We're overdue for a collective shift toward a more                    just, cooperative and ecologically sustainable culture.  

                                      If not now, when?

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                        * Good Food Basics *

      I think we all hope that our food comes from clean, natural sources, like the idyllic, traditional farm scenes we see on so many food labels  .... picturesque family farms with a sensible mix of fields and pastureland, livestock and crops.

  

Unfortunately, a great deal of our food comes from factory farms that confine animals in crowded, unhealthy and inhumane conditions.

Much of our grains, fruits and vegetables come from industrial-size farms which rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Many staples, such as corn, sugar and soybeans are genetically modified.

Short of knowing the farmers who grow your food, buying and preparing certified organic foods is really the only way to ensure that what you're  eating is safe and healthy. Unfortunately not all of us can afford the typically higher price tag on organics.


               Going Organic Without Going Broke

    

  * Join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. These are farms that sell shares of their harvest to near-by residents, typically for around $300  to $600 per year. In return, members get a weekly assortment of the farm's produce. Find your closet CSA at www.localharvest.org

* Shop at farmers markets. Here you can meet the farmers and ask them about pesticide use and other practices. Some farmers don't use pesticides but haven't gone to the expense of obtaining official organic certification. Find a nearby farmers market at www.localharvest.org

* Visit pick-your-own organic farms during the growing season and freeze or otherwise store foods for use later in the year.

* Grow your own. A garden is a great way...(to get in touch with)...the origins of our food and instill a sense of thankfulness for all the bounty the earth provides.


           

* Buy frozen organic fruits and vegetables - but check the country of origin. A lot of frozen produce, organic or otherwise, is grown in Mexico, Ecuador, China, and elsewhere. Not only is it difficult to verify organic standards overseas, shipping consumes fossil fuels and generates green house gases.

* Buy organic versions of the fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated with pesticides. As a general rule, these include soft-sided fruits and leafy greens. 

                         - from the National Geographic book "Green Guide Families"       


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