| More and more people are electing to avoid the | | | | farming and the accompanying dependence on |
| risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, | | | | government crop subsidies. Support of the small |
| families and homes. Fortunately, solutions for | | | | farmer supports America's economy. |
| addressing change exist and are within easy | | | | Organic production dramatically reduces health |
| access. Choosing eco-friendly alternatives allows | | | | risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were |
| us to live a natural, green lifestyle. | | | | registered and approved prior to extensive |
| The benefits organic bedding, eating organic foods | | | | research linking these noxious chemicals to cancer |
| and wearing organic clothing are numerous. | | | | and other significant health problems. Crop dusting |
| Organic Foods The Organic Food Association tells | | | | has often resulted in drifts of toxic pesticides |
| us: "It's common sense; organic food is good food. | | | | from fields to residential areas. |
| Good to eat, good for the environment, good for | | | | Organic agriculture is one way to prevent more |
| the small-scale farmers and farm workers who | | | | of these chemicals from contaminating the earth |
| produce it." | | | | that sustains us. An increasing body of research |
| Organic farming is all about health and wellness. In | | | | indicates that pesticides and other contaminants |
| order to assure optimum health and resistance | | | | are considerably more prevalent in the foods we |
| against diseases, the natural balance in our own | | | | eat, in our bodies and in the environment than we |
| bodies and in the environment must be | | | | previously believed. |
| maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, | | | | By choosing organic products we lessen this toxic |
| fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering | | | | burden. Organic farmers regularly rotate crops |
| and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with | | | | and plant cover crops to control weeds, nutrient |
| unknown and often harmful consequences! This is | | | | leaching and erosion. Soil is the foundation of the |
| why organic farming impacts on much more than | | | | food chain. The focus of organic farming is to use |
| what can be tasted or seen. | | | | methods that build and maintain healthy and |
| Over the last fifty years, commercial farmers | | | | sustainable soils. |
| have, of necessity, continued to increase the | | | | Organic Skin Care And Personal Products |
| amount of these hazardous applications. Cereal | | | | Skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated |
| crops are sprayed as many as 8 times during the | | | | products under the US Federal Food, Drug and |
| growing season. Many fruit and vegetable | | | | Cosmetic Act. Whether it is soap, moisturizers or |
| harvests have been sprayed 10 - 15 times. After | | | | deodorants, skin care products are an essential |
| harvesting the spraying process is repeated to | | | | part of daily life. But do we really understand |
| inhibit grow of bacteria during storage and | | | | what these products actually contain and what |
| transport. Excessive spraying of fruit and | | | | we are forcing our skin to absorb? |
| vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving | | | | Have you ever suffered from stinging, burning or |
| the plants increasingly vulnerable to attack from | | | | itchy skin? Chances are that your skin absorbed |
| unwelcome pests or disease. More over | | | | irritants and toxins from your skin care products. |
| insecticides and fungicides are then required to | | | | The skin absorbs ingredients in all the personal |
| fight off infestation and decay. However, these | | | | care products that come in contact with our skin. |
| pests rather quickly become immune to the | | | | Consider nicotine or HRT patches. They rely solely |
| chemicals applied and their population increases | | | | on skin absorption. |
| rapidly. More powerful and increasingly toxic | | | | As mothers we are always concerned for the |
| chemicals are then required. | | | | well being of our children. We tenderly comfort |
| Organic certification is the consumer's assurance | | | | and bathe them with a wide range of products. |
| that products have met stringent standards and | | | | These include soaps, shampoos, creams and |
| have been grown and handled according to strict | | | | lotions, many of which are used on baby's tender |
| procedures without contamination from | | | | skin several times a day. The skin is the largest |
| carcinogenic pesticides, fertilizers, human waste or | | | | organ of the body and the delicate skin of an |
| sewage sludge and that they were processed | | | | infant can be up to 100 times more sensitive and |
| without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. | | | | receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating |
| Organic or non-organic, which would you rather | | | | ingredients that the skin of an adult. |
| put in your body? We are what we eat. When | | | | Without even realizing, parents put their babies at |
| our diet is built upon natural organic choices we | | | | risk daily. Did you know that applying baby |
| are providing our bodies optimum food, produced | | | | powder to your baby's skin may pose a cancer |
| in optimum conditions. Organically raised | | | | risk later in life? The principle ingredient in many |
| vegetables and fruit provide more minerals and | | | | baby powders is talc, which several medical |
| nutrients than commercially grown produce and | | | | studies have confirmed as a known carcinogenic. |
| are more intensely endowed with color, scent and | | | | Lanolin is a main ingredient in many personal care |
| flavor; they just taste better! | | | | products and when processed from organically |
| Organic meats are produced from animals that | | | | raised sheep, is a wonderful healing balm. The |
| have been treated humanely and raised on | | | | danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been |
| certified organic pastures and feeds. Organic meat | | | | processed from sheep that were dipped or |
| is the only meat product that guarantees that | | | | sprayed for lice with chemical pesticides that are |
| genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have not | | | | contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as |
| been used at any stage of growth production. | | | | DDT, dieldrin or lindane. The residue of these toxin |
| Organics And The Environment | | | | remains in the processed lanolin and can cause |
| The USDA estimates that within the next ten | | | | severe reactions and long term health hazards. |
| years half of all America's farm products will | | | | Chemical free and natural, organic products offer |
| come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA also | | | | earth friendly options that eliminate these dangers. |
| states that commercial agriculture is accountable | | | | You can avoid these and similar safely concerns |
| for 70% of the pollution in our country's rivers | | | | by using only certified organic products formulated |
| and streams. Small-scale organic farmers finance | | | | from natural sources such as plants, fruits, |
| innovative and far reaching research designed to | | | | vegetables and flowers. These products to do not |
| minimize agriculture's impact on the environment. | | | | contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulphate, |
| They preserve bio-diversity by planting heirloom | | | | phthales, parabens, artificial fragrances or dyes. |
| varieties of plants and harvesting seeds for future | | | | Organic Textiles |
| crops. The loss of a large variety of species is | | | | By the end of 2008, the sale of organic textiles |
| one of the worlds most pressing environmental | | | | worldwide is expected to exceed $3 billion |
| concerns. The good news is that many organic | | | | indicating that global demand for organic textiles is |
| farmers and gardeners have been gathering, | | | | increasing in response to consumer demand. |
| preserving seeds and growing unusual and unique | | | | Organic production takes more time, requires |
| varieties for decades. | | | | more skills and knowledge, and at least for now, |
| Organic farming methods naturally enrich the soil | | | | costs somewhat more. But it is worth it as |
| with manure and compost. Well balanced soils | | | | organic materials do not contain any hidden costs |
| product healthy, strong plants, nourishing for both | | | | to the environment. |
| people and animals. Organic agriculture can be a | | | | Choose Earth Friendly Products! Choose Organic! |
| lifeline for small farms as it offers an alternative | | | | The consumption and use of green technologies is |
| market where sellers can command fair and | | | | all about the challenges and choices we face if we |
| equatable prices for crops. Organic farming may | | | | are to enjoy a high quality of life within the limited |
| be one of the last ways to assure the survival of | | | | resources of our world. If we become passionate |
| both our ecosystems and our rural farming | | | | about sustainability, together we can make the |
| communities . | | | | planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to |
| Conventional farming endangers farm workers | | | | live. |
| and their families. Scientific research confirms | | | | Do you wish to embrace a lifestyle that protects |
| pesticide-related health problems which include | | | | our children's future? Do you want to to live in |
| cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis and | | | | the greenest environment possible with a |
| death. Unsecured storage, improper application | | | | conscience and respect and appreciation for the |
| methods and unsafe handling and transportation | | | | earth? The quality of life for future generations is |
| procedures are not at all uncommon and often | | | | dependent on the choices we make today! |
| lead to tragic mishaps. As pests develop | | | | Surveys reflect that about a fourth of the US |
| resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or | | | | adult population has a profound sense of |
| increase crop yields often resort to more and | | | | environmental enlightenment and social |
| more applications of expensive and stronger | | | | responsibility. Almost half of us will buy organic |
| chemical products. Facing rising costs, depleted | | | | and make earth friendly choices in many aspects |
| fields and contaminated ground water, many small | | | | of our daily living. Consumer education and |
| farmers have been forced to abandon their | | | | awareness is a powerful force for change. |
| livelihood. | | | | The consumption of organically grown products |
| Organic farming, on the other hand, is not only | | | | has increase by 20 per cent in the last year alone. |
| safer and healthier for farmers, but also | | | | Organic alternatives are readily available and the |
| promotes just compensation in the supply chain. | | | | trend is escalating. Sustainability should be within |
| Organic farming provides an economically viable | | | | everyone's reach. Our choices matter and have a |
| and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale | | | | long term global impact. Let's Choose wisely! |