Knowing how I strive to live a crunchy lifestyle, a friend sent me a link to a cnn article boasting a recent study of how organic food contains no more nutrients than traditionally grown food.
This study brings up an interesting point. Correct, in a side by side comparison, organically grown food may contain the same nutrients as traditionally grown food. However, there are these things called “pesticides” and they aren’t all that good for you to eat. I’m no scientist, but I would guess if it kills bugs, then it can’t be good for you either. This is all just speculation and simply a logical leap on my part, but it looks as though cnn’s writer, Jessica Daly, may have drawn the same conclusion.
It should be noted that the study does not make conclusions about the comparative levels of pesticides or chemicals in conventionally and organically grown food or the health effects of consuming such chemicals.
The article also questions if organically grown food is better for the environment.
Even still, in 2006 the UK’s Manchester Business School assessed the environmental impacts of food production and consumption and concluded that there isn’t a clear cut answer to whether the environmental impact is greater on a trolley full of organic food compared to a trolley full of non-organic food.
Um…yeah…If you’re moving produce in a huge a$$ gas guzzling trolley, then I would speculate that the impact on the environment is the same. Again, I’m no scientist but there’s thing called the Greenhouse Effect, which apparently affects the ozone layer. It’s all very complicated. Where’s Al Gore when you need him?
To investigate the environmental impacts further, the article presented a statement from the Soil Association:
Overall, organic farming is better for tackling climate change than industrial agricultural methods. As well as lower average energy use, organic farming also avoids the very large nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer manufacture.
Additionally, organic farming builds up soil carbon, removing it from the atmosphere. Organic farming also supports more local food marketing, reducing food miles.
So, let me see if understand this. Please excuse my ignorance and use of simple terms, but it seems organic methods use less energy and take the bad stuff out of the air. Well, that simply couldn’t be good for the environment. Once again, I defer to Al Gore on the matter.
I think Kermit said it best. It’s not easy being green.
This blog is Certified Organically grown and processed in accordance of the California Organic Foods Act of 1990.
ohh the idiocy, it burns. It burns.
“I’m no scientist”.
Obviously.
“but I would guess if it kills bugs, then it can’t be good for you either.”
I am not a scientist either but I did pay attention to the material taught in 9th grade biology (material one is suppose to master to graduate) and learned that insects are in a completely different phylum than mammals. This means they are radically different with different vulnerabilities, needs, shapes, ..etc.
I also learned that things are toxic in different doses. Doses of pesticides that kill insects have little effect on humans. The same is true of water. In large doses, water is fatal. In small doses, water is yummy and necessary.
Even Carson recognize the need to use pesticides and their ultimate benefits to humanity.
“but it seems organic methods use less energy and take the bad stuff out of the air. ”
Yes, but if you paid attention in world history (in most states, a 10th grade subject) you’d know that organic farming routinely fails to feed enough people. Google Middle ages for more information.
Dear I am so Wise,
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my “Organically Groan” post. I apologize if my seemed “idiocy” hit a nerve with you and I appreciate your 9th grade lecture on basic science matter and 10th grade history lesson, although not necessary.
I understand the basic biology of insects, but you simply can not deny the fact that pesticides are carcinogenic. Yes, we only ingest small doses at a time, but over a lifetime that could have an adverse effect. Therefore, I have adopted an organic lifestyle as a health choice, just as I chose not to smoke.
Since you mentioned Carson, I will address your reference to this marvelous humanitarian. (I assume you are referring to Rachel Carson, not Carson Daly). Until her dying days, she denounced the use of pesticides and feared a grim future for our world if the traditional practices of pesticides continued. I thank you for naming a scientist who could better enlighten the ignorant masses of the harmful effects of pesticides than me, however, it fathoms me how such a “wise” person as yourself fails to believe the scientific facts.
Simply speculation here, but I would assume that you probably wash your produce before eating it. Is it to make your food look clean and pretty? Or perhaps you don’t wash your produce before ingesting it and prefer biting into all those tasty pesticides. What harm could it possibly do, assuming you don’t have 6 legs, 3 body parts and antennae? (I taught 3 grade science, so that’s pretty much all I remember about insects.)
I suppose if organic farming can’t feed the world, then I and other ignorant citizens can continue to happily consume the organically grown food and leave the traditionally grown food to all the more intelligent folk, like you. With that, there should be enough for everyone. Only time will tell.
Sincerely,
Denise
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