Grow your own organic wheatgrass

My dog loves grass, she can’t seem to munch enough of it whenever we go to our nearby Boston park which doesn’t seem to use pesticides or herbicides. However, in a few weeks we are moving to San Diego and I suspect the little precious grass they have in this desert climate there will be much more likely to be treated with chemicals. So I have been looking into some healthy alternatives that won’t cost me a fortune and wanted to share my initial findings.

Cats, dogs and many other pets seem to instinctively want to eat grass. By eating grasses they obtain important vitamins and minerals as well as adding more fiber to their diet. So many pet stores are selling little trays of pet grass - but I suspect the tiny but expensive amount they offer are just for pampered gerbils, my dog would be asking for more in about 30 seconds. So, if I am going to start growing my own I am going to need a cheaper solution. Smaller dogs and cats probably won’t need as much but you might want to save money anyway as well as have greater control over the quality of the grass.

If you want to get a kit that includes all you need to grow your own then check out wheatgrasskits.com who offers a kit with 5lbs of certified organic wheatgrass seed, 5 trays for growing, 1 bag of soil, and instructions - all for 15.95

If you have a green thumb and are willing to get your instructions, soil and potting trays on your own then can save money by going to wheatgrassman.com and buying a bag of certified wheatgrass seed - you can get 4lbs for just $6.95 or if you know your pet is going to love this stuff then spring for the 25 or 50lb bag and save even more money at $20.95 and $37.95 respectively.

Catnip Tins $5.99 from Bubba’s Love.com
Your aristoCats will want to use these tins like the snuff tins of old, and for you to have some quality herb time with your favorite Kitty.

Gallon Plastic bags of Bulk Organic Catnip from BUBBA’s LOVE World Famous Organic Catnip $26.99 /pound

If fancy tins are too bourgeois for your simple tastes, this bare basic plastic bag should work, and you get a better deal for your hard earned money!

The Alfresco Dog Bed from BellaDogga.com starting from $160.00

Groovy organic dog beds, stylishly designed and hand crafted. Made with all organic cotton denim. If you like happy new age designer words and phrases like dignity, joy and huckleberry Love then this is the bed for you.
However, if this happy people talk turns you off like it does me then a more traditional 60’s abstract flower type design seen in the Pad Dog Bed may be more to your taste.

The Pad Dog Bed

Karma Organic Dog Food USDA 95% Certified Organic Dog Food

I have been increasingly worried about mainstream dog food. I have tried off and on to switch my dog to an healthier organic brand from the Eukanuba that she has been eating since a puppy. But every time we try, no matter how long we gradually introduce (typically a month or so of very gradually increasing the percentage) she will start having some rather nasty digestive side effects I won’t get into. I am thinking of giving it another chance with Karma Organic Dog food as it looks so promising and I am tired of giving my money to the big corporate dog food companies that are more concerned about their bottom line than the safety of our pets.

Hopefully I am not just being suckered into a marketing scam but I am impressed that Karma seems to use such high quality ingredients, with No artificial preservatives, colors or additives. They also state ” All our foods are free from chemical additives of any kind, including preservatives such as Ethoxyquin and BHA/BHT, which are frequently found in pet foods but are banned from human use in many countries.” They claim to strive to make the healthiest dog food in the world, providing USDA-inspected chicken, turkey and lamb, whole grain rice and barley, fresh fruits and vegetables.

If anyone uses this brand or has any suggestions about another brand that might even be better I would be curious to hear from you.

Good Stuff Birdie Bread $9.95/12 ounce bag (larger sizes available) at www.parrotsontheporch.com

Parrots on the Porch.com says they are working hard to get organic parrot food into the mainstream. According to the website they use all organic ingredients. Parrots are very sensitive to pesticides, dyes and preservatives. They can have digestive, neurological and mood problems from foods that contain too many additives.

They also go on to say that they make their foods in frequent batches, to maintain freshness, sometimes taking custom orders. They also wrote us to say that they get many of their grains and vegetables locally, to support their area’s organic farmers.

Sadly, my wife has no tolerance for loud squawking at any time of the day so I will forever be parrot-less. If you are lucky enough to have a parrot living with you, this is one site you should check out.

Wholesome Harvest Organic Farming Coop - On Line shopping is available.

Wholesome Harvest is a group of 40 small family farms who sell top of the line certified organic meats. They are committed to environmental and organic principles that go well beyond USDA organic standards. They primarily offer meats for people but they do have a section on their website devoted to organic pet food meats, a variety of select organ meats.

One interesting feature of their website is that you can trace the actual family and photo whose farm has raised the meat from a number on the package. (Hopefully there won’t be too many people bugging the families with emails asking for the cow’s name and how she used to spend her day!)

They sold me on what they are doing with this quote;
“Wholesome Harvest is helping to connect farmers to consumers and offering an alternative to cruel factory farms, environmentally harmful feedlot-production methods, and the importation of meat from other countries. These practices are devastating to rural American communities. By purchasing Wholesome Harvest, customers can choose to support small family farms that practice the highest levels of environmental and animal stewardship.”

PAW CARE BALM in a 3 oz tin $18.00 at CyberCanine

Paw Care Balm is an all natural ointment perfect for minor cuts and sores. There website states their balm is made from organic herbs an coldpressed oil and aromatherapy grade essential oil. Not sure who the aromatherapy is intended for but in my case I know my dog likes it as stinky as possible! Me, I much prefer something a bit more herbal smelling.

CyberCanine has been making handmade organic and vegan canine healing and skin/fur care products since 1997. There are many other earth and animal friendly products available on their neatly designed site that are worth a look as well.

Organic BellyRubs, 10 oz. Box $6.99 from gooddogexpress.com

Certified Organic Dog cookies made from organic rolled oats, organic peanut butter, organic apples, organic bananas; and in our veggie blend: organic carrots, organic peas, and organic pumpkin.

Nature’s Variety Prairie Freeze Dried Raw Foods for Dogs and Cats
choice of Chicken+Turkey, Beef, Lamb, Venison
12 oz. packets for $21.00 or get a Variety Pack of 4 bags (1 bag of each flavor) for $79.90 at sitstay.com

With all the concern about wheat gluten contamination and the many doubts about the safety and healthiness of pet food from many major brands more and more people are considering springing for alternative foods. Some choose to cook their own food for their pets and others may consider looking at organic pet foods.

One brand that seems promising is Nature’s Variety Prairie which is
pre-ground freeze dried organic raw food for your dog or cat. Made with fresh raw meat and fresh raw ground bone. The Freeze dried process removes the moisture while still retaining the healthful benefits of raw food. You can reconstitute it with water or feed it dry. Great as a dry snack and as a training treat.

From SitStay’s website; “Nature’s Variety Freeze Dried foods are cold processed from meats and organs, freshly ground raw bone, fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nutritious oils, wild game bird eggs, natural vitamins, and chelated minerals. Each food is 95% meat, organs, and bones with a portion of these coming from certified organic sources. Unlike heat processed kibble and canned foods which have many nutritional components compromised during heat processing, these raw foods are naturally rich in easily assimilated vitamins and amino acids, beneficial antioxidants, natural digestive enzymes, probiotics, and are rich in essential fatty acids.”

Our feathered friends haven’t been getting enough attention here at great green pets. Hopefully we can soon rectify this matter. In the mean time perhaps we can munch on some organic bird foods and treats. organicuniverse.com offers a variety of organically grown bird foods such as Parrot and wild bird seed mix and Organic Finch Mix.