Choose (and grow) organic food. You’ll be setting out on a wonderful, creative learning adventure that will benefit you and your family in all sorts of different ways.
You’ll be adopting what they call ‘The Precautionary Principle’. In essence that means: you’re not going to do something that might result in a health risk for you and your family. Something which might also damage your environment. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers do cause harm. Many people believe it is far better not to take the risk and in order to safeguard their own health – they’re growing their own fruit and vegetables or buying organic products. In choosing these products – you’ll be supporting organic farmers too.
How do you know which foods are organic? Well, if you’re buying food in – look for products with Organic Certification. Labels will vary according to countries of origin – but a good place to start learning about this one is the Soil Association site. The Soil Association symbol is well-known in the U.K for example and can be seen on a wide range of organic products – everything from beer to coffee. Other countries have their own certification systems. For a global perspective on certification check out Helium’s very own ‘Certified Organic Zone’ put together by Helium writer Karyn Sparks.
The Soil Association highlights “Five Reasons to Choose Organic” and tells us that in order to produce one tonne of nitrogen based fertiliser – ‘one tonne of oil, seven tonnes of greenhouse gasses and one hundred tonnes of water’ are needed. So it’s important to eat organic to reduce our carbon emissions and to save resources too.
Choosing to grow your own organically in your own backyard (or community kitchen garden) has even more benefits. You’ll be blown over by the taste of the fruit and vegetables you grow organically yourself. Armed with the right information about modern, labour saving techniques like ‘No Dig’ gardening and seasonal tips from organisations like ‘Garden Organic’ you’ll soon be up and running with an organic kitchen garden.
Growing your own organic food (and eating it!) means fresh air and exercise for you and your family. Community gardens also strengthen cohesion in our neighbourhoods – they’re a prevention strategy against obesity. Organic vegetable gardening brings you peace of mind and increases and safeguards bio-diversity. Composting and wildlife protection are cornerstones of organic philosophies.
