Going organic...

[peanut]

Anyone have ideas on how we can go about this? Dh and I have been thinking about it for some time, but it is very expensive here. Food is 4-10 times more expensive than normal food, and there is very little variety in winter.

Also, any good books to read? Or websites to check out?

Thanks.

Jean

[madhen]

The most efficient way I've found is to grow my own. If you don't have the land, you can get dwarf fruit trees that will grow happily in containers and start producing within 2-3 years of being planted, and almost every vegetable grows well in containers (with the exception, in my case, of corn), and one zucchini plant can keep a family in squash all year!

You might also check at farmer's markets or natural food stores, rather than trying to buy organic at the supermarkets. Sometimes, the prices are better at the natural food stores/co-ops.

If you can find a few more people in your area who are interested in going organic, you can try co-op farming: each of you concentrates on only one type of veggie or fruit, and you trade with each other.

For purchasing organic, I love Diamond Organics (available on-line), and their package deals aren't terrible, cost-wise. I also once asked them if they could send some "scraps" for some bunnies I was fostering, and they sent me POUNDS of really nice salad greens, so they are really nice people there, as well!

The best book I can recommend just to get your juices going is "Solviva," by Anna Edey.

[redmaples]

Great advice from Mad Hen..

Don't overwhelm yourself all at once. With some research you can find which foods have more concentrations of pesticides & try to be faithful purchasing them organic. I'm not good at remembering all, but raisins are one I buy organic or not at all.
Be careful of lettuce too!
As Mad Hen said check into buying clubs, organic raisins through ours are $2.18 # as compared to $4.50 # at the grocery store!

Check out some of John Robbins books: May All Be Fed, Diet For a New america books or site earthsave (either.com or .org)

[homesteadmamma]

I agree, growing your own is the best way to go. Be careful of farmer's markets. Not all of them grow organic.

I also agree with starting small and working your way to eating fully organic. We buy organic items we can't grow ourselves. Superstore, Sobey's and Safeway all sell organic and I've noticed some of the prices have gone down. The more people purchase organic, the more those prices will change.

Health food stores sell organic too. Sometimes they have sales. That's when I purchase from them.

[hollyhill]

Great advice!

I can add one thing. When you do find a source in the summer (from a farmer or wild) freeze for the winter. I still have organic blueberries, blackberries, pumpkin in the freezer, plus a few raspberries.

[Valerie in WA]

In order to keep your costs down, make sure you are buying food in it's least processed state. For example, I just bought a one pound box of organic apple granola for $2.59. Organic oats and sugar are under $1/pound. I use GMO-free (rather than organic) oil and it would only cost a few cents for a couple of Tablespoons in the granola. I have dried apples in my freezer - they were free from the neighbors trees' windfall. I could definately have made that granola much more cheaply than purchased it.

I buy my staples (like flour, sugar, oats, oil, shortening, dried beans, milk powder, etc) from www.azurestandard.com. I also purchase from them chicken and beef, applesauce, raisins, other dried fruits, some fresh produce (long lasting things like potatoes, onions, pears, carrots), frozen juice, jarred peanut butter, and pasta. I get free delivery for a $400 order. I order about every three months.

I buy milk and cheese and some produce at Trader Joes (health/gourmet grocer). I buy other produce at a 'standard' grocer with a great organics section - it's called TOP Food & Drug. I buy some other things at a local healthfood store - such as fresh peanut butter, and occasional meats: uncured bacon & nitrate-free sausage, and other 'treats'. The healthfood store has a big bulk section and carries a lot of the things I get from Azure, but it costs less at Azure.

I recommend starting your change-over gradually. We started with organic milk (I felt it was really important for my dd's). Then we added produce. Soon after I added other dairy products (we have our own organic eggs in the backyard). Lastly, when I found Azure, I added staples and meat.

I would estimate that we now eat about 75-95% organic (we still eat some processed non-organics like frozen fries & chicken strips). My grocery bill has increased only slightly - and some of that could be attributed to inflation. For our family of four, I used to spend $400/month. Toward the end of 2005, I found myself going over by about $50/month, so for 2006, I set my budget at $500/month. That includes cat food, poultry ration, paper products, and cleaning products. So far for this year, I've spent $1450, so I'm right on target.

[peanut]

Thanks ladies.

I found a new health food store in town just a few blocks away. I can't believe it was there all these years and I didn't know it. It is tucked away in a residential neighborhood. Lots of organic foodstuff, and Fair Trade stuff with no GM foods. I'm suspecting GM foods of causing havoc with my allergies. I even found a Ceasar salad dressing I can eat! I'm allergic to soy.

Checked out a local book on eco-living which was full of information I already knew for the most part. It came courtesy of dd#1 who got it for Christmas from her step-mom-in-law. It gave me the location and philosphy of the store and it's owner. Good stuff.

Better yet, organic food prices have come down locally. They are now only twice what normal food would cost. This is doable finally.

I'm off checking all your links and the reading material. Thanks again!

Jean

[QuilterMom]

Some of Don Colbert's books started us on the organic path years ago. Just pick an area that is the most important to you and focus your energy there first. Then expand to another area and when you've reached a comfort level there expand again.

Here's a list of foods to always buy organic - http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Con...optobuyorg.htm

[peanut]

QuilterMom: thanks for that link. I printed off the list. A lot of commonly eaten foods there. Not much variety available this time of year, and the price is high, but we'll certainly be looking into processing our own organic food this summer and fall.

Jean