~SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR CHALLENGING TIMES

[sumisu]

Good question on does anyone have data that proves that organic food is healthier than conventional produce?

I don't have the data, but I do have evidence. Conventional food uses petroleum-based pesticides to support their growth. I knew one small farmer who would "light" up his crops using chemicals to promote growth for sale.

Unfortunately continued use of pesticides will kill the life that makes up the soil, which includes microbes, fungi, and worms that aid the natural growth of crops. Organic ingredients supports live soil composition.

Knowing what I know about using something synthetic versus something natural to feed your garden, I would prefer natural. My maternal Grandma, who grew up on a farm, and who in married life had a large garden used aged cow and horse manure. Living on Long Island, she and Grandpa would visit the seashore after a large storm and load up on washed up seaweed, a natural product for her garden beds. Also an ingredient used in the garden were fish heads and other fish parts from Grandpa's weekly fishing to provide food. There were many natural ingredients in this garden and the harvests were immense!

Grandma told me if you survived killing diseases [one daughter died of rheumatic fever], you had a great chance in surviving healthy with naturally grown food. She limited her use of salt and opted using raw honey from a neighbor as a substitute for sugar in baked goods.

My gardening approach is to avoid any chemicals. Having poor and rocky New England soil, I opted for raised beds and filled them with natural compost plus azomite, mycorrhiza, worm castings, and bio-char. I add wood chips on the garden paths; they decompose and there are a lot of worms there. My garden additives are expensive, but my crops are great tasting and I believe support my and my neighbors' health.

Here are the steps for topping off one raised bed with natural compost:







My recommendation it go grow organic; it might be time-consuming and require more effort, but it's worth it.

sumi