Yabi,

I totally agree. Most of my soaps, skincare products, and shampoos have organic ingredients. I once had someone say "people who buy things organic that are not edible are stupid. What is the benefit?" But that's just because of the way the person was looking at it. They were not looking beyond themselves.

That is awesome AreUTheRabbit! Great to meet someone like you!!! I hope one day I can say I am 100% vegan, but currently I am still eating yogurt a few days of the week to get protein up, but that's the only product I consume that is animal.

Breakdown of what I eat:
90% Organic Foods
70-80% Raw Foods
100% Unprocessed
90% non-animal derived foods and supplements
I also strive for non-GMO but since labeling is scanty with that, I do not have an estimate of how much or how little I consume.

By following this regimen I cured many issues in my life:
Had depression and anxiety all of my life- Now Depression free!!!
I concentrate better and remember things with little effort
I feel a "clarity" in many aspects of my life
I have IBS and since I have eaten this way I have had no issues with digestion
I consume very little sodium- just what I add to my food

All I have to say is that this journey has changed my life entirely. I never thought life could be so amazing!

Awesome, thank you.

Rabbit, what do you eat as an alternative for yogurt protein? I already use a powder and would like a natural source. Thanks!

I got into organics mostly because I love the taste of fresh. What got me started was a local farmer doing weekly deliveries of organic vegetables she grew and the variety was a nice compliment to my own gardening. Then a friend agreed to bring me a dozen eggs from her free roaming chickens every week and rabbits when I want them. I also buy honey and maple syrup from her. The latest commitment is from local organic beef. That meat is so tasty and I get 20 lbs delivered every 3 months.

I'll privilege local over organic but both is the perfect combination. I have found where to get local organically fed chicken but I'd have to cut them up myself before freezing the meat. Not yet sure that I'm up to that... In a way, eating local and organic has made me lazy.

Organic for me is practically a no-brainer, would I rather eat food with chemicals or food without? Increasingly my house is becoming an organic zone. I'd say 80% of our meat, probably 80-90% of our produce, and all of our grains are organic at this point. We're slowly upping those numbers, trying to find ways to do it without breaking the bank.

But organic isn't everything to me. There are many ways organic products can and do harm the environment and our bodies. There are many ways companies can be bad while still selling a good product - union busting, wage raping, etc. Going organic is so much more than getting rid of chemicals to me, it's about sustainability, accountability, and awareness.

For example, the dairy we get many of our milk products from is not 100% organic, but they are wholly sustainable. Their cows eat a 100% organic natural diet - they graze during the warm months and eat hay and other feeds during the cold months. If one of their cows gets sick, they treat it with antibiotics but take the cow out of milk production until the antibiotics are out of their system (determined by lab testing). They don't carry an organic label, but they are so much more than that.

To me, this is what is important. Knowing where my food comes from, knowing how it's handled, and trusting the information I receive. I spend a fair amount of time looking into these issues and I know how privileged I am to both have the time to do that and to have the farms nearby that can supply me with products and information I can trust. We are buying local for most of our stuff (of course I can't get local bananas in NYC, and I don't beat myself up about it, but I also don't eat bananas every day anymore), either from our CSA or at the farmer's market. I spend a lot of time talking to farmers and sellers at the farmers' market - these people are FULL of information on these issues and usually very eager to talk to you about them.

Hi everyone, I too have recently decided to go organic (it's been about 2 months now) which started out being mainly due to health reasons. I have PCOS and extreme hormone issues and have been diagnosed with lots of other ailments. I'm not sold that I really have all that much truly "wrong" with me, I think my hormones are out of control and am seeing that as they are becoming more stable things are falling into place for me. Around the time that I hit rock bottom, I decided to see a Naturopathic doctor and have an iridology exam done. She was able to pinpoint everything I have going on with me, all without me ever sharing any information about myself. Within the first month of taking the supplements she recommended (there's only 3 of them) I'm seeing huge changes, I would have done this YEARS ago had I known it would help so much.

There are so many hormone altering chemicals added to everything we come into contact with which is what made me get the ball rolling. So far, we've moved to all organic fruits and veggies, we're working on non-perishables - using up what we already have, although I'm thinking about donating a lot of that during the holiday months. There are always places collecting food, especially around the holidays - there are people out there who need a meal and could careless of the origin of it, they just need to eat. We are by no means 100% organic with our diet, but like a previous post said - I definitely am keeping my fruits and veggies organic.

I also started using organic personal care items. That started with me emailing about 30 companies selling organic and natural hair care products and I asked for samples. I've bought organic hair care products before which only ended in me spending lots of money and I didn't like the product. I heard back from about 10-15 of those companies and have been using their products ever since. I have a favorite right now, but I'm still trying to work through my samples so I can decide what I really like.

So everything I've mentioned happened around the same time, which has been since the beginning of October until now. During this time I was also offered a business opportunity to join a direct sales company that is selling 100% USDA organic skin and body care products. The opportunity was too good to pass up, I tried the products and decided that I really wanted them and the investment was so minimal that I decided to go for it. I ended up getting the main line of products which includes all your facial care (not make-up) items and one item from each of the other lines. My business is taking off really well, the timing couldn't be better since there is overall an increased interest in going organic for so many people.

So that's where I'm at. I'm still a newbie in going organic, but I have a lot going on in every aspect of changing over and I can't wait until the day when we've got our house entirely organic. I haven't even thought about organic clothing as Yabi has mentioned, but maybe I'll get there some day. :flowerforyou: I thought it would be great to find a group of other people who are all also interested in organics, which is why I'm here!

Hi! im new to this group and mfp. I have been eating organic foods my whole life, raised organic vegetarian. Lived in cities and communities that have been very conducive for conscious living. I started eating meat and fell off the organic boat for the last few years somewhat. (mostly shopping for organic quick easy foods but eating out a ton from non organic restaurants) i gained weight, and my health and well being plummeted. I have come back full circle. I have made a commitment to shift back into the fully organic lifestyle and really focusing on non processed food entirely. with tons of fruit and vegi"s. It is amazing what a difference it makes in our bodies. I have a teenage son who had terrible acne all last year, made the switch to fully cooking healthy food at home and his acne has cleared up almost completely. (also incorporated a probiotic drink) I turned my entire backyard into a giant garden last year and grew soooo much food it was amazing! i barely shopped at the grocery store at all. in fact im still eating lots from it. I also recently started sprouting again which is a great inexpensive way to eat organic love. I feel amazing when I eat natural organic food and I am really happy to see this group here. thanks

Good morning,

Why did I go organic? My body told me to. I suffered in so many ways due to mercury poisoning, allergies to additives and pesticides that I didn't have a choice. It has been a journey getting better and I am glad to say that the majority of the food I eat now comes from withing ten miles of my home. Chickens, eggs, beef, pork, fish and produce all from local farms who practice organic methods of production. I love the people who grow and raise my food. They are my heroes!

Cat