May 2nd, 2010

organic fruit and veg

Fruit and Vegetable Decomposition, Time-lapse


Should I Buy Organic Or Local Food

Again, I find myself torn apart with choices when deciding which is the most ethical, eco friendly and/or healthy option when it comes to shopping for food and non-food products.

Should I buy food and products that support workers in Third World by buying Fairtrade labelled products even though these goods normally travel thousands of miles from Africa, South America or South East Asia? What if these foods were produced with the use of pesticides and additives? It makes sense then to look for and to buy Fairtrade, organic food to both help the producers in the Third World and fulfil my lifestyle choice to eat healthy and additive/pesticide free food. Thankfully, many producers are now wising up to this dilemma by increasingly producing organic and Fairtrade labelled products. I am currently using Fairtrade, organic t-bags at home! Now comes another important question, should I buy Fairly Traded organic sugar from Kenya that has travelled thousands of miles, or should I buy apples grown in the UK (ideally from a farmers market) that have only travelled only a few hundred miles which means less carbon dioxide and other nasty emissions from the lorries that you see constantly on the motorways in the UK? Buying UK products not only ensures less food miles but also supports local farmers, communities and economies. Unfortunately, choice is often limited and can be more expensive then food produced in other countries......... Decisions, decisions, it's probably best to abstain from eating and give your choice making brain a rest!

But I can safely say that I make attempts to avoid food or products that have travelled from far away destinations such as Australia even if they are organic! Next time you are in the supermarket or wherever you buy your food from check the labels and you will be surprised by how far your food has travelled. Also look at the amount of unnecessary wrapping such as individually wrapped peppers, mushrooms and kiwi fruit in wrapped boxes. When I buy from the local market I tell them to throw it all into one bag, the customer next to me often has 10 individually wrapped portions of fruit and veg. That's 11 (10 plus one big plastic bag) bags into the landfill site that day. For maximum eco efficiency we need to be using jute or other bags made from recycled materials and putting all the loose food into that.

For recycled bags, Fairtrade and Organic companies, products and food see GuideMeGreen.

Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way
Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening: The Total Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, and Other Edible Plants the Natural Way
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Description

This book shows you how to have a healthy soil and recommends environmentally safe products and even some homemade remedies to control pests and disease in your garden. You'll get nuts and bolts information on companion planting and the use of beneficial insects.

Earth's Best Organic 1st Vegetable Starter Kit, 2.5 Ounce Jars (Pack of 12)
Earth's Best Organic 1st Vegetable Starter Kit, 2.5 Ounce Jars (Pack of 12)
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Description

Give your baby a healthy start on life with Earth’s Best. Earth’s Best is the only full line of organic baby food and it is the first brand of baby food to be produced with NO Genetically Engineered Ingredients. Earth’s Best infant cereals and jarred foods are available in over 40 varieties, along with infant juices and teething biscuits to satisfy the taste and texture of babies four months and up.

Features

  • Pack of twelve, 2.5-ounce jars (total of 30-ounces)
  • Organic, natural grocery food
  • Designed to meet the needs of growing babies
  • Added convenience for parents
  • Includes selected combinations for babies
Jobe's 6028 50-Pack Organic Vegetable Fertilizer Food Spikes
Jobe's 6028 50-Pack Organic Vegetable Fertilizer Food Spikes
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Description

100% organic. OMRI listed. Promotes richer soil. No mixing or measuring. No water run off. Waterproof packaging. Analysis: 2 7 4. 50 fertilizer spikes per package.

Features

  • Organic fertilizer for all vegetables
  • OMRI listed
  • Easy to use
  • No mixing, no measuring, no mess
  • NPK 2-7-4
Organic Cotton Reusable Mesh Produce Bag (3 Pack)
Organic Cotton Reusable Mesh Produce Bag (3 Pack)
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Description

Many cities are eliminating plastic shopping (checkout) bags, but they have failed to address the fact that on most trips to the market we also use 6 to 8 plastic produce bags. Our Reusable Mesh Produce Bags eliminate the need for plastic bags. They are made of UNBLEACHED ORGANIC COTTON material. Although higher in cost, unbleached organic cotton provides huge benefits to the environment and our health, because it avoids the highly toxic pesticides, fertilizers and processing chemicals used in regular cotton crops. Reusable Mesh Bags are great for fruits and vegetables. The mesh fabric is highly stretchable and allows for easy identification of contents. They can be used for both shopping and storage, as the cotton material allows for excellent air circulation. Easy to care for, just wash in cold water and line dry. Expect about 10-20% shrinkage on the first wash. The mesh material will stretch back out to near the prewashed size when filled with produce. For smaller bulk produce see our Organic Cotton Reusable Produce Bags, made of solid muslin sheeting.

Features

  • 3 Pack - Large (12 in. x 15 in.) bag with drawstring, the same size as plastic produce bags.
  • Made of 1/8 in. tight-mesh UNBLEACHED ORGANIC COTTON (natural and biodegradable) NOT POLYESTER (a synthetic plastic fiber made from oil)
  • Sewn in tare weight tag makes checkout credit easy. The checker just subtracts the bag weight from the total weight.
  • The perfect bag for fruits, vegetables and larger bulk items.
  • Great for storing produce in the refrigerator or pantry.
Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long
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Description

If you love the joys of eating home-garden vegetables but always thought those joys had to stop at the end of summer, this book is for you. Eliot Coleman introduces the surprising fact that most of the United States has more winter sunshine than the south of France. He shows how North American gardeners can successfully use that sun to raise a wide variety of traditional winter vegetables in backyard cold frames and plastic covered tunnel greenhouses without supplementary heat. Coleman expands upon his own experiences with new ideas learned on a winter-vegetable pilgrimage across the ocean to the acknowledged kingdom of vegetable cuisine, the southern part of France, which lies on the 44th parallel, the same latitude as his farm in Maine.This story of sunshine, weather patterns, old limitations and expectations, and new realities is delightfully innovative in the best gardening tradition. Four-Season Harvest will have you feasting on fresh produce from your garden all through the winter.

Features

  • ISBN13: 9781890132279
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine
How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits (and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains, and Other Crops) Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine
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Description

A classic in the field of sustainable gardening, HOW TO GROW MORE VEGETABLES shows how to produce a beautiful organic garden with minimal watering and care, whether it's just a few tomatoes in a tiny backyard or enough food to feed a family of four on less than half an acre. Updated with the latest biointensive tips and techniques, this is an essential reference for gardeners of all skill levels seeking to grow some or all of their own food.

Features

  • ISBN13: 9781580087964
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash, Soaker/Refill Bottle, 32-Ounce Units (Pack of 3)
Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash, Soaker/Refill Bottle, 32-Ounce Units (Pack of 3)
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Description

Fit Fruit & Vegetable Wash is 100% Natural and removes 98% more pesticides, waxes, people-handling residues, and other contaminants vs washing with water alone.

Features

  • 100% Natural
  • Removes 98% more pesticides, waxes, people-handling residues and other contaminants vs. washing with water alone
  • Only fruit & vegetable wash certified kosher and vegan
  • Rinses away completely leaving no aftertaste or smell
Veg Patch (River Cottage Handbook)
Veg Patch (River Cottage Handbook)
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Description

Drawing directly from his experience as an acclaimed climate-change gardener, and of setting up a kitchen garden from scratch for River Cottage, Mark explains the practical aspects of organic growing, introduces us to a whole world of vegetables we may not have previously considered, and does away with alienating gardening jargon once and for all. Mark begins with a catalogue of vegetables that will grow in this country, explaining for each their benefits, what varieties to go for, dos and don'ts, and popular culinary uses. He then invites us to create a wish list of foods, and shows us his own list from his early gardening days. Next, he explains how to turn this wish list into a coherent kitchen garden plan appropriate for our space, whether it be a patch of acidic soil, a roof-top garden or an allotment, whether we put on our wellies in every free moment or are 'time-poor' gardeners. Then he puts all the theory into practice, showing us how to look after nutrients in the soil, how to resist pests and diseases, and how to make our garden sustainable and organic. In clear, concise sections we learn about seed trays, supporting plants with climbing structures, mulching, composting, companion planting, irrigation and promoting pollination, and there are additional tables showing sowing and harvesting times, plant sizes, and alternative varieties of plants for different sites. About thirty recipes and a directory of useful addresses finish the book, and the handbook is complemented by bright colour photography throughout. Practical and inspiring, with a textured hard cover and an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Veg Patch is destined to join Handbooks No. 1, 2 and 3 as an indispensible household reference.

Safer Brand Tomato & Vegetable Insect Killer - 32 oz Spray 5085
Safer Brand Tomato & Vegetable Insect Killer - 32 oz Spray 5085
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Description

The Safer Brand Tomato and Vegetable Insect Killer combines the effectiveness of pyrethrins and potassium salts of fatty acids and kills on contact but does not harm your plants. Targets and kills aphids, asparagus beetles, bean beetles, cabbage loopers, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, diamond-backed moth, flea beetles, imported cabbage worms leaf hoppers, plant bugs, tomato hornworm and whiteflies.

Features

  • Most economical and convenient solution to pest annoyances available on the market
  • Apply every 7-10 days when insects are present or as needed to prevent further damage.? It can be applied directly to fruits and vegetables right up until the day of harvest
  • OMRI Listed and compliant for use in organic gardening
  • Safer Brand is the leader in alternative lawn and garden products.
Gerber 1st Foods Assorted Fruits and Vegetables 18 Pack, 2.5oz Tubs
Gerber 1st Foods Assorted Fruits and Vegetables 18 Pack, 2.5oz Tubs
Sale Price: $19.85
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Description

Fruit and vegetable varieties

Features

  • Contains: 4 banana, 4 applesauce, 2 peaches
  • Comes with a recloseable lid
  • Also contains 4 sweet potato, 2 green beans, 2 carrots
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