Comments on: organic food or 400 extra sq. feet

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:40:56 +0000

I also wanted to add, if you are in search of organic items…our Big Lots is an excellent resource. We have found everything there from bread to noodles, kids snacks, cereal, and everything in between. All name brands at closeout prices Our Big Lots has been a great resource to get organic things at a price we can afford.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:27:58 +0000

Lauren–Have you ever read “Diet for a Small Planet?” (I’m sure you have a lot of time for reading!). In Lexington, you just can’t get everything local and/or organic. One thing that is great to do for the environment and humanity in general is to reduce or eliminate the amount of meat in your diet. Of course, I’m vegetarian, so I’m biased. But the “Diet for a Small Planet” explains how the American meat obsession is really at the expense of all of the hungry people across the world…for example, it takes 16lbs of grain to produce 1lb of beef and that 16lbs of grain could otherwise feed a lot of humans. In addition to the health and environmental benefits of local and organic food, meatless diets are a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and share our bounty with the world!

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:51:53 +0000

Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely check out those two books… thanks for the recommendations.

Also, thanks pointing out the need to buy locally. All organic food isn’t necessarily local… and vice versa. I think the most important thing is to make decisions based on information… which many people cannot get, or don’t go after.

Awesome dialog!

By: Miranda Woodall

Miranda Woodall — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:25:03 +0000

I came across an artlicle one time that compared the average American’s cost on food to their cost on health care. As you would expect, typically, the less a family spent on food, the more on health care, and visa versa. I took this to be my justification for spending a little more on organic. They are also doing some crazy things to food these days, like irradation, and modifying genes. Something just isn’t right about it!
Check out “Nourishing Traditions” by Sally Fallon.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:02:35 +0000

Yeah, Lauren! I think people would be so much healthier if they chose organic when they can for their children. Or, at least research more about what they are eating! It is amazing! Right now, in our financial position, we don’t have the luxury to eat organic all the time, but we do try to in the things that really matter. But, I think even if you can’t do organic on everything, there are still wiser choices that can be made than just the junk that is cheapest.

And, a nice tip for those milk drinkers out there. My dad has worked in the dairy industry for 30 years (the corporate side). His company, Deanfoods, has farmers that provide milk not only for themselves but other brands like Kroger, and Purity, etc… Even without being the expensive “organic” brand, all of their farmers have pledged a commitment to hormone/antibiotic free cows and milk. They are checked on regularly etc… So, for us, it is financially impossible to keep my kids drinking organic milk exclusively, but I can feel better about giving them even Kroger brand. So, some things are not all bad. But, it takes the time for research.

The other option is joining a local CSA. We have a lot around here. It is community supported agriculture and most of the farmers commit to organic only produce. Here, you join for 15 weeks in the summer for about $320 and you get a huge basket every week to feed a family of 4! There are different veggies & fruits & flowers each week depending on the growing season for the summer, but that is pretty cheap for organic, local produce. Check it out where you live! Or visit a local dairy for a real treat!

Yeah for organic!

By: Jeanmarie Rouhier

Jeanmarie Rouhier — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:48:43 +0000

Actually, I object to the term “conventional” food for food that is clearly non-conventional, in that it is industrial and not how we should be growing our food.

But other than that I agree. I spoke to a person writing a diss. at UK a few years about about how the US spends less of a percentage of salary on food than any other country. As a result, we don’t think about the quality and are not as picky as we might be. I too will spend more to get good, honest, local food, as far as possible.

But given that much organic is not local, that is also a dilemma, because the transport costs and emissions are certainly not green.

And ultimately, even if not organic, natural, whole foods are better than the crap sold by most food processing companies. It is hard to outthink the food marketers, but we should, if we expect them to change and get with the more wholesome program. Have you read In Defense of Food?