Thanks to Shakespeare, we all think often about the question of being. For me, it is especially about sustainable living. It’s a no-brainer. We all know that global warming has gotten its own hot place these days-everyone knows we have to do something to save our planet.
So, what should we do? What can we do? The good news is that the eco-revolution is happening. Thousands of earth-saving ideas are popping up left and right. Food gets the spotlight for now. Many restaurants are now serving dishes loaded with locally grown produce and meat. Vegetarian and “good-conscience” meat selections are on the rise. Even generic stores like Safeway, Giant, and Harris Teeter are starting to offer organically-produced food and household products. Trader Joe’s is vigilant about presenting a wide variety of fair-trade goods. It’s not just Whole Foods or Wild Oats anymore.
Even so, be cautious. Companies are riding on the eco-revolution boom. It’s the next money-making business since the rise of Silicon Valley. Labels are what they are, misleading and mystifying. Just because a product is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s organic. A product that is organic doesn’t mean it’s certified organic. Confused yet? Well, that’s part of green education. Lucky for you, I’ve typed up an at-a-glance guide.
When you make a decision to buy an earth-friendly product, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1) Is it certified organic? Is there a difference between natural and organic? Cage-free? Farmstead? Or even beyond organic?
Check out this awesome slideshow link. How to Tell It’s Organic Slideshow
2) Where was it made?
Part of sustainable living is buying local produce. With the big-name stores entering the organic market (read: Wal Mart, Target, Safeway, etc), local produce is now the “new organic.” People want to know where their stuff is from. If there is a choice between West Virginia apples at a local farmers market and Washington state organic ones, I’d pick the former, hands down. Just think of how much fossil fuel it takes to bring the organic apples to get to my nearest organic market that is only a mile away. At least, I know more precisely where my apples are from.
3) How is it made?
Look at the ingredients. If you don’t understand half of the ingredients, the product is full of fake synthetic evil stuff. Peanut butter with hydrogenated oils is as outlandish as eating cotton candy when it’s basically high fructose corn syrup in its fluffy state. You can grind peanuts into a creamy state. You don’t have to add any fancy stuff. And yes, I’ll someday post a blog for the best tasting organic PB.
4) How expensive should it be?
Pay attention to the price. Wal-mart organics may be cheaper, but their suppliers are using large-scale production practices that go against the small-business practices. Quoted by GreenOptions.com, “The real question is not how expensive sustainable products are, but how our purchasing habits affect the global population and environment.” In a nutshell, sustainable living may be expensive, however, by doing more damage to our natural habitat, our health, and environment is much more so. I’ll post a blog about ways to save money on green living. Hang on for that.
Last question and this is more of a fundamental question:
5) Should I care?
YES!
We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap. ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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Excellent maiden blog, Liz! I’d like to also add that I’ve discovered that organic produce really doesn’t cost all that much more if you go to one of the farmer’s markets that dot the city on the weekends. By buying directly from the farmers themselves, the middlemen are kept out of the way which in turn, keeps costs down. - And its a great outing to make on an early Sunday morning!
Over the last couple of years, I’ve gradually changed my diet to incorporate “natural” foods - and was shocked at how much weight I lost - but in a way, it made a lot of sense because pretty much anything man-made contains sugar (which comes in MANY forms). Bread, pasta, etc. all are man-made. After embracing this new lifestyle, I can honestly say I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the old ways. I just feel so much … healthier. And even smarter! I realize that this is not 100% “organic” (as how you define it), but at least it’s a good start!
Is organic farming really promoting sustainability?
I read somewhere that in order to grow 1 ton of organic tomatoes, this requires 642% more farm land than it would be required for conventional tomatoes.
http://environment.independent.....283928.ece
I see all of this as ‘feel-good’ politics and those promoting this lifestyle think they’re actually doing something for the environment but it just requires more energy to produce organic food and it’s certainly not sustainable living.
But then again… to each, his own.
Oh yeah, many people are skeptical about the organic food movement. The true organics are often run by small farming communities with limited resources. It will always take energy to produce organic food. Sustainability does not mean zero energy. What the article doesn’t mention is how many big-name companies are the largest energy users. They spend millions of dollars on research and development to keep feeding us stuff that isn’t good and to find ways to sabotage the organic farming industry. Remember, manipulation is a powerful tool in the food industry.
There’s too many misconceptions on global warming… I’m not saying i know more about the whole process. But given the VAST misconception the world had about the Y2K bug, I think I’ll stick to my guns and use my better sense.
Christ, close to half a billion in sales for the silly program that simply changes the year limit on computers.
Before, everyone thought the world was flat, everyone used to think bacteria and atoms didn’t exist. OHHHH MY GOD… we’re gonna ROAST, you better stop driving!!!! I’ll stick to reality. =)
Liz, Welcome to the boards and forgive me for my brash introduction, it has nothing to do with you personally. =)
For now, you’re forgiven! Thanks for the welcome.
A very informative blog, Liz! Welcome to DeafDC. :)
I’ve been eating organic foods since 2003, largely out of concerns about the potential links between pesticides and other chemicals in our food to autism, cancer, and a whole host of other diseases. I’ve stopped eating fast food as well and I feel so much better ever since that decision to stop eating fast food.
My average weekly diet consists of hormone-free, grass-fed protein such as beef and chicken, lots of produce from the local farmer’s market such as avocados, tomatoes, spinach, garlic, onions, limes, lemons, corn, basil, and strawberries (which is now out of season). I shop for whole wheat pasta at the Yes!Organic grocery store in Adams Morgan, and the rice I get is from the Latin grocery store in addition to chiles and other mexican spices.
I do need to cut down on the diet sodas that I consume. I know it’s not healthy, and is the major weakness in my present diet. I’m trying to switch over to iced tea drinks for the caffeine that I crave. I hope I can do it.
Just googled the Yes store. Will have to stop in next time I walk that way! Ever been to Coppis?
Nope. Where’s Coppis?
Organic restaurant on U St. I walk by it almost every day but have yet to eat there.
Yum! Coppi’s has great stuff. We ate there as a group of 4 and ordered different stuff. They were consistent in all 4 dishes (plus an appetizer).
And they have a *great* selection of wine!
Rob, I agree with you. I’m a regular customer of Yes Organic. I’d like to add that Whole Foods is another good option as well. They also sell organic food, organic products, and recycled products as well. Check it out there.
Liz,
I look forward to more articles from you - especially the promised one on saving greenbacks while eating green! :)
Belle (kinda a newbie to this way of living)
Yup, the promised blog will come soon! I actually need to do some research first before I announce some awesome money saving tips. (If you have suggestions, e-mail me). And welcome to the green realm, Belle.
Great. What people need to realize is the choices they are making in the long run. I’d like to use my personal experience to share with you: Comparing myself and my half-sister… We grew up in the same house, with same parents. My parents were strictly vegetarian, and they still are, so they’d want to influence that on their children. The only sibling in the family resisted that idea, my half sister. Now, with that in mind, of course, I was jealous of her. Seeing my parents wouldn’t fight or try to convince her, they let her be. She ended up buying her own food, of course, a lot of fattening food, eggs, meat, and so on. Well, she was thin and beautiful. A lot of guys would chase her, who wouldn’t. So… over the years, I felt that I was suffering because the food I brought to school, everyone jeered at me. I was angry at my parents for that, even embarrassed by them. Years gone by, I went to NTID, I started eating anything I wanted, so of course, I ate meat, american food that has been commercialized as great food. Went I went back home to visit my family each year, my half-sister was growing wider, not taller. I thought, whoa. What happened to her. I looked at my brother and sisters, they were still in good shape. What does that tell me? What does that mean? Oh, my brother and sisters all ate vegetarian food, and they still do. My half-sister felt ashamed, so she decided to be 1/2 raw eater, and vegetarian. Once in a while, she’d fall back, but it’s okay. Recently, I went home for my nephew’s 5th birthday, my half sister looked better and happier. What does that tell us?
My father once said to me: “Yes, the healthy organic food are expensive, which is good, because then you wouldn’t have to spend too much on health insurance for being diabetes, or having internal health problems. Spending money on insurance is ridiculously expensive. No only that, we’re spending that much money on organic food to direct those cash to support those people who are honestly believe that we all deserve to be healthy.”
Hey,
Check this out….
http://www.greenfestivals.org/.....w/625/280/
Great opportunity for to educate ourselves together and be part of the wave to bring a better and healthy future for our children. :-D
To add what KJ said, it has the same effect on on animals. I have fed my dogs organic food and treats plus a bone marrow once a month. To this day, my dogs — age 3 1/2 and 4 — teeth are free of tartar and bad breathe as well as are in top shape. I have read a book about many things veterinarians wouldn’t tell you because they want to make $$. So far, I only take my dogs to the vet for their annual check up and shots. I spend a little more on quality food for my dogs and pay less for veterinary. A trade off :)
As for me, I’m a vegetarian and need to make more effort to go for organic. I feed my dogs better than myself ha!
A friend of mine told me that she’d rather cook food without additives, including chicken, vegetables, and so on, since she feels that we all eat the same. Aren’t we mammals too? :-) It seems to make sense to me, and I’ve seen her dog, oh man, not fat at all. She’s happy, friendly, and she’s very obedient. If I ever had a dog, I’d do the same. Not only that, my friend do mix the dog food with homemade cooked food, on occassions. Maybe that’s what we all need to do for our furry friends. :-)
Hi Liz - welcome to DeafDC and thanks for a fascinating introductory blog; I’m looking forward to reading more of your ecoblogs and getting more food for thought.
FWIW, Here’s a tip that helped me as I made the transition from diet soda to iced tea - I use solar power to make sun tea instead of heating up the water on the stove. Somehow, idea of using solar energy was enough to convince me to change my wasteful ways. (Yeah, yeah, then there’s the whole problem with the energy used to make the ice, and I haven’t figured out that one, except to try to make up for it by conserving elsewhere.) It is a small lifestyle change, but after a while, they add up, don’t they?
Have you read Barbara Kingsolver’s latest book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life? It is a good read, and ties right in with your topic.
Kudos to you and DeafDC for shining a light on environmental issues!
Hey,
While we’re on the topic, anyone know of any good raw restaurants in DC? I couldn’t find any when I was there last week, and I’ll be in DC several times over the next few years.
For those of you who are wondering what the connection is, raw food is basically unprocessed, whole food in its natural state, and it should be organic. Yum.
Thanks, e’body. :)
Wow, I searched online and found two recommendations:
Delights of the Garden
2616 Ga Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20011
E-Mail: AyizeWer1@aol.com
Phone/Fax 202.319.8747
Delights of the Garden has moved to 2616 Ga Ave., across the street from Howard Univ.’s school of Business and we now feature a cool-looking cafe with raw and cooked vegan favorites. Our sampler platter is a vegan favorite at Delights of the Garden. Also check out our new book “30 Days @ Delights of the Garden”
Everlasting Life
2928 Georgia Ave NW
washington,dc 20001
Phone 2022321700
Use no eggs or milk, have store in same location, contact them
Wonderful! Thank you so much, KJ! Guess that’s a real limitation of Sidekicks when it comes to Internet searching. ;) I could only find this filthy, disgusting hole in the wall when I was in DC recently
Again, thank you - I’ll check them out when I’m in DC in the fall!