3.13.2010

Shifting Towards Organic

Not so long ago, my only focus at the grocery store was that final total I had to hand over to the cashier. What a rush, to get a cart full of all kinds of canned/frozen/prepackaged foods, hand over a fistful of coupons and tally up the loss leaders, and walk out spending a pittance. I never really gave the actual cost of these kinds of foods a thought.

Like long-term. High fructose corn syrup (or any corn syrups, for that matter) and their relationship with diabetes and obesity.

Antibiotics in dairy and their connection with resistant super-bugs, like MRSA, C. diff, and the newest baddie, VRE. Do you think it's a coincidence?

What about the ethical treatment of animals argument? I'm not quite ready for any paint-throwing, but it's worth it to me to spend $2.25 a dozen on eggs I buy from a farmer, especially since I can see his chickens scratching and pecking in their roomy coop. Reading how chickens that give us grocery store eggs are forced to live makes me ill.

So this week we've started taking some steps towards organic.

1.) We're joining with other like-minded locals and forming a CSA, the Miami River Foods Project. Last Sunday evening they held a meeting at a local coffeehouse and we discussed what we can do to get off the ground. I love that we're rewarding local farmers for doing things the right way - local, sustainable, ethical. I love that my cheese won't have rBGH. My fruits won't be imported from California. That I'm playing a role in the upkeep of my local community while feeding myself and my family healthy foods.

2.) We've also signed up for the Happy Box, a produce CSA out of Fulton Farms. I'm really excited to see what's brought to our door in the Locavore box - believe it or not, there was some produce on the list that this "weekend foodie" didn't recognize, like tat soi. $20 a week for 10-15 lbs of local, fresh, organic produce? That doesn't sound so spendthrift, does it?

3.) And tomorrow's project, making a garbage can compost bin. I'm really excited about this! Every year Yasar grows the most delicious, beautiful tomatoes...using Miracle Grow. We've got to be able to do something comparable using scraps from our kitchen instead of chemicals.

One thing I find myself pondering lately is how "frugal" and "eco-friendly" often dovetail with each other.

So that's what's going on in our home this last week. We're switching gears from "cheap" to "organic". It's a process, to be sure, and we don't expect it to happen all at once. But once you've been informed, it's hard to look at that grocery cart full of processed foods without forking the sign of the Evil Eye at it!

Something I wanted to add quick - I've just received membership to the National Consumer Panel and brought my scanner home yesterday. I'd originally applied to Homescan for the cool prizes, but now, after watching the DVD and really understanding how it works, it's more important to have my voice heard - the voice of someone not spending money on chemicals, additives, and antibiotics. It's an opportunity to let food manufacturers know that quality is important, despite the additional costs involved. Yes, I'm forfeiting my privacy. But to me, it seems to be worth it.

7 comments:

  1. Oh goodness, girlfriend! You have GOT to go w/me to the Old Order German Baptist farm stores!!!!!!!!! I only spend $1.50 on my brown eggs!!!!!!!!! $3.50 for the milk.

    Let me know when you want to go. I usually try to make 'the rounds' when I go...1st to Stoney Creek - the 'scratch n dent' discount grocery store, 2nd the egg/milk farm, 3rd to the Flour Barrel - the bulk food store for baking goods, noodles/pasta, sweeteners, herbs/spices, tea, etc.

    Let's make a date! You'll enjoy the country drive, too.

    Blessings, Kim<><

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  2. I love it! I'm all about organic dairy and meat products, especially. And I've always wanted to do a veggie box- maybe when dh starts working full-time. Luckily, we live next door to an organic market and most of their stuff is local. Can't wait to hear about some of the beautiful meals you create with those beautiful veggies. Have I told you about peasandthankyou.com? She always has yummy recipes to share.

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  3. I am with you on this one. I agree with going organic where we can.
    Also with the free range chickens and other animals. You pay more but it's the kindest way to treat animals. (even those we eat)

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  4. Welcome to the world of organic! lol I've been buying mostly organic for a long time now. You can save even more money going organic if you also go vegan, but that's quite a big step to take. ;-)

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  5. Organic is great!!! we grown 90% of our own veggies and grown or shoot 95% of our own meat. Just use the grocery for snacky stuff when I don't have time to make homemade versions, and we use the grocery for fruits when they aren't in season locally. You're going to love it!!! It makes you feel so good.

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  6. Thanks for the shout out about the Miami River Foods Project, Emily! It's great to have you! I hope we can all work together to make it easier for our families (and others!) to eat food that's healthy, local, and fair.

    And I'm totally going to visit the Stoney Creek Market. Thanks, Kim!

    Jake

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  7. Since Kyndra was born we eat more natural and organic foods. I will say it's been a struggle to get my husband to accept some things but he's doing great! We always buy organic milk and get as much organic food for Kyndra as we can. I try to get as much antibiotic, hormone, whatever else-free stuff as possible.

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