Go Organic, Go Earth Day!

Go Organic, Go Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day – April 22, I could think of nothing more important than to share info about the food we eat.

It is a true gift of our precious Earth that we are so blessed with such an amazing array of plants that we can eat, not only because they taste good – but as well, they are beautiful to look at, they heal and cure us, they impart nutrition so we can grow and think and do all the things we do as humans.

Plants truly provide our existence. As such, it is vital they be as pure as possible when they reach your plate.

Here are some reminders of why it is important to go organic this Earth Day:

Organic products are produced and processed without the use of synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones, artificial ingredients and preservatives, and genetic engineering.

• Researchers at the University of Washington found that a diet composed of predominantly organic food, can virtually eliminate exposures to a dangerous class of insecticides known to disrupt neurological development in infants and children.
• In one study, the children of Iowa farmers on conventional farms with exposure to agricultural pesticides, were twice as likely to develop childhood lymphoma as the control population.
• Organic food isn’t irradiated. Cats fed a diet of irradiated food developed multiple sclerosis within 3-4 months.
• Organic animals aren’t given drugs. Organic farming standards prohibit the use of antibiotics and  genetically modified vaccines in farm animals. Hormone-laced beef and dairy consumption is correlated with increased rates of breast, testis and prostate cancers.
• Organic farmers do not contribute to air and water pollution. Widespread testing of municipal water systems across the US has shown that the principal sources of drinking water for more than half the population has been contaminated.  The main suspect is runoff from conventional farms containing pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic chemicals.
• Farm workers in this country and are exposed to the highest concentrations of agricultural poisons of any segment of the population and the devastation to them and their families is well documented. These are the people who tend and harvest our food, and they can be protected by organic farming methods.
• By buying organic, you are supporting small scale, local farmers. You are keeping local farms viable; you are not contributing to the environmental and social costs of the worldwide transport of foods or supporting a system based on the exploitation of third world labor. You are helping your community attain food security.
• Organic farming saves energy.  The food generally travels fewer miles from farm to market saving energy in transport. Many organic farmers incorporate alternative and renewable energy sources into their farming/homesteading systems.
• Organic Foods Taste Better. Taste is hard to quantify, but science does tell us that organic foods do have higher levels of vitamins, minerals and beneficial nutrients than conventional foods. It only makes sense that food grown in soil that has been nourished and cared for is more nutritious, and tasty!