History principal Article: History of biological agriculture the organic movement started like reaction of the scientists and the agricultural farmers against the industrialization of agriculture.
The advances in biochemistry, (nitrogen manure) and technology (the internal combustion engine) at the beginning of the 20th century led to the major changes of the leasing. Produced hybrid seed research of selecting of plants. The fields developed in the face and the emblavage became specialized to make the effective use of the machines and to derive the advantages of the green revolution. Technological progress during the incited Second World War the innovation of post-war period in all the aspects of agriculture, having for result of the advances such as the irrigation on great scale, the fertilization, and the use of the pesticides. The ammonium nitrate, used in ammunition, became an abundantly cheap source of nitrogen. The DDT, at the origin developed by the soldiers with the disease-bearing insects of order among troops, was applied to harvests, launching the era of a widespread utility of pesticide. In Germany, the spiritual bases of Rudolf Steiner for the renewal of agriculture, published in 1924, led to the popularization of the agriculture of biodynamics.
The first use of the biological agriculture of limit is by Northbourne lord. The limit is derived from its concept "of the farm like organization" and that it exposed in its book, glance with the ground (1940), where it described holistique, approach ecologically balanced with the leasing. The British botanist, Mr Albert Howard studied traditional husbandries in Bengal, India. He came to consider practices such as the superior with modern agronomic science and recorded in its 1940 book, an agricultural will and adopted the terminology of Northbourne in its book "the ground and health: An organic study of agriculture" in 1947. Mrs Eve Balfour, author of traditional of organic materials the organic soil, established the pilot experiment of Haughley to her farm of Suffolk into 1939 which functioned during more than 40 years.
With the USA, J.I. Rodale popularized the organic gardening among consumers during the Forties. The Japanese farmer and author Masanobu Fukuoka invented has no-jusquau system for the production of small size of grain which it called Natural Farming. At the beginning of the Forties.
In 1972, the international federation of the organic movements of agriculture (IFOAM), was founded in Versailles, France. IFOAM was devoted to the diffusion of information on the principles and the practices of organic agriculture through national and linguistic borders. In the Eighties, the various groups of consumers of farm and in the whole world started to encourage the payment of government of the organic production. This led to the standards of legislation and certification being beginning issued in the Nineties. Since the beginning of the Nineties, the market with the detail for biological agriculture in developed economies increased approximately 20 percent annually the due one to an increasing request of the consumer.
While the small producers and independent consumers led at the beginning the rise in biological agriculture, while waiting like volume and variety of "organic" products develops, production is more and more on a large scale.
About the Author
You can find more info in the Glue Guns portal, which is administrated by the author of this article.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Where To Look For Organic Food Shop? by Aida Farron
One of the best things about living in this century has most definitely got to be the fact that you have the ability to eat healthy organic foods without having to sound like someone just let out of bedlam. Although you might not be able to find an organic food shop around every corner, you can still find at least one in your city or town, and if that fails, you also have recourse to the internet.
This means that with the aid of twenty first technology you have the ability to bring the organic food shop to you, and not the other way around. Of course, these very wonders and marvels of modern technology are the reasons that we need to have an organic food shop to begin with. Just think about it.
If it wasn't for the fast paced modern lifestyles we lead; the conventional mass farming methods we use; and the unhealthy dietary habits that we have adopted over the last half a century there really would be no need at all for an organic food shop. Our grandparents and their grandparents were all eating fine organically produced foods. There was no need to especially define it, it was a fact of life.
All that aside, it does still stand that we do need to have an organic food shop in our lives. And even if we're not yet fully committed to going completely organic in our lives, at least we can make it a regular occurrence if not a frequent one. The way I figure it, if we keep at it, we're bound to see some kind of change in our dietary habits as we slowly proceed.
To find an organic food shop however might not be as easy as you could want it to be. For instance if you live in an area where there is absolutely not a single organic food shop around, you will almost definitely need to resort to using the internet to find your organic foods.
You might also find that even with an organic food shop around the corner from you, that you prefer to use an online organic food shop instead to deal with your daily organic food needs. You will find that the benefits you get by going organic are only enhanced when you do it on a daily basis.
And there is no better way to get the weekly shopping out of the way and get your daily dose of organic foods, than by using an online organic food shop, they allow you to get the week's shopping out of the way with ease, and without having to brave harried people whose minds are most definitely not on whose feet they go over with their shopping carts.
About the Author
Learn More About Natural And Organic Food Products Here at http://naturalandorganicfood.wordpress.com/
This means that with the aid of twenty first technology you have the ability to bring the organic food shop to you, and not the other way around. Of course, these very wonders and marvels of modern technology are the reasons that we need to have an organic food shop to begin with. Just think about it.
If it wasn't for the fast paced modern lifestyles we lead; the conventional mass farming methods we use; and the unhealthy dietary habits that we have adopted over the last half a century there really would be no need at all for an organic food shop. Our grandparents and their grandparents were all eating fine organically produced foods. There was no need to especially define it, it was a fact of life.
All that aside, it does still stand that we do need to have an organic food shop in our lives. And even if we're not yet fully committed to going completely organic in our lives, at least we can make it a regular occurrence if not a frequent one. The way I figure it, if we keep at it, we're bound to see some kind of change in our dietary habits as we slowly proceed.
To find an organic food shop however might not be as easy as you could want it to be. For instance if you live in an area where there is absolutely not a single organic food shop around, you will almost definitely need to resort to using the internet to find your organic foods.
You might also find that even with an organic food shop around the corner from you, that you prefer to use an online organic food shop instead to deal with your daily organic food needs. You will find that the benefits you get by going organic are only enhanced when you do it on a daily basis.
And there is no better way to get the weekly shopping out of the way and get your daily dose of organic foods, than by using an online organic food shop, they allow you to get the week's shopping out of the way with ease, and without having to brave harried people whose minds are most definitely not on whose feet they go over with their shopping carts.
About the Author
Learn More About Natural And Organic Food Products Here at http://naturalandorganicfood.wordpress.com/
We are, what we absorb, not what we eat by Mich Crawley
Our modern diet is so far removed from the diet our ancestors ate, and from nature that many of the essential chemicals our body needs to maintain itself are missing.
Ancient hunter gathers would have lived on a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. In comparison our diets are full of over processed carbohydrates, salt, sugar, fats and a huge number of chemicals in the form of colours, additives, preservatives, artificial flavorings - to name just a few.
It has long been recognised and acknowledged by the medical profession that to maintain a healthy lifestyle we need a balanced diet which includes all of the basic elements - minerals, vitamins, amino acids and various enzymes.
Many people are finding that despite eating healthily they cannot source the nutrients needed. Due to the consumer demand for cheap food, we have encouraged and pressurized the food industry, from farmer to supermarket, to mass produce our food. From battery poultry farming to mass growing fruit and vegetables, most of the products we buy to consume are produced on a large scale.
The side effect of this mass production is food with poor or no nutritional value. On the television last night I watched a report on the news which highlighted that most of the western world are consuming thousands of calories a day while suffering from more malnutrition related diseases than ever.
The reason is down to our food production. We have depleted the soil by over farming and the use of modern farming techniques - which no longer include crop rotation but do include a vast number of fertilizers and pesticides. Because we source a vast amount of food from out of the country, which requires travelling great distances - the produce is picked before it is ripe and before it has reached its nutritional potential.
This is also happening in our livestock production. It has also been reported on the news recently that turkeys are slaughtered at the age of 12 weeks. You might ask why - this is because we, as the consumer want a succulent smaller turkey - which means younger underdeveloped poultry. This results in a lack of nutritional value and for the more discerning consumer - a lack of taste and flavour.
In the last few years there has been more awareness of what we are eating, where it has come from and how we are abusing our power as consumers. The changes have been slow to start with but there is now a more noticeable change in the food being stocked in the supermarkets.
Initially the changes related to organic produce and there have been many discussions about the best not always being beautiful !!! But with more awareness of nutrition values there has been a swing away from organic food, to food which is locally produced and sourced. It is now well known that the longer it takes for your food to reach your plate from its source, the less nutritional value it will have. Obviously with some foods we have no choice - this country does not have the suitable climate to grow citrus fruit, bananas and olives etc.
As well as the nutritional benefits of a shorter chain from producer to shop, there are less transportation costs and the carbon footprint is minimised. Also consumer confidence is increased as labels often clearly show the farm where it was produced.
Fish has also been affected by consumer demand with fishing restrictions and quotas common place as we have come very close to wiping out some species with over fishing. The knock on effect for the consumer is that this once cheap and abundant food has become more expensive, consequently less fish is now being eaten.
This consumer awareness has also led to a growth in the nutritional supplement industry, which is now worth billions. This industry had traditionally been led by the vitamin pill, which has received substantial amounts of bad publicity. Because of the content of many of these tablets our body is unable to break them down and absorb them. There have been many studies and it is estimated that only 10-20% of each of the pills we take are absorbed. So 80-90% of what you paid for your tablet supplements is flushed down the toilet.
Most tablets and capsules have been designed and tested to dissolve in the stomach but not all pills and capsules produced in the same way. Some are compressed at extremely high pressures during manufacturing and do not break down properly in the stomach. I found an interesting fact about this - in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - each month the filters of their sewage system gets clogged with over 150 gallons of undigested supplement pills.
As with all industries, there is ongoing research and development, and technological leaps forward - the nutritional supplement industry is no different. With the realization that tablets aren't effective and the consumer becoming aware that they are flushing away their money - new delivery systems have been developed.
Now you have multiple options - there are capsules, liquids and gels.
Capsules - these are normally herbal based supplements that can easily be broken down by the stomach acid and absorbed. An alternative method that can be used, is to split open the capsule and add it to another food product such as juice or smoothie.
Liquids - these are a great way to absorb vitamins and minerals, you body can start absorbing them as soon as you swallow as it is already in a form that does not need to be broken down by your digestive system. Liquids are also becoming more popular because a lot of people either don't want to swallow pills or they are unable too, which makes this a more attractive option to older and younger people. Gels - there are the latest delivery system to hit the market. Nutritional supplements are most effective when ingested according to the optimal timing guidelines for each individual supplement. Some nutrients are better absorbed when taken with meals. Others are best when consumed at pre-determined intervals prior to food ingestion in order to maximize the effect of their active ingredients, or to avoid conflicting uptake mechanisms with other food particles. Gel supplements are packaged in convenient gel packs that are highly portable, allowing availability at the appropriate time--no matter when it is. In addition, the gel can often be ingested without water, which means you can take them out and about with you, where ever you go. By encouraging and allowing the correct timing and ingestion of food supplements, gel technology enhances the absorption and utilization of each nutrient. The introduction of gel technology means all nutrients remain in their natural state, optimizing bioavailability, and increasing the absorption and digestion of essential vitamins and minerals. In a nutshell, Gel supplements have the potential to change the way we take nutritional supplements. By increasing the ease-of-use and enhancing absorption, gel technology widens the scope of supplementation--allowing a wider audience to benefit from dietary and nutritional improvements.
About the Author
Mich Crawley is an Independent Distributor for Neways Products, a long established company which manufactures powerful nutritional products, all of the products Neways produce and sell are free from toxic chemicals and harmful carcinogens, and are endorsed by the Cancer Prevention Coalition. Find more about our range of Products from Unreasonable Risk, Neways distributors.
Ancient hunter gathers would have lived on a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. In comparison our diets are full of over processed carbohydrates, salt, sugar, fats and a huge number of chemicals in the form of colours, additives, preservatives, artificial flavorings - to name just a few.
It has long been recognised and acknowledged by the medical profession that to maintain a healthy lifestyle we need a balanced diet which includes all of the basic elements - minerals, vitamins, amino acids and various enzymes.
Many people are finding that despite eating healthily they cannot source the nutrients needed. Due to the consumer demand for cheap food, we have encouraged and pressurized the food industry, from farmer to supermarket, to mass produce our food. From battery poultry farming to mass growing fruit and vegetables, most of the products we buy to consume are produced on a large scale.
The side effect of this mass production is food with poor or no nutritional value. On the television last night I watched a report on the news which highlighted that most of the western world are consuming thousands of calories a day while suffering from more malnutrition related diseases than ever.
The reason is down to our food production. We have depleted the soil by over farming and the use of modern farming techniques - which no longer include crop rotation but do include a vast number of fertilizers and pesticides. Because we source a vast amount of food from out of the country, which requires travelling great distances - the produce is picked before it is ripe and before it has reached its nutritional potential.
This is also happening in our livestock production. It has also been reported on the news recently that turkeys are slaughtered at the age of 12 weeks. You might ask why - this is because we, as the consumer want a succulent smaller turkey - which means younger underdeveloped poultry. This results in a lack of nutritional value and for the more discerning consumer - a lack of taste and flavour.
In the last few years there has been more awareness of what we are eating, where it has come from and how we are abusing our power as consumers. The changes have been slow to start with but there is now a more noticeable change in the food being stocked in the supermarkets.
Initially the changes related to organic produce and there have been many discussions about the best not always being beautiful !!! But with more awareness of nutrition values there has been a swing away from organic food, to food which is locally produced and sourced. It is now well known that the longer it takes for your food to reach your plate from its source, the less nutritional value it will have. Obviously with some foods we have no choice - this country does not have the suitable climate to grow citrus fruit, bananas and olives etc.
As well as the nutritional benefits of a shorter chain from producer to shop, there are less transportation costs and the carbon footprint is minimised. Also consumer confidence is increased as labels often clearly show the farm where it was produced.
Fish has also been affected by consumer demand with fishing restrictions and quotas common place as we have come very close to wiping out some species with over fishing. The knock on effect for the consumer is that this once cheap and abundant food has become more expensive, consequently less fish is now being eaten.
This consumer awareness has also led to a growth in the nutritional supplement industry, which is now worth billions. This industry had traditionally been led by the vitamin pill, which has received substantial amounts of bad publicity. Because of the content of many of these tablets our body is unable to break them down and absorb them. There have been many studies and it is estimated that only 10-20% of each of the pills we take are absorbed. So 80-90% of what you paid for your tablet supplements is flushed down the toilet.
Most tablets and capsules have been designed and tested to dissolve in the stomach but not all pills and capsules produced in the same way. Some are compressed at extremely high pressures during manufacturing and do not break down properly in the stomach. I found an interesting fact about this - in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - each month the filters of their sewage system gets clogged with over 150 gallons of undigested supplement pills.
As with all industries, there is ongoing research and development, and technological leaps forward - the nutritional supplement industry is no different. With the realization that tablets aren't effective and the consumer becoming aware that they are flushing away their money - new delivery systems have been developed.
Now you have multiple options - there are capsules, liquids and gels.
Capsules - these are normally herbal based supplements that can easily be broken down by the stomach acid and absorbed. An alternative method that can be used, is to split open the capsule and add it to another food product such as juice or smoothie.
Liquids - these are a great way to absorb vitamins and minerals, you body can start absorbing them as soon as you swallow as it is already in a form that does not need to be broken down by your digestive system. Liquids are also becoming more popular because a lot of people either don't want to swallow pills or they are unable too, which makes this a more attractive option to older and younger people. Gels - there are the latest delivery system to hit the market. Nutritional supplements are most effective when ingested according to the optimal timing guidelines for each individual supplement. Some nutrients are better absorbed when taken with meals. Others are best when consumed at pre-determined intervals prior to food ingestion in order to maximize the effect of their active ingredients, or to avoid conflicting uptake mechanisms with other food particles. Gel supplements are packaged in convenient gel packs that are highly portable, allowing availability at the appropriate time--no matter when it is. In addition, the gel can often be ingested without water, which means you can take them out and about with you, where ever you go. By encouraging and allowing the correct timing and ingestion of food supplements, gel technology enhances the absorption and utilization of each nutrient. The introduction of gel technology means all nutrients remain in their natural state, optimizing bioavailability, and increasing the absorption and digestion of essential vitamins and minerals. In a nutshell, Gel supplements have the potential to change the way we take nutritional supplements. By increasing the ease-of-use and enhancing absorption, gel technology widens the scope of supplementation--allowing a wider audience to benefit from dietary and nutritional improvements.
About the Author
Mich Crawley is an Independent Distributor for Neways Products, a long established company which manufactures powerful nutritional products, all of the products Neways produce and sell are free from toxic chemicals and harmful carcinogens, and are endorsed by the Cancer Prevention Coalition. Find more about our range of Products from Unreasonable Risk, Neways distributors.
Compost - Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants by Darrell Feltmate
Organic matter is crucial to healthy soil. Wherever plants grow they deposit leaves, stem parts, dropped fruit, and spent roots to the soil around them. This mass of material decays to become accessible organic matter for other plants to use. Eventually it returns to the simple end products from which it began; carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and so on; but in the meantime it becomes and important part of the soil ecology.
Compost becomes the easiest way in which a gardener can add the precious organic matter to the soil. The very nature of the making of compost encourages the growth of certain microorganisms such as beneficial bacteria, molds and actinomycetes. These microscopic creatures give benefits far beyond their proportion by weight. As far as they are concerned their main function is of course to eat, drink and make more microorganisms. As far as the gardener is concerned their function is to break down that organic matter and transform it into something plants can use. In fact, if they did not break down that matter, we would be over our heads in it in no time and not caring because all the carbon dioxide would be gone from the atmosphere since it would be converted to plant material.
Soil health is linked to the number of microorganisms per cubic foot because their microbial activity acts in ways that modern agricultural chemicals do not. Chemical farming is concerned with feeding the plants. As the soil is fed with compost and other organic matter, the number of beneficial microorganisms increases dramatically and they are able to chew up and destroy many of the disease causing organisms. Studies have shown that soil which is filled with healthy flora will prevent disease organisms from becoming established in sufficient numbers to harm plants. Quite simply healthy soils grow healthy plants.
The easiest way for the home gardener to grow healthy soil is to add compost. When the season is not yet begun, layer it on the garden and then dig it in. Soils vary but about 3" the first year for a garden and 1" each year thereafter is often used as a rule of thumb. Once the garden is growing the first inch of mulch could easily be compost and the worms and microbial growth will carry it down for you.
About the Author
Is making compost a mystery? Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening organically for over 25 years. His gardens have ranged from small flower beds to a half acre fruit and vegetable garden. All have been fed with compost. Come to Compost Central and have your best garden ever.
Compost becomes the easiest way in which a gardener can add the precious organic matter to the soil. The very nature of the making of compost encourages the growth of certain microorganisms such as beneficial bacteria, molds and actinomycetes. These microscopic creatures give benefits far beyond their proportion by weight. As far as they are concerned their main function is of course to eat, drink and make more microorganisms. As far as the gardener is concerned their function is to break down that organic matter and transform it into something plants can use. In fact, if they did not break down that matter, we would be over our heads in it in no time and not caring because all the carbon dioxide would be gone from the atmosphere since it would be converted to plant material.
Soil health is linked to the number of microorganisms per cubic foot because their microbial activity acts in ways that modern agricultural chemicals do not. Chemical farming is concerned with feeding the plants. As the soil is fed with compost and other organic matter, the number of beneficial microorganisms increases dramatically and they are able to chew up and destroy many of the disease causing organisms. Studies have shown that soil which is filled with healthy flora will prevent disease organisms from becoming established in sufficient numbers to harm plants. Quite simply healthy soils grow healthy plants.
The easiest way for the home gardener to grow healthy soil is to add compost. When the season is not yet begun, layer it on the garden and then dig it in. Soils vary but about 3" the first year for a garden and 1" each year thereafter is often used as a rule of thumb. Once the garden is growing the first inch of mulch could easily be compost and the worms and microbial growth will carry it down for you.
About the Author
Is making compost a mystery? Darrell Feltmate is an avid gardener who has been composting and gardening organically for over 25 years. His gardens have ranged from small flower beds to a half acre fruit and vegetable garden. All have been fed with compost. Come to Compost Central and have your best garden ever.
Organic Meats From Online Organic Food Stores And Suppliers by Muna wa Wanjiru
Not everyone knows about the fact that you can get not only organic produce but also organic meats. This enables you to change your entire dietary lifestyle if you so wish, without having to compromise on such things as organic meats and organic dairy products, substituting the non-organic stuff instead.
In fact, if you do your grocery shopping in a place where organic foods are readily available, you will find the organic meats and dairy products to be readily available alongside their stock of organic fruits, vegetables and processed foods. This is also true, maybe especially more so, of online organic food stores and suppliers.
So what is the deal with organic meats? Well for one thing, organically reared animals are treated to a different regimen than animals reared on normal farms. For one thing, these animals are only fed organic foods.
This means that they don't have any non-organic foods in their diets at all from the very beginning. They are only fed on high quality organic produce. There is also the small factor of not having any antibiotics pumped into these animals as well as not being subject to other potentially harmful toxins.
Just because you prefer organic foods, it doesn't mean that you have to become vegetarian or even vegan. You can still enjoy the same sumptuous foursquare meals that you're used to without loss of vital ingredients. This is where knowing where to get your organic meats can come in handy.
And part and parcel with organic meats, come organic dairy products. Since animals reared in an organic farming environment will also produce organic dairy products as well, you have that assurance that you can still enjoy your port and cheese!
All that aside, when you're looking at organic meats, you will also want to look at the various processed organic foods as well, that contains meat. Unless it has been specifically stated that the ingredients within the packaging s 100% organic you might find yourself faced with only some of the items being organic.
This applies to any meats to be found in the product as well. Unless it has been stated specifically that the meats contained are organic meats you might want to think twice before buying these types of processed foods.
If you're having trouble finding not only organic meats but organic fish as well, you might want to try your hand at finding an organic foods supplier online. You will more than likely have better luck at these places finding, and purchasing, your organic meats, fish and dairy produce.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Organic Foods for Years. For More Information on Organic Meats, Visit His Site at Organic Meats
In fact, if you do your grocery shopping in a place where organic foods are readily available, you will find the organic meats and dairy products to be readily available alongside their stock of organic fruits, vegetables and processed foods. This is also true, maybe especially more so, of online organic food stores and suppliers.
So what is the deal with organic meats? Well for one thing, organically reared animals are treated to a different regimen than animals reared on normal farms. For one thing, these animals are only fed organic foods.
This means that they don't have any non-organic foods in their diets at all from the very beginning. They are only fed on high quality organic produce. There is also the small factor of not having any antibiotics pumped into these animals as well as not being subject to other potentially harmful toxins.
Just because you prefer organic foods, it doesn't mean that you have to become vegetarian or even vegan. You can still enjoy the same sumptuous foursquare meals that you're used to without loss of vital ingredients. This is where knowing where to get your organic meats can come in handy.
And part and parcel with organic meats, come organic dairy products. Since animals reared in an organic farming environment will also produce organic dairy products as well, you have that assurance that you can still enjoy your port and cheese!
All that aside, when you're looking at organic meats, you will also want to look at the various processed organic foods as well, that contains meat. Unless it has been specifically stated that the ingredients within the packaging s 100% organic you might find yourself faced with only some of the items being organic.
This applies to any meats to be found in the product as well. Unless it has been stated specifically that the meats contained are organic meats you might want to think twice before buying these types of processed foods.
If you're having trouble finding not only organic meats but organic fish as well, you might want to try your hand at finding an organic foods supplier online. You will more than likely have better luck at these places finding, and purchasing, your organic meats, fish and dairy produce.
About the Author
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Organic Foods for Years. For More Information on Organic Meats, Visit His Site at Organic Meats
Tea: Growing Quality Green Tea by Marcus Stout
There are literally hundreds of varieties of green tea, each with its own distinct flavor and characteristics. Green tea is grown in several countries throughout the world, but the vast majority of it is grown in China and Japan.
Most tea gardens, particularly those in China and Japan have been around for many years. It takes time to develop a quality tea garden, along with knowledge, patience and the help of Mother Nature.
Different kinds of green tea and green tea gardens in different countries require different care and attention. For an example, we'll look at the year round work required to maintain a high quality tea garden in Japan that produces Matcha, Gyokuro and Sencha, three popular varieties of Japanese green tea.
Spring - The All Important First Harvest
The first work of the year begins in March, when the tea plants are pruned. The first pluckings will take place in May. Different regions of Japan will harvest these first pluckings at slightly different times, depending upon the climate.
Twenty or thirty days before harvest, the teas used to make Gyokura and Matcha must be covered with curtains. These special curtains shade the trees, ensuring that they don't receive any direct sunlight. Ensuring that the trees receive only diffused light during the last 20 days before harvest means that the tea will have fewer tannins, making it less likely to have any bitter flavor.
The color of the Matcha and Gyokura teas will be a light green and will have a sweet taste.
The tea plants used for growing Sencha will not be covered. Allowing them to receive full sunlight during the last days before harvest gives Sencha green teas a golden green color, a light and refreshing fragrance and makes the flavor a bit stronger with a little bitterness.
Tea leaves should be gathered when the plant has three to five sprouts. Missing this exact time by a day or two in either direction will cause problems. Tea leaves harvested too early will provide too little tea; if it's harvested too late, the quality of the tea will be compromised.
The best Gyokuro and Matcha are still picked exclusively by hand, because using a machine will not allow the farmer to remove the old and damaged leaves.
Once the tea leaves are plucked, they must be processed. It is important that the leaves be processed the same day of harvest. For Gyokura and Sencha, there are three steps to processing: steaming, drying and shaping. The steaming step is the most critical, and requires the most skill of any portion of the tea producing process.
Tea leaves that are not steamed for the right amount of time will not produce the right flavor. With each batch of tea, the processor must select the right amount of steaming time based on the size, thickness and texture of the leaves. Steaming time varies between 30 and 60 seconds.
For Matcha, the leaves are steamed, dried and then sorted. Next the tea must be finished. Finishing for Gyokuro and Sencha includes sorting the leaves and stems and then putting them through a final drying process. Most are dried for a short period of time.
However, some tea is roasted longer to give it a roasted aroma. This finishing is common for some Senchas, in particular. For Matcha, the leaves are sorted, dried and ground with a stone mill. Matcha musts be ground to a very fine textured powdered. It is said that it can take as much as one hour to grind 40 grams of matcha.
Finally, the tea must be stored. Green tea, because it has not been oxidized, is a bit more difficult to keep fresh. It is imperative that it be stored in airtight containers and that no moisture is allowed in.
Summer - Subsequent Harvests
During the summer, green tea growers may produce a second, third, and sometimes even fourth harvest. Tea gardens will continue to harvest tea until frost. However, it is the first harvest of the year that produces the finest quality green tea. Subsequent harvests will always be a lower grade of tea. During the summer, the tea gardener will also do battle with weeds and insects. Since the best tea gardens are organic - meaning no herbicides or pesticides are used, keeping the gardens free of weeds and pests can be very labor intensive.
Fall and Winter in the Tea Garden
Autumn is when tea trees go through their heaviest period of growth. During this time, gardeners will amend and aerate the soil and fertilize the trees. By October, the tea trees will need to be pruned again before the winter sets in. Pruning must be carefully timed to ensure that the spring buds will appear at just the right time.
During winter, many tea farmers spend a good deal of their time preparing areas for new tea gardens. However, they must also pay careful attention to any tea trees in their gardens that are less than four years old. If the weather is very cold, for example, the farmers will have to mulch the trees to help them survive the cold temperatures.
As you can see, green tea farming is labor intensive, particularly among the farms that produce the very best in green tea. All of the elements of a proper harvest must be essentially adhered to in order to create the finest green teas for the market.
Though there are some differences based on the climate of the region and the differences in the tea produced, the best tea farms in other countries go through the same labor intensive processes that the Japanese farmers undertake. Growing the best green tea does indeed take skill and patience. No shortcuts are allowed if you wish to produce the best green tea in the world.
About the Author
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, wholesale tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com
Most tea gardens, particularly those in China and Japan have been around for many years. It takes time to develop a quality tea garden, along with knowledge, patience and the help of Mother Nature.
Different kinds of green tea and green tea gardens in different countries require different care and attention. For an example, we'll look at the year round work required to maintain a high quality tea garden in Japan that produces Matcha, Gyokuro and Sencha, three popular varieties of Japanese green tea.
Spring - The All Important First Harvest
The first work of the year begins in March, when the tea plants are pruned. The first pluckings will take place in May. Different regions of Japan will harvest these first pluckings at slightly different times, depending upon the climate.
Twenty or thirty days before harvest, the teas used to make Gyokura and Matcha must be covered with curtains. These special curtains shade the trees, ensuring that they don't receive any direct sunlight. Ensuring that the trees receive only diffused light during the last 20 days before harvest means that the tea will have fewer tannins, making it less likely to have any bitter flavor.
The color of the Matcha and Gyokura teas will be a light green and will have a sweet taste.
The tea plants used for growing Sencha will not be covered. Allowing them to receive full sunlight during the last days before harvest gives Sencha green teas a golden green color, a light and refreshing fragrance and makes the flavor a bit stronger with a little bitterness.
Tea leaves should be gathered when the plant has three to five sprouts. Missing this exact time by a day or two in either direction will cause problems. Tea leaves harvested too early will provide too little tea; if it's harvested too late, the quality of the tea will be compromised.
The best Gyokuro and Matcha are still picked exclusively by hand, because using a machine will not allow the farmer to remove the old and damaged leaves.
Once the tea leaves are plucked, they must be processed. It is important that the leaves be processed the same day of harvest. For Gyokura and Sencha, there are three steps to processing: steaming, drying and shaping. The steaming step is the most critical, and requires the most skill of any portion of the tea producing process.
Tea leaves that are not steamed for the right amount of time will not produce the right flavor. With each batch of tea, the processor must select the right amount of steaming time based on the size, thickness and texture of the leaves. Steaming time varies between 30 and 60 seconds.
For Matcha, the leaves are steamed, dried and then sorted. Next the tea must be finished. Finishing for Gyokuro and Sencha includes sorting the leaves and stems and then putting them through a final drying process. Most are dried for a short period of time.
However, some tea is roasted longer to give it a roasted aroma. This finishing is common for some Senchas, in particular. For Matcha, the leaves are sorted, dried and ground with a stone mill. Matcha musts be ground to a very fine textured powdered. It is said that it can take as much as one hour to grind 40 grams of matcha.
Finally, the tea must be stored. Green tea, because it has not been oxidized, is a bit more difficult to keep fresh. It is imperative that it be stored in airtight containers and that no moisture is allowed in.
Summer - Subsequent Harvests
During the summer, green tea growers may produce a second, third, and sometimes even fourth harvest. Tea gardens will continue to harvest tea until frost. However, it is the first harvest of the year that produces the finest quality green tea. Subsequent harvests will always be a lower grade of tea. During the summer, the tea gardener will also do battle with weeds and insects. Since the best tea gardens are organic - meaning no herbicides or pesticides are used, keeping the gardens free of weeds and pests can be very labor intensive.
Fall and Winter in the Tea Garden
Autumn is when tea trees go through their heaviest period of growth. During this time, gardeners will amend and aerate the soil and fertilize the trees. By October, the tea trees will need to be pruned again before the winter sets in. Pruning must be carefully timed to ensure that the spring buds will appear at just the right time.
During winter, many tea farmers spend a good deal of their time preparing areas for new tea gardens. However, they must also pay careful attention to any tea trees in their gardens that are less than four years old. If the weather is very cold, for example, the farmers will have to mulch the trees to help them survive the cold temperatures.
As you can see, green tea farming is labor intensive, particularly among the farms that produce the very best in green tea. All of the elements of a proper harvest must be essentially adhered to in order to create the finest green teas for the market.
Though there are some differences based on the climate of the region and the differences in the tea produced, the best tea farms in other countries go through the same labor intensive processes that the Japanese farmers undertake. Growing the best green tea does indeed take skill and patience. No shortcuts are allowed if you wish to produce the best green tea in the world.
About the Author
Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, wholesale tea and black tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com
Organic Herb Gardening, Grow Herbs Organically. by Carmel Baird
Organic herb gardening, for those who don't have enough time to devote to the garden or maybe you are a new gardener, is the garden to start with. If you have a small area, then an organic herb garden is ideal as it need not take up much room. Organic Herb gardening is a popular hobby and is so simple and easy to do, the children can get involved and grow to love gardening.
Herb Gardening Organically
As a hobby herb gardening the organic way, gives you a way to use what you have grown in your favorite recipes and add great flavors. You will find that organic herb gardening supplies are not expensive and your local garden center will have everything you need to get started. Herbs are so easy to grow and can be very rewarding for the home hobby gardener. There is nothing more satisfying than to be able to go out into our own gardens and pick something so fresh to add to our favorite dishes. With organic herb gardening what is planted can be used so well and the organic type of gardening is much healthier.
Herbs And What To Grow
Herbs have so much value, they are not just aesthetic, although herbs will add a wonderful fragrance to the gardens. There are several types of herbs that you can grow, why not start with the varieties for a particular type of cooking like, Italian or Thai. These types of herbs are called the culinary herbs. Why not research the different types of herbs that can be grown in your area. Once you start using your home grown herbs, from your very own organic herb garden, there will be such a difference in the flavor they add to your cooking that you will never want to use the dried herbs again. That is unless they are the dried herbs that you have dried yourself, as these taste so different to the commercial ones you buy in the grocery stores.
Herb Plants
If you start with the herb seeds, make sure you read the instructions on the packet first and follow them. Some seeds can be sown directly where they are to grow, others need to be raised in seedbeds and planted out later when they are a certain size. Organic herb plants are easy to take care of and are not bothered by too many pests. The mint variety should not be planted out into a garden as it will become almost like a weed and take over everything. But by all means, plant mint in a pot, I would plant all types of mint in pots, regardless of their variety. Organic herb plants can be grown in a window box, all types of containers, amongst other plants and flowers. Make sure that wherever you plant your herbs they have the right growing and soil conditions and of course, drainage. These organic herb plants have so many options for you, use fresh, dried or extract the oils. Oils from herbs have so many uses.
Organic herb gardening is all about growing herbs using the same methods as for organic farming. Organic herb gardening can be less expensive than other methods. The key to being successful with organic herb gardening is working with nature, this is better for you, your family and your pets. There is plenty of information today on how to treat common garden pests organically. Much of this information can be found on the Internet with recipes for getting rid of different types of pest and these recipes can be made with products you may already have in your pantry and all helpful to the environment. When you garden, your compost bin becomes your best friend, sounds strange I know, but once you get into organic gardening, it will become so clear. For the organic gardener there is nothing like a good compost bin.
If you are a person who likes to keep up with what is happening around you, then get into organic herb gardening as using fresh herbs in your cooking is just so "in" as people are finding out how much of a difference they make to our cooking. So if you want to use herbs for cooking, medicinal or even the wonderful aromatic value they have, then get your organic herb gardening started. Not only is it a great hobby but once you get into herbs there is such a wide variety to learn about, it can be such a fascinating pastime
About the Author
©2007 CTBaird. Carmel Baird contributes to Online Gardening Information where you will find information, tips and hints with new articles about many aspects of gardening added every week. Find out more about organic gardening here
Herb Gardening Organically
As a hobby herb gardening the organic way, gives you a way to use what you have grown in your favorite recipes and add great flavors. You will find that organic herb gardening supplies are not expensive and your local garden center will have everything you need to get started. Herbs are so easy to grow and can be very rewarding for the home hobby gardener. There is nothing more satisfying than to be able to go out into our own gardens and pick something so fresh to add to our favorite dishes. With organic herb gardening what is planted can be used so well and the organic type of gardening is much healthier.
Herbs And What To Grow
Herbs have so much value, they are not just aesthetic, although herbs will add a wonderful fragrance to the gardens. There are several types of herbs that you can grow, why not start with the varieties for a particular type of cooking like, Italian or Thai. These types of herbs are called the culinary herbs. Why not research the different types of herbs that can be grown in your area. Once you start using your home grown herbs, from your very own organic herb garden, there will be such a difference in the flavor they add to your cooking that you will never want to use the dried herbs again. That is unless they are the dried herbs that you have dried yourself, as these taste so different to the commercial ones you buy in the grocery stores.
Herb Plants
If you start with the herb seeds, make sure you read the instructions on the packet first and follow them. Some seeds can be sown directly where they are to grow, others need to be raised in seedbeds and planted out later when they are a certain size. Organic herb plants are easy to take care of and are not bothered by too many pests. The mint variety should not be planted out into a garden as it will become almost like a weed and take over everything. But by all means, plant mint in a pot, I would plant all types of mint in pots, regardless of their variety. Organic herb plants can be grown in a window box, all types of containers, amongst other plants and flowers. Make sure that wherever you plant your herbs they have the right growing and soil conditions and of course, drainage. These organic herb plants have so many options for you, use fresh, dried or extract the oils. Oils from herbs have so many uses.
Organic herb gardening is all about growing herbs using the same methods as for organic farming. Organic herb gardening can be less expensive than other methods. The key to being successful with organic herb gardening is working with nature, this is better for you, your family and your pets. There is plenty of information today on how to treat common garden pests organically. Much of this information can be found on the Internet with recipes for getting rid of different types of pest and these recipes can be made with products you may already have in your pantry and all helpful to the environment. When you garden, your compost bin becomes your best friend, sounds strange I know, but once you get into organic gardening, it will become so clear. For the organic gardener there is nothing like a good compost bin.
If you are a person who likes to keep up with what is happening around you, then get into organic herb gardening as using fresh herbs in your cooking is just so "in" as people are finding out how much of a difference they make to our cooking. So if you want to use herbs for cooking, medicinal or even the wonderful aromatic value they have, then get your organic herb gardening started. Not only is it a great hobby but once you get into herbs there is such a wide variety to learn about, it can be such a fascinating pastime
About the Author
©2007 CTBaird. Carmel Baird contributes to Online Gardening Information where you will find information, tips and hints with new articles about many aspects of gardening added every week. Find out more about organic gardening here
Organic Coffee: It's Only Fair by Debbie O'Meara
Organic coffee is not only healthier than the coffee grown using conventional methods - it's tasty, too. It protects the natural environment by making as few changes to the natural vegetation as possible. Coffee is a special plant - it must grow in shade and on fragile and fertile soil. Coffee regions are highly biodiversified. Organic coffees are grown on fragile soils, and often on steep terrain highly susceptible to erosion. This delicate balance makes coffee-growing areas extra-susceptible to damage from human intervention.
Nature provides her own alternatives to the chemicals used by many commercial growers. To prevent the nutrients from the topsoil's being bleached by the sun, organic growers plant trees such as banana, plantain, mahogany, guava palm and others. Not only do these trees protect the soil, they provide wildlife habitat even for migratory birds that lost their natural habitat because of deforestation.
As with all organic foods, organic coffee it is grown without any synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which is enabled by inter-planting of other food and cash crops along with coffee into already existing ecosystem or by creating a multi-layered coffee plantation. The leaves falling from the trees, along with compost made from the mulch of coffee cherries, cattle manure, and residues from inter-planted crops, are natural fertilizers. Birds and insects control pests. These practices make for healthier soil, preventing water pollution as well as improving the ecosystem of the farm. Pollution is further minimized by reducing water use during coffee processing.
Coffee companies also care for the community by providing educational, healthcare and nutritional programs in their partner coffee communities. They also give jobs in poverty regions in the harvest time.
Packages of organically-grown coffee carry certificates that prove their pedigree. When a farm is a member of a "fair trade" co-op, buyers can be certain that they're buying true organic fair trade coffee. This means that the certified organic coffee was bought at a fixed price from cooperatives of small farmers and importers and roasters purchased the coffee on fixed contracts directly from the cooperative.
There are areas where organic farming led to actual increases in bird diversity. Producers provide a wide whole variety of coffee products - they may come in a range of blends and roasts you can choose from, differing by their aroma, body, or region of production.
Buying organic coffee means supporting farmers and a great care for the environment. It means thinking globally - beyond your own cup.
About the Author
Debbie O'Meara is the owner of www.organic-food-and-drink.com, full of resources and information about organic food and beverages, including coffee. Get the free newsletter for organic specials and updates, plus a free ecourse on wine!
Nature provides her own alternatives to the chemicals used by many commercial growers. To prevent the nutrients from the topsoil's being bleached by the sun, organic growers plant trees such as banana, plantain, mahogany, guava palm and others. Not only do these trees protect the soil, they provide wildlife habitat even for migratory birds that lost their natural habitat because of deforestation.
As with all organic foods, organic coffee it is grown without any synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, which is enabled by inter-planting of other food and cash crops along with coffee into already existing ecosystem or by creating a multi-layered coffee plantation. The leaves falling from the trees, along with compost made from the mulch of coffee cherries, cattle manure, and residues from inter-planted crops, are natural fertilizers. Birds and insects control pests. These practices make for healthier soil, preventing water pollution as well as improving the ecosystem of the farm. Pollution is further minimized by reducing water use during coffee processing.
Coffee companies also care for the community by providing educational, healthcare and nutritional programs in their partner coffee communities. They also give jobs in poverty regions in the harvest time.
Packages of organically-grown coffee carry certificates that prove their pedigree. When a farm is a member of a "fair trade" co-op, buyers can be certain that they're buying true organic fair trade coffee. This means that the certified organic coffee was bought at a fixed price from cooperatives of small farmers and importers and roasters purchased the coffee on fixed contracts directly from the cooperative.
There are areas where organic farming led to actual increases in bird diversity. Producers provide a wide whole variety of coffee products - they may come in a range of blends and roasts you can choose from, differing by their aroma, body, or region of production.
Buying organic coffee means supporting farmers and a great care for the environment. It means thinking globally - beyond your own cup.
About the Author
Debbie O'Meara is the owner of www.organic-food-and-drink.com, full of resources and information about organic food and beverages, including coffee. Get the free newsletter for organic specials and updates, plus a free ecourse on wine!
Food for the Organic and Natural Lifestyle by Ajeet Khurana
There really is no getting away from artificial flavoring. The last I heard, they were using artificial colors to turn processed ham pink. Being in the pink of health acquired a new meaning with that revelation. Should we really steer clear of artificial foods and flavors in all their forms? For years we have been hearing complaints about the deteriorating quality of the food we eat. Most often, this deterioration has been attributed to their chemical content. This raises one question: is it possible to live life in a completely organic way?
A few years ago it may not have been possible to go completely organic. However, these days we have access to stores that specialize in organic food. We do not need to keep on slowly poisoning ourselves. An organic diet is far more nutritious than the diets that we have been depending upon for decades now. One of the factors that add to the nutrient value of organic foods is the fact that these are completely natural. Organic foods represent a return to Mother Nature and a repudiation of the hundreds of chemicals that have been poisoning our foods since the start of the factory system.
The proponents of organic food claim that nothing could taste more delicious. Moreover, the fact that organic food is completely free of chemicals suggests that it is healthier. Cattle that are raised in the organic way are less likely to have been fed all sorts of chemicals. Hence, one can assume that dairy products made from their milk will be significantly healthier. It is stated that vegetables and fruits that are grown on organic farms are healthier as they contain far more nutrients than are contained in veggies that are intensively farmed.
There are many benefits to going the organic way. Organic farming is far less harmful to our environment. In this day and age, when the environment is under grave threats from all quarters, even a small step towards incorporating its well-being into our lifestyle should be appreciated. As a result of its non-reliance on chemical fertilizers, the farm hands on organic farms are less likely to suffer health problems. The respiratory diseases that strike workers on the conventional farms are quite rare among those on organic ones.
However, are we really ready to go natural in a big way? Organic food usually costs significantly more than the food grown on conventional farms. Are we willing to add to our expenses by going completely organic? Now, that is the question we should be asking ourselves.
About the Author
Organic Food is the way to go. Learn about Organic Clothing and Organic Skin Care.
A few years ago it may not have been possible to go completely organic. However, these days we have access to stores that specialize in organic food. We do not need to keep on slowly poisoning ourselves. An organic diet is far more nutritious than the diets that we have been depending upon for decades now. One of the factors that add to the nutrient value of organic foods is the fact that these are completely natural. Organic foods represent a return to Mother Nature and a repudiation of the hundreds of chemicals that have been poisoning our foods since the start of the factory system.
The proponents of organic food claim that nothing could taste more delicious. Moreover, the fact that organic food is completely free of chemicals suggests that it is healthier. Cattle that are raised in the organic way are less likely to have been fed all sorts of chemicals. Hence, one can assume that dairy products made from their milk will be significantly healthier. It is stated that vegetables and fruits that are grown on organic farms are healthier as they contain far more nutrients than are contained in veggies that are intensively farmed.
There are many benefits to going the organic way. Organic farming is far less harmful to our environment. In this day and age, when the environment is under grave threats from all quarters, even a small step towards incorporating its well-being into our lifestyle should be appreciated. As a result of its non-reliance on chemical fertilizers, the farm hands on organic farms are less likely to suffer health problems. The respiratory diseases that strike workers on the conventional farms are quite rare among those on organic ones.
However, are we really ready to go natural in a big way? Organic food usually costs significantly more than the food grown on conventional farms. Are we willing to add to our expenses by going completely organic? Now, that is the question we should be asking ourselves.
About the Author
Organic Food is the way to go. Learn about Organic Clothing and Organic Skin Care.
Do Organically Grown Foods Offer Significant Benefits Over Conventionally Grown Foods? by Dr Deryck D. Pattron, Ph.D.
Summary: There is a perception among consumers and the general public that organic foods pose some added property of increased quality, nutrition and safety. But, are these perceptions accurate, truthful or justified? Organic foods are foods that are grown in manure and/or soils treated or found to be free from pesticides and other harmful residues. Using manure from animals could pose a health risk, since there is a real possibility of disease organisms being transferred from infected animals or carriers to plants through their feces. It is therefore scientifically feasible that organic foods may pose the same health risk to consumers when compared to conventional foods. They are no more nutritious than conventional foods, and may even contain pathogens that may have been internalized in the plant tissues that may be difficult to remove through normal cleaning and sanitizing and may therefore pose a greater threat to human health and well being. Introduction: Organic foods are defined as foods grown under controlled conditions in the absence of pesticides, artificial fertilizers and genetically modified organisms, using good agricultural practices in the planting, growing and harvesting of crops and livestock. Organic foods are quite different from foods labeled as "natural" since natural foods are not grown under the USDA organic requirements and guidelines and may contain non-organic preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
Organic Certification: Organic certification is the process of verifying the standards used in organic production in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. There are three main requirements to the certification process: 1. The Organic Plan. This plan purposes how the organic farmer and/or processor will meet organic standards while raising their crops or producing their processed product. It would describe in detail all processing methods and all ingredients used, as well as storage, cleaning and waste disposal methods at the facility. 2. Record Keeping. This provides an audit trail for inspectors and competent authority to verify material and methods used in growing or processing organic foods. It allows for traceability and enables a food on the store shelf to be traced back to the processing facility and farm. 3. Annual Inspections. This is done by authorized personnel of the USDA or other certifying agencies that monitors and ensures compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
Organically Labeled Foods: In order for a food product to be labeled organic it should contain at least 95 % of certified organic ingredients. This means that the other 5 % could be minerals or products which are natural but simply not available in organic form. Foods containing organic ingredients can be labeled with the words "organic" meaning that the food contains at least 50 % of the ingredients that have been certified as organic. However, foods containing less that 50 % of ingredients being organic cannot be labeled as such.
Are Organic Foods more nutritious than Conventional Foods? There is presently a growing body of conflicting data that suggests that organically grown foods may not be more nutritious than conventional foods. The nutrient content of plants is determined primarily by heredity. The mineral content of plants may be affected by the mineral content of the soil. If essential nutrients are missing from the soil the plant will not grow or grow very poorly. Experiments conducted to date show that there is no significant difference in the nutritional content of organic and conventional grown foods.
Are Organic Foods more Safer than Conventional Foods? Food safety is the assurance that food when consumed in its usual way will not pose a threat to human health and well being. There is a perception that organic foods may be safer because they have lower levels of pesticide residues. This may not be true since, the FDA set tolerance levels in foods and conducts frequent market basket studies. These studies have shown that 60 % of fruits and vegetables had no detectable pesticides and only about 1.2 % of domestic and 1.6 % of imported foods had violative levels. Most studies since the early 1970s found that the pesticide levels in conventional foods were similar to organic foods and they were basically within the accepted international and Environmental Protection Agency Standards.
Are Organic Foods Tastier than Conventional Foods? Organic foods are not inherently tastier than conventionally grown foods. Organoleptic properties of foods are influenced by freshness and storage conditions; that is, how the product is shipped from farmer to consumer. Consumer reports found no consistent differences in appearance, flavor, color or texture between organic and conventionally grown foods.
Are Organic Foods more Environmentally Friendly than Conventional Foods? There may be some benefits of growing organic foods in terms of preserving the environment. Organic farming utilizes a number of methods that are environmentally friendly, but these methods are also used in growing conventional foods. Some of these methods include: crop rotation, which ensures that one crop does not deplete the soil of the nutrients that it uses most; cover crops to protect against soil erosion; the planting of special crops known as "green manures" that are plowed back into the soil to enrich it and; the addition of aged animal and plant wastes, also known as compost to the soil.
Does Organic Foods have any special Healing Powers? Organic foods do not offer any significant healing powers over conventionally grown foods. In, fact both organic and conventionally grown foods are nutritious and can provide equal benefits in providing nutrients needed for growth, repair and maintenance of bodily functions.
Other Areas of Concern Regarding Organically Grown Foods: It is purported that the genetically modified ingredients are subjected to DNA testing and documentation from ingredient suppliers, but how is the presence of genetically modified ingredients tested and what documentation are requested from suppliers? What measures are taken to protect organic foods from the prevalence of genetically engineered crops in the environment and increased use of genetically modified ingredients? Can organic foods be considered as being 100 % free of genetically engineered ingredients? There is a real possibility that organic foods may contain genetically modified ingredients either through pre or post harvest contamination. Organic foods are deemed to be free from pesticides. What does "free from pesticides" mean? Is there a zero tolerance level? Is this pesticide level the same for conventional foods? Have sufficient scientific studies been done to compare pesticide residues in organic and conventional foods? Are the organic standards consistently maintained for all organic foods? Is the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 suitably enforced and are there adequate surveillance measures in place to detect deviation from established procedures and guidelines regarding organic food production? Is the increased cost of organically grown foods justifiable and affordable especially for the underprivileged and poor or needy populations? Is organic food production sustainable for supplying food to a growing population in the 21st century, in light of increased pest resistance, hardy environmental conditions and world wide climate changes, in particular global warming?
Conclusion: Organically grown foods are perceived as being more nutritious, healthier and safer than conventionally grown foods. This perception is not accurate since organically grown foods may have a shorter shelf life, have the same nutrition content as conventional foods, may have the same minimum levels of pesticide residues as required by the FDA and USDA and there is a possibility that they may contain genetically modified ingredients depending on where they are grown, harvested or processed. Consumers and the general public should be aware that organic foods are not necessarily better than conventional foods and evidence-based decision should always be exercised in selecting and purchasing foods to ensure, maintain and promote human health and well being.
References: FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Pesticide Program: Residue Monitoring1999, August 2000. Boume D, Prescott J. A comparison of the nutritional value, sensory qualities, and food safety of organically and conventionally produced foods. Food Science and Nutrition 42:1-34, 2002.
Newsome R. Organically Grown Foods: A scientific status summary by the Institute of Food Technologist's expert panel on food safety and nutrition. Food Technology 44 (12):123-130, 1990. Organic Produce. Consumer Reports 63(1):12-18, 1998. Organic Food Standards and Labels: the facts. USDA Web site. Pattron, D. Recent Research in Public Health. Scientific Publishers: New York, 2004.
About the Author
Dr. Pattron is a Public Health Scientist and Scholar.
Organic Certification: Organic certification is the process of verifying the standards used in organic production in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. There are three main requirements to the certification process: 1. The Organic Plan. This plan purposes how the organic farmer and/or processor will meet organic standards while raising their crops or producing their processed product. It would describe in detail all processing methods and all ingredients used, as well as storage, cleaning and waste disposal methods at the facility. 2. Record Keeping. This provides an audit trail for inspectors and competent authority to verify material and methods used in growing or processing organic foods. It allows for traceability and enables a food on the store shelf to be traced back to the processing facility and farm. 3. Annual Inspections. This is done by authorized personnel of the USDA or other certifying agencies that monitors and ensures compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.
Organically Labeled Foods: In order for a food product to be labeled organic it should contain at least 95 % of certified organic ingredients. This means that the other 5 % could be minerals or products which are natural but simply not available in organic form. Foods containing organic ingredients can be labeled with the words "organic" meaning that the food contains at least 50 % of the ingredients that have been certified as organic. However, foods containing less that 50 % of ingredients being organic cannot be labeled as such.
Are Organic Foods more nutritious than Conventional Foods? There is presently a growing body of conflicting data that suggests that organically grown foods may not be more nutritious than conventional foods. The nutrient content of plants is determined primarily by heredity. The mineral content of plants may be affected by the mineral content of the soil. If essential nutrients are missing from the soil the plant will not grow or grow very poorly. Experiments conducted to date show that there is no significant difference in the nutritional content of organic and conventional grown foods.
Are Organic Foods more Safer than Conventional Foods? Food safety is the assurance that food when consumed in its usual way will not pose a threat to human health and well being. There is a perception that organic foods may be safer because they have lower levels of pesticide residues. This may not be true since, the FDA set tolerance levels in foods and conducts frequent market basket studies. These studies have shown that 60 % of fruits and vegetables had no detectable pesticides and only about 1.2 % of domestic and 1.6 % of imported foods had violative levels. Most studies since the early 1970s found that the pesticide levels in conventional foods were similar to organic foods and they were basically within the accepted international and Environmental Protection Agency Standards.
Are Organic Foods Tastier than Conventional Foods? Organic foods are not inherently tastier than conventionally grown foods. Organoleptic properties of foods are influenced by freshness and storage conditions; that is, how the product is shipped from farmer to consumer. Consumer reports found no consistent differences in appearance, flavor, color or texture between organic and conventionally grown foods.
Are Organic Foods more Environmentally Friendly than Conventional Foods? There may be some benefits of growing organic foods in terms of preserving the environment. Organic farming utilizes a number of methods that are environmentally friendly, but these methods are also used in growing conventional foods. Some of these methods include: crop rotation, which ensures that one crop does not deplete the soil of the nutrients that it uses most; cover crops to protect against soil erosion; the planting of special crops known as "green manures" that are plowed back into the soil to enrich it and; the addition of aged animal and plant wastes, also known as compost to the soil.
Does Organic Foods have any special Healing Powers? Organic foods do not offer any significant healing powers over conventionally grown foods. In, fact both organic and conventionally grown foods are nutritious and can provide equal benefits in providing nutrients needed for growth, repair and maintenance of bodily functions.
Other Areas of Concern Regarding Organically Grown Foods: It is purported that the genetically modified ingredients are subjected to DNA testing and documentation from ingredient suppliers, but how is the presence of genetically modified ingredients tested and what documentation are requested from suppliers? What measures are taken to protect organic foods from the prevalence of genetically engineered crops in the environment and increased use of genetically modified ingredients? Can organic foods be considered as being 100 % free of genetically engineered ingredients? There is a real possibility that organic foods may contain genetically modified ingredients either through pre or post harvest contamination. Organic foods are deemed to be free from pesticides. What does "free from pesticides" mean? Is there a zero tolerance level? Is this pesticide level the same for conventional foods? Have sufficient scientific studies been done to compare pesticide residues in organic and conventional foods? Are the organic standards consistently maintained for all organic foods? Is the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 suitably enforced and are there adequate surveillance measures in place to detect deviation from established procedures and guidelines regarding organic food production? Is the increased cost of organically grown foods justifiable and affordable especially for the underprivileged and poor or needy populations? Is organic food production sustainable for supplying food to a growing population in the 21st century, in light of increased pest resistance, hardy environmental conditions and world wide climate changes, in particular global warming?
Conclusion: Organically grown foods are perceived as being more nutritious, healthier and safer than conventionally grown foods. This perception is not accurate since organically grown foods may have a shorter shelf life, have the same nutrition content as conventional foods, may have the same minimum levels of pesticide residues as required by the FDA and USDA and there is a possibility that they may contain genetically modified ingredients depending on where they are grown, harvested or processed. Consumers and the general public should be aware that organic foods are not necessarily better than conventional foods and evidence-based decision should always be exercised in selecting and purchasing foods to ensure, maintain and promote human health and well being.
References: FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Pesticide Program: Residue Monitoring1999, August 2000. Boume D, Prescott J. A comparison of the nutritional value, sensory qualities, and food safety of organically and conventionally produced foods. Food Science and Nutrition 42:1-34, 2002.
Newsome R. Organically Grown Foods: A scientific status summary by the Institute of Food Technologist's expert panel on food safety and nutrition. Food Technology 44 (12):123-130, 1990. Organic Produce. Consumer Reports 63(1):12-18, 1998. Organic Food Standards and Labels: the facts. USDA Web site. Pattron, D. Recent Research in Public Health. Scientific Publishers: New York, 2004.
About the Author
Dr. Pattron is a Public Health Scientist and Scholar.
Organic Coffee: Does It Taste Any Better? by Scott A. Wilson
Traditional coffee like Folders and the popular Spanish brand Nescafe have maintained that familiar, consistent great taste over the years. Despite pesticides and fertilizers harvested in the large, commercial coffee plantations they grow on, it manages to suit an average person's tastes as evident by its sales. In justifying the high prices for organic coffee, many people point to its tastes as one of the main reasons. Does organic coffee taste better than traditional coffee?
To begin, organic coffee tastes better than traditional coffee because of the growing methods farmers use. Factors that weigh heavily with improved taste include shade grown and organic farming methods that are in force today that promote healthier soil, clean water, and habitats for birds that provide pest control. As an added bonus, organic coffee receives a taste boost if it is high-grown. Organic coffee under shade trees are the definition of 'premium' in that fewer coffee cherries are produces unlike traditional coffee that grow under the sun. Because of this, organic coffee cherries grow slower and finer, and the difference is passed on to your I Love New York mug.
Another reason why organic coffee tastes better is because of the incentives farmers receive for producing it. With an average of 15 cents more per pound, producers are more inclined to keep their trees in top shape and harvest them better. Organic coffee producers also place a higher emphasis on harvesting, many of which is done by hand to assure the best beans are processed. This is a must, considering coffee trees have cherries going through different development cycles. The harvesting process also separates regular beans from the finer ones. All in all, because of the more intricate care placed with growing organic coffee, taste is improved tenfold.
For more information on organic coffee or for organic coffee recipes
About the Author
Scott Wilson has been a importer and roaster of organic coffee for over a decade.
To begin, organic coffee tastes better than traditional coffee because of the growing methods farmers use. Factors that weigh heavily with improved taste include shade grown and organic farming methods that are in force today that promote healthier soil, clean water, and habitats for birds that provide pest control. As an added bonus, organic coffee receives a taste boost if it is high-grown. Organic coffee under shade trees are the definition of 'premium' in that fewer coffee cherries are produces unlike traditional coffee that grow under the sun. Because of this, organic coffee cherries grow slower and finer, and the difference is passed on to your I Love New York mug.
Another reason why organic coffee tastes better is because of the incentives farmers receive for producing it. With an average of 15 cents more per pound, producers are more inclined to keep their trees in top shape and harvest them better. Organic coffee producers also place a higher emphasis on harvesting, many of which is done by hand to assure the best beans are processed. This is a must, considering coffee trees have cherries going through different development cycles. The harvesting process also separates regular beans from the finer ones. All in all, because of the more intricate care placed with growing organic coffee, taste is improved tenfold.
For more information on organic coffee or for organic coffee recipes
About the Author
Scott Wilson has been a importer and roaster of organic coffee for over a decade.
Africa's Miracle Plant-The Untold Story of Raw Shea by Claire Pearson
Just below the Sahara Desert, in a vast expanse of African Savannah land, sits the Nasia Village. Outside of the rainy season, this is one of the most unforgiving, dry, dusty places on earth. Brutal sun, wind, and Hamatan dust create dire consequences for exposed skin. For centuries, women of Nasia have used oil from the nut of the native Shea tree to combat these extreme conditions, turning the oil into raw shea butter for their skin.
Raw shea butter, a thickened oil extracted from the nut of the Shea tree, is an extremely versatile product, containing both carotene and alantoin for excellent moisturizing, soothing, anti-aging, and healing treatment. Women and men all over the world have caught on to this secret-of-the-savannah and use shea to combat all types of skin conditions.
One of the most significant uses of raw shea butter is as an anti-aging treatment. In a remarkable six-month anti-aging study performed by F. Renard, 30 participants used raw shea butter as a daily moisturizer. Within a few weeks, the dull, grayish complexion of most participants had vanished, and smoother, clearer skin was revealed. Wrinkles caused by prolonged sun exposure were visibly diminished for half of the study's participants. Because of shea's unique ability to reactivate collagen synthesis, by the study's conclusion, evident skin regeneration had occurred in all participants. Anti-aging is only one of the several conditions raw shea butter remedies, others include:
Dry skin Rashes Peeling Blemishes Itching Skin cracks Wound healing time Scarring Sunburn Insect bites Rough skin on feet, elbows and knees Frost bite Chapped lips However, according to Lynne Killey, founder of Queen Bee skin care, not all shea is created equal. "Most consumers don't realize that a refining process is typically used to make shea butter. This manufacturing process adds chemicals to the oil, then heats it to a point where most of the nutrients are killed off - virtually eliminating all healing properties of the original nut."
Raw shea butter (also known as unrefined shea) undergoes a traditional production method. In this process, the shea kernel is picked, cracked, grilled and pounded. It is then boiled in water until the fresh butter rises to the surface, which is scooped into gourds and left to set. Performed by hand, this extraction method uses no conventional processing techniques that will strip the finished product of original nutrients. At no point of production are dangerous chemicals or synthetic agents added to this shea butter.
More commonly found in retail outlets, refined shea butter goes through an entirely different production cycle than its natural counterpart. In an effort to speed up the extraction process, increase profits and alter the smell and texture of shea butter, most manufacturers have adopted a refining method which destroys much of the natural integrity of the shea nut. In this process, the seed oil is extracted from the kernels using a highly flammable, gasoline-like chemical known as Hexane, which usually remains in the product in trace amounts.
Side effects from exposure to hexane include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, weakness, unconsciousness, and abdominal pain. Production by-products containing trace amounts of hexane are commonly sold as animal feed, and excessive amounts of hexane are thought to cause anemia in livestock - transferring to the meat consumers' purchase. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Hexane compounds are carcinogens and are classed as a hazardous substance. Hexane also poses a serious environmental threat - implicated as a polluter and producer of harmful ozone build-up and air pollution when vented into the atmosphere during the flash-off (burning) cycle of manufacturing.
The side effects and environmental concerns surrounding the use of hexane are serious problems of refined shea butter production, yet other aspects of this refining process are equally as damaging to consumers. To remove the characteristic nutty smell of shea, the extracted oil is exposed to 450 degree heat and sodium hydroxide and carbonate chemicals are added. To change the texture and appearance of the product, it moves through an acid-treated filter and is bleached. Known carcinogens (BHT & BHA) are added to refined shea butter to enhance the shelf-life of the finished product.
"Refining shea butter removes natural essential fatty acids, valuable proteins and important minerals, leaving consumers with a questionable, ineffective and potentially dangerous product. In no way similar to refined shea butter, raw shea butter is significantly richer in vitamins, phyto-nutrients and UV absorbing factors. Raw shea is more difficult to find [than refined shea butter], but is well worth the effort," states Killey.
The American Shea Butter Institute agrees, "While altered shea butter may smell nicely or [when mixed with less expensive ingredients] appear cost-effective, it has lost significant health-properties....poor quality shea butter is ineffective in healing most conditions that raw shea treats."
To ensure your shea butter is raw, make sure it is beige or yellow, with a creamy texture and a nutty smell. If your shea butter has no smell (or a fragrant/floral smell), is white or is grainy, it is refined shea and does not hold the same healing properties of authentic shea. Because of several naturally-occurring antioxidants, raw shea has an indefinite shelf-life; however, refined shea has a maximum two-year shelf-life.
Shea butter is truly a remarkable, one-of-a-kind skin care product, treating wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, burns, muscle soreness and everything in between - every household should have a jar on hand. However, raw shea produces results that are far superior to those of refined shea.
Raw shea lotion bars and tubs can be purchased at www.QueenBeeSauce.com. The most popular Queen Bee raw shea product is the Tub O' Raw Shea, a $26.00, 4oz jar of 100% unrefined shea butter, with nothing else added. Queen Bee raw shea is sourced from a U.S company that directly teaches sustainable farming and eco-friendly handling of shea to the women of Northern Ghana.
Founded in 2004, Queen Bee offers simple, natural skin care products to health-conscious consumers. With a focus on personalized products and service, all Queen Bee products are homemade, by hand, from scratch, using natural and organic ingredients. The Queen Bee motto 'Made with Love' represents the philosophy of founder Lynne Killey that "each bottle or jar of product is made with attention to quality of ingredients, harmony with nature and care for the person who will be using our product."
To learn more about Queen Bee, raw shea butter, or any other product, visit www.QueenBeeSauce.com, call 970.731.3690 or email QB@queenbeesauce.com.
About the Author
Specializing in public relations, Website and marketing copywriting, Claire Pearson is a versatile, quick thinking writer with an enviable grasp of the English language. Claire thinks creatively and conceptually to craft compelling headlines and engaging body copy.
Raw shea butter, a thickened oil extracted from the nut of the Shea tree, is an extremely versatile product, containing both carotene and alantoin for excellent moisturizing, soothing, anti-aging, and healing treatment. Women and men all over the world have caught on to this secret-of-the-savannah and use shea to combat all types of skin conditions.
One of the most significant uses of raw shea butter is as an anti-aging treatment. In a remarkable six-month anti-aging study performed by F. Renard, 30 participants used raw shea butter as a daily moisturizer. Within a few weeks, the dull, grayish complexion of most participants had vanished, and smoother, clearer skin was revealed. Wrinkles caused by prolonged sun exposure were visibly diminished for half of the study's participants. Because of shea's unique ability to reactivate collagen synthesis, by the study's conclusion, evident skin regeneration had occurred in all participants. Anti-aging is only one of the several conditions raw shea butter remedies, others include:
Dry skin Rashes Peeling Blemishes Itching Skin cracks Wound healing time Scarring Sunburn Insect bites Rough skin on feet, elbows and knees Frost bite Chapped lips However, according to Lynne Killey, founder of Queen Bee skin care, not all shea is created equal. "Most consumers don't realize that a refining process is typically used to make shea butter. This manufacturing process adds chemicals to the oil, then heats it to a point where most of the nutrients are killed off - virtually eliminating all healing properties of the original nut."
Raw shea butter (also known as unrefined shea) undergoes a traditional production method. In this process, the shea kernel is picked, cracked, grilled and pounded. It is then boiled in water until the fresh butter rises to the surface, which is scooped into gourds and left to set. Performed by hand, this extraction method uses no conventional processing techniques that will strip the finished product of original nutrients. At no point of production are dangerous chemicals or synthetic agents added to this shea butter.
More commonly found in retail outlets, refined shea butter goes through an entirely different production cycle than its natural counterpart. In an effort to speed up the extraction process, increase profits and alter the smell and texture of shea butter, most manufacturers have adopted a refining method which destroys much of the natural integrity of the shea nut. In this process, the seed oil is extracted from the kernels using a highly flammable, gasoline-like chemical known as Hexane, which usually remains in the product in trace amounts.
Side effects from exposure to hexane include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, weakness, unconsciousness, and abdominal pain. Production by-products containing trace amounts of hexane are commonly sold as animal feed, and excessive amounts of hexane are thought to cause anemia in livestock - transferring to the meat consumers' purchase. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Hexane compounds are carcinogens and are classed as a hazardous substance. Hexane also poses a serious environmental threat - implicated as a polluter and producer of harmful ozone build-up and air pollution when vented into the atmosphere during the flash-off (burning) cycle of manufacturing.
The side effects and environmental concerns surrounding the use of hexane are serious problems of refined shea butter production, yet other aspects of this refining process are equally as damaging to consumers. To remove the characteristic nutty smell of shea, the extracted oil is exposed to 450 degree heat and sodium hydroxide and carbonate chemicals are added. To change the texture and appearance of the product, it moves through an acid-treated filter and is bleached. Known carcinogens (BHT & BHA) are added to refined shea butter to enhance the shelf-life of the finished product.
"Refining shea butter removes natural essential fatty acids, valuable proteins and important minerals, leaving consumers with a questionable, ineffective and potentially dangerous product. In no way similar to refined shea butter, raw shea butter is significantly richer in vitamins, phyto-nutrients and UV absorbing factors. Raw shea is more difficult to find [than refined shea butter], but is well worth the effort," states Killey.
The American Shea Butter Institute agrees, "While altered shea butter may smell nicely or [when mixed with less expensive ingredients] appear cost-effective, it has lost significant health-properties....poor quality shea butter is ineffective in healing most conditions that raw shea treats."
To ensure your shea butter is raw, make sure it is beige or yellow, with a creamy texture and a nutty smell. If your shea butter has no smell (or a fragrant/floral smell), is white or is grainy, it is refined shea and does not hold the same healing properties of authentic shea. Because of several naturally-occurring antioxidants, raw shea has an indefinite shelf-life; however, refined shea has a maximum two-year shelf-life.
Shea butter is truly a remarkable, one-of-a-kind skin care product, treating wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, burns, muscle soreness and everything in between - every household should have a jar on hand. However, raw shea produces results that are far superior to those of refined shea.
Raw shea lotion bars and tubs can be purchased at www.QueenBeeSauce.com. The most popular Queen Bee raw shea product is the Tub O' Raw Shea, a $26.00, 4oz jar of 100% unrefined shea butter, with nothing else added. Queen Bee raw shea is sourced from a U.S company that directly teaches sustainable farming and eco-friendly handling of shea to the women of Northern Ghana.
Founded in 2004, Queen Bee offers simple, natural skin care products to health-conscious consumers. With a focus on personalized products and service, all Queen Bee products are homemade, by hand, from scratch, using natural and organic ingredients. The Queen Bee motto 'Made with Love' represents the philosophy of founder Lynne Killey that "each bottle or jar of product is made with attention to quality of ingredients, harmony with nature and care for the person who will be using our product."
To learn more about Queen Bee, raw shea butter, or any other product, visit www.QueenBeeSauce.com, call 970.731.3690 or email QB@queenbeesauce.com.
About the Author
Specializing in public relations, Website and marketing copywriting, Claire Pearson is a versatile, quick thinking writer with an enviable grasp of the English language. Claire thinks creatively and conceptually to craft compelling headlines and engaging body copy.
About Free Trade And Organic Cotton by Everett Sizemore
The organic cotton industry has make huge strides over the last few years, and many retailers are beginning to see the value of buying materials made with organic cotton, such as clothing, bedding and accessories. Still, most consumers do not know the difference between "organic" cotton and "regular" cotton. Therefore, they cannot justify paying more for one or the other. This article explains the difference in hopes that more people will opt for the organic alternative to mass-produced cotton.
What is Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton, like most "organic" crops, is grown using methods and materials that have a low environmental impact. The growing of this type of cotton usually focuses on two things: eco-sustainability and fair trade.
Eco Sustainability
The idea of sustainability is that the practices used in producing a product replenish natural materials at equal to or greater than the rate of depletion, and reduce the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides to the point of being equal to or less than the rate that such materials bio-degrade or become harmless to the environment. In other words, the idea is that we can go on with such practices without "making things worse" than they already are.
Fair Trade
It is common practice in a capitalistic, powerful society like the United States for major corporations to use their buying power to reduce the price of goods, which they may or may not pass on to the consumer. The problem with this practice is that often these goods are already being obtained at the expense of third-world workers, who are providing them at an extremely low profit margin in the first place. It forces them to make a choice between working for near-slave-wages, or not working at all. Fair Trade Cotton and other fair trade products ensure that workers, regardless of which country they live in, are compensated at a fair, living wage.
Because organic farming practices and fair trade purchasing decisions are more costly, a higher price tag usually ends up being passed on to the consumer. We, as consumers, must then ask ourselves whether it is worth the cost to buy organic cotton over "normal" cotton.
Cost is More Than Just Monetary
The cost of traditionally produced cotton may take a few cents less out of our pockets, but it costs us dearly in terms of the destruction of our environment and the exploitation of our brothers and sisters in the "third world". Whether you believe in karma, a just God or just the idea that your actions play a role in your happiness, there is also a high spiritual/mental payout to buying organically produced, fair trade cotton.
Find out More:
http://www.sustainablecotton.org/ http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html http://community.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/id/CAT00004 http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products_cotton.htm http://www.gaiam.com/retail/2/Bedroom http://www.organicconsumers.org/
About the Author
Everett Sizemore reviews products on his brand comparison website at Compare The Brands . He writes about topics that interest him in his spare time.
What is Organic Cotton?
Organic cotton, like most "organic" crops, is grown using methods and materials that have a low environmental impact. The growing of this type of cotton usually focuses on two things: eco-sustainability and fair trade.
Eco Sustainability
The idea of sustainability is that the practices used in producing a product replenish natural materials at equal to or greater than the rate of depletion, and reduce the use of toxic fertilizers and pesticides to the point of being equal to or less than the rate that such materials bio-degrade or become harmless to the environment. In other words, the idea is that we can go on with such practices without "making things worse" than they already are.
Fair Trade
It is common practice in a capitalistic, powerful society like the United States for major corporations to use their buying power to reduce the price of goods, which they may or may not pass on to the consumer. The problem with this practice is that often these goods are already being obtained at the expense of third-world workers, who are providing them at an extremely low profit margin in the first place. It forces them to make a choice between working for near-slave-wages, or not working at all. Fair Trade Cotton and other fair trade products ensure that workers, regardless of which country they live in, are compensated at a fair, living wage.
Because organic farming practices and fair trade purchasing decisions are more costly, a higher price tag usually ends up being passed on to the consumer. We, as consumers, must then ask ourselves whether it is worth the cost to buy organic cotton over "normal" cotton.
Cost is More Than Just Monetary
The cost of traditionally produced cotton may take a few cents less out of our pockets, but it costs us dearly in terms of the destruction of our environment and the exploitation of our brothers and sisters in the "third world". Whether you believe in karma, a just God or just the idea that your actions play a role in your happiness, there is also a high spiritual/mental payout to buying organically produced, fair trade cotton.
Find out More:
http://www.sustainablecotton.org/ http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html http://community.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/id/CAT00004 http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products_cotton.htm http://www.gaiam.com/retail/2/Bedroom http://www.organicconsumers.org/
About the Author
Everett Sizemore reviews products on his brand comparison website at Compare The Brands . He writes about topics that interest him in his spare time.
Organic Food Products by Russel Esquibel
For those who are planning to go on a raw food diet there are lots of organic and raw food products available these days. Before, these types of foods were only available on natural food stores. Nowadays, there are more organic selections than ever before.
There are lots of organic and raw food products available on the internet. All you have to do is browse on numerous organic and raw food online retailers. Majority of these online retailers have useful information that will you learn more about organic and raw food products. Most of these online retailers inform you on the specific food values of the said products.
Why organic
So why go for organic and raw food products? In order to come into a decision, you must first understand what organic foods are. Organic foods are produced that are grown or raised without the used of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Organic foods are considered a lot fresher and has flavorful.
So why go organic? The reason for that is because the human body processes everything that you consume and removes what it cannot absorb. If the food you consume contains toxins from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, your body will then eliminate it to get rid of the toxins. And if the body is unable to remove the toxins immediately, the toxins will be accumulated. Accumulated toxins can bring about several health predicaments.
Most of the pesticides and fertilizers that are used in farming contain carcinogenic elements. These particular elements are known to cause serious health problems, such as cancer. If you minimize the intake of these types of foods and consume organic and raw products, it will most likely improve your health.
Although there are some individuals that are able to remove toxins in their bodies better than other people, the human body must exert more energy just to remove these toxins rather than spending that wasted energy on other essential bodily functions such as healing damaged cells and tissues, combating harmful viruses and bacteria
Those who are able to withstand or eliminate toxins better than others will feel considerably healthier if they consume organic and raw food products. While those who are sensitive to these harmful elements will feel much better and will be able to eliminate toxins much better.
Today, removing these harmful elements is much easier because of the greater selection and more diverse variety of organic and raw food products that are available in the market.
About the Author
Russel Esquibel is a nutrition oriented expert. He is a writer of Eat-Raw-Food.com, a site where you can find information, tips and advice about raw food, vegetarian, vegan and more.
There are lots of organic and raw food products available on the internet. All you have to do is browse on numerous organic and raw food online retailers. Majority of these online retailers have useful information that will you learn more about organic and raw food products. Most of these online retailers inform you on the specific food values of the said products.
Why organic
So why go for organic and raw food products? In order to come into a decision, you must first understand what organic foods are. Organic foods are produced that are grown or raised without the used of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Organic foods are considered a lot fresher and has flavorful.
So why go organic? The reason for that is because the human body processes everything that you consume and removes what it cannot absorb. If the food you consume contains toxins from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, your body will then eliminate it to get rid of the toxins. And if the body is unable to remove the toxins immediately, the toxins will be accumulated. Accumulated toxins can bring about several health predicaments.
Most of the pesticides and fertilizers that are used in farming contain carcinogenic elements. These particular elements are known to cause serious health problems, such as cancer. If you minimize the intake of these types of foods and consume organic and raw products, it will most likely improve your health.
Although there are some individuals that are able to remove toxins in their bodies better than other people, the human body must exert more energy just to remove these toxins rather than spending that wasted energy on other essential bodily functions such as healing damaged cells and tissues, combating harmful viruses and bacteria
Those who are able to withstand or eliminate toxins better than others will feel considerably healthier if they consume organic and raw food products. While those who are sensitive to these harmful elements will feel much better and will be able to eliminate toxins much better.
Today, removing these harmful elements is much easier because of the greater selection and more diverse variety of organic and raw food products that are available in the market.
About the Author
Russel Esquibel is a nutrition oriented expert. He is a writer of Eat-Raw-Food.com, a site where you can find information, tips and advice about raw food, vegetarian, vegan and more.
Organic baby clothes are on the must-have list for concerned parents by WEBCERTAIN PR TEAM
Award-winning children's clothes designer and retailer, Vertbaudet, report that the popularity of their organic baby clothes range has exceeded expectations.
Available from www.vertbaudet.co.uk the range includes bodysuits, blouses, t-shirts, dresses, cardigans, and other clothes for baby girls and boys.
The new Autumn / Winter collection "Organic BB. Bio" has just been announced in the new catalogue, this is a mini-collection of modern and elegant organic baby clothes.
The range was designed in response from demand from parents for ecologically sound baby clothes that are safe for even the most sensitive baby skin. Vertbaudet designed the baby clothes with babies' comfort and parents' convenience in mind.
The clothes for baby girls and boys are made from pure organic cotton and are available for newborns (1 month) to toddlers (18 months). All products are easy to wash (machine-washable) and have no scratchy labels as the washing instructions are printed inside.
Parents are far more concerned about the use of chemicals and artificial ingredients in food and clothes for children that they were five years ago. For example, sales of organic food grew by 30% in 2005 alone.
Susanne Atkins-Krueger of Vertbaudet explains: "In addressing the demand from parents for organic clothes for babies we were extremely focused on providing practical, as well as environmentally-friendly products."
"The clothes are very comfortable for babies as the fabric is pre-washed for a softer feel to protect delicate baby skin from irritation."
"Any parent will tell you that life is a lot more difficult to deal with when your baby's clothes are scratching them!"
Not only is there a general concern about the use of unnecessary chemicals, but the incidence of childhood eczema and skin allergies among children has increased in recent years.
All the organic cotton baby clothes from Vertbaudet are hypoallergenic and use natural dyes.
Vertbaudet's summer sale means it's now possible to save up to 70% selected spring and summer childrenswear, full details can be found at www.vertbaudet.co.uk along with details of all their fashion collections for children.
Overall organic farming is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution levels from sprays and produces less carbon dioxide.
Vertbaudet organic baby clothes range includes: Organic cotton Bonnet and bootees set - from £7.99 Pure organic cotton in striped woven-dyed or plain poplin - from 11.99 Fleece cardigan - from 14.99 Girls top and bloomer set - from 12.99 Boys t-shirt and trousers - from 14.99
The new Organic BB. Bio range includes: Cardigan and trouser sets - from £17 Polo shirts from - £9 Sleepsuits - from £12
About Vertbaudet Vertbaudet is one of the leading brands in the Redcats Group which also includes La Redoute and Empire Stores. Redcats is a member of the PPR Groups whose brands include Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Rated "Number 1 for Baby and Children's wear" in an independent survey of mums who shop from home. Kids Superbrands - one of the UK's Best Children's Brands 2006 Prima Baby Reader Awards 2006: Eco-Friendly award winner for the Organic Cotton range Tommy's Parent Friendly Awards 2006 - Best Maternity Wear and Best Online / Home Delivery Service - runner-up.
About the Author
WEBCERTAIN PR TEAM - Jenny Simpson / Laure Mondon 01904780030 Laure.mondon@webcertain.com Jenny.simpson@webcertain.com
Available from www.vertbaudet.co.uk the range includes bodysuits, blouses, t-shirts, dresses, cardigans, and other clothes for baby girls and boys.
The new Autumn / Winter collection "Organic BB. Bio" has just been announced in the new catalogue, this is a mini-collection of modern and elegant organic baby clothes.
The range was designed in response from demand from parents for ecologically sound baby clothes that are safe for even the most sensitive baby skin. Vertbaudet designed the baby clothes with babies' comfort and parents' convenience in mind.
The clothes for baby girls and boys are made from pure organic cotton and are available for newborns (1 month) to toddlers (18 months). All products are easy to wash (machine-washable) and have no scratchy labels as the washing instructions are printed inside.
Parents are far more concerned about the use of chemicals and artificial ingredients in food and clothes for children that they were five years ago. For example, sales of organic food grew by 30% in 2005 alone.
Susanne Atkins-Krueger of Vertbaudet explains: "In addressing the demand from parents for organic clothes for babies we were extremely focused on providing practical, as well as environmentally-friendly products."
"The clothes are very comfortable for babies as the fabric is pre-washed for a softer feel to protect delicate baby skin from irritation."
"Any parent will tell you that life is a lot more difficult to deal with when your baby's clothes are scratching them!"
Not only is there a general concern about the use of unnecessary chemicals, but the incidence of childhood eczema and skin allergies among children has increased in recent years.
All the organic cotton baby clothes from Vertbaudet are hypoallergenic and use natural dyes.
Vertbaudet's summer sale means it's now possible to save up to 70% selected spring and summer childrenswear, full details can be found at www.vertbaudet.co.uk along with details of all their fashion collections for children.
Overall organic farming is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution levels from sprays and produces less carbon dioxide.
Vertbaudet organic baby clothes range includes: Organic cotton Bonnet and bootees set - from £7.99 Pure organic cotton in striped woven-dyed or plain poplin - from 11.99 Fleece cardigan - from 14.99 Girls top and bloomer set - from 12.99 Boys t-shirt and trousers - from 14.99
The new Organic BB. Bio range includes: Cardigan and trouser sets - from £17 Polo shirts from - £9 Sleepsuits - from £12
About Vertbaudet Vertbaudet is one of the leading brands in the Redcats Group which also includes La Redoute and Empire Stores. Redcats is a member of the PPR Groups whose brands include Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Rated "Number 1 for Baby and Children's wear" in an independent survey of mums who shop from home. Kids Superbrands - one of the UK's Best Children's Brands 2006 Prima Baby Reader Awards 2006: Eco-Friendly award winner for the Organic Cotton range Tommy's Parent Friendly Awards 2006 - Best Maternity Wear and Best Online / Home Delivery Service - runner-up.
About the Author
WEBCERTAIN PR TEAM - Jenny Simpson / Laure Mondon 01904780030 Laure.mondon@webcertain.com Jenny.simpson@webcertain.com
How to Find Reliable Organic Herb Suppliers by John Wishley
Herbs have been essential in cooking for centuries because of their flavor, scent and healing qualities. Simple food can be turned into a gourmet meal by adding little bit of herbs. Medicinal herbs have been used for healing a number of ailments and proved to be very effective. Herbs are often added to candles, soaps, used to scent linens, and for many other purposes. If you use a lot of herbs, finding a good organic herb supplier is vital.
USDA Organic Certification
If you are looking for a certified organic herb supplier, you should be familiar with the USDA organic certification process. In order for an organic herb supplier to use the term "organic," he or she must grow the herbs in accordance with USDA standards, must keep extensive records, be inspected regularly and pay a certification fee. If your organic herb supplier displays the USDA Organic symbol, he or she has gone through this process, and you can be 100% sure that the herbs are purely organic.
However, many organic herb suppliers prefer not to go through the lengthy USDA certification process. They may have some other certification such as "Certified Naturally Grown" or they may not have any certification at all. Some organic herb suppliers use the term "natural" instead of "organic" - though the herbs they supply may still be organic, just the supplier didn't acquire the USDA certificate in order to label their herbs "organic".
In case you are not sure if the organic herb supplier is a genuine one, talk to them. Ask about the farming practices they use. It might turn to be useful to visit the farm and check it out for yourself. If you take the time, you will find out which "natural" herb growers are actually uncertified organic herb suppliers. Farmer's Markets
The best way to find an organic herb supplier is to check out your local Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market allows the farmer to sell produce directly to the public. Purchasing food directly from the farmer has more benefits like no middle-men and lower prices; besides, it is more beneficial for the farmers as well since they get higher income.
The Farmer's Market also allows you to interact directly with organic herb suppliers. You can ask questions about how they grow the herbs. They usually have a wealth of knowledge about how to use the herbs they sell, too. You could learn how to make a medicinal lavender tea to soothe your nerves, or how to make thyme jelly to serve with an organic pork roast.
CSA's
Another way to find an organic herb supplier is to check out local CSA's. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a local farm, usually a small farm that sells "shares" of its produce. You usually buy a "share" and pick up whatever vegetables, herbs and other products the farm produces at specific intervals. A CSA share usually provides enough vegetables for a family of four.
Check out the CSA's in your area carefully - chances are you will get an excellent organic herb supplier for your needs. Visit the farms; ask what kinds of produce you can expect to receive and how much they usually supply. If you are specifically interested in the CSA as an organic herb supplier, check out their herb garden and ask what kinds of herbs they grow.
Of course, you can find an organic herb supplier that ships dried herbs over long distances. But getting herbs from the Farmer's Market or buying a CSA share helps support the farmers in your area.
About the Author
For more information on Organic herb supplier check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
USDA Organic Certification
If you are looking for a certified organic herb supplier, you should be familiar with the USDA organic certification process. In order for an organic herb supplier to use the term "organic," he or she must grow the herbs in accordance with USDA standards, must keep extensive records, be inspected regularly and pay a certification fee. If your organic herb supplier displays the USDA Organic symbol, he or she has gone through this process, and you can be 100% sure that the herbs are purely organic.
However, many organic herb suppliers prefer not to go through the lengthy USDA certification process. They may have some other certification such as "Certified Naturally Grown" or they may not have any certification at all. Some organic herb suppliers use the term "natural" instead of "organic" - though the herbs they supply may still be organic, just the supplier didn't acquire the USDA certificate in order to label their herbs "organic".
In case you are not sure if the organic herb supplier is a genuine one, talk to them. Ask about the farming practices they use. It might turn to be useful to visit the farm and check it out for yourself. If you take the time, you will find out which "natural" herb growers are actually uncertified organic herb suppliers. Farmer's Markets
The best way to find an organic herb supplier is to check out your local Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market allows the farmer to sell produce directly to the public. Purchasing food directly from the farmer has more benefits like no middle-men and lower prices; besides, it is more beneficial for the farmers as well since they get higher income.
The Farmer's Market also allows you to interact directly with organic herb suppliers. You can ask questions about how they grow the herbs. They usually have a wealth of knowledge about how to use the herbs they sell, too. You could learn how to make a medicinal lavender tea to soothe your nerves, or how to make thyme jelly to serve with an organic pork roast.
CSA's
Another way to find an organic herb supplier is to check out local CSA's. A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a local farm, usually a small farm that sells "shares" of its produce. You usually buy a "share" and pick up whatever vegetables, herbs and other products the farm produces at specific intervals. A CSA share usually provides enough vegetables for a family of four.
Check out the CSA's in your area carefully - chances are you will get an excellent organic herb supplier for your needs. Visit the farms; ask what kinds of produce you can expect to receive and how much they usually supply. If you are specifically interested in the CSA as an organic herb supplier, check out their herb garden and ask what kinds of herbs they grow.
Of course, you can find an organic herb supplier that ships dried herbs over long distances. But getting herbs from the Farmer's Market or buying a CSA share helps support the farmers in your area.
About the Author
For more information on Organic herb supplier check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Organic Herb Farms - A New Trend in Agriculture by John Wishley
Getting into organic farming might seem to be quite a tough task, but it is not so if you start gradually and develop your knowledge and experience step by step. Starting with organic herb farm is easier than any other kind of organic farm. This is because herbs are easier to grow organically than many other crops; besides you don't need much land for them. A few acres of good land are enough to have a profitable organic herb farm. Consider a few things before buying land for your organic herb farm.
Climate
First of all you have to research what kinds of organic herb farms already exist in your area. Talk to the farmers and find out what the climate is like, and which herbs grow best there. Ask for their advice; they are experts; treat them well and they can help your organic herb farm to be a success.
Market
Make your research about the local market for your organic herb produce. How are other organic herb farms doing financially? Is there a large enough market for one more organic herb farm? How do others sell their produce? Do they sell herbal products as well as herbs? What equipment is needed to make those products?
These are the basic questions to you will need answers to. Just as you would with any business, do a thorough market analysis before deciding to start an organic herb farm.
Land
Prior to looking for land, decide a few things first. How much land do you need? Do you want cleared or wooded land? Do you want previously cultivated land? Is there an existing organic herb garden for sale?
You may choose to live on your organic herb farm - in this case, you have to make sure there is a livable home on it. Check out the outbuildings to make sure they are adequate for your needs. If you are currently a city dweller, don't forget that you need to find out about water supply, electrical supply and septic.
Since you plan on starting an organic herb farm, try to find land that has not been treated with chemical additives. For this matter try to get the history of the land and get to know everything that has been done to it, at least for the past five to ten years. You will need this history in order to get organic certification for your organic herb farm.
Crop
With an organic herb farm you have a few options regarding the crops. Be aware that monoculture farming sets you up for disaster. It is better to have more than one kind of crop in case one doesn't do well.
You can grow perennial herbs on your organic herb farm, such as lavender, rosemary and thyme. You can harvest and sell the herbs directly to consumers, to food producers or to cosmetic and other industries. You can make herbal products, and sell them, as well. Popular culinary herbs, such as basil and oregano are grown hydroponically these days. You can also grow them in the ground. Culinary herbs proved to be a good cash crop.
The market for native or naturally growing herbs is expanding. You can harvest "high value native plants" wherever they grow on your land. Many of these herbs grow best in wooded areas, and you can interplant them in your woodlot. Ginseng, goldenseal, cohosh and Echinacea are all examples of native herbs that have commercial value. Most native herbs are used for medicinal purposes.
You don't have to possess a degree in agriculture to start an organic herb farm and become a successful organic farmer. Of course, you will have to learn a lot and put a lot of efforts, but you can start your organic herb farm with a relatively small investment and still achieve great results.
About the Author
For more information on Organic herb farms check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Climate
First of all you have to research what kinds of organic herb farms already exist in your area. Talk to the farmers and find out what the climate is like, and which herbs grow best there. Ask for their advice; they are experts; treat them well and they can help your organic herb farm to be a success.
Market
Make your research about the local market for your organic herb produce. How are other organic herb farms doing financially? Is there a large enough market for one more organic herb farm? How do others sell their produce? Do they sell herbal products as well as herbs? What equipment is needed to make those products?
These are the basic questions to you will need answers to. Just as you would with any business, do a thorough market analysis before deciding to start an organic herb farm.
Land
Prior to looking for land, decide a few things first. How much land do you need? Do you want cleared or wooded land? Do you want previously cultivated land? Is there an existing organic herb garden for sale?
You may choose to live on your organic herb farm - in this case, you have to make sure there is a livable home on it. Check out the outbuildings to make sure they are adequate for your needs. If you are currently a city dweller, don't forget that you need to find out about water supply, electrical supply and septic.
Since you plan on starting an organic herb farm, try to find land that has not been treated with chemical additives. For this matter try to get the history of the land and get to know everything that has been done to it, at least for the past five to ten years. You will need this history in order to get organic certification for your organic herb farm.
Crop
With an organic herb farm you have a few options regarding the crops. Be aware that monoculture farming sets you up for disaster. It is better to have more than one kind of crop in case one doesn't do well.
You can grow perennial herbs on your organic herb farm, such as lavender, rosemary and thyme. You can harvest and sell the herbs directly to consumers, to food producers or to cosmetic and other industries. You can make herbal products, and sell them, as well. Popular culinary herbs, such as basil and oregano are grown hydroponically these days. You can also grow them in the ground. Culinary herbs proved to be a good cash crop.
The market for native or naturally growing herbs is expanding. You can harvest "high value native plants" wherever they grow on your land. Many of these herbs grow best in wooded areas, and you can interplant them in your woodlot. Ginseng, goldenseal, cohosh and Echinacea are all examples of native herbs that have commercial value. Most native herbs are used for medicinal purposes.
You don't have to possess a degree in agriculture to start an organic herb farm and become a successful organic farmer. Of course, you will have to learn a lot and put a lot of efforts, but you can start your organic herb farm with a relatively small investment and still achieve great results.
About the Author
For more information on Organic herb farms check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Major Advantages of Organic Gardening and Farming by John Wishley
Organic gardening and farming have a number of advantages for both people's health and the environment. Here are three major aspects making organic gardening and farming so beneficial for us.
Safer Water
Organic gardening and farming keep toxic pesticides out of the water supply and food chain. Pesticides are notorious for being harmful to humans; it includes birth defects, cancer, allergies and other health problems. Pesticides now are so widespread that they contaminate nearly every square inch of the ocean and land mass of the world. Pesticides are not excreted by plants or animals, so they become concentrated as they move up the food chain. People are at the top of most food chains, so we bear the brunt of the damage.
Organic gardening and farming are based on non-toxic ways to control pests. Pesticides are rarely used, and when they are, the pesticides are made from naturally occurring plant oils and minerals. Organic gardening and farming always use the least toxic method possible to control pests.
Soil Biomass
Organic gardening and farming maintain the soil biomass. Biomass is the total amount of living material present in an area; this includes microorganisms, insects, small animals and plants. Good living soil is rich in biomass, as all this helps maintain soil productivity and fertility. We also need this biomass for good nutrition. For instance, no plant or animal on earth can manufacture vitamin B12. All vitamin B12 is originally produced by bacteria that live in the soil.
Industrial agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to add specific nutrients to the soil to increase productivity of monocultural plantings. If you are growing only soybeans on a particular piece of land, you don't need to add the nutrients necessary to grow corn. Chemical fertilizers are known to sterilize the soil. Much of the commercially farmed land will not grow anything without adding fertilizer because the soil cannot support growth on its own. Plants don't even decompose into the soil because there are no bacteria or insects to help break them down. Organic gardening and farming practice maintaining the biological content of the soil.
Healthier Food
Organic gardening and farming provide us with healthier food. If we suffer when the soil and water are contaminated with pesticides, but we suffer even more when those pesticides are in our food. You can't wash all pesticides off; many plants take the chemicals in and they become part of the food we eat. Apples are a prime example; commercially grown apples nearly always contain traces of pesticides in them.
Besides, organically grown food is more nutritious. Scientists are now studying phytonutrients - previously unidentified substances in plants that are necessary for their health - and for ours. Organic gardening and farming restore the soil to its natural, living state to preserve all the essential nutrients, whether we can identify them yet or not.
About the Author
For more information on Organic gardening and farming check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Safer Water
Organic gardening and farming keep toxic pesticides out of the water supply and food chain. Pesticides are notorious for being harmful to humans; it includes birth defects, cancer, allergies and other health problems. Pesticides now are so widespread that they contaminate nearly every square inch of the ocean and land mass of the world. Pesticides are not excreted by plants or animals, so they become concentrated as they move up the food chain. People are at the top of most food chains, so we bear the brunt of the damage.
Organic gardening and farming are based on non-toxic ways to control pests. Pesticides are rarely used, and when they are, the pesticides are made from naturally occurring plant oils and minerals. Organic gardening and farming always use the least toxic method possible to control pests.
Soil Biomass
Organic gardening and farming maintain the soil biomass. Biomass is the total amount of living material present in an area; this includes microorganisms, insects, small animals and plants. Good living soil is rich in biomass, as all this helps maintain soil productivity and fertility. We also need this biomass for good nutrition. For instance, no plant or animal on earth can manufacture vitamin B12. All vitamin B12 is originally produced by bacteria that live in the soil.
Industrial agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to add specific nutrients to the soil to increase productivity of monocultural plantings. If you are growing only soybeans on a particular piece of land, you don't need to add the nutrients necessary to grow corn. Chemical fertilizers are known to sterilize the soil. Much of the commercially farmed land will not grow anything without adding fertilizer because the soil cannot support growth on its own. Plants don't even decompose into the soil because there are no bacteria or insects to help break them down. Organic gardening and farming practice maintaining the biological content of the soil.
Healthier Food
Organic gardening and farming provide us with healthier food. If we suffer when the soil and water are contaminated with pesticides, but we suffer even more when those pesticides are in our food. You can't wash all pesticides off; many plants take the chemicals in and they become part of the food we eat. Apples are a prime example; commercially grown apples nearly always contain traces of pesticides in them.
Besides, organically grown food is more nutritious. Scientists are now studying phytonutrients - previously unidentified substances in plants that are necessary for their health - and for ours. Organic gardening and farming restore the soil to its natural, living state to preserve all the essential nutrients, whether we can identify them yet or not.
About the Author
For more information on Organic gardening and farming check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Simple Organic Garden Tips for Beginners by John Wishley
If you are new in organic gardening, the abundance of information may be overwhelming. Don't get hyped, though - just keep it slow and steady. Organic gardening has its own rhythm, so you don't have to do everything at once. Start out slow and learn in the process - you will be successful in not time! These five simple organic garden tips will help you get started.
1. Start with the Soil
The soil is the source of life for your organic garden. One of the problems with chemical gardening is that it sterilizes the soil, stealing the life from it. Organic soil is living and has lots of living matter in it. One of the main organic garden tips regarding the soil is - use compost. Buy it until you can make it.
Compost is created out of living vegetable matter. You just save all your vegetable scraps, lawn clippings and other fresh vegetable matter (green material) and mix it with dead grass and leaves (brown material) and let it decompose. You want a compost heap to generate heat, because it decomposes faster that way. It needs to be at least 3'x 3'x 3' to get good and hot. A hot compost heap that is turned frequently (so that it gets air into it) will make compost in a matter of weeks. However, if your compost pile is not that big or doesn't get very warm, it will still create good compost just in a longer period of time.
Compost should be added to the soil at least twice a year. Dig it into the top six inches of soil, and you will have rich, dark, productive soil within a couple of years, even if you started out with sterile, gray, chemically treated dirt.
2. Biodiversity
When you grow the same crop in the same soil over and over again, it depletes the soil of specific nutrients and causes serious damage to the soil. Monoculture farming also tends to gather the bugs and weeds that prey on that particular crop.
Therefore, biodiversity is another organic garden tip you should follow in order to achieve best results. Biodiversity means growing lots of different things. This protects the soil and the crops. Companion plants provide nutrients and pest protection for each other. Crop rotation keeps the soil rich and doesn't attract as many insects; besides you have a greater variety of produce for your table or for sale.
3. Water Carefully
Indiscriminate watering practices waste water and wash soil components into the water supply. Using water carefully prevents waste and discourages weeds. Water early in the morning and use a soaker hose to keep water on the plants and nowhere else.
4. Control Weeds
Organic gardening allows easy weed control, in case you follow these organic gardening tips. Use mulch around your plants to keep weeds out and water in and to give them extra nutrients. Compost is great mulch. Using plastic barriers during growing season will help keep weeds out of your crops. Cover the entire area with plastic during the winter season to kill off weed seeds. Regular weeding doesn't let root systems develop or go to seed.
5. Control Pests
Organic garden tips on pest control include only non- toxic intervention, so you have to be creative here.
Planting wisely, i.e. using companion planting and crop rotation should discourage pests before they arrive. If pests are already there, remove them by hand, if possible. Tomato hornworms, potato bugs and other larger insects can be controlled by hand. Use barriers, like diatomaceous earth, coffee cans or netting. Insect control is one more natural way to control pests, for example, releasing ladybugs, lacewings or praying mantises into your garden. If all else fails, use an organic insecticide, such as soap.
These five simple organic garden tips should be enough for you to get started. In a year of practicing organic gardening you will be an experienced gardener, and then you may want to try some different approaches. As a beginner, just follow these organic garden tips and your first year organic garden will be productive and successful.
About the Author
For more information on Organic garden tips check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
1. Start with the Soil
The soil is the source of life for your organic garden. One of the problems with chemical gardening is that it sterilizes the soil, stealing the life from it. Organic soil is living and has lots of living matter in it. One of the main organic garden tips regarding the soil is - use compost. Buy it until you can make it.
Compost is created out of living vegetable matter. You just save all your vegetable scraps, lawn clippings and other fresh vegetable matter (green material) and mix it with dead grass and leaves (brown material) and let it decompose. You want a compost heap to generate heat, because it decomposes faster that way. It needs to be at least 3'x 3'x 3' to get good and hot. A hot compost heap that is turned frequently (so that it gets air into it) will make compost in a matter of weeks. However, if your compost pile is not that big or doesn't get very warm, it will still create good compost just in a longer period of time.
Compost should be added to the soil at least twice a year. Dig it into the top six inches of soil, and you will have rich, dark, productive soil within a couple of years, even if you started out with sterile, gray, chemically treated dirt.
2. Biodiversity
When you grow the same crop in the same soil over and over again, it depletes the soil of specific nutrients and causes serious damage to the soil. Monoculture farming also tends to gather the bugs and weeds that prey on that particular crop.
Therefore, biodiversity is another organic garden tip you should follow in order to achieve best results. Biodiversity means growing lots of different things. This protects the soil and the crops. Companion plants provide nutrients and pest protection for each other. Crop rotation keeps the soil rich and doesn't attract as many insects; besides you have a greater variety of produce for your table or for sale.
3. Water Carefully
Indiscriminate watering practices waste water and wash soil components into the water supply. Using water carefully prevents waste and discourages weeds. Water early in the morning and use a soaker hose to keep water on the plants and nowhere else.
4. Control Weeds
Organic gardening allows easy weed control, in case you follow these organic gardening tips. Use mulch around your plants to keep weeds out and water in and to give them extra nutrients. Compost is great mulch. Using plastic barriers during growing season will help keep weeds out of your crops. Cover the entire area with plastic during the winter season to kill off weed seeds. Regular weeding doesn't let root systems develop or go to seed.
5. Control Pests
Organic garden tips on pest control include only non- toxic intervention, so you have to be creative here.
Planting wisely, i.e. using companion planting and crop rotation should discourage pests before they arrive. If pests are already there, remove them by hand, if possible. Tomato hornworms, potato bugs and other larger insects can be controlled by hand. Use barriers, like diatomaceous earth, coffee cans or netting. Insect control is one more natural way to control pests, for example, releasing ladybugs, lacewings or praying mantises into your garden. If all else fails, use an organic insecticide, such as soap.
These five simple organic garden tips should be enough for you to get started. In a year of practicing organic gardening you will be an experienced gardener, and then you may want to try some different approaches. As a beginner, just follow these organic garden tips and your first year organic garden will be productive and successful.
About the Author
For more information on Organic garden tips check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before. For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Your Sources of Organic Gardening Advice by John Wishley
Being new to organic gardening, you may be seeking some good organic gardening advice and wondering what's the best place to get it. Some of the organic gardening advice you get is confusing, and when you hear about the USDA rules, organic gardening sounds impossible. However, organic gardening is not that complicated; in fact, it is very easy once you get the hang of it. But at the beginning you will need to have a good source for organic gardening advice.
Books
Books are that ideal source to begin with when you are looking for organic gardening advice. There are several good organic gardening advice books on the market. You could borrow them from the library or choose one or two that you want to own. Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening is a good, basic organic gardening book you might wish to buy.
Magazines
Special magazines on organic gardening will provide you with plenty of information you require. Some target specific types of organic gardening, such as raising organic vegetables or organic berry farming. Again, the library is a good place to start. Go through several organic gardening magazines, and choose one or two to subscribe to. You will be getting lots of up-to-date organic gardening advice on a regular basis.
The Internet
The Internet is, of course, one more invaluable source of organic gardening advice. It is a great place to find both information and products. You can get great organic gardening advice on organic gardening forums and blogs, too. Check out Cornell University's website (www.gardening.cornell.edu) for organic gardening advice. They even offer an online class in organic gardening.
Cooperative Extension Office
These used to be called County Extension Offices, and were a branch of the US Department of Agriculture. Now the services are offered in cooperation with local universities; they are a wonderful source of organic gardening advice. If you can't find a telephone number or website for your local Cooperative Extension Office, check with the USDA. They keep a listing of all the offices in the country, and can help you find the Cooperative Extension office closest to you.
Parks and Recreation
Local parks and recreation departments often offer organic gardening advice. They often hold workshops and classes on organic gardening subjects from composting (with or without worms) to companion planting. These classes are taught by local experts, and you can make great gardening friends who can be one more excellent organic gardening advice source for you.
Friends and Family
Perhaps, you think that nobody from your family and friends knows anything about organic gardening, but you could be wrong. Ask around and you will almost certainly find friends, neighbors and family members who will give you organic gardening advice when you ask them for it.
Join lots of people who chose organic gardening, because it is fun, easy and beneficial for health and the environment. There are plenty of sources for organic gardening advice!
About the Author
For more information on Organic gardening advice check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Books
Books are that ideal source to begin with when you are looking for organic gardening advice. There are several good organic gardening advice books on the market. You could borrow them from the library or choose one or two that you want to own. Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening is a good, basic organic gardening book you might wish to buy.
Magazines
Special magazines on organic gardening will provide you with plenty of information you require. Some target specific types of organic gardening, such as raising organic vegetables or organic berry farming. Again, the library is a good place to start. Go through several organic gardening magazines, and choose one or two to subscribe to. You will be getting lots of up-to-date organic gardening advice on a regular basis.
The Internet
The Internet is, of course, one more invaluable source of organic gardening advice. It is a great place to find both information and products. You can get great organic gardening advice on organic gardening forums and blogs, too. Check out Cornell University's website (www.gardening.cornell.edu) for organic gardening advice. They even offer an online class in organic gardening.
Cooperative Extension Office
These used to be called County Extension Offices, and were a branch of the US Department of Agriculture. Now the services are offered in cooperation with local universities; they are a wonderful source of organic gardening advice. If you can't find a telephone number or website for your local Cooperative Extension Office, check with the USDA. They keep a listing of all the offices in the country, and can help you find the Cooperative Extension office closest to you.
Parks and Recreation
Local parks and recreation departments often offer organic gardening advice. They often hold workshops and classes on organic gardening subjects from composting (with or without worms) to companion planting. These classes are taught by local experts, and you can make great gardening friends who can be one more excellent organic gardening advice source for you.
Friends and Family
Perhaps, you think that nobody from your family and friends knows anything about organic gardening, but you could be wrong. Ask around and you will almost certainly find friends, neighbors and family members who will give you organic gardening advice when you ask them for it.
Join lots of people who chose organic gardening, because it is fun, easy and beneficial for health and the environment. There are plenty of sources for organic gardening advice!
About the Author
For more information on Organic gardening advice check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com.you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Choose Organic Flowers and Save the Environment by John Wishley
Growing organic flowers implies considerable reduction or complete eliminating the use of any chemicals. As a result, your flowers grow in an entirely environment-friendly way including naturally nourished soils and no chemical poisoning at all.
Although you may think that organic flowers are just types of fancy flowers, you should realize that chemicals you use for gardening are very harmful for nature and dangerous for people's health. The main problem with chemicals like pesticides is that they do not stay on soil; they drift and contaminate water supplies, gardens, homes and eventually, affect people's health.
The use of chemicals, especially pesticides, in gardening has always been associated with ozone depletion and the increase of cancer rate. For this reason, growing or buying organic flowers can help and support the environment as well as prevent serious health risks.
Planting organic flowers allow you to enjoy all aspects of gardening without any risk for environment or your own health. It encourages gardeners to use organic products and follow natural practices, like enriching the soil naturally. As a result, toxic chemicals causing disease and pollution are considerably reduced or eliminated.
If you like giving flowers to your loved ones choose organic flowers and support your farmers and organizations that practice organic farming. These organizations and farmers that grow organic products usually sell their items for humanitarian or charitable purposes.
Growing organic flowers on your own, you don't have to worry about toxic chemicals affecting your health. Mind that having no protection from harmful chemicals while gardening automatically allows toxic chemicals to spread onto your clothes and body, which in turn affects the health of children and other people close to you. Dermatitis, caused by chemicals is very common among gardeners and farmers who get affected by these chemicals in their planting process. Planting organic flowers can help you avoid the dermatitis on your hands.
If you care for the environment, you may want to switch from chemical gardening to planting organic flowers. Using toxic chemicals for gardening poisons the soil and groundwater. As the chemicals sink into the soil, the poisoned plants become part of the food chain, making it dangerous for small animals to eat. In addition, the chemicals you use evaporate into the air and become part of rain or snow.
Organic gardening deserves to be supported and promoted by increasing number of people. Not only it prevents the occurrence of serious health conditions, it also saves the environment from pollution. Organic flowers, costing the same as chemically grown flowers, are definitely a far better choice.
About the Author
For more information on Organic flowers check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Although you may think that organic flowers are just types of fancy flowers, you should realize that chemicals you use for gardening are very harmful for nature and dangerous for people's health. The main problem with chemicals like pesticides is that they do not stay on soil; they drift and contaminate water supplies, gardens, homes and eventually, affect people's health.
The use of chemicals, especially pesticides, in gardening has always been associated with ozone depletion and the increase of cancer rate. For this reason, growing or buying organic flowers can help and support the environment as well as prevent serious health risks.
Planting organic flowers allow you to enjoy all aspects of gardening without any risk for environment or your own health. It encourages gardeners to use organic products and follow natural practices, like enriching the soil naturally. As a result, toxic chemicals causing disease and pollution are considerably reduced or eliminated.
If you like giving flowers to your loved ones choose organic flowers and support your farmers and organizations that practice organic farming. These organizations and farmers that grow organic products usually sell their items for humanitarian or charitable purposes.
Growing organic flowers on your own, you don't have to worry about toxic chemicals affecting your health. Mind that having no protection from harmful chemicals while gardening automatically allows toxic chemicals to spread onto your clothes and body, which in turn affects the health of children and other people close to you. Dermatitis, caused by chemicals is very common among gardeners and farmers who get affected by these chemicals in their planting process. Planting organic flowers can help you avoid the dermatitis on your hands.
If you care for the environment, you may want to switch from chemical gardening to planting organic flowers. Using toxic chemicals for gardening poisons the soil and groundwater. As the chemicals sink into the soil, the poisoned plants become part of the food chain, making it dangerous for small animals to eat. In addition, the chemicals you use evaporate into the air and become part of rain or snow.
Organic gardening deserves to be supported and promoted by increasing number of people. Not only it prevents the occurrence of serious health conditions, it also saves the environment from pollution. Organic flowers, costing the same as chemically grown flowers, are definitely a far better choice.
About the Author
For more information on Organic flowers check out http://www.myorganicgardeningsecrets.com. you'll find answers to questions many others in your situation have asked before.For a limited time you can get your very own copy of our award winning Organic Gardening Software at absolutely no cost.
Are Organic Products Really That Much Better? by Cecilia Valenzuela
Most everyone has heard the term, "organic," but are these products really better for consumers?
Organic Products are defined by The Organic Trade Association, as a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. These foods or products have been processed very little without any artificial ingredients or preservatives, which more and more people are looking for.
Americans are becoming more and more environmentally aware these days and you likely have noticed that organic products are becoming more popular everywhere you seem to go.
The term organic also includes other items other than foods or organic products, such as personal care products like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and more that are also available in organic form. Organic products don't stop at foods, either. You can also purchase cosmetics, mattresses and even pet products that are considered organic.
Although there are a few laws that govern the personal care ingredients within personal care products, most personal care products are exempt from strict guidelines, so you really need to check the labeling to see what the ingredients are before choosing something that may not be all that beneficial.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) allows products that contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients to display the the organic label. Certainly, there are organic farms that exist here in Arizona, but one of the more popular organic farms is Shamrock Organic Farms. I don't know about you, but I personally believe that it can be quite confusing when looking for organic products.
Here's the USDA Definition of Organically Produced Organic Products Regulations and tips to help you decide if these products are right for you.
In order for products to be able to display the USDA Certified Organic seal, each product is required to contain 95 to 100 percent organic ingredients.
Products can be labeled 100 percent organic if they contain 100 percent of organic ingredients.
In order for an organic label to be displayed on a product, the item must contain at least 70 percent but less than 94 percent of organic ingredients to make the statement that organic ingredients make up the product. (These products cannot use the USDA Certified-Organic seal, however)
Stiff penalties as much as 10,000 dollars can result for any violators misusing these organic labels.
Farmers need to do their homework if they are to display an organic label. Farmers are required to document and prove that their products and farming operations actually comply with these USDA guidelines. In addition, farmers are required to submit their farming system plans along with their well documented records in order to remain compliant with the guidelines. Inspections are required on the farms and the farmers understand that they can have their goods inspected at any time.
The reasons why so many people are choosing organic food and organic products are probably the same set of reasons that people prefer organic in any other state or country.
More and more Americans are in agreement that organic food and products made without pesticides and fertilizers are the best thing for the future. Many consumers and environmentalists firmly believe that going organic isn't just about promoting better health. They also believe that organically grown food is good for the soil, the environment and certainly our children and others for many years to come.
Many people believe that eating organic foods is healthier because these products contain very little, if any, pesticides or chemicals that will harm you or your children.
Many people believe that choosing 100 percent organic products benefit consumers because these items do not contain any chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides or any growth hormones and antibiotics.
Many people will agree that by supporting organically grown products, we are doing our part for a healthier environment for everyone. Organic crops do not require any fertilizers because of the fact that they are rotated, which in turns replenishes the essential nutrients needed for healthier and more nutritious fruits and vegetables.
To know whether you are really purchasing something that is said to be organic, look for the organic certification. If you do not know the difference between organic and sustainable, you are not alone. It can be very confusing trying to decide whether or not food without pesticides are better.
Just keep in mind that, organic farms must be independently certified every year and then approved by the USDA, to be officially identified as an organic farm.
Organic products may not be a priority to some people, but there is one thing that cannot be disagreed upon. Fertilizers are not used with these products which is always a benefit when it comes to pollutants that enter our rivers, lakes and streams.
About the Author
Cecilia Valenzuela is a full time online entrepreneur and supporter of small businesses. Valenzuela supports other online business owners hoping to become successful, too. More information about organic products including resourceful information about the state of Arizona and the desert southwest is available at: http://www.my-arizona-desert-living.com/Organic-Products.html
Organic Products are defined by The Organic Trade Association, as a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. These foods or products have been processed very little without any artificial ingredients or preservatives, which more and more people are looking for.
Americans are becoming more and more environmentally aware these days and you likely have noticed that organic products are becoming more popular everywhere you seem to go.
The term organic also includes other items other than foods or organic products, such as personal care products like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and more that are also available in organic form. Organic products don't stop at foods, either. You can also purchase cosmetics, mattresses and even pet products that are considered organic.
Although there are a few laws that govern the personal care ingredients within personal care products, most personal care products are exempt from strict guidelines, so you really need to check the labeling to see what the ingredients are before choosing something that may not be all that beneficial.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) allows products that contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients to display the the organic label. Certainly, there are organic farms that exist here in Arizona, but one of the more popular organic farms is Shamrock Organic Farms. I don't know about you, but I personally believe that it can be quite confusing when looking for organic products.
Here's the USDA Definition of Organically Produced Organic Products Regulations and tips to help you decide if these products are right for you.
In order for products to be able to display the USDA Certified Organic seal, each product is required to contain 95 to 100 percent organic ingredients.
Products can be labeled 100 percent organic if they contain 100 percent of organic ingredients.
In order for an organic label to be displayed on a product, the item must contain at least 70 percent but less than 94 percent of organic ingredients to make the statement that organic ingredients make up the product. (These products cannot use the USDA Certified-Organic seal, however)
Stiff penalties as much as 10,000 dollars can result for any violators misusing these organic labels.
Farmers need to do their homework if they are to display an organic label. Farmers are required to document and prove that their products and farming operations actually comply with these USDA guidelines. In addition, farmers are required to submit their farming system plans along with their well documented records in order to remain compliant with the guidelines. Inspections are required on the farms and the farmers understand that they can have their goods inspected at any time.
The reasons why so many people are choosing organic food and organic products are probably the same set of reasons that people prefer organic in any other state or country.
More and more Americans are in agreement that organic food and products made without pesticides and fertilizers are the best thing for the future. Many consumers and environmentalists firmly believe that going organic isn't just about promoting better health. They also believe that organically grown food is good for the soil, the environment and certainly our children and others for many years to come.
Many people believe that eating organic foods is healthier because these products contain very little, if any, pesticides or chemicals that will harm you or your children.
Many people believe that choosing 100 percent organic products benefit consumers because these items do not contain any chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides or any growth hormones and antibiotics.
Many people will agree that by supporting organically grown products, we are doing our part for a healthier environment for everyone. Organic crops do not require any fertilizers because of the fact that they are rotated, which in turns replenishes the essential nutrients needed for healthier and more nutritious fruits and vegetables.
To know whether you are really purchasing something that is said to be organic, look for the organic certification. If you do not know the difference between organic and sustainable, you are not alone. It can be very confusing trying to decide whether or not food without pesticides are better.
Just keep in mind that, organic farms must be independently certified every year and then approved by the USDA, to be officially identified as an organic farm.
Organic products may not be a priority to some people, but there is one thing that cannot be disagreed upon. Fertilizers are not used with these products which is always a benefit when it comes to pollutants that enter our rivers, lakes and streams.
About the Author
Cecilia Valenzuela is a full time online entrepreneur and supporter of small businesses. Valenzuela supports other online business owners hoping to become successful, too. More information about organic products including resourceful information about the state of Arizona and the desert southwest is available at: http://www.my-arizona-desert-living.com/Organic-Products.html
Politics and "Organic" Partnership or Conflict by Linda Sones
A recent report from Mintel consumer, media and market research analysts has disclosed that ethical shopping has reached new heights with rising demand for organic and fair-trade products, and also many more shoppers recycling packaging. This growing trend reflects consumers concerns about global warming and the exploitation of developing countries.
In June 2007 representatives from the United Kingdom organic sector urged the Environment minister David Miliband not to allow organic food to be contaminated by genetically modified organisms. It is evident according to the Food and Drink Federations organic group that one of the main reasons consumers buy organic is to avoid eating food contaminated with G.M. The government is proposing to increase the threshold for G.M. contamination of organic food from 0.1% to 0.9%. This move is fiercely opposed by the Soil Association who argue that it is not economically sensible for the government to tamper with current regulations given that the organic market is one of the fastest growing areas of the U.K. economy. It has been confirmed by the Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers however that they would maintain the current non G.M. Standard of 0.1% whatever is decided by government. The government's stance is in line with the E.U. regulation recently adopted. Although G.M. companies were consulted by government it was reported that no direct contact was made with an organic business. Which might lead us to conclude that 'money' talks.
Whilst the organic food industry is growing fast the same can be said for the global market for organic cotton which is reported to be booming. Consumers are no longer simply eating organically they are wearing organic clothes, using personal care products and equipping bathrooms and bedrooms with textiles made from organic cotton. The fashion industry has an enormous impact on the environment in terms of textiles used; and it could be argued that it is very positive for ethical consumers that designers such as Katherine Hamnett and Stella McCartney are including organic cotton garments in their collections. There is now a greater choice of organic cotton clothes than ever before. At Sonesuk we have an exciting range of baby and children's clothes designed in the U.K. Organic cotton production is estimated to increase over the next three years as more farmers join existing projects and further planned projects reach fruition. Farming organic cotton is based on a system that maintains and enriches soil fertility without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified seeds. All of this is generally good news for consumers that are aware of both what they put into their bodies and what they clothe themselves and their children in. But we should be aware of strong market forces determined by profit and market domination seeking to pursue their own interests to the detriment of others.
About the Author
Owner of an online shop selling organic cotton baby and childrens clothes and pure and natural baby skincare
In June 2007 representatives from the United Kingdom organic sector urged the Environment minister David Miliband not to allow organic food to be contaminated by genetically modified organisms. It is evident according to the Food and Drink Federations organic group that one of the main reasons consumers buy organic is to avoid eating food contaminated with G.M. The government is proposing to increase the threshold for G.M. contamination of organic food from 0.1% to 0.9%. This move is fiercely opposed by the Soil Association who argue that it is not economically sensible for the government to tamper with current regulations given that the organic market is one of the fastest growing areas of the U.K. economy. It has been confirmed by the Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers however that they would maintain the current non G.M. Standard of 0.1% whatever is decided by government. The government's stance is in line with the E.U. regulation recently adopted. Although G.M. companies were consulted by government it was reported that no direct contact was made with an organic business. Which might lead us to conclude that 'money' talks.
Whilst the organic food industry is growing fast the same can be said for the global market for organic cotton which is reported to be booming. Consumers are no longer simply eating organically they are wearing organic clothes, using personal care products and equipping bathrooms and bedrooms with textiles made from organic cotton. The fashion industry has an enormous impact on the environment in terms of textiles used; and it could be argued that it is very positive for ethical consumers that designers such as Katherine Hamnett and Stella McCartney are including organic cotton garments in their collections. There is now a greater choice of organic cotton clothes than ever before. At Sonesuk we have an exciting range of baby and children's clothes designed in the U.K. Organic cotton production is estimated to increase over the next three years as more farmers join existing projects and further planned projects reach fruition. Farming organic cotton is based on a system that maintains and enriches soil fertility without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers and genetically modified seeds. All of this is generally good news for consumers that are aware of both what they put into their bodies and what they clothe themselves and their children in. But we should be aware of strong market forces determined by profit and market domination seeking to pursue their own interests to the detriment of others.
About the Author
Owner of an online shop selling organic cotton baby and childrens clothes and pure and natural baby skincare
The Rise In The Natural Organic Food Market by Mike Selvon
Natural organic food has become a staple in local health food stores and in most grocery stores. Almost all food stores now carry a special section of natural and organic food. Consumers are demanding more and more certified organic foods and this has put a strain on the market.
Sales are growing faster than any other segment of the food industry. Annual sales in the United States are topping anywhere from $16.3 billion to $29.7 billion.
Several reasons exist for both this increase in demand and the hinder of growth. If one understands these, a larger understanding exists of how the natural organic food market will help consumers.
Three reasons exist for the increase in sales of it, however, the main reason is quite simple. Obesity and heart disease are among the prevalent health related deaths of individuals.
A way to avoid both of these is to stay fit and healthy. Natural organic food offers individuals the choice of products lacking in toxins as well as far healthier foods than those previously available. It is for these reasons demand has increased dramatically.
With the increase of E coli, salmonella, and Listeria, people are becoming more aware of the food they put into their bodies. Consumers want to be healthy at all costs and natural organic food offers the assurance of no pesticides or toxins.
This assurance will decrease the amount of infections from occurring due to the lingering affect of chemicals.
One other reason people are choosing such food is because of the demand for environmentally friendly materials. Organic food products are not only free of toxins, but they are also packaged in "green" materials that can easily be recycled.
With the planet trying to take a stance on taking care of the environment, any type of material that can be recycled is a plus.
Even though several reasons exist why natural organic food is a plus, a few reasons do exist that seem to be hindering the growth of this type of market. In organic farming, labor shortages are a great setback.
Farmers are increasing the production of crops and livestock yet a shortage of qualified inspectors is on the rise. With limits in inspections a lack of consistent supply to the markets is starting to occur.
Since demand is increasing, a consistently short supply is the worst thing that could possibly happen to the natural organic food industry.
The market for natural organic food is definitely increasing. The revenue organic foods are generating is on the verge of breaking records. People are trying to become healthier and avoid sicknesses thus the demand for natural organic food is growing by the day.
However, organic farmers are slowly decreasing and effecting the supply of food. With an increase in certified inspectors and farmers once again returning to the fields, natural organic food demand and revenue will continue to rise.
About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further by reading more great natural organic food articles from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our organic food blog where a free gift awaits you.
Sales are growing faster than any other segment of the food industry. Annual sales in the United States are topping anywhere from $16.3 billion to $29.7 billion.
Several reasons exist for both this increase in demand and the hinder of growth. If one understands these, a larger understanding exists of how the natural organic food market will help consumers.
Three reasons exist for the increase in sales of it, however, the main reason is quite simple. Obesity and heart disease are among the prevalent health related deaths of individuals.
A way to avoid both of these is to stay fit and healthy. Natural organic food offers individuals the choice of products lacking in toxins as well as far healthier foods than those previously available. It is for these reasons demand has increased dramatically.
With the increase of E coli, salmonella, and Listeria, people are becoming more aware of the food they put into their bodies. Consumers want to be healthy at all costs and natural organic food offers the assurance of no pesticides or toxins.
This assurance will decrease the amount of infections from occurring due to the lingering affect of chemicals.
One other reason people are choosing such food is because of the demand for environmentally friendly materials. Organic food products are not only free of toxins, but they are also packaged in "green" materials that can easily be recycled.
With the planet trying to take a stance on taking care of the environment, any type of material that can be recycled is a plus.
Even though several reasons exist why natural organic food is a plus, a few reasons do exist that seem to be hindering the growth of this type of market. In organic farming, labor shortages are a great setback.
Farmers are increasing the production of crops and livestock yet a shortage of qualified inspectors is on the rise. With limits in inspections a lack of consistent supply to the markets is starting to occur.
Since demand is increasing, a consistently short supply is the worst thing that could possibly happen to the natural organic food industry.
The market for natural organic food is definitely increasing. The revenue organic foods are generating is on the verge of breaking records. People are trying to become healthier and avoid sicknesses thus the demand for natural organic food is growing by the day.
However, organic farmers are slowly decreasing and effecting the supply of food. With an increase in certified inspectors and farmers once again returning to the fields, natural organic food demand and revenue will continue to rise.
About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further by reading more great natural organic food articles from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our organic food blog where a free gift awaits you.
To be or not to Be Organic: That is the Question by Mike Selvon
Everywhere you look in a supermarket there are items marked "organic". There is a lot of confusion at exactly what determines an item is organic food.
As consumers become more and more health conscious, organic food has increased in popularity exponentially. The future will see more and more products being marketed as organic food.
Where are organic foods found?
Organic foods can be found all over the world. Many people can find organically grown produce at their local farmers market as well as grocery stores. Organic foods are marked with a special USDA sticker certifying that the product is organically grown. Other countries employ a similar governing agency to regulate the growing procedures of animals, vegetables and fruits.
Why is there such an explosion of organic foods in grocery stores?
With medical technology keeping us living longer, there has been a renaissance of finding foods that are good for us. That includes vegetables, tomatoes and animal products that are free from possibly dangerous pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics.
Do all farmers have to have USDA seal of approval to label their foods organic?
No. Only farmers seeking certification through the USDA have the right to label their foods organic. If a non-organic grower markets their product as organic, huge fines can be given.
How does the USDA determine what constitutes organic food?
There is actually a very complex method to determine if a farmer or co-op can market their foods as organic. A division of the United States Department of Agriculture analyzes the composition of the land, record keeping, and a documentation of any herbal or chemical pesticides used on the plant, vegetable, fruit or animal.
After passing the certification to label the farm as "organic" the farmer can then be free to use the USDA Organic seal on its produce.
What price do consumers pay for organic foods?
Organic foods are higher in price in grocery stores than those that are not. Farmers must make more per pound than their competitors due to losing more crops to outside forces than the conventional farmer will.
Do organic foods contain pesticides?
Organic foods do not contain any man-made pesticides. There are some growers who use natural chemicals found in plants and insects to protect their crops.
Why is there such a controversy over organic growing?
The controversies that have arisen involve food shortages and the toll organic farming takes on the land. With larger tracts of land being used, and less being produced due to loss, there is a shortage of available food or any surplus to be sent to countries in need of aid.
Another debate is the use of pesticides found naturally in nature. Organic farming forbids the use of man-made pesticides. Unfortunately the naturally occurring pesticides are not regulated or tested to determine if they have long term harmful effects.
About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further by reading more great organic food articles from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our organic cooking blog where a free gift awaits you.
As consumers become more and more health conscious, organic food has increased in popularity exponentially. The future will see more and more products being marketed as organic food.
Where are organic foods found?
Organic foods can be found all over the world. Many people can find organically grown produce at their local farmers market as well as grocery stores. Organic foods are marked with a special USDA sticker certifying that the product is organically grown. Other countries employ a similar governing agency to regulate the growing procedures of animals, vegetables and fruits.
Why is there such an explosion of organic foods in grocery stores?
With medical technology keeping us living longer, there has been a renaissance of finding foods that are good for us. That includes vegetables, tomatoes and animal products that are free from possibly dangerous pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics.
Do all farmers have to have USDA seal of approval to label their foods organic?
No. Only farmers seeking certification through the USDA have the right to label their foods organic. If a non-organic grower markets their product as organic, huge fines can be given.
How does the USDA determine what constitutes organic food?
There is actually a very complex method to determine if a farmer or co-op can market their foods as organic. A division of the United States Department of Agriculture analyzes the composition of the land, record keeping, and a documentation of any herbal or chemical pesticides used on the plant, vegetable, fruit or animal.
After passing the certification to label the farm as "organic" the farmer can then be free to use the USDA Organic seal on its produce.
What price do consumers pay for organic foods?
Organic foods are higher in price in grocery stores than those that are not. Farmers must make more per pound than their competitors due to losing more crops to outside forces than the conventional farmer will.
Do organic foods contain pesticides?
Organic foods do not contain any man-made pesticides. There are some growers who use natural chemicals found in plants and insects to protect their crops.
Why is there such a controversy over organic growing?
The controversies that have arisen involve food shortages and the toll organic farming takes on the land. With larger tracts of land being used, and less being produced due to loss, there is a shortage of available food or any surplus to be sent to countries in need of aid.
Another debate is the use of pesticides found naturally in nature. Organic farming forbids the use of man-made pesticides. Unfortunately the naturally occurring pesticides are not regulated or tested to determine if they have long term harmful effects.
About the Author
Enrich your knowledge further by reading more great organic food articles from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our organic cooking blog where a free gift awaits you.
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