Posts Tagged ‘Sewage Sludge’

Organic vegetable gardening seems to be the trend these days as more people have become conscious of what they are eating. This is because conventional methods which involve the use of harmful chemicals may enter our systems.

In order to control the problem, the US Department of Agriculture has issues a new directive. This encourages farmers to shift to organic farming.

With organic farming, farmers will no longer need to plant crops using genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge. Instead, this will be replaced with crop rotation.

Crop rotation is the practice of planting a different crop in the same area where another crop once occupied. This keeps the soil’s nutrients fertile so it can be used again in the following season.

If you think about it, this approach is easier said than done as farmers are accustomed to the old ways of doing it. To help them change their minds, the government offers incentives and subsidies to farmers who decide to follow this plan.

But the main reason why organic vegetable gardening is so important is the fact that the crops harvested have 50% more nutrients and vitamins compared to that of conventional farming methods.

This means the food they consume will reduce the risk of people suffering from a number of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.

Children who drink milk will be able to get more anti-oxidants, CLA, Omega 3 and vitamins when this is extracted from pastured grazed cows that will really strengthen their bones and muscles.

You can buy organically grown vegetables from the supermarket. The sad part is the almost everywhere you go, although the packaging comes from Department of Health, Quality Assurance International, California Certified Organic Farmers or the Oregon Tilth Farm Verified Organic, most of these are only 50% to 70% organic.

This is why homeowners who want to eat 100% organic vegetables are encouraged to grow these themselves.

There are two ways to make this happen. First, you buy the seedlings until they grow so you can harvest the. Second, you buy them fully grown and then just plant it into the ground.

Most people prefer the first because it makes them proud to know that what is served on the table was done from scratch.

In both cases, you have to prepare the soil, use compost and make sure that these are safe from threats such as insects, weeds and other animals that will eat what you have planted.

You can fight these with other animals, insects, organic fertilizers, deodorant soap and a few other items which you can find out after doing some research.

For those who don’t have a big garden, they can try growing these organically grown vegetables in containers. They require more water than those planted in the soil so give doses frequently.

There is no doubt that organic vegetables and other products are important these days. If you value your health and those of your family you can buy these from the store or plant it yourself.

For those who decide to buy organically grown vegetables, remember to wash before cooking them. This will remove any harmful substances or residue that may still be there which is invisible to the naked eye.

Copyright (c) 2008 Soaring Eagle Companies LLC

Understanding how a product such as coffee becomes certified organic, gains a better understanding into the world of nutrition and how food labels affect ones health and well being.

Organic food basically means that even before the food was grown, the area where the seeds or plants were planted had to be free and clear of waste and chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Any type of plant food spray is prohibited when it comes to growing the coffee bean, which means extra care has to be established by the grower such as weeding by hand, pest removal by means of not using any type of chemical and routine feeding and maintenance by drug free plant food. The same goes for organically grown vegetables and also animals that are also being raised for the consumption of organic milk and meat.

For a company or manufacturer to allow their coffee to become certified organic they must first differentiate between their organic growing methods and their more traditional methods that involve the use of synthetic chemicals and sewage sludge in the growing and manufacturing of all the food they grow as well as the animals they raise at the same location.

For products such as coffee to be labeled certified organic, a farm or business must set high standards throughout the entire growing process. From the way seeds or plants are stored to before they are planted, are just as important as keeping unnatural chemicals and preservatives away from them while they are growing. For example, how coffee beans are picked and how they are stored as well as how chemical free they remain while being packaged and shipped is essential in meeting organic food guidelines and measures. Organic coffee beans must meet full organic standards right up until they land on store shelves at the local market or grocery store to be ready for consumers to purchase.

The land in which the coffee or other organic product is being grown on must remain free from any chemical or fertilizer dumping that could contaminate the soil even if it isn’t being directly sprayed onto the organic plants. Even the smallest amount of outside contamination can occur from chemicals that have leaked into the surrounding soil, thus making the coffee un-certifiable organic.

Keeping non-certified organic food separate from organic food is essential in keeping up with the standard guidelines with the organic label. Cross contamination of food such as coffee beans is not allowed and could cause a business to lose their license or organic food selling privileges.

Growers must live up to the highest standards in keeping organic versus non organic foods separate from the time of planting and even up to delivery and distribution.

Having the site where the coffee is grown periodically inspected by government food officials or nonprofit organic organizations and private companies is the only way for a product to carry an organically grown stamp on their coffee. Growers must abide by all of these guidelines in order to maintain a healthy environment for coffee until it reaches the consumer.