Friday, June 29, 2012

Ten Reasons to Choose Organic


At times it seems that choosing organic isn’t always the easiest option especially when we are surrounded by an abundance of choices at the supermarket. The following list provides some health, economic and environmental reasons to choose organic and inspire us to make better choices now for ourselves, the environment and for future generations.

1.    We avoid chemical pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides and livestock additives such as steroids and antibiotics when we choose organic. Trace amounts of these chemicals are ingested or absorbed into our bodies when we use non-organic products, the cumulative effect of these chemicals can have a deleterious effect on our long-term health and may contribute to the increased incidence of chronic diseases in modern society.

2.    Choosing organic we are naturally avoiding genetically modified foods, many of which have unspecified effects on our health and the health of the environment. The potential negative effects of GM farming include the growth of ‘superweeds’, the killing of beneficial pest species and the creation of new viral diseases.

3.    Organic farming practices are more beneficial for the environment, using techniques such as crop rotation, biological pest control and irrigation management which reduces issues such as soil erosion.

4.    Because organic foods and products are grown in naturally fertilised soils and often have a longer growing period, the nutritional, medicinal and therapeutic value of organics are far greater than those grown rapidly with chemical fertilisers.

5.    Taste! Yes, many organic foods taste much better than foods grown conventionally and then kept in cold storage for months. Unlike many conventional products, organic foods and products are vital, vibrant and alive and many of us can sense, feel and taste it too.

6.    Although on the surface, choosing organic often seems more expensive, long term, buying organic is actually much more economical. When choosing organic you often avoid many of the hidden costs associated with pesticide regulation, hazardous waste disposal and environmental damage associated with conventional industry.

7.    Pesticides used in conventional agriculture can have some dramatic effects on aquatic life and the ecology; organic farming significantly reduces the amount of chemical runoff and residues which are currently going into our drinking water, waterways and coastal areas.

8.    Save energy with choosing organic; there is a significant amount of energy expended by conventional farming practices with the manufacture of synthetic fertilisers and mass production. Organic farming is often still labour based, with many labour intensive practices such as hand weeding, green manure and crop covers which use time tested methods that consume fewer fossil fuels.

9.    Protect future generations: the average child is said to receive four times more exposure than an adult when consuming foods treated with common pesticides. Also, choosing organic for our children means avoiding food additives, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives that may contribute to learning or behavioural difficulties.

10.           Local farmers markets are the perfect place to choose organic, this gives us an opportunity to learn more about the organic food or product that we are purchasing, we learn about where it has come from and thus have a greater connection to its origins.


Follow Down To Earth Organics on Twitter @dteorganics where you can find out about local farmers markets and other community events where you can find local, natural and organic produce all around Australia.

Choose natural, choose organic, choose local.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Ten Reasons to Choose Organic


At times it seems that choosing organic isn’t always the easiest option especially when we are surrounded by an abundance of choices at the supermarket. The following list provides some health, economic and environmental reasons to choose organic and inspire us to make better choices now for ourselves, the environment and for future generations.

1.    We avoid chemical pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides and livestock additives such as steroids and antibiotics when we choose organic. Trace amounts of these chemicals are ingested or absorbed into our bodies when we use non-organic products, the cumulative effect of these chemicals can have a deleterious effect on our long-term health and may contribute to the increased incidence of chronic diseases in modern society.

2.    Choosing organic we are naturally avoiding genetically modified foods, many of which have unspecified effects on our health and the health of the environment. The potential negative effects of GM farming include the growth of ‘superweeds’, the killing of beneficial pest species and the creation of new viral diseases.

3.    Organic farming practices are more beneficial for the environment, using techniques such as crop rotation, biological pest control and irrigation management which reduces issues such as soil erosion.

4.    Because organic foods and products are grown in naturally fertilised soils and often have a longer growing period, the nutritional, medicinal and therapeutic value of organics are far greater than those grown rapidly with chemical fertilisers.

5.    Taste! Yes, many organic foods taste much better than foods grown conventionally and then kept in cold storage for months. Unlike many conventional products, organic foods and products are vital, vibrant and alive and many of us can sense, feel and taste it too.

6.    Although on the surface, choosing organic often seems more expensive, long term, buying organic is actually much more economical. When choosing organic you often avoid many of the hidden costs associated with pesticide regulation, hazardous waste disposal and environmental damage associated with conventional industry.

7.    Pesticides used in conventional agriculture can have some dramatic effects on aquatic life and the ecology; organic farming significantly reduces the amount of chemical runoff and residues which are currently going into our drinking water, waterways and coastal areas.

8.    Save energy with choosing organic; there is a significant amount of energy expended by conventional farming practices with the manufacture of synthetic fertilisers and mass production. Organic farming is often still labour based, with many labour intensive practices such as hand weeding, green manure and crop covers which use time tested methods that consume fewer fossil fuels.

9.    Protect future generations: the average child is said to receive four times more exposure than an adult when consuming foods treated with common pesticides. Also, choosing organic for our children means avoiding food additives, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives that may contribute to learning or behavioural difficulties.

10.           Local farmers markets are the perfect place to choose organic, this gives us an opportunity to learn more about the organic food or product that we are purchasing, we learn about where it has come from and thus have a greater connection to its origins.


Follow Down To Earth Organics on Twitter @dteorganics where you can find out about local farmers markets and other community events where you can find local, natural and organic produce all around Australia.

Choose natural, choose organic, choose local.