Organic Gardening Basics - Week 1 of 4

By Caroline Anderson March 24, 2023 13 mins read 583420 Views

Discover the wonders of global cuisine at Belovedsaffron.com! Our mission is to bring you spices, herbs and organic food from all over the world, introducing you to flavors you may never have experienced before. We’re passionate about sustainable farming, sourcing spices, herbs and other ingredients from ethical producers who share our commitment to best practices. Plus, we offer our own recipes for the home cook looking for something new and delicious to try.

If you have a secret recipe or an article perfect for sharing on our blog section, don't hesitate to let us know at [email protected] -- everyone has something extraordinary to offer and we can't wait to hear yours! Join us as we explore delicious flavors around the globe!

For now, love yourself and enjoy this one ...

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference?

Organic food does not contain pesticides, chemical fertilisers, sewage waste, irradiation, genetic modification. Organic farming practices are good for soil health, water quality, animal welfare, and the environment.

Inorganic foods are produced using chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage effluent. Radiation is used to treat irradiated food; biological engineering techniques are used to create genetically modified organisms (GMO).

"Organic" and "natural" are often interchangeable. Natural does not necessarily have to mean organic. Products labelled "natural", however, may contain synthetic chemicals.

Organic produce is more nutritious than traditional produce due to the fact that it contains less harmful chemicals and pesticides. In addition, organic farmers do not use artificial fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides.

What is inorganic?

Organic food is not produced with pesticides or artificial fertilizers. These chemicals could cause health problems for those who eat inorganic food.

Organic food is free from harmful substances like pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals can cause harm to animals and humans.

Inorganic food includes meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, honey, grains, vegetables, fruits, spices, and herbs.

The term organic refers to the way an agricultural product is grown. Organic farming is based on natural methods, soil amendments, and crop growth. Conventional farming uses pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must set strict guidelines for organic foods. According to the National Organic Program Standards all organic food must be free of banned materials such as antibiotics growth hormones genetically modified organisms GMOs, and industrial solvents. Organic food must be grown without the use of toxic chemicals or petroleum-based fertilizers.

Does organic mean that it is not sprayed with pesticides?

Organic food is organic and free of pesticides. This means that organic food is often free of pesticides and fertilizers.

Because organic produce does not contain harmful additives it has more nutrients that conventionally produced foods.

The USDA National Organic Program, (NOP), requires farmers to adhere to strict guidelines when cultivating organic crops.

These guidelines cover soil preparation, crop rotation and pest control. They also include water conservation and harvesting techniques.

In addition, organic farming methods promote healthy ecosystems, which benefit wildlife and natural habitats.

What are the things to look for when purchasing organic products?

USDA-certified organic labels should be sought. This seal signifies that the product meets specific USDA standards. On packages, boxes, cartons or cans, look out for the USDA Organic seal.

When shopping for meat ensure it comes only from cows that are fed 100% organic feed. Ruminants are cattle that chew their cud. Ruminant cattle are divided into four stomach compartments, the rumen and reticulum as well as the omasum and abmasum. If a cow is to be labeled organically, all parts must be organically fed.

Chicken should be only purchased from chickens raised on organic feed, and not given antibiotics. Chickens are omnivores. This means they can eat both plant and animal food. A digestive tract that is omnivorous includes a crop, proventriculus and gizzard. It also contains small intestines, large intestines, and anus.

It is important to ensure that dairy products are from cows that were fed 100% organic feed. Dairy cows have four stomach compartments, just like ruminants. Milk comes from the fourth stomach compartment--the udder.

When purchasing other types of livestock, check the label to see what percentage of the diet the animals were fed. One example is pork that may be labeled '95% Organic'. This means that 95 percent came from organic sources.

Are organic foods good for your health?

Even though organic foods might not be for everyone, there are some health benefits. There are certain health benefits to those who consume organic foods regularly.

Organic food is free from artificial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides as well as hormones, antibiotics and genetic engineering. This means that organic produce is grown without harmful chemicals that could harm human health.

Organic products also have fewer additives. Organic products are healthier than those that use additives during processing.

Studies show that organic foods contain more nutrients and antioxidants than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

While organic farming is more expensive than traditional farming, it often produces better results. Organic farming increases soil fertility and biodiversity.

This helps protect against erosion and conserve water resources. Organic farms do not require toxic chemicals to operate. They also use less energy and fuel.

Some people worry that organic foods are more expensive than conventional ones. However, prices will vary depending on where one lives. Organic apples, on the other hand, tend to be more expensive that conventional apples.

However, organic fruit is more affordable if you compare the price of a basket of both types.

So, should you buy organic?

It depends on what kind of person you are. Organic food is not for you if you don’t like it.

You can purchase organic food if it is delicious. Organic foods are safer as most commercial growers use chemical fertilisers, pesticides, or genetically modified species (GMOs) to produce their crops.

Organic agriculture helps to protect the environment by conserving natural resources, and promoting biodiversity.

Are organic foods better for us?

The Environmental Working Group's most recent report on pesticide residues found in food shows that organic fruits and veggies had almost half the pesticide content of non-organic. They discovered that organic apples contained eight more pesticides per gram than non-organic ones, while organic strawberries contained four times as many pesticides.

Research has also suggested that organic food may reduce mercury and lead exposure. One study found that organic meats had 33 percent less lead in children than the levels of those who did not eat them. Another study concluded that pregnant mothers should avoid eating conventional fish because of the high levels mercury.

Organic food tends to be healthier than nonorganic. Experts recommend fresh vegetables and fruits whenever possible in order to reduce the risk of getting cancer.

Statistics

Cosmetic brands such as Laurel and Rose Mira are 100 percent organic and have a wide array of skincare products. (en.wikipedia.org)
Brands participating in this challenge are committed to using 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2025.[5] (en.wikipedia.org)
As for organic meat, regulations require that animals be raised in living conditions that accommodate their natural behaviours (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. (usda.gov)
To provide the highest quality products and services to every customer, with a dedicated workforce that puts the customer first and takes the extra step to achieve 100% customer satisfaction and loyalty. (hollinsorganic.com)

External Links

How To

Organic food: Are they healthier and better for you?

Organic foods are produced without the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. They are grown under natural conditions without artificial inputs such as fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetic engineering. Organic farming practices include crop rotation and cover crops, the composting of animal manure, the recycling of wastewater, as well as integrated pest management (IPM).

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP), established in 2002 to regulate production, handling and processing of organic products sold in the United States. The NOP regulations ensure that organic agricultural products are produced according to federal standards outlined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Additionally, organic products must not contain prohibited substances like pesticide residues or genetically modified organisms.

For producers in the USA who want their products "organic", there are two kinds of certification programs: one for farmers or ranchers and one for manufacturers. Each program requires an annual audit of operations to ensure compliance with strict standards. This service is offered by several certifying agents, such as the CCOF Certified Organic Farmers & Ranchers or Quality Assurance International. These organizations offer third-party verification that farms adhere to strict guidelines about environmental stewardship and labour practices.

According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, organic agriculture accounted for $4.7 billion in sales in 2013. In 2013, organic agriculture accounted for $4.7 billion in sales. This represents a 23-percent increase over 2009. Sales at grocery stores were up 12 percent during this period. Spending on organic produce directly increased by 29.9%, while meat, poultry eggs, and seafood spending grew only by 1%.

Organic food is more expensive but the quality of organic food is worth it. Consumer Reports' 2015 survey found that 88% of respondents would spend more on organic food if it had higher nutritional values. Another study published in Health Affairs found that people who eat organic foods are less likely to suffer health problems like cancer, diabetes, obesity, asthma, heart disease, and depression.

Although organic foods are not proven to prevent or treat certain diseases, some research suggests that they could improve overall health and reduce exposure to pesticides. One example is the conclusion reached by a review of 31 studies, published in 2010, that organically reared beef was significantly less toxic than conventionally-raised beef. Similar conclusions were reached in a separate analysis of 11 other studies published in 2012.

The Environmental Working Group produced a 2014 report that compared organic and non-organic chickens, pork, beef and lamb. After 2006, when USDA required stricter organic standards in animal raising for human consumption, the group noted that E.coli O157 was less common among children and adults.