GMOs - Running The Country

Thanks to Kristi East with The Casey Reporter in Casey, Illinois for writing the following story.

By Kristi East
Staff Writer
The Casey Reporter
June 19, 2014

Sitka, Alaska residents, David Wilcox (15), and his father Brett, began a long journey together on January 18, 2014, in Huntington Beach, California, the starting point of their cross country trek. Until recently, they were running around 20 miles a day, but due to protesting muscles and joints, they are now walking.

David was 12 years old when he learned that the youngest person to complete a cross-country trek was 17 years of age. He decided he could do that and talked about it relentlessly. His family decided to support him.

David’s mother Kris, and sister Olivia (13), and one of their four legged friends, Angel are traveling with them in a truck, pulling a camper. The girls consult the map for their next stop, approximately 20 miles away, and go ahead to set up camp and wait for Brett and David. Also on the road with the boys is their dog Jenna, who walks until she gets tired, then jumps into the 3 wheeled running stroller they have with them that carries their supplies (water, light snacks, cell phone, etc.)

The Wilcox family is trying to raise awareness for GMO’s, Genetically Modified Organisms, an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, and to promote a GMO-free USA. The Wilcoxes are opposed to seed corn companies who inject seeds with chemicals designed to change the DNA of the seed.

“Actually, there are GMOs in more things than you would think,” said Kris. “Almost all sugars are made with GMOs.”

Flagstaff, Arizona was the highest point of their trek at 7,800 feet above sea level.

They traveled through a Navajo reservation Star School and then headed to Route 40 on Route 66.

The family spent Memorial Day weekend in St. Louis, Missouri, and walked into Casey on Thursday, June 5, having completed around 2,000 miles. They hope to finish their journey in New York, in mid-July.

Brett is a mental health therapist and Kris has her own cleaning service, but both have taken the time off to help David realize his cross country dream. David and Olivia are homeschooled, and take online classes with their school.

So far, they have been through two starters, two alternators, two flat tires, and a battery. The Wilcox’s are traveling on their own funds but welcome donations. Donations can be made online at RunningTheCountry.com, which has their complete story and blog, or mailed to Brett or Kris Wilcox, 2105 Sawmill Creek Road. Sitka, Alaska 99835.

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Brett Wilcox is the author of We’re Monsanto: Feeding the World, Lie After Lie. Brett and his 15-year old son, David, are currently running from coast to America coast promoting a GMO-Free USA. Brett and David blog at RunningTheCountry.com. Support their run and mission at RunningTheCountry.com/donate.

First day of street market draw wide range of vendors

Lisa Trigg
The Tribune-Star

Source: The Tribune Star

TERRE HAUTE — Saturday’s opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market was sort of a dream come true for young Madeleine Grace Manson.

The seven-year-old student from Sugar Grove Elementary told her mother last year that she wanted to be a vendor at the farmers market, and that prompted them to develop their Pure Grace Soap products.

Tribune-Star/Bob PoynterMaster: Majel Wells is the market master for the 2014 Farmers Market season.

As the morning sun shone brightly at the Clabber Girl Festival Marketplace at Ninth and Cherry streets, Madeleine and her mother Julie found themselves offering their handmade, all-natural soaps, scrubs and lotions at the Pure Grace Soap booth.

“We’re trying to bring a few items to market that haven’t been here before,” Julie said. She and Madeleine researched how to make the all-natural soaps, salves, lip balms, detergents and other items in small batches in their home. They package the products and include information for customers. Julie said that all the proceeds from the sales will go into a college fund savings account for her daughter.

Tribune-Star/Bob PoynterYummy: Jennifer Schwab and her daughters Lucy (4) and Emerson (2) enjoy some pecan rolls during their trip to the Farmers Market Saturday morning.

Their booth is one of several new booths at this year’s downtown market, which includes vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, handmade candy, gluten free food products and live music.

Market director Majel Wells said she expects the number of vendors to increase as the gardening season produces an abundance of produce to sell.

Tribune-Star/Bob PoynterFun: Seven-year-old Christian Fisher plays with a toy tractor during the season's first Farmers Market in downtown Terre Haute Saturday morning. — Tribune-Star/Bob PoynterFun: Seven-year-old Christian Fisher plays with a toy tractor during the season’s first Farmers Market in downtown Terre Haute Saturday morning.

Special Kids Days have also been scheduled for June 21, July 19 and Aug. 9, when a variety of kid-friendly booths and activities are planned. Four activity stations will include face painting, games, gardening, a photo booth and goodie bags provided by several sponsors.

Visiting guests at the market on Saturday were an Alaskan family making a cross-country journey to spread information about genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in food products.

Vendor: Farmers Market vendor Cathy Furr (R) makes change for Brazil resident Della Thacker and Shaye Elaman of Evansville during Saturday's kick off of the outdoor market season. — Vendor: Farmers Market vendor Cathy Furr (R) makes change for Brazil resident Della Thacker and Shaye Elaman of Evansville during Saturday’s kick off of the outdoor market season.

Brett Wilcox and his son 15-year-old son were in Terre Haute on their way from Huntington Beach, Calif., to New Jersey. Along with David’s mother Kris and sister Olivia, the family from Sitka, Alaska, are sharing information about GMOs and handing out seed packets from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company in Mansfield, Mo.

“We are just parents who want to feed our kids healthy food,” Brett said.

David said he came up with the idea of running across the United States after hearing about a 17-year-old girl who had done it to support her cause. Father and son have been running 20 miles six days per week since Jan. 18. They plan to arrive in New Jersey in mid-July.

The scenery in Arizona and New Mexico have been some of the most memorable sights of the journey so far, David said.

The red romaine lettuce packets included information about the organization GMO Free USA, which promotes heirloom seeds for sowing and harvesting plants as well as a family blog about the cross-country journey at www.runningthecountry.com.

The Downtown Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from June through October.

Category: GMOs

Alaskan family on cross country trek, makes stop in Casey

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