Why grow organically? Why eat organically? These two questions have essentially the same answer: It's more healthy to do so. Growing organically is healthier for the soil and eating organically is healthier for our bodies. That is the bottom line. In this way, it is clear that our health is directly tied to the health of the earth. Organic agriculture is an attempt to improve both. We believe it is extremely important that more people eat and grow organically, but also start thinking "beyond organic." The fundamental question then becomes: Is it sustainable? |
Eating and growing organically are essential steps in this direction, but there's really more to it. For example, in terms of growing organic, there's an important difference between substituting organic for non-organic inputs and using no outside inputs at all. It is more sustainable to use compost generated by your own garden, kitchen and/or farm animals. As for eating organically, it is most sustainable to eat from your own garden and animals as much as possible and to buy from local farmers for the rest. This cuts down on the amount of energy used to produce each calorie you eat and helps to support a local food economy and food culture. | Finally, these are the root goals of sustainability: Supporting local farmers and creating a food culture that is in opposition to the current fast-food "culture of convenience." There's nothing quite like a gourmet dish self-prepared from self-grown ingredients: Delicious! And so this philosophy leads to a practical conclusion: Grow an organic garden; let sustainability guide your cultivation and eating. (For much more in-depth discussion, read the books listed on our Suggested Reading page.) |
©2008 Shambani Organics Last updated September 2008