by Adam Tod Brown

If you’ve been paying attention to the news at all, it won’t surprise you to know that 2011 is on pace to be the all-time deadliest year for tornadoes in the United States. With a month still remaining in tornado season, there have already been 519 deaths as a result of twisters this year, which equals a record set in 1953.

With tornadoes tearing an unprecedented and deadly path across the United States, we decided to take a closer look at these fearsome freaks of nature and what you can do to protect yourself if one touches down in your area.

Here are ten things you should know about surviving a tornado. Read more »

When consumers pay more, writes Evan Fraser, farmers get more. It’s volatility that does the real damage

BY EVAN FRASER, OTTAWA CITIZEN

According to a recent United Nations report, food prices are rising again. Since 2008, the world has been treated to a roller-coaster of commodity price rises and crashes. While we Westerners are somewhat buffered from these changes – only a small amount of our grocery bill is actually spent on commodities whereas the majority of our money goes to packaging, processing and retail – this may still spell bad news for people all over the world. In 2008, food price rises triggered riots in dozens of cities. In 2010, they were the opening act in the drama of the Arab Spring.

But seeing rising food prices as a harbinger of the apocalypse is the wrong way to look at the situation. In fact, higher prices may actually be a godsend. Low prices, by contrast, are a real problem. Read more »

Written by Maureen Farmer

From: Organic Authority

The Vegetable Garden Season Begins

You don’t have to wait until the last average frost date in your area to start a vegetable garden outdoors. As soon as the ground can be worked, onions, peas and spinachcan be added to your garden. If you are going to grow your own onion seedlings, start them indoors approximately eight weeks before transplanting time. Onions sets, which are small onion bulbs, can also be purchased for planting. Peas should be directly seeded in your garden and do best with support from a trellis or other structure. Read more »