by Dr. Ridgely Abdul Mu’min Muhammad

Yes, you can eat the spinach from Muhammad Farms. We hope to be picking spinach in November. It
will be holistically grown which we believe is better than "organic", because we want you
to eat to live.

The source of the recent E. coli outbreak in spinach has been narrowed down to three counties in
California. The contaminated spinach was supposedly grown on an "organic" farm. I put
quotation marks around "organic" because this is a loaded word. Organic simply means
containing carbon. For instance the study of chemistry where the compounds investigated contain
carbon is called organic chemistry. The culturally accepted meaning of "organic" has to do
with how a crop is grown. "Organic" commonly means a crop that is grown without the use of
artificial fertilizers and pesticides. However "organic" can kill you. How?

Investigators have narrowed down the E. coli contamination to three possible causes. The strain
of E. coli bacteria found in the spinach comes from animal fecal matter. It could get onto the
spinach from contaminated irrigation water, non-composted manure fertilizer or dirty hands. Raw
sewage from human or animal waste is a good source of "organic" nitrogen fertilizer. But
it also breeds the E. coli bacteria. A good farmer knows that you do not treat growing plants with
raw sewage. However, a farmer in a pinch might spray raw sewage on his growing crops to increase his
profit margin or just to survive in a highly competitive market where prices are falling but his
costs are rising.

Under organic regulations, raw manure cannot be applied less than 90 days before the harvest of
any food crop – or 120 days if the crop touches the soil. Compost made with manure must reach
temperatures high enough to kill off pathogens. Once infected, simply washing it is not good enough
to destroy the pathogens. The only sure way to destroy them is to cook the infected produce at
sufficient temperatures. Unfortunately, people have gotten so lazy that they no longer cook or even
wash the vegetables that they get in these convenient prepackaged plastic bags.

We use manures at Muhammad Farms, but we compost the manure first which kills the E. coli and
other harmful bacteria. Then we do not spray or dump even this composted manure on growing crops. We
spread it over our fields then cultivate it into the soil before we plant the crop. The plants then
grow in a natural and healthy environment where they synthesize these elements to produce a strong
healthy plant and tasty fruit.

Over the last few years a demand has grown for "organic" foods. The commercial
agricultural industry has moved in to supply that demand motivated by the profit it brings. What
makes you think that just because they call something "organic" that it will be good for
you to eat? These commercial farmers know what to do. However, if they get in a pinch or fall behind
in their scheduling, they may result to cutting corners to "make a crop".

As a consumer how can you be sure of the safety of the food that you buy? One sure way is to
learn how to grow it and grow it yourself. Another way is to find someone that you know and trust to
do the right thing by you. Here at Muhammad Farms we consider this farm "your" farm and
not "our" farm. Our self-accusing spirit will not allow us to do things that we know may
be harmful to you. On top of this we eat what we grow as well as distribute it to you. In fact, we
eat a lot of what we can not distribute to our patrons because of superficial blemishes or size. The
produce tastes good and is good for you, but may not look as pretty as you may be accustomed to.
Most commercial farmers don’t have the time to bother with cooking and eating what they grow. They
grow acres and acres of one crop and try to get as much money as possible so that they can go to the
store just like you to get their groceries. What they can’t sell they may dump into their animal
feedlots.

According to a MSNBC.com article by Samuel Fromartz, the company first linked to the outbreak
works with a vast network of partners, like many companies in the valley 100 miles south of San
Francisco. In addition to the produce grown on its 26,000-acre land base, the farm contracts with
independent growers and washes and bags salad greens for competing brands, making it hard to trace
the outbreak to a specific farm.

Although the E. coli bacteria live in cattle, they can spread through manure in rainwater
run-off, in irrigation lines, in packaging plants or through infected workers. This valley in
California is home to a large number of commercial feedlots where a tremendous amount of raw manure
is produced which can be washed into streams and irrigation canals. Commercial interests have
overloaded the natural environment to the point that millions of people can be affected by the
mistakes of a few.

"The irony is that all the states where people got ill could be growing their own spinach
this time of year," said James Riddle, a former adviser to the Agriculture Department on
organic food regulations.

Now we hear that Wal-Mart is entering the "organic" market in a big way.
"Organic" prices should surely drop and Wal-Mart will surely import lots of
"organics" from China where spreading raw sewage is a farming tradition.

Now that the label "organic" may not be good enough to insure safety, it is time for us
to consider the advice of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to put a garden in every small
piece of earth that you can find or even in pots inside of your home. The Ministry of Agriculture
would suggest that you do a few things. First, start cooking again from scratch. Second, continue to
read the "Farmer Newsletter" and other related materials at www.MuhammadFarms.com.
Third, contact your local representative of the Ministry of Agriculture whenever you have a food or
agriculturally related question. Fourth, start growing some of your vegetables locally. Fifth, start
local food buying clubs so that when you find a good source of holistically grown food you can share
it with others. Sixth, when you find a farmer that grows good vegetables and fruits or produces good
eggs, milk or meat, be willing to pay him more than the market price for conventionally grown
products especially if he has to bring them to you. And seventh, continue to support the Three Year
Economic Savings Program so we can expand your independent and safe food system.

Muhammad Farms and the other small farmers we work with will be glad to supply you with fresh
wholesome holistically grown produce to supplement your own production. In addition the Ministry of
Agriculture produces a book entitled "No Farms, No Food" which gives instructions on how
to set up your small garden and grow your own vegetables. Soon we will be announcing a workshop
where you can come to Muhammad Farms and be instructed by gardening experts on how to get the most
from your small plots of land.

Read this interesting article: Landless Workers Movement:
The Difficult Construction
of a New World