And I would walk 300 miles...

Which should we use? Organic or natural, local or organic, it is one of the soap boxes I will always stand on and spout my opinion on what I believe is true, and right.

Organic... A common compliant, and one of my own, is that organic foods are too expensive and the cost doesn't seem real. Most of us do not know how much we are already paying for the "inexpensive" conventional foods, and this is before we have even walked into a super market. But when I break it down on how much the "inexpensive" foods cost here is kind of what it looks like.

Agricultural fuel paid by our taxes, 22 billion
Direct farm bill subsidies for corn and wheat 3 billion
Treatment of food related illness 10 billion
Agriculture chemical clean up cost 17 billion
Collateral cost of pesticides use 8 billion
Cost of nutrients lost to erosion 20 billion
Equals to about 80 BILLION

80 billion equals to about $725 per household each year. That sticker price buys our "inexpensive" foods.

But why organic then? Organic practices build rather than destroy or deplete the soil by using manure and cover crops. They don't use pesticides and herbicides, instead using biological pest controls and a little old fashion weed pulling here and there. Have a bevy of different crops, and manage and rotate them from year to year.

But organic doesn't rally jive with me as well all the time. What does blow my skirt up is local. Knowing where the farm is, what he grows having that ability to see the stock and the vine. To have a relationship how food is raised and grown.

We as a society are fast to mock and belittle people who need a hand out or help, but these same people are buying products from farmers in far away countries. Knowing or not maybe even not knowing that there'd is a farmer who grows corn tomatoes less than 50 miles from you. Buying local is key to helping us all during this time of economic hardship. Crud oil is expensive, so we are going to pay more for vegetables that are flown and have jet lag? Or maybe spend an extra moment and find a tomato in season, give the farmer the money in his hand personally, and in return he will buy locally, sell to a local restaurant, or eat at one

Here is my challenge for the rest of the month I am going to eat only what is around me, from farms with in 300 miles of me. Helping a bit at a time to stimulate the local economy, reduce my carbon foot print, and eat really good food grown locally!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad