Why Do You Shop Organic?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I thought it might be interesting to poll our members on why they shop organic. Please vote!

[kristen.c]

I shop organic for both reasons but mainly for the health reasons.

[Ayanna]

For both reasons equally! Also because organic is the way it's been for oh however long you believe the earth has been around minus ~70 years. Something tells me if humanity survived that long without screwing the earth up with all the nasty chemicals we use today, the old way was probably the right way.

[austinmomto2]

I totally agree with Ayanna and Kristen. I shop organic for both reasons equally. I feel that the more I support (purchase products) from eco-conscious companies, the more innovative, sustainable, and affordable products will be available to consumers with minimal side effects to our Earth. I also want to raise my children to be aware and respectful of their surroundings and the space we share with other living things on this planet.

[derketchup]

For me, it's more health than environment....

[txmomof2boys]

I do it for both, but mainly because it is what I was taught. My great grandmother was "green" before it was ever popular. She was native american, lived in a reservation for a good portion of her life. They didn't have chemical pestisides, or pre-packaged food. She made everything from scratch, and used natural remedies for just about everything.

[Marie78]

I do it for mostly the health reasons :).

[stela]

Originally Posted by queenofthehivemomof5

I thought it might be interesting to poll our members on why they shop organic. Please vote!

Hello queenofthehivemomof5,

I always prefer to buy organic food and grocery for me and my family health. It is allways advisble to buy green organic foods and groceries.

[Kyrthira]

Something that bothers me about a lot of foods these days is the ingredient list. I can't pronounce half the ingredients in some of the food on the shelves these days, but I'm going to eat them anyway? Whatever the food companies say, eating that many preservatives and hydrogenamidiphates and whatever can -not- be good for you.

Conventional farms spray toxic chemicals to rid the fields of weeds and pests. The crops get addicted to the chemicals, and end up -requiring- it to grow properly. This crap ends up in the crops, which we eat. Farm animals have to deal with it getting into the water table and THEIR food, which we occasionally eat as well! Plants that would grow nearby either die out or get warped by the chemicals in the soil and the water ... blah blah blah. It's a huge chain of suck. Who wants to suck on pesticides for lunch?

By buying organic products from farms that don't use harsh chemicals, it creates more demand for it. The more folks that buy organic, the more stores will buy and stock organic foods, and the more profitable it will be for farmers to make the switch.

It's all around a good idea. It may cost more NOW, but I think the results will be around a lot longer.

[Amy Dong]

I shop organic for both reasons but mainly for the health reasons. The health of famliy is more important for me.

[Johanna]

I shop organic - but prefer to shop local, whenever possible. We have a wonderful farmers market, a growing local foods group, and some stores staring to carry locally-made foods where I live. I like knowing where my food comes from, who made it, how it was grown, and especially being able to ask questions of the person who knows it best.

So - while I marked both environment and health with a little more on the environment side - my actual reasons are economic. I want a local trust-based economy, and sadly, I've lost trust in our food supply.

Johanna (I swear I'm not a paranoid.)

[jujubee]

Originally Posted by Johanna

I shop organic - but prefer to shop local, whenever possible. We have a wonderful farmers market, a growing local foods group, and some stores staring to carry locally-made foods where I live. I like knowing where my food comes from, who made it, how it was grown, and especially being able to ask questions of the person who knows it best.

So - while I marked both environment and health with a little more on the environment side - my actual reasons are economic. I want a local trust-based economy, and sadly, I've lost trust in our food supply.

Johanna (I swear I'm not a paranoid.)

It's ok - we're all a little paranoid around here. Welcome to our bunch!

If you have some great buying local tips and stores that you'd like to let our members know about, please post them in your state forum. We're all for trying to get the word out and support local farmers and businesses.

[mmandjsmom]

I really think that what is best for me is best best for the enviornment also. If there aren't the chemicals/ pesticides in my food, they are not in the enviornment also...and vice versa. It seems to be a circle to me. If it is grown locally, it eliminates the polution of transporting it (as far) and is fresher and more nutricous....I have a spelling disorder, I think....or too many kids talking to me.