
Index of newsletter for several years. Lots of explanations of why we have to spray biocides everywhere or risk returning to the stone age.

Sewage Sludge

#561 (08/28/97): New U.S. Waste Strategy, Pt. 2: Sewage Sludge
Rachel's Health and Environment Weekly, article about sludge and waste policy
RACHEL's Hazardous Waste News #314
Did you know that cement kiln dust can be added to sewage sludge, then we could put the whole mess into a bag and call it fertilizer?
Civilization and Sludge
Interesting essay by a long time champion of closing the biogeochemical loops in agriculture and keeping industrial waste out of the food supply.
Flush With Suspicion
article on reuse of municipal sewage sludge in agriculture
The Sludge Hits the Fan
(Chapter 8 of the book Toxic Sludge is Good for You! -- Lies Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton of the Center for Media and Democracy. Excellent!

           Pesticides and Treated Wood

We frequently get queries about treated wood and pesticide chemicals. Hopefully these links will provide some answers.
 
Treated Lumber Archive
This is a site with archived posts, conversations, and questions about treated lumber and its toxicity. Will take a while to read it all.