The Age Old Debate: Organic or Conventional

RosanaRosanaDana · July 2014

I mentioned organic foods in a post and it stirred up all kinds of comments. So, I was wondering how the majority feels on the subject.
My humble opinion: Eat organic whenever possible. Who needs the added junk they put on our foods to prolong shelf life and keep insects from eating our food. Insects are small, I think they'll leave some for us

I agree that organic foods are not "better" for you in that the nutrients in vegetables don't change when you leave off the pesticides, herbicides. . .
I have an advantage however; we grow a lot of our own food. We have a vegetable garden, herb garden, a pear tree, apple tree, plum tree, apricot tree, mulberry tree, raspberry bushes, blackberry bushes, blueberry bushes and 2 grape arbors. Over the years I've planted them for the very purpose of providing my family with good clean produce.
Never has a chemical touched my land. I don't have a lot of land either. All of this is grown on less than an acre with enough open space to look like I have a gold course.
I have a pony who also eats only organic as well as my chickens. Many of the herbs and small veggies (i.e. cherry tomatoes, hot peppers) grow on my porch.
So yeah, I am a proponent of organic foods. If you can't grow them, afford them or find them than convention is the next best thing so don't go without your fruits and veggies.

BigT555 · July 2014

I'm of the opinion that the whole "organic" thing is mostly a money grab, im sure it makes a bit of difference but most of the pesticides and whatnot are washed off.

there is almost always some sort of chemical contamination on the soil, be it from runoff from another source, direct contact with chemicals, or even rain bringing pollutants down to ground level. you can only get so organic

but again, this is mostly my speculation, i havent really done all that much research on the topic

WonkaCat · July 2014

I have summer gardens too and grow a lot of veggies organically. Nothing quite like fresh picked veggies. I buy organic veggies and fruits as often as I can but don't stress about it if they aren't available or are too expensive. Washing produce, no matter if it is organic or not, is a must.

CupcakesMom2 · July 2014

I agree its better to go organic. However I am worried that in some cases I'm paying more and being lied to lol.

Francl27 · July 2014

I go organic if the price difference isn't huge. The only thing I only buy organic is milk for the kids.

laurie7075 · July 2014

I am doing my best to eat organic whenever possible....or at least GMO free. It's the GMO's that really scare me. I absolutely love Whole Foods and Trader Joe's...but who can afford to shop there all the time? And I have read that a lot of their products do contain GMO's because it is near impossible to avoid (I try to look for the non-gmo labels or 100% organic). I have decided that I would rather buy less of a good thing, especially where I find myself throwing out a lot of food that I never get around to eating. I try to buy meat at Whole Foods or if shopping elsewhere looking for no hormone/antibiotic meats and organic chicken. I commend all of you garden growers! I sure wish I had a green thumb!!

AylaL13 · July 2014

I have a very similar food philosophy. I grow a summer veggie garden, a year round herb garden, and we have a couple fruit trees. I belong to an organic CSA as well. I try to buy mostly organic and non-GMO. I think many people would buy all organic if the price was the same as conventional. When people can't afford organic, they still need to feed their families so they buy conventional.

JupeJones · July 2014

Never has a chemical touched my land.

Of course it has. Heck, your land is made up of nothing BUT chemicals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance

RosanaRosanaDana · July 2014

Never has a chemical touched my land.

Of course it has. Heck, your land is made up of nothing BUT chemicals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance

Let me correct that by saying I have never put a drop of chemical on my land.

Alyssa_Is_LosingIt · July 2014

Never has a chemical touched my land.

Of course it has. Heck, your land is made up of nothing BUT chemicals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance

Let me correct that by saying I have never put a drop of chemical on my land.

You don't water your plants?

JupeJones · July 2014

Let me correct that by saying I have never put a drop of chemical on my land.

You don't water your garden? Water's full of chemicals like hydrogen and oxygen. :happy:

My (admittedly snarky) point, of course, is that EVERYTHING is made up of chemicals. Both the "man-made" stuff and the "mother nature" stuff. It's all chemistry either way, isn't it?

For some reasons we tend to make a distinction that substances that come from nature or from the activities non-human animals are "good", but substances that come from the activities of human animals are "bad".

Which seems odd to me. There are plenty of perfectly "natural" things that are terrible for you--even toxic. And there are plenty of 'human" things that are just fine--even life-saving.

So yeah, I guess it's getting a bit too philosophical for the point of this thread, but... Humans are part of nature, so why aren't they things we make part of nature too? Why is a beaver dam, or a honeycomb, or an anthill considered "nature", but a Ford Mustang or a Apple iPad not? Aren't they all just the result of an animal using the abilities nature gave it to fashion new things out of its environment?

Isn't it interesting that when we use our muscles and organs (the brain is an organ!) to transform some substances into a new substance, we call the result "artificial", but when a spider or a bee does the same thing to make a web or honey we call it "natural"?

BeginningAgainMay14 · July 2014

I think organic is probably preferable, but I eat a LOT of fruits and veggies on a not-unlimited budget. I buy mostly conventional, except for milk and eggs.

azrubael · July 2014

Let me correct that by saying I have never put a drop of chemical on my land.

You don't water your garden? Water's full of chemicals like hydrogen and oxygen. :happy:

My (admittedly snarky) point, of course, is that EVERYTHING is made up of chemicals. Both the "man-made" stuff and the "mother nature" stuff. It's all chemistry either way, isn't it?

For some reasons we tend to make a distinction that substances that come from nature or from the activities non-human animals are "good", but substances that come from the activities of human animals are "bad".

Which seems odd to me. There are plenty of perfectly "natural" things that are terrible for you--even toxic. And there are plenty of 'human" things that are just fine--even life-saving.

So yeah, I guess it's getting a bit too philosophical for the point of this thread, but... Humans are part of nature, so why aren't they things we make part of nature too? Why is a beaver dam, or a honeycomb, or an anthill considered "nature", but a Ford Mustang or a Apple iPad not? Aren't they all just the result of an animal using the abilities nature gave it to fashion new things out of its environment?

Isn't it interesting that when we use our muscles and organs (the brain is an organ!) to transform some substances into a new substance, we call the result "artificial", but when a spider or a bee does the same thing to make a web or honey we call it "natural"?

Of all the things I have read on MFP this is my favorite.

rowlandsw · July 2014

we buy local and grow but organic is so overpriced in the stores we go with the cheaper stuff.

Shalaurise · July 2014

Organic is merely a label. Those who have paid the appropriate amount of money to the appropriate government organization to put it on their foods. Those who can't afford to pay these fees may very well still grow food "organically" but simply aren't labeled as such.

There are a specific list of things that can't be used on the plants and have them still be labeled organic. This does not however mean that no pesticides are used. It just means that none on the list were used. I love to buy local. I refuse to pay more for something just because someone paid the government to label their food to go with the latest gimmick.

kegrip917 · July 2014

I choose organic and non-GMO at every opportunity. Reading up lately on the effects of Genetically Modified Organisms and none of it's good. I just feel better knowing that I'm buying Certified Organic for my husband and me. I cook all of our meals and use a minimum of processed foods.

I am a returning member to MFP and have just begun a low-carb, high protein & moderate fat diet, combined with an increase in exercise.

I am 52 years old, just about finished with menopause (thank goodness... ) and have watched my weight creep up over the past 5 years. I have about 60 lbs. to lose and would appreciate any advice and meeting new people here

brower47 · July 2014

I actually avoid anything labeled organic. I once started to bag some "organic" apples and then saw I was in the wrong section of the produce area. I then unbagged them and got the "non organic" apples.

I don't buy into marketing ploys, at least I try not to.

ETA: I actually do buy one product that's labeled organic. It's an apricot beer made by Samuel Smith's. It's delicious.

WitchesGuildMaster · July 2014

A farmer once told my brother all his "organic" produce still gets sprayed with pesticides and gets fertilizer. Otherwise they never become the right size to sell. Also I can't afford organic. I eat out of cans most days.

Alluminati · July 2014

It's not really a "debate" per say.
It's people who eat normal conventional food from the grocery and don't trip or impose their ways on others.
Then there's the smug people who swear by everything organic and think everyone would benefit eating like them. (In other words, they are better than you).

WitchesGuildMaster · July 2014

It's not really a "debate" per say.
It's people who eat normal conventional food from the grocery and don't trip or impose their ways on others.
Then there's the smug people who swear by everything organic and think everyone would benefit eating like them. (In other words, they are better than you).

^^ Yup.

Meerataila · July 2014

Organic when possible, but it's really too expensive. One day I'll live somewhere I can have a garden. Not entirely sure any of my leafy experimental victims will survive, though.

The Age Old Debate: Organic or Conventional

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