Comments on: Why Organic? http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/ Keeping it real in the suburbs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:01:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Johanne http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41736 Johanne Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:18:18 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41736 It strikes me as funny how much media attention that study got, and yet it is completely irrelevant in the fact that, as you said, those who do buy organic usually don't buy it for extra nutritional values, but rather for what they DON'T get, i.e. pesticides and the likes. What really bothers me about this study, and all the hype around it, is that it might influence some people on misinformation. Not everyone has time to, or are inclines to, do in depth research on a subject. And that's fine, but for those people, headlines such as these holds value. So when you have headline such as these, in misinforms them. They will say "Oh well, there's no need to buy organic anymore", and will pass beside the whole health benefits it has to offer, and which they might have been seeking too. (I actually <a HREF="http://chatter-box-joe.blogspot.com/2009/07/seriously.html" rel="nofollow">wrote a post</a> about it too when it came out!) .-= Johanne´s last post ..<a href="http://chatter-box-joe.blogspot.com/2009/08/win-essential-guide-to-breastfeeding.html" rel="nofollow">Win the Essential Guide to Breastfeeding</a> =-. It strikes me as funny how much media attention that study got, and yet it is completely irrelevant in the fact that, as you said, those who do buy organic usually don’t buy it for extra nutritional values, but rather for what they DON’T get, i.e. pesticides and the likes.

What really bothers me about this study, and all the hype around it, is that it might influence some people on misinformation. Not everyone has time to, or are inclines to, do in depth research on a subject. And that’s fine, but for those people, headlines such as these holds value. So when you have headline such as these, in misinforms them. They will say “Oh well, there’s no need to buy organic anymore”, and will pass beside the whole health benefits it has to offer, and which they might have been seeking too.

(I actually wrote a post about it too when it came out!)
.-= Johanne´s last post ..Win the Essential Guide to Breastfeeding =-.

]]> By: Allison http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41603 Allison Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:10:42 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41603 It's a complicated issue, as everyone here obviously understands. It costs more to grow and to buy organic, so for now it could be seen as a bit of a luxury. It would be nice if it could becocme more mainstream. We have an organic farmer down the road where we get all our produce all summer -- even the garlic tastes better! -- but in the winter the pickings are slimmer. I do think it's odd that they would choose to do a study on nutritional content -- that's so not the point. .-= Allison´s last post ..<a href="http://bibliomama2.blogspot.com/2009/08/summertime-and-blogging-is-breezy.html" rel="nofollow">**********Summertime, and the blogging is breezy.</a> =-. It’s a complicated issue, as everyone here obviously understands. It costs more to grow and to buy organic, so for now it could be seen as a bit of a luxury. It would be nice if it could becocme more mainstream. We have an organic farmer down the road where we get all our produce all summer — even the garlic tastes better! — but in the winter the pickings are slimmer. I do think it’s odd that they would choose to do a study on nutritional content — that’s so not the point.
.-= Allison´s last post ..**********Summertime, and the blogging is breezy. =-.

]]> By: Lady M http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41601 Lady M Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:01:09 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41601 I always buy organic milk and usually get organic chicken, but other produce varies. I'm trying to choose more wisely, now that we have kids! .-= Lady M´s last post ..<a href="http://www.empress-m.com/2009/08/so-says-sharpie.html" rel="nofollow">So Says Sharpie</a> =-. I always buy organic milk and usually get organic chicken, but other produce varies. I’m trying to choose more wisely, now that we have kids!
.-= Lady M´s last post ..So Says Sharpie =-.

]]> By: Francesca http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41600 Francesca Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:50:04 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41600 I think there are two issues here: the quality of nutrients, and the environmental and health costs of using pesticides and chemicals. About the first issue, I firmly believe that a tomato, say worse case, grown in winter in a greenhouse in a pot full of pellets, a little spout trickling out just the right chemical concoction to make it grow large and red, and sprayed to be kept healthy, is just not the same as a tomato grown on a vine in a soil rich with organic matter in the bright summer sunlight. I'm sure both these tomatoes have exactly the same quantity of vitamin C (and not the same taste), but I also know which kind of vitamin C will benefit my body. Organic is more than not using pesticides: it's a whole different philosophy that implies respect for our environment, respect for nature's cycles, respect for our health etc Producing organic quality food is a costly process. I buy our staple foods organically grown, and our produce local and seasonal, when it doesn't come from our garden. It means that we eat tomatoes in summer and cabbage in winter: but that winter cabbage has the right vitamins and phytonutrients that we need for the cold months. PS and I occasionally treat myself with an avocado (from Israel I believe), because no season is a good season here in Italy without some Mexican guacamole:) .-= Francesca´s last post ..<a href="http://www.fuoriborgo.com/fuoriborgo/2009/08/jet-lag.html" rel="nofollow">Jet lag</a> =-. I think there are two issues here: the quality of nutrients, and the environmental and health costs of using pesticides and chemicals. About the first issue, I firmly believe that a tomato, say worse case, grown in winter in a greenhouse in a pot full of pellets, a little spout trickling out just the right chemical concoction to make it grow large and red, and sprayed to be kept healthy, is just not the same as a tomato grown on a vine in a soil rich with organic matter in the bright summer sunlight. I’m sure both these tomatoes have exactly the same quantity of vitamin C (and not the same taste), but I also know which kind of vitamin C will benefit my body. Organic is more than not using pesticides: it’s a whole different philosophy that implies respect for our environment, respect for nature’s cycles, respect for our health etc
Producing organic quality food is a costly process.
I buy our staple foods organically grown, and our produce local and seasonal, when it doesn’t come from our garden. It means that we eat tomatoes in summer and cabbage in winter: but that winter cabbage has the right vitamins and phytonutrients that we need for the cold months.
PS and I occasionally treat myself with an avocado (from Israel I believe), because no season is a good season here in Italy without some Mexican guacamole:)
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Jet lag =-.

]]> By: Christy http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41599 Christy Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:37:58 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41599 The idea of buying organic is great, but with no fertilizers, pesticides or GMOs, we won't have great crop yields. That means less food on a limited agricultural land base, or expansion of agricultural land that will permanently denude our forests. So, I have to say I support 'conventional' farms and will probably only buy organic when I can't find it in the regular bin. I do, however, whole-heartedly support local produce. It's very limited up north where I am, but when it's fresh, you can tell. I also support organic meat (ie hunting), but maybe that just means that I'm officially a redneck now ;) The idea of buying organic is great, but with no fertilizers, pesticides or GMOs, we won’t have great crop yields. That means less food on a limited agricultural land base, or expansion of agricultural land that will permanently denude our forests. So, I have to say I support ‘conventional’ farms and will probably only buy organic when I can’t find it in the regular bin.

I do, however, whole-heartedly support local produce. It’s very limited up north where I am, but when it’s fresh, you can tell. I also support organic meat (ie hunting), but maybe that just means that I’m officially a redneck now ;)

]]> By: Family Nature http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41594 Family Nature Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:37:30 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41594 Oh I wish we could eat more organic (for the same reasons as you) but the truth is we just can't afford it right now (there was a time when most of what we ate was organic). Our groceries cost us about $1000/month when I'm being really, really careful and to buy organic would increase our costs significantly. I do watch for sales and I do find sometimes, that the price of an organic item is very similar to the non-organic and I'm all over it. I hope that one day, organic will be the norm and it will be cheaper because everyone is buying it. Until then I'll feel guilty about what I'm feeding my kids. :( .-= Family Nature´s last post ..<a href="http://familynature.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/communal-living/" rel="nofollow">Communal Living</a> =-. Oh I wish we could eat more organic (for the same reasons as you) but the truth is we just can’t afford it right now (there was a time when most of what we ate was organic). Our groceries cost us about $1000/month when I’m being really, really careful and to buy organic would increase our costs significantly.

I do watch for sales and I do find sometimes, that the price of an organic item is very similar to the non-organic and I’m all over it.

I hope that one day, organic will be the norm and it will be cheaper because everyone is buying it. Until then I’ll feel guilty about what I’m feeding my kids. :(
.-= Family Nature´s last post ..Communal Living =-.

]]> By: *pol http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41590 *pol Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:30:43 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41590 Yes, yes, yes.... to the post and to the comments above. I started a little garden in my sideyard this year... both organic and about as local as I can get. It has been a thrill for me to eat from my own backyard! Even if it is only a 10ft x 4ft plot. Farmers don't have it easy, the pressure must be enormous to be a mega-crop producer. My favourite kind of farm to buy from is the kind with a little bit of everything and a way to buy the veggies right off the cart.... but they are too rare! Meat production probably scares me the most... hormones, anitbiotics, feed that isn't in their natural realm. But I can't grow my own meat, and the government has made it illegal to buy a side of beef from the guy down the road (it MUST be inspected at a facility), so I just try to chose plant proteins more often. .-= *pol´s last post ..<a href="http://pol-loves.blogspot.com/2009/08/lovin-bloggin.html" rel="nofollow">Lovin the bloggin</a> =-. Yes, yes, yes…. to the post and to the comments above.

I started a little garden in my sideyard this year… both organic and about as local as I can get. It has been a thrill for me to eat from my own backyard! Even if it is only a 10ft x 4ft plot.

Farmers don’t have it easy, the pressure must be enormous to be a mega-crop producer. My favourite kind of farm to buy from is the kind with a little bit of everything and a way to buy the veggies right off the cart…. but they are too rare!

Meat production probably scares me the most… hormones, anitbiotics, feed that isn’t in their natural realm. But I can’t grow my own meat, and the government has made it illegal to buy a side of beef from the guy down the road (it MUST be inspected at a facility), so I just try to chose plant proteins more often.
.-= *pol´s last post ..Lovin the bloggin =-.

]]> By: Francesca http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41589 Francesca Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:24:50 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41589 Oh, Amber, another great topic, one that is so dear to me. Forgive me if sometimes I just read your posts, and then come back to them much later in the morning to comment ... I'd be a slow and tired commenter tonight! .-= Francesca´s last post ..<a href="http://www.fuoriborgo.com/fuoriborgo/2009/08/smells-of-home.html" rel="nofollow">Smells of home</a> =-. Oh, Amber, another great topic, one that is so dear to me. Forgive me if sometimes I just read your posts, and then come back to them much later in the morning to comment … I’d be a slow and tired commenter tonight!
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Smells of home =-.

]]> By: Brie http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41588 Brie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:06:32 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41588 I will spend the extra money to buy organic on some things. I am paranoid about milk and hormones given to cows so I always buy that organic. .-= Brie´s last post ..<a href="http://capitalmom.blogspot.com/2009/08/relativity.html" rel="nofollow">Relativity</a> =-. I will spend the extra money to buy organic on some things. I am paranoid about milk and hormones given to cows so I always buy that organic.
.-= Brie´s last post ..Relativity =-.

]]> By: DaniGirl http://www.strocel.com/why-organic/#comment-41585 DaniGirl Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:31:37 +0000 http://www.strocel.com/?p=5491#comment-41585 I'm groping my way through this as well. I will buy, like the previous commenter said, local first, then organic. To me, organic is all about responsible growing practices -- it seems to me that organic producers are mindful of the earth and of the consumers before chasing the almighty dollar. Very interesting articles, tho! .-= DaniGirl´s last post ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/danigirl/akVU/~3/25ZyjOYaExM/" rel="nofollow">30 “essential” Ottawa blogs</a> =-. I’m groping my way through this as well. I will buy, like the previous commenter said, local first, then organic. To me, organic is all about responsible growing practices — it seems to me that organic producers are mindful of the earth and of the consumers before chasing the almighty dollar. Very interesting articles, tho!
.-= DaniGirl´s last post ..30 “essential” Ottawa blogs =-.

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