Going Organic Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive or Complicated
Nowadays it doesn’t come as a revelation to anybody that even seemingly healthy food (fruit, vegetables, lean meats, etc.) mass-produced in industrial farms is far from being, well, healthy. Following the desire to achieve a high and fast output, they pump the animals with antibiotics and hormones and force-fed grain. The plants are constantly sprayed with chemicals to protect them from diseases and vermin as well. While this approach allows for plentiful and cheap foodstuffs, it is disastrous for their overall quality – and in such a situation going organic and growing your food turns from a pretentious hobby into a necessity in an eye blink.
But how does one go about doing it? Let’s take a look.
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Livestock
While this method offers awesome opportunities for anybody who wants to go organic, it is sadly hardly can be called a viable solution for the vast majority of Americans. Even if you leave in the country, it doesn’t mean going down this path is going to be easy, as it requires large up-front investments and a great deal of effort in the process. Tradeoffs are huge – but you probably shouldn’t attempt it unless you are sure you can pull it off.
2. Chicken
Probably the simplest and the most efficient thing you can do, as it is cheap to implement, relatively easy to sustain and gives a constant yield: you don’t just get meat but eggs as well, and unlike with those bought at a supermarket, you always know what the hens who produce them eat. It doesn’t have to be purely utilitarian as well – a properly built chicken coop will make your backyard even more attractive, giving it this precious rustic look. Some models of chicken coops can even be quite efficiently kept in a city.
3. Vegetables
Another easily workable solution. If you live in a suburb, you can plant a little kitchen garden and grow most greens and vegetables you are going to need and, again, such an arrangement doesn’t have to look ugly – take care of it properly, and it will only improve the scenic outlook. In addition to the direct benefits, tending to it makes for a very satisfying and pleasant hobby.
4. Condiments
It may not look like a very significant step towards a more organic diet, but most people with experience in this area suggest that you should start with baby steps and work on them. Things like mustard, horseradish, garlic, basil, dill, caraway and so on aren’t hard to grow, occupy little space (some of them you can easily grow on a windowsill in a city) and make for an excellent start towards a more mindful approach to eating.
5. Mushrooms
For some reason, mushrooms aren’t usually what people first think about when they consider growing their food, but in many situations, they are much more viable than any alternative. Growing mushrooms is vastly different than growing vegetables and takes getting used to, but the tradeoffs are worth overcoming the difficulties. Mushrooms are a healthy addition to many meals, don’t contain fat, are low in calories and chock-full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. An ideal place to grow them is in the basement – you can organize an entire small mushroom farm this way – but even space under a sink will do in a pinch.
Going organic by growing your food may seem complicated at first, but the prospects of eating home-grown produce are more than enough to tip the scales – it is ecologically safe, contains higher nutrient counts and, in general, is better for your health. And once you’ve started, it’ll grow easier with practice.
Author: Melissa Burns
