We started this project to become more conscious about healthy urban living, where our food was coming from, how it was grown, and how we could reduce our carbon footprint by not relying on supermarkets, while supporting local farmers markets. In 2011 we learned a lot about indoor gardening from within a loft in downtown Atlanta, GA. Since then we’ve moved to a house and although we have new obstacles ahead we are still Growing Within.
"The Certified Humane Program created a gold standard for animal welfare."
-USA Today
The Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is a certification and labeling program that is the only animal welfare label requiring the humane treatment of farm animals from birth through slaughter. The goal of the program is to improve the lives of farm animals by driving consumer demand for kinder and more responsible farm animal practices. When you see the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® label on a product you can be assured that the food products have come from facilities that meet precise, objective standards for farm animal treatment.
1. Look for and buy Certified Humane® products - to find Certified Humane® products available near you, visit our "Where to Buy"section.
2. If your store does not stock foods that are Certified Humane®, download a "product request" form to give to your local store manager. We also have a "turkey request" form to download (if you are unable to download, please contact Humane Farm Animal Care to have these mailed to you).
3. If your store does carry Certified Humane® products, let them know you shop there because they stock these products. Download a Certified Humane Comment Card and bring it to the customer service desk or drop it in their customer comment box. Grocers need to hear that they have business because they carry Certified Humane® products, and that you as a consumer may bring them more business because of these products.
4.Have your family and friends sign a petition asking your local supermarket to stock products that are Certified Humane®. Download a petition form here.
5. Contact Humane Farm Animal Care and request an information packet that includes brochures about the Certified Humane® program. Distribute these to your family and friends telling them about the program, so they too, can look for and buy products with the Certified Humane® label on them.
6. Encourage your favorite food brands to become certified and to use Certified Humane Raised and Handled® ingredients in their products. You can contact them by using the website addresses on the packages of products that you purchase.
7. Sign up for our email news updates – stay updated on our progress.
8. Make a donation: Help us reach more farmers, more consumers, and help more animals.
Around my early 20's I began to fantasize about owning and belonging to a wine vineyard somewhere in Spain, Italy, or France. It wasn't hard because I had been living in Germany and had visited the countries which was just a train ride away. I still like to daydream and since have brought the winemaking to my kitchen with a cabernet sauvignon and complete winemaking kit. 
Since then, I have been reading up on everything related and found something interesting called "biodynamic winemaking", and takes things a step further than "organic winemaking". 
Biodynamics mixes sustainability with more celestial beliefs and takes a spiritual as well as mystical approach to conventional farming methods. The practice of biodynamics views the vineyard in its entirety as a living system. And, it's not just about the vines and grapes. It's also about the soil, compost, insects, and other vegetation and animals that inhabit space in the vineyard, all working in harmony to bring you some incredible-tasting wines.
