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Organic Food - Myths Realities And Nonsense To Know About

en your college-age son reminds you that your supermarket foods are "dead" and that you're simply supporting government-subsidized monoculture farming practices, what do you do? Is the answer "natural and organic food"...but what does this mean, and what would you get if you convert to it?

When does a difference matter? Who hasn't been intrigued during a shopping visit when you read one packet where "free range chickens" have been "sustainably farmed", while the other packet simply shows the price and pound details for what must be the "alternative chicken" produced by industrial farming and mass distribution means? How do you choose? Is one more "chicken" than the other?

Does the carton showing happy cows grazing on verdant pasture settings along with the words " organic food" make you stop, think and buy? And what about the buyer's dilemma when one brand of organic milk differentiates itself from competitor organic milks because the milk is ultrapasteurized...and in the same food case another organic "raw" milk claims that it's better for you, fresher because it hasn't undergone any pasteurization?

What's Meant By Natural And Organic Food?

For one, natural and organic food certainly now means very big business, with producer networks extending from Argentina to Calgary to California and beyond, with tens of thousands of retail outlets, and a market value estimated at $11 billion. No other food segment grows sales as quickly as organic food.

* The Packaging Narrative.

The story-line depicted on organic food packaging conjures up childhood bed time stories, where peacefully bovine animals pass their lives away on idyllic farm pastoral settings. You think "hmmm these must be safe foods, communing with Mother Earth" and so you buy more in a mood of culture rejection of modernity and Big Agribusiness interests. But, is this view valid or simply naïve?

* The Reality.

The organic food reality? Think regular industrial business style operations. Big farms and 24/7 growing operations selling to big warehouses demanding consistent product features, reliable delivery, low prices, mechanization, just like the regular industrial food "house brands". The pressure for "product standardization" and financial survival rapidly morphs any small scale farming ideal into a business-as-usual operation. True, the "marketing spin" and the adroit use of the organic food labeling "narratives" seems to be passing along some tidbit of information about the food's origins to buyers. However, is this merely a distinction without a difference?

Benefit Of Organic Food- There's More Than What Meets The Eye.

If the benefit of organic food has to do somehow with how it's raised, or produced, then what explains the organic food benefit of ultrapasteurized milk which clearly has lost nutritional value due to the high heat processing? Answer emerges from the business reality that the product is sold over long distances, therefore requires big-time shelf life and stability. Transportation logistics converts to a "buyer's benefit" all with the stroke of a pen.

* Does The Critter’s Organic Meal Mean The Steak You Eat Is Organic?

What about "organic beef"? Turns out that beef you buy that qualifies as "organic" merely reflects that the beast was confined to a fenced dry lot and ate certified organic food grains. Where's the grass and pasture? Apparently, the actual grass and pasture depicted on the package are not necessary to qualify as legitimately organic food, under FDA packaging regulations.

* True Organic - Complex Rather Than Simplified.

In the rare case when a small farm carries a mixed stock of animals such as chickens, pigs, turkeys and cattle and then truly raises these animals on sun-based pasture grasses utilizing an organized pasture rotation plan, then you're getting as close to organic as Mother Nature allows. No pesticides are necessary, no herbicides, virtually no antibiotics occur. Why? By exploiting the cow-ness of cows, the natural mob-and-grazing tendencies of bovines...adding the co-evolved relationship of scavenging fowl like turkeys and chickens which eat worms and waste matter...you get as close to a "free lunch" as is possible. Wastes from one species become breakfast for another. So, who picks up the energy tab, when petrochemicals are avoided? Where does the energy come from? The sun.

Pros And Cons Of Organic Food.

To the extent that the farm land producing your food did not use the raft of petrochemical fertilizers, herbicides and drugs, and that the workers did not inhale carcinogenic compounds, and that the land's fertility and complexity were not compromised, then the benefit of organic food remains indirect and frankly invisible.

* The Moral Feel Good Aspect.

When you buy into the perception and product reality of organic food you feel better about yourself, and somewhere some piece of land and its farmers are also a bit healthier. All good stuff.

* Pricing Pains For Consumers.

Feeling confused? The pros and cons of organic food do nothing to reconcile $4.00 plus prices per pound for tomatoes, or $18.00 per pound prices for beef, or $2.70 price for milk being sold next to $1.80 containers.

* Taste Superiority?

Will organic food necessarily taste better? No. Freshness and delivery timing have a far greater impact on taste, so the local end of the industrial food chain can still "whup" the organic boys, if the food is significantly fresher by the time you buy.

* Nutritionally Better?

The jury's out on the issue of nutritional completeness. Bottom line, there's no way to prove any particular superiority of organic food over regular store produce.

Organic Pet Food.

Organic dog food, its cousin organic cat food and organic bird food are only three classes of specially produced foodstuffs for family pets. If you're buying pet food from a major national retailer, then you're buying-in to the industrial food chain. You'll pay higher prices. Your pet's food might be better...you'll certainly feel better about serving it. But, is it really making a difference?

* Simple Alternative To Organic Pet Food.

Resolve the confusion. Why not cook up rice, add raw eggs and shells, plus break up a multi-vitamin into your dog or cat's food?

Learn more about the organic food diet options and what you need to know about your human and pet family members’ health needs. Get informed while creating a new healthy lifestyle.

Health Extras: http://www.wise4living.com/hfvit/

Nutrients Vital To Healthy Living: http://www.wise4living.com/hfvit-dir/

Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty information site that gives solutions to health, household, sport, travel and legal needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_J._Derry

Where to Find Bulk Organic Vegetable Seed

Growing organic vegetables from seed is a great way to combine healthy diet and healthy exercise. Most people want to start small, but maybe you already did that. Maybe you loved your small organic garden so much you decided to expand it into a small farm. Perhaps you and your friends have set aside land for a community garden, and need bulk organic vegetable seed to share. Maybe you’ve decided to begin marketing bulk organic vegetable seeds.

You have several potential sources for bulk organic vegetable seeds. We cannot recommend any one specific source, and offer the information below only to help you in your search.

Local Nursery or Garden Store

Nurseries near your home may sell bulk organic vegetable seed. Check your local phone directory, and call a few. If they themselves do not carry bulk organic vegetable seed, they may be able to tell you who does.

Garden stores in your area are another potential source of bulk organic vegetable seed. Home centers that sell supplies for home repairs often have a section for gardening. Large, discount box stores usually have garden centers, too. If you live in a rural area, you may find bulk organic vegetable seed at a farm supply store. Again, ask for referrals if the store does not have what you need.

Seed Catalogs

You may be able to order bulk organic vegetable seed from seed catalogs, and have it delivered to your address. Companies such as Burpee Seed Company have many kinds of organic vegetable seed in their catalog, and will no doubt be able to fill your order for bulk organic vegetable seed.

Online Seed Companies

The Internet, a potential source for so many things, has several seed companies that offer bulk organic vegetable seed. While we make no recommendation

1. Seeds of Change is a well known supplier of quality bulk organic vegetable seed. Many who do organic farming, or have large organic gardens, rely on this seed company.

2. Snow Seed Organics in California is another company you may want to check for bulk organic vegetable seed. The website says this company is the first fully certified organic seed dealer west of the U.S. Rockies.

3. Johnny’s Seed Company has been selling bulk organic vegetable seed and organic farming aids since 1973. This company also is a certified organic handler and processor, able to meet the new USDA organic requirements for the organic seeds they sell.

Those are only examples. There are many companies online from whom you can order bulk organic vegetable seed, and have it delivered – often free of charge – but study each site carefully, and look for recommendations in online forums.

CAUTION:

Before you purchase any bulk organic vegetable seed, you should be sure it is certified organic. You will want to ask about the supplier's documentation, including organic certification. This will differ from country to country.

In the U.S., ask for: the grower’s certification number; issue date of certification; date when the annual inspection was completed; name of the inspecting company; and name of the certification director. Some companies, such as Seeds of Change post their Organic Certification online.

Before you purchase bulk organic vegetable seed, be sure the grower can warrant the absence of transgenic germplasm. That is, have they proven to the certification director that they have not genetically modified the seed?

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about organic gardening at http://www.organicspringtime.com Anna is posting new articles every week on that site, each one dealing with some facet of organic gardening. If you want information for yourself or someone else on how to grow an organic vegetable garden, you will want to read Anna’s article on the subject.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

Why Organic Produce is Good for you

The Two Top Benefits of Organic Vegetable Gardening

Gardening trends tend to come and go but organic vegetable gardening has attracted increasing interest over recent times. With the long term sustainability of our planet a shared concern of many, it looks like this trend is here to stay!

Even our heads of state are joining this movement. Michelle Obama's promotion of organic vegetable gardening started soon after she moved into the White House. The Queen of England has a new garden called 'The Yard Bed'. This is the first vegetable garden to replace the royal 'Dig For Victory' garden planted during the second world war.

There are two main benefits of organic vegetable gardening and these are gaining appeal around the world. First you can save money when you grow your own vegetables. Second you can reduce your carbon footprint -the amount of carbon dioxide you create either directly or indirectly.

Saving money is possible by growing organic vegetables despite the set up costs of tools, equipment, fertilizers and water. The best way to counter balance the costs of establishing a garden is maximize the yield of your garden. To do this, only grow vegetables you enjoy and will eat. Select those that you can easily freeze or can like tomatoes, beets and sweet corn or cucumbers. These can be eaten past their growing season and reduce your grocery bill at the same time. Other vegetables like potatoes and squash can be stored without cooking.

Melons and tomatoes are expensive vegetables. They are also popular and frequently purchased at the supermarket. Grow large numbers of these vegetables along with comparatively expensive broccoli, beans, beets, spinach and onions and lettuces to reduce your food costs.

Grow vegetables year round. In many districts, vegetables can be grown and harvested to keep your family in vegetables pretty much all year. With some experience and some preplanning you can even grow more than one crop across each season in the same place.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint is an equally important reason for the popularity of the organic vegetable gardening movement.

Growing an organic vegetable garden makes an ongoing contribution to sustaining our planet. Vegetable gardens don't add carbon dioxide to the environment. They don't need mowing with electric or petrol mowers as lawns do. Growing vegetables also reduces your 'food miles', (the distance food travels to reach your supermarket).

By composting plant material in your garden you are not only producing organic fertilizer that will add nutrients to your vegetables, you are also preventing the production of carbon dioxide and methane that happens when organic matter ends up at in landfill.

As water is predicted to be the next 'Gold', use this precious resource in your garden with thought and care. Collect rainwater for irrigation and or use grey water from your house. My grandfather did the latter in a desert area for many years and provided his own family and most of the neighborhood with vegetables year round.

The First Lady and the Queen of England have less need to save money than most but their efforts to promote the benefits of organic vegetable gardening can be applauded. Consider starting your own organic garden so that you can enjoy a less expensive grocery bill and make your own contribution to a more sustainable earth.

Antonio Fontanes is a well seasoned vegetable grower from a family of experienced gardeners. Want to learn more about how to keep your garden organically healthy and grow great veggies? Go to my website at website vegetablegarden4Uand my blog blog.mightydigitaldownloads.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Antonio_Fontanes