TruthArchive.ai - Tweets Saved By @samdknowlton
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
The toxicity of glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) is widely discussed, but it's only part of the problem. Adjuvants in Roundup, used to enhance glyphosate's penetration into plant cells, are 1,000 times more toxic than glyphosate itself. These adjuvants cause a level of cellular damage in plants, animals, microbes, and humans not observed with glyphosate alone.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Some references for further reading: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1257636/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935120301997 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1547691X.2020.1804492 https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2018/03/15/public-health-commercial-pesticide-adjuvant-risks
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
A recent pilot study found that 88% of tested kale was contaminated with PFAS, aka forever chemicals. One sample even had PFOS, a PFAS chemical that was phased out of production in 2002. To make matters worse, the certified organic kale had significantly higher concentrations of PFAS compared to conventionally grown kale. It's a bit ironic, considering organic kale is considered the quintessential health food by so many. One reason the organic kale may have more PFAS than conventional kale is the use of higher rates of compost in organic production. Most compost is poorly made and more of a waste management endeavor than one geared for producing high-quality inoculum/fertilizer. Often, undesirable materials like biosolids and other toxin-laden industrial waste are composted but not adequately decomposed. Many farms rely on this type of compost because it is cheaper. It's safe to assume that PFAS contamination is in no way limited to kale and is likely widespread throughout our food system. The way we produce our food is a critical determinant of our health, both in terms of providing quality nutrition and eliminating the stream of toxins otherwise destined for our food system.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Here's the study for those interested in more detail: https://anh-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/230621-ANH-USA-PFAS-in-Kale.pdf
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Today, Hawaii imports 90% of its food. nnBefore Captain Cook landed, the populous Native Hawaiians were entirely self-sufficient and produced more food using less land than modern Hawaiian agriculture. nnHere is a quick tour.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Native Hawaiians developed the ahupua'a system, a geographic unit used to delineate a specific land management and food production area.nnEach ahupua'a started as a narrow point high in the the volcanic peaks, spreading wider like a slice of pie as it descended towards the sea.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
A single ahupua'a spanned a cross-section of the island’s ecosystems and resources.nnThe ahupua'a was organized around the flow of water. Boundaries ran along the natural delineation of watersheds. From the top of the system to the bottom, water was treated with the utmost care.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
The upper forests were mostly untouched, with a small portion lightly managed and used to produce hardwoods and building materialsnnBelow this area, Native Hawaiians planted agroforestry plots mixing endemic plants with the canoe plants brought by the first Polynesians
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Breadfruit trees and coconut trees shaded bananas and noni trees, and sprinkled throughout the agroforest were Kukui trees. Chickens and pigs ate the fallen fruits.nnThis served as the Hawaiians' perennial source of starches, fats, protein, and medicinals.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
In the zone below the agroforestry, Hawaiians grew their most important staple and culturally significant crop: taronnThis zone was terraced and irrigated with water from the mountain streams. Water was diverted into the terraced pools, gently spilling from one to the next
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Excess water would return to the stream, where it continued towards the sea.nnThe freshwater would eventually meet the sea and spill into rock-walled fish ponds in the tidal pools. Fish were captured with sluice gates and fattened up in the nutrient-rich brackish water
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
A recent study concluded that the ahupua'a system could produce 1 million metric tons of food from just 6 percent of Hawaii's land. nnThat's enough to feed all of the estimated 1.2 million pre-contact Native Hawaiians, or 86% of the current population of Hawaii, 1.4 million.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
In contrast, Hawaii's current farmland covers 3x more land than before 1777, and the total food produced through modern methods is only 151,700 metric tonsnnThat's only 15% of what was produced more than 200 years ago by Native Hawaiians on 3x less land without external inputs
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
The ahuapua'a system was first conceived around the 15th century. It was successfully used for more than 1,000 years to produce a cornucopia of foods, maximize and sustain precious water resources, preserve a rich ecology, and support a vibrant culture.
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
Today, we go straight for the shiny technological fix; we've lost track of the whole and focus too much on the individual pieces, resulting in fragile agriculture systemsnnThe ahuapa'a is an example of the kind of agricultural ingenuity that is possible in each unique bio-region
@samdknowlton - Sam Knowlton
The second to last tweet should read: The ahuapua'a system is believed to have been conceived in the 15 century. However, some evidence shows that it was successfully used for over 1,000 years. nThanks to all who pointed out my math deficiency. I also mix up my colors.