How to Change your Lifestyle to go Organic
The standard lifestyle of fuel burning cars and fast food restaurants is certainly convenient. When we’re hungry, we take our car and drive it to the window of a place that will give us a high calorie tasty treat in the form of a hamburger, a taco, or a piece of chicken. But, as convenient as this lifestyle is, it’s not very good for us. The combinations of gas guzzling cars and fast food have turned us into a nation of overweight people with high cholesterol and heart problems. What’s more, by doing this we have created massive carbon footprints and have created tons and tons of greenhouse gasses, which are helping to raise the temperature of our atmosphere and cause melting icecaps and disastrous weather patterns.
So, in order to save ourselves and ultimately the world we live in, we need to change our lifestyles from fast foods to organic foods. Here are some tips on how to achieve this without going crazy.
What is Organic?
Organic is actually a legal term indicating how foods are grown and marketed. While these standards differ from country to country, in the United States the term organic means specific things in specific circumstances. For a farm or food producer to be certified organic, the following standards must be followed: avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals to increase yield, food must be grown on land that has been free of synthetic chemicals for three or more years, detailed records of food production must be kept to verify organic status, organic foods must be kept separated from non-organically produced foods, and onsite inspections are periodically required.
The avoidance of chemical treatments in the growing of these foods is perhaps the most important aspect of the organic food process. Organic processing generally refers to fruits and vegetables, but can also refer to food animals, clothing fibers, and health and beauty products.
Why is it important to use organic foods?
The important things are the impact of organic processes on the environment and on our personal health.
The use of synthetic and chemical pesticides in non-organic food production can have a harmful effect on the environment because these compounds filter into other areas and harm soil, plants, and animals in areas surrounding where these foods are produced. A good example is DDT, which Rachel Carson wrote about so many years Ago in Silent Spring. It became apparent that this insecticide was not only killing the insects in farms that used it, but also much of the animal life in surrounding areas. And while chemical pesticides are set to be harmless to humans who use them, this is not always the case and the effects of pesticide use on our bodies can have harmful effects with prolonged usage.
Organic farms are able to use some amounts of products to reduce pests, but the products used are far less harmful to the ecosystem in surrounding areas and a diverse system of animals and plant life is maintained.
Organic farms also produce far less waste than non-organic farms, vastly reducing the carbon footprint amassed in the production of these foods, and thus reducing greenhouse gasses and helping to fight global warming.
How can we change our lifestyles to go organic?
There are simple ways to begin to go organic. The simplest way is in your local grocery store. See what organic items are available for purchase, and then start to replace your non-organic groceries with the organic ones. Fruits and vegetables are a simple way to start. In order to be designated organic, an item needs to be produced under organic food guidelines stated above. Organic items will also clearly state on their packaging that they have been certified organic by the USDA.
Many stores now designate an entire area of their business to organically grown or produced items and you will be amazed at what kinds of products are produced using these environmentally conscious methods.
Check to see if there is an organic food shop in your area. There are nationwide chains of stores now which sell only organically produced foods and products. You will find a greater variety of items at these stores and may find yourself able to pick up a larger percentage of your goods in organically produced varieties. Local food banks may also have many items you are looking for.
Once you’ve made the jump to organic shopping, the next logical step is to start producing your own organically grown items. Start a garden in your back yard or windowbox. Join with neighbors and produce an organic community garden. Petition your local government to facilitate the production of organic foods and products.
Organic living is becoming less a lifestyle choice and more of a necessity. Take the time now to start shopping and producing green. You’ll help yourself and you’ll help the planet.