Eco Eating in June!

Worldwide there is a growing movement towards eating organically grown foods and free range farming. What is all the hype about eating home grown food or organically farmed foodstuffs?

The need to produce more foods for a growing market prompted the agricultural industry to find more effective ways of mass producing food. This brought in the use of artificial fertilizers to substitute natural fertilizers as well as wide spread use of pesticides. Scientists are now realizing that this could be the cause of the rise of birth defects, increase of Parkinson's disease and some cancers.

Organically grown food has shown a higher nutritional value. By making the choice to eat organically grown food that uses natural fertilization methods such as compost, and natural pest control, one has made a choice for better health. Many of the larger Supermarket chains in South Africa have realized that they now have conscious consumers and are moving towards stocking more organically grown food. There are standards that need to be adhered to before obtaining the right to be an accredited organic farmer.

The farm that is moving towards organic accreditation will make use of farming methods that protect the environment. This includes composting, crop rotation and the use of farm–produced organic material i.e. animal manure and nature-friendly methods for the control of pests, diseases and weeds. To convert land for organic production takes about 0 to 3 years depending on what the land was previously used for.

Harvest methods also include various checks and balances to ensure that only organic residues are found in the equipment. European standards are being used as a guideline for organic food growing in South Africa because there is no legislation standards set in place at this time.

The consumption of Free Range meat is also a consumer concern. This is a method of animal husbandry where the animals are permitted to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. They must also only consume plant based food. The idea is to allow the animals as much freedom as possible, to live out their lives in a natural way. The animals are also only treated with homeopathic remedies. Free range may apply to meat, eggs or dairy farming.

You can join the brave ranks of many people who are growing their own food. The first step is to ensure that the soil in your planting area is healthy. In other words, healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people! Feed your soil with the organic vegetable waste that comes from your kitchen and garden (such as egg shells, vegetable peels, dead flowers, mowed grass). Once your soil has been prepared you need to buy seeds to grow the crops for your vegetable garden.

Unfortunately obtaining organic seeds is rather difficult. Purchase organic seeds online at www.ethical.org.za for a small variety of seeds to plant and other organic products.

You can then sew them according to instructions on the pack, keeping in mind which seasons are best for their growth. Or of course you could plant them in your own greenhouse tunnel that can be personally or privately constructed. Click here for more information on constructing your greenhouse tunnel.