Save Money to Buy Organic Food
Grow your own
The cheapest method has got to be to grow your own. The
great thing is that it doesn’t require you to have much
garden space, or even a garden at all!
We grow tomatoes, and strawberries in containers and the
extra benefit is that you get total control over the growing
conditions.
The best combination is to have organic soil together with
organically produced seeds or plants, that way you ensure
you get the full flavour and benefit.
Containers can be placed anywhere that receives a
reasonable amount of daylight, which means that you can
use them on balconies or other hard surfaces.
Look for your local suppliers
One of the most satisfying things to do is to buy organic food
locally. That way you get the freshest ingredients for your
kitchen and also get to support local businesses. With no
transportation costs for the supplier too you should get very
competitive prices.
Don’t forget that these same businesses will be employing
local staff so you are also helping the local economy,
everybody wins in this scenario.
Local markets
We visit a big monthly market held on a disused airstrip.
Organic food is just one of the variety of items sold there but
the prices are very, very good indeed. Of course they are all
local suppliers and with several of them in one place we
benefit from healthy competition and get to sample a lot of
fruit!
Local box schemes
If you are unable to get out of your house or are too busy
working to select your groceries by hand then why not
subscribe to an organic box scheme?
You will receive, delivered to your door, a weekly selection of
fruit and vegetables in season.
Farm shops
Finally, investigate whether any farms near you are
operating an organic farm shop. Our local one is operated
on an open farm so that you can go and see where the
animals are being kept and take a look at the crops being
grown.
They actually have a well-designed walking route around the
farm which makes a nice day out for the kids too.
If you investigate the options above you should be able to
make considerable savings whilst you and your family
sample the delights and advantages of organic food. saving loans at payday advance
Posted in: Organic Food 
Organic Food Is Better Food
The Organic Premise: Many people are aware that food grown according to organic principles is free from exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides, but that is only one small aspect of organic agriculture. A larger part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops and livestock are raised. Organic farmers recognize that healthy, vibrant, and live soils and ecosystems significantly benefit crops. Natural, undisturbed soil is alive with microbiotic organisms that exist in harmony with the native plant life and the inorganic minerals that provide the soil’s substrate.
Synthetic chemicals (such as herbicides, pesticides, and/or fast acting inorganic fertilizers) applied in or around crops interrupt or destroy the microbiotic activity in the soil. Once the microbiotic activity in the soil has stopped, the soil becomes merely an anchor for plant material. In this conventional method of agriculture (in use for only the past 75 of 10,000 years of recorded agriculture) plants can receive only air, water, and sunlight from their environment – everything else must be distributed to plants by farmers, often from inputs transported thousands of miles to reach the farm. Plants are commonly fed only the most basic elements of plant life and so are dependent on the farmer to fight nature’s challenges, e.g. pests, disease, and drought.
illustrates this very well as summarized below:
| Feed The Soil | Feed The Plant |
|
|
| Sustainable | Non-Sustainable |
Why should a consumer care about agricultural techniques if an organically cultivated green pepper looks identical to a conventionally grown pepper?
The answer is multi-faceted, but simply stated, an organically cultivated pepper will be healthier and more nutritious than a conventionally cultivated pepper. By growing in a living soil where microbiotic activity constantly breaks organic matter and solid minerals into nutrients a plant can use, an organically cultivated pepper plant always has exactly what it needs to grow, from germination to fruit set, and the plant will be healthier throughout its lifespan than a conventionally grown pepper plant. As a result, the organically grown plant will be able to add more and complex components to all of its parts, including its fruit, resulting in a pepper chock-full of micro-nutrients and trace minerals that are important for human nutrition.
Flavor is another benefit of healthy plants growing in a living soil. Flavor results from a mixture of many different and complex molecules. Healthy, living soil provides a constant and more complex mixture of these molecules, which results in more flavor. It’s no surprise that chefs working in the highest caliber restaurants prefer organic ingredients to conventionally grown ingredients.
By purchasing locally-grown, organic produce, the consumer supports sustainable methods of land use that result in far less pollution and top-soil loss than does conventional agriculture. Synthetic pesticides and herbices not only kill soil microbes and leave toxic residues on food, they also threaten the health of farmworkers and disrupt natural ecosystems around the farm. Chemical fertilizers pollute lakes, ponds, rivers, and groundwater.
The alternative to using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers usually requires more labor on a farm. With more labor, organic farmers can match or exceed the productivity and quality of chemically dependent crops. Labor, rather than synthetic inputs, typically means more support for local economies, but it can also mean higher prices. Conventionally grown foods cost less because their hidden costs are passed on to consumers and the environment. These hidden costs include creating synthetic inputs, the resulting pollution from spreading them, and long-term health effects of pesticide residues in our food.
In the long run, organically grown food is the best bargain for us, the environment, and future generations.
MOFGA defines organic agriculture as a locally sustainable, low-input technique for raising crops and livestock. For details on the legal definition of the word “organic,” which is now regulated in the United States by the US Department of Agriculture. Make sure your loans saving with fast cash
Posted in: Organic Food
Natural Lifestyle
People are concerned with the quality of the food they eat more than ever before. Pesticides, antibiotics, and hormone injections are frequently added to crops and cattle, creating many issues and worries in health minded citizens. Therefore, organic food was developed to ensure that people could trust that the food they were eating was grown under the most healthful and natural conditions. Organic food isn’t so much a term that describes a particular type of food, yet it is a description of the processes used to grow and manufacture food.
Organic food is grown in carefully monitored environments. For food to bear the USDA Organic Seal of Approval, or to be Certified Organic, means that the growing process was monitored and met standards determined by state and federal laws. This includes inspections of farms, soils, food handling and processing equipment and facilities, and testing water. Foods that are grown organically use very little to no artificial ingredients or pesticides. The food is grown, cultivated, and harvested and kept in its purest and most natural state. The result is food that is certified to have been grown without the use of artificial preservatives, ingredients, hormones, and pesticides.
Another important aspect of organic food is that in the growing process, great emphasis is placed upon the conditions of the soil. Techniques and methods that encourage naturally renewable sources and conserve water and soil are implemented. Therefore, not only is the food the best according to quality standards and nutritious content (grown without the use of pesticides, hormones, or artificial means), but you can ensure that the soil is being enhanced and preserved for future farmers. At a time when most of the earth’s resources are being depleted without much concern for future generations, organic foods offers the assurance that farmers are doing their part to be environmentally conscious and earth friendly.
Since the processes that control the growth, harvesting, and manufacturing processes determine organic food; it is impossible to determine whether food is organic simply by looking at it. The only way to determine is food is organic is by looking for the USDA Organic Seal. For food to pass inspection and bear the Organic Seal they must be fall into a number of different categories. These are:
· 100% Organic- this ensures that the food was produced entirely of 100% organic ingredients
· Organic-for food to be labeled “Organic” is must be made with at least 95% organic ingredients
· Made with Organic Ingredients- this ensures that the food was made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. It also certifies that the remaining 30% of the ingredients contained no genetically modified organisms.
· If a food product contains less than 70% organic ingredients it may list the organically grown ingredients on the side panel. However, the product may not state any claims of being organic on the front of the package.
The inspection process includes ensuring that the center of operations follows an organic system plan and keeps records to make certain that the facilities adhere to those plans. Inspectors make random checks to ensure that the facility is operating according to the system plan. It is also important to realize that it displaying the organic seal is voluntary; so it is possible that a product may be Organic and has chosen not to display the seal. However, if you see the seal, you can be certain that the product is organic. Also, there is a fine up to $11,000 for displaying the seal without meeting the USDA standards set forth by inspectors.
Farmers may choose to become organic and they will have to meet federal guidelines as well. First, it takes a three-year process to convert farmland and soil to meet organic standards. This process includes two years devoted to increasing the fertility of the land. During the first year of the conversion process, food may not be labeled organic or are given the USDA Organic Seal. Food harvested during the second year may be labeled “In Conversion”, and finally after the third year and meeting the requirements set forth by the USDA Organic inspectors, the food may bear the Organic seal.
The standards that the USDA Organic inspectors use were set forth through the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. After the passing of this act, the National Organic Standards Board was created. This act was part of the 1990 Farm Bill, and it allowed the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the National Organic Standards Board or the (NOSB). The Board consists of fifteen members, and they are in charge of developing standards in the organic farming industry.
Many people assume that if a food product is organic then it has used no pesticides at all. This isn’t necessarily true, however the use of natural pesticides is allowed when farmers are faced with crop failure. Yet, there are strict restrictions put in place when organic farmers turn to natural pesticides as a last course of action. An organic farmer focuses more on the prevention of pests then they do on using pesticides or methods of pest extermination. For example, when the soil has been increased to healthy levels, the crops have better natural resilience to pests. They also encourage natural methods of pest control by encouraging insect predators, mating disruption, and planting crops that discourage pest activity.
There are some terms that may be confused with the word “organic”. It is important to understand that the label “organic” refers to food products meeting the standards set forth by the USDA’s National Organic Program. Foods may be labeled as natural, hormone free, or free range and not have the necessary qualifications to be certified as organic.
Sometimes people feel that organic food is more expensive then conventional store products and are intimidated to purchase them. However, it is good to know that not all organic produce is more expensive. Like any other purchase, if you are a comparative shopper, you can find organic products within your budget. When you do encounter products that may be more expensive, it is important to understand why. Typically, organic farming requires more work to pass inspections then other facilities. Also, organic farms do not receive the federal subsidies as other farms do; therefore their cost of operation is greater.
Posted in: Organic Food
Organic Foods Concept
Organic food from consumer point of view is a food which has been produced to a certain standard level to be considered as “natural” food.
Legally, it is not allowed to use any chemical materials such as conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides, herbicides (a few of them may be allowed with strict regulations).
In contrast to conventionally treated livestock, it is forbidden to use antibiotics and hormones in animal feeds when organic method is followed.
Animals have to be kept in specific environments; for instance chickens should be left to feed and walk freely and have access to sunlight.
Generally consumer demands for organic foods are due to the following factors:
Health
Among the supporters of organic foods, many of them are interested because they are largely unprocessed or little processed foods.
In other words they can offer benefit of not / less containing hidden sugar, fat, salt, etc. that is normally involved in processed food products.
Furthermore, organic foods are believed to contain 50% more nutrients, minerals and vitamins than conventionally produced products (that are treated and processed tremendously). However the evidence to confirm this matter is quite sparse.
Environment
According to many studies organic farming is less harming than conventional system due to the following reasons:
- Many synthetic pesticides and insecticides can be seriously harmful to environment (soil, water and wildlife). Organic farms use no/little pesticides and chemical fertilizers and alternatively farming practices such as crop rotation and mixed planting are implemented to control pests and keep fertility to desired extent.
- Organic farms are more beneficial than conventional farms in maintaining diverse ecosystems.
- Organic farms consume and produce less energy and waste materials e.g. using energy-saving technologies for packaging with biodegradable or recyclable materials. They also produce less effluent.
Taste
Generally people would prefer to consume organic foods because of their flavour as they taste desirably natural containing no/limited amount of preservatives, artificial colours and flavours and processed with fewer artificial methods like food irradiation, chemical ripening, etc.
Animal welfare
As a result of legally approved organic procedures, animals as well as environment would be kept and treated in certain conditions in which their welfare would be properly provided.
Therefore some of the organic food advocates would buy organic meats/meat content products for the above reason
Posted in: Organic Food
