January 11th, 2010

organic agriculture

organic agriculture

Organic food is expensive

Unfortunately, when retailers are charging artificially high prices. I was in Tesco the week passing that it is rare that I shop locally whenever possible, and I almost died when I saw the prices charged for organic yogurt and eggs compared to non-organic marks. I understand that we pay more for organic produce because there are more crop failures due to the fact that farmers can not use pesticides, but what is an acceptable percentage and does vary from product to product.

Should organic fish be 10 percent more expensive than non organic fish and 20 percent vegetables, etc? If we have to pay more for crop failures how does this work with processed food that uses less fresh produce and volumes highest? If we still have to pay a premium or are just jumping the bandwagon and make us pay higher prices? At present most of the organics are too high to be affordable to most people. Moreover, many argue that there is insufficient evidence to support the benefits of eating organic foods to justify the additional cost. For example, its difficult to quantify, can organic potatoes 10% better for us, should we then pay an extra 10% in the price? or are we paying for a lifestyle? Is not this the same as any branded clothes, toiletries, cars? We could buy cheaper clothes, toiletires or cars as they all do the same as those of more expensive brand but chose it because it makes us feel better, and because of the pressure and publicity.

Organic Security Food and Benefits

There is evidence that organic farms are more sustainable and environmentally sound, among other benefits. These assertions, however, subject to dispute and are not resolved among scientists.

Another contentious issue surrounding organic produce is the fact that almost 70 per percent of products sold in UK supermarkets is imported, generating thousands of food miles to reach its destination and causing damage to the environment.

Often organic food produced in England is sent from one side of the country in a distribution depot on the other side, only to be sent back to the supermarket again. A supermarket has run a pilot where the farmer and his tractor deliver organic produce direct to the supermarket. Now that is progress!

Organic foods do not contain pesticides of varying amount. Many toxicologists and scientists consider the amount to be as low as to have no effect on the consumer. For example, the past has fallen ill due to chemicals in food? I doubt it! Only those who have a allergic reaction or eating large quantities of food it can. The food is not allowed to be sold by law that is unsafe.

In today's society, is virtually impossible to grow crops freely and even pestivide organic foods are not meant to be completely free of chemical residues. Presticides are performed in the air and rivers. No GM crops around the world have been found to contain genetically modified plants, how are you have been in the air of GM farms miles away.

Organic food has "sold"

Organic food began as a small movement decades ago with the gardeners and farmers rejecting the use of conventional non organic practices. With the growth of organic food market now outpacing much part of the food industry many big companies have moved into this market. With these large often multi national companies, and the creation of a framework for legal certification, as Assocaiton land, there is fear that the very definition of organic food will change from what used to be and become another Mass production of the brand over time, be replaced by another emerging sector.

For example, Heinz is producing an organic version of beans baked and has different ingredients and packaging, which uses 100% certified organic vine ripened tomatoes. The label will also reflect an organic quality - with Heinz traditional red label replaced with a green version. Another difference: the organic version will cost about 50% more than regular Heinz. Does the vine certified organic ripened tomatoes cost 50 percent more to buy when you buy in bulk, I doubt it!

By keeping small that we are not keeping is beautiful and under control?

A final thought ... ... Organic is more than a brand, it's a lifestyle!

Organic, traditional farming compared in Rodale Institute study


The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture (Culture of the Land)
The Soil and Health: A Study of Organic Agriculture (Culture of the Land)
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Description

The Soil and Health was published in 1945, just before agricultural corporations surged to global proportions. Sir Albert Howard's work is a major inspiration to the growing organic and sustainable farming movement and a thought-provoking reminder of a road not taken in developing mainstream agriculture during the past half-century. The central tenet of Howard's philosophy is that healthy soil, vegetation, animals, and humans are connected and that undernourishment of soil is the source of modern agricultural and health problems. In Howard's estimation, heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers will ultimately lead to widespread disease and destruction of vibrant communities. As the environmental and social consequences of industrial farming are being hotly debated, The Soil and Health remains vital to understanding what is at stake in the battle between chemical and organic farming.

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  • ISBN13: 9780813191713
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The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Finances, Crops, and  Staff-and Making a  Profit
The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Finances, Crops, and Staff-and Making a Profit
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Contrary to popular belief, a good living can be made on an organic farm. What's required is farming smarter, not harder.In The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook, Richard Wiswall shares advice on how to make your vegetable production more efficient, better manage your employees and finances, and turn a profit. From his twenty-seven years of experience at Cate Farm in Vermont, Wiswall knows firsthand the joys of starting and operating an organic farm-as well as the challenges of making a living from one. Farming offers fundamental satisfaction from producing food, working outdoors, being one's own boss, and working intimately with nature. But, unfortunately, many farmers avoid learning about the business end of farming; because of this, they often work harder than they need to, or quit farming altogether because of frustrating-and often avoidable-losses.In this comprehensive business kit, Wiswall covers:Step-by-step procedures to make your crop production more efficientAdvice on managing employees, farm operations, and office systemsNovel marketing strategiesWhat to do with your profits: business spending, investing, and planning for retirementA companion CD offers valuable business tools, including easy-to-use spreadsheets for projecting cash flow, a payroll calculator, comprehensive crop budgets for twenty-four different crops, and tax planners.

Organic Gardening (2-year)
Organic Gardening (2-year)
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Since 1942, Organic Gardening has been delivering well-researched, practical and timely information and useful products and services. As the essential resource for any gardener, it provides current and authoritative information, with a focus on making the process of gardening fun and easy.

Who Reads Organic Gardening Magazine? Organic Gardening readers are women and men who enjoy growing and eating the freshest food, want a yard that is beautiful year-round yet safe for people, pets and wildlife, and take deep satisfaction from working in harmony with nature. They rely on Organic Gardening for well-researched, in-depth reporting on the best plants to grow in their conditions, the most effective pest and weed control strategies, tips and techniques for keeping plants healthy, plus ideas for sustainable living indoors and out. What You Can Expect in Each Issue: Food: We evaluate new and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and all your favorite vegetables in our nationwide network of test gardens. And we bring you the latest research on how to grow them to the peak of flavor. Each issue also includes hints on serving them simply to show off their homegrown goodness. Landscaping: A well-maintained property enhances your home’s value and gives you a comfortable space where you can relax with family and friends. We show you how to create a yard that is filled with color and interest in all four seasons, with details on the flowers, shrubs and trees that demand little care and deliver big impact. And we offer expert suggestions for giving your yard that “designed by a pro” look. Pest and Weed Control: Toxic pesticides and weedkillers not only harm wildlife and poison our fresh water supply, they threaten the health of people and pets. Organic Gardening readers get solutions that are proven to work, but safe for all living things. Soil: The secret to success in gardening is right below your feet. Organic Gardening is the only magazine that gives its readers information they can use to build the most fertile, well-balanced and healthy soil possible. Plus, find out how easy and rewarding composting can be. Feature Articles: Test Garden Report: Each season, we grow the newest varieties in 12 locations around the country and name those that deserve space in your vegetable beds this year. We also try out tools and other gear, and highlight the products worth your money. Complete Beginner’s Guide: Everything you need to know to succeed in your first season. From how to set up your first bed to what to plant to where to shop, we take you by the hand and help you make the smartest choices. Even old hands will learn a new trick or two. Kitchen Garden Plan: Transform an ordinary vegetable bed into a practical yet attractive potager. Includes recommendations on the best crops to grow and how to plant them to help you enjoy fresh, homegrown food every day, all season long. The Time-Strapped Gardener: Hundreds of tested tips on how to get more food, beauty and pleasure from your garden, in just minutes a day. Tomatoes for Every Space: No matter how big or small your plot, we give you the varieties and strategies for growing your biggest and best harvest of tomatoes ever. Best Tasting Harvest: Get the most flavor from everything you grow with small but significant changes that make all the difference between “ah” and “blah.” Organic Roses: Yes, you can enjoy these most beautiful and fragrant of flowers without relying on noxious chemicals to protect them. An expert shares his most dependable varieties and his hints for keeping them healthy in even the worst conditions. Plant Now, Eat in Fall: Keep enjoying homegrown food even as the weather changes with this plan for summer planting and autumn harvesting. Drought Busters: Meet the tough flowers that thrive when the heat is on and the soil is parched. Four-Season Sensations: Trees and shrubs that are attractive and low-maintenance year-round and that attract colorful birds to your yard. Past Issues:

Green Careers: Sustainable Agriculture
Green Careers: Sustainable Agriculture
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Green Light Organic Neem Concentrate - Pint 17016
Green Light Organic Neem Concentrate - Pint 17016
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Description

3 products in 1, insecticide, fungicide, and miticide. For use on flowers, trees, ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Kills insects and mites by suffocation and repels many pests. May be used up until the day of harvest on vegetables. Shields to prevent the germination and penetration of fungal spores on leaf surfaces. Pint concentrate bottle.

Features

  • Organic neem concentrate
  • 3 Products in 1 - insecticide, fungicide, and miticide
  • Shields plants from fungal spores
  • Repels mites as well as most pests
  • May be used up until the day of harvest
Farming Forward
Farming Forward
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Farming Forward is a positive and inspiring look at sustainable farming in Minnesota. Directed by Martin Lang and Ethan Marxhausen in collaboration with the Sustainable Farming Association of MN, this new documentary paints an intimate portrait of the state's burgeoning diversity of small family farms, from the rural to the urban, from multi-generational farms to new immigrant operations, from organic to local (or both!) and every point in between.  Meet the people, young and old, from interns  to elders, who grow your food and are passionate about reestablishing the links between people, the land and their food.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Secret of Success, Off the Beaten Path with Sharon Letts, Innovation in organic agriculture and wildlike preservation
Secret of Success, Off the Beaten Path with Sharon Letts, Innovation in organic agriculture and wildlike preservation
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Seattle's Best Coffee Company Products - Best Blend Coffee, Breakfast Blend, 2 oz., 18/BX - Sold as 1 BX - Breakfast Blend Coffee is light-bodied and light-roasted. Offers a rich, full flavor from blending. Beans come from shade-grown organic plantations in Costa Rica, Sumatra, Guatemala and Peru. This coffee is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and roasted at a certified organic f
Seattle's Best Coffee Company Products - Best Blend Coffee, Breakfast Blend, 2 oz., 18/BX - Sold as 1 BX - Breakfast Blend Coffee is light-bodied and light-roasted. Offers a rich, full flavor from blending. Beans come from shade-grown organic plantations in Costa Rica, Sumatra, Guatemala and Peru. This coffee is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and roasted at a certified organic f
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Seattle's Best Coffee Company Products - Best Blend Coffee, Breakfast Blend, 2 oz., 18/BX - Sold as 1 BXBreakfast Blend Coffee is light-bodied and light-roasted. Offers a rich, full flavor from blending. Beans come from shade-grown organic plantations in Costa Rica, Sumatra, Guatemala and Peru. This coffee is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and roasted at a certified organic facility. Breakfast Blend is certified organic by Washington State Department of Agriculture. Sold as 1 BXManufacturer: Seattle's Best Coffee CompanyTotal percentage of recycled content: 0Post Consumer Waste: 0Country of origin: US

Features

  • Sold as 1 BX
  • Manufacturer: Seattle's Best Coffee Company
  • Total percentage of recycled content: 0
  • Post Consumer Waste: 0
  • Country of origin: US
The Organic Farming Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Running a Certified Organic Farm
The Organic Farming Manual: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Running a Certified Organic Farm
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Description

As the organic food market continues to expand, so too do the opportunities for small farmers. For the farmer, the benefits ofrunning an organic operation are great. Organic farms conserve nonrenewable resources, offer better conditions for farm animals, produce high-demand goods, and boost farm income. As the organic food market continues to expand, so do the opportunities for small farmers. The Organic Farming Manual is a comprehensive guide to growing, certifying, and marketing organic produce, grains, meat, and dairy. Beginning farmers committed to launching an organic operation and experienced farmers hoping to transition from traditional farming techniques will find all the information they need. The organic certification process is lengthy and demanding, but author Ann Larkin Hansen clarifies every USDA requirement and offers complete advice on selecting equipment, tending the land, caring for animals, and marketing farm products.Readers will also find profiles of successful organic farmers throughout the book. Their experiences provide inspiration and valuable tips for first-time farmers looking for real success stories. Hansen’s thorough coverage of the subject and the positive words of established growers will set countless farmers on a healthful, organic path.

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  • ISBN13: 9781603424806
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Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe
Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe
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Description

Rodale was founded on the belief that organic gardening is the key to better health both for us and for the planet, and never has this message been more urgent. Now Maria Rodale, chairman of Rodale, sheds new light on the state of 21st century farming. She examines the unholy alliances that have formed between the chemical companies that produce fertilizer and genetically altered seeds, the agricultural educational system that is virtually subsidized by those same companies, and the government agencies in thrall to powerful lobbyists, all of which perpetuate dangerous farming practices and deliberate misconceptions about organic farming and foods. Interviews with government officials, doctors, scientists, and farmers from coast to coast bolster her position that chemical-free farming may be the single most effective tool we have to protect our environment and, even more important, our health. 

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