Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Friday, July 15, 2005
Some reasons to try organic
Good topic, Mickey. The large increase in the chemicals in our food is the direct result of corporate influence on the government. Monsanto, and the others, with the help of the USDA have brought us franken foods. One reason for the war in Iraq was to take over the agriculture of Iraq. Read about Iraqi Order 81. They told us that it was about democracy, freedom,and terrorism. It was really about oil, patents, and argriculture. It is all about the bottom line. Nothing else matters.
Posted by rosemarie jackowski on from 07/15 at 07:45 AMI guess it’s just you and me thinking this is a good topic, huh Rosemarie?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/15 at 05:53 PMHey, I think its a good topic too! Give people a chance to respond!
I’ll buy organic where its available (round my neck of the woods, that means Tesco :-(, who incidentally are up to their necks in New Labour), but the erratic income of a ‘content provider’ means I compromise more often than not.
I know its a false economy, for the reasons you outline - the costs are hidden and will bite me (and the planet) later - but that doesn’t give me more money in my pocket to pay a 50% surcharge.
Not a problem with organic farming, I believe in my country at least its due to supermarkets milking what they see as an affluent middle-class ‘trend’, also their squeezing of ‘conventional’ farmers to make industrial food artificially cheap. Cue rant about the impossibility of the market delivering desirable outcomes… in this case affordable food that won’t kill you.
On the other hand, I could cut out the ginger biscuits, buy cheaper coffee and use the difference to buy better food; my rationalisations could just be the same weakness that stops me going vegan (I’m a cheese-and-chicken-embryo munching ‘veggie’). Gah. Its 4 in the morning here. I’m turning in. Sorry to go on and on…Posted by Mewshkin on from England 07/15 at 10:05 PMAgreed, Mew. For many, the price is prohibitive. However, for many more than we imagine, it could be a matter of setting different financial priorities. I’m just trying to get people to consider it and put aside their predetermined idea that it’s “elitist” or “too expensive.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/15 at 10:11 PMAlso of interest is the concept of veganics (aka vegan organics or “stock-free farming"). It’s a way of cultivating that avoids all artificial chemical products, growth regulators, genetically modified organisms, animal manures and slaughterhouse by-products, such as blood, fish meal, bone meal, etc.
I have this fantasy. It’s getting stronger every week; it must be meant to be. We go up and down the New Jersey Turnpike and cause every rest stop to begin selling organic, healthful, plant-based foods and drinks.
Posted by Lee Hall on from 07/16 at 12:21 AMExcellent if scary post, Mickey!
And is that a photo of yourself in the top right hand corner playing baseball somewhere in Astoria?Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 07/16 at 05:13 AMHey Lee: Good to see you back here. Your post reminds me of a line I wrote in an article called “Hard Rain”: “I’d like to turn the Long Island Expressway into the world’s longest organic farm.”
Helga, yes, that photo is take in Astoria: Athens Park. but I’m playing basketbal, not baseball.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/16 at 06:54 AMPlease excuse my ignorance Mickey! It’s obvious that you toss that ball into a basket - proof that Helga is a bit thick.
And you do indeed look younger than you are ...Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 07/16 at 11:19 PM
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