There are plenty of good reasons to go organic for the planet; fewer pesticides used to grow food means less gunk in our air, soil, and water, organic food can help to promote a greener overall lifestyle and value system, and many organic meats require far less non-renewable resources than mass-factory raised animals.

BUT – is organic food actually a healthier choice for you and your family, or is organic food only beneficial to the planet’s well being? Actually, many organic foods ARE better for your health than their conventional counterparts. Why…

• The fresher the food the better it usually is nutrient-wise. Organics are often sold in-season and locally which means you get fresher food.
• Workers on conventional farms are exposed to plenty of the chemicals and pesticides used to grow conventional crops. People working on these farms can get very sick and even die from exposure, so organics are absolutely healthier in the case of the folks growing the crops.
• According to Sustainable Table research notes that; “Grass-fed beef has two to six times more omega-3’s than factory farmed, grain-fed meat.” (Omega-3 is a healthy fat that your body needs).
• See more health benefits of organics.

Keep in mind…

Not all organic foods pack the same punch. Just being organic does not ALWAYS make a food healthier. Learn which organic foods are the smartest to purchase.

Learn more:

11 Ways to Save Money on Organic Food

Go organic without losing your mind

Do you think organic food is better for you, or do you buy it for the earth? OR maybe you don’t buy organic at all – let me know in the comments.

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If you need something less scary read: Build your own compost bin.

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“Eat the View” is coordinated by Kitchen Gardeners International, a Maine-based 501c3 nonprofit network of 10,000 gardeners from 100 countries who are inspiring and teaching more people to grow some of their own food.”

If you want to get involved, you can sign the White House Victory Garden Petition. The petition will be delivered with a collection of heirloom seed packets to the Obamas.)

Visit Eat the View to learn about how you can plant smart, sustainable gardens in your home and community.

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So, that means I’ll once again have to decide how to take care of a lawn, or I could just buy a condo… So, here’s the thing. When I was growing up, we always had clover in the yard. I’m not sure why, exactly. Maybe the fields where things that made money grew were more important.

Nevertheless, I never saw much wrong with having some weeds mixed in with the lawn until I had a house in the city.

Well, then I had to have a nice yard. The lady who used to live across the road from us was a lawn psycho. She always complimented me if she saw me working outside on the lawn, but she was out there four times more often. Apparently, the way my lawn looked was very important to her property values.

There’s got to be a name for this other than “keeping up with the Joneses.” Instead of peer pressure, maybe it’s Neighbor Stress. Have you ever asked yourself whether you really want to spend a bunch of time and money killing weeds in your lawn with herbicides? Are a few dandelions so bad?

I was happy to see that Michael over at Green Living Tips has been having some of these same thoughts. He wrote a great post called Useful Weeds. He points out the ways that weeds can be beneficial and asks you to question your views on them. Please give it a good read.

Do you use weed killers on your lawn?

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in August 2008

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No one knows for sure yet what’s causing Colony Collapse Disorder, but the use of pesticides is suspected. Contaminated water or a new pathogen are other possibilities. It’s a mystery that started in the US and has spread to several other countries.

What’s happening? Honey bees, known for being such hard workers, are disappearing. They just simply aren’t returning to their hives. And the colony, with only a queen and a few immature workers, collapses.

To put this disorder in terms everyone (well, nearly everyone) can relate to, think of it as ice cream.

According to a recent CNN article, the bee disorder is affecting 40% of Haagen-Dazs’ 73 flavors. We need honey bees for ingredients like almonds, strawberries and cherries.

What are some things you can do that might help the bees?

• Opt for organic herbicides in your lawn and garden. (See the Nature’s Avenger post.)

• The USDA suggests avoiding the use of pesticides mid-day when honey bees are most active.

• Buy from local organic farmers.

• This might seem silly, but rent Bee Movie! No, that won’t physically assist the bees, but it might help you and your family appreciate bees a bit more. I won’t give away the plot in case you haven’t seen it.

• Eat some Vanilla Honey Bee Ice Cream from Haagen-Dazs. They’ll donate a portion of the proceeds to fund honey bee research at the University of California, Davis and Penn State University.

Are you concerned about rising food prices due to Colony Collapse Disorder?

Image via Haagen-Dazs.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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Isn’t that a pretty yellow bottle? Sorry, had to say it.

I received a bottle of Nature’s Avenger to review, but since I don’t have a yard of my own right now, this review is a collaborative effort. I asked a relative to try it out for me. Let’s call said relative Sam. He tried the weed killer in several locations in his yard and in cracks in the driveway. He had been using Roundup, so he used Nature’s Avenger alongside Roundup for comparison.

I’ll get to the results in just a few, but first, some background info about the product in this pretty yellow bottle.

Nature’s Avenger Organic Herbicide is safe for the environment, as well as children, pets and wildlife. It’s indicated for non-selective control of herbaceous broad leaf and grass weeds.

The organic weed killer can be effective on patios, sidewalks, driveways, flower beds, vegetable gardens and around trees.

Nature’s Avenger is made with natural citrus oil and is highly biodegradable and non-toxic. It has also been field tested in university and third-party settings and was found to be an effective weed killer when tested against Roundup and similar products containing glyphosate.

Nature’s Avenger is OMRI-listed, EPA registered and approved for use in organic production by the USDA National Organic Program. It also received the 2008 MGA Green Thumb Award.

So, how did it work for my tester Sam?

He said that the orange smell was pleasant, the directions clear and dispenser easy to use. Sam said that Nature’s Avenger does work, but he felt that Roundup did a better job overall.

My first question to him was whether he remembered to shake the bottle. According to Nature’s Avenger, the product effectiveness is greatly affected by not shaking the bottle before use. He said that he did shake the bottle.

As always, results can vary, so you should probably try it out for yourself. And if you’re looking for a green alternative that’s safe for wildlife and the environment (not toxic Roundup), Nature’s Avenger has been shown to be more effective than other natural weed killers on the market today.

Have you used Nature’s Avenger?

Image via Nature’s Avenger.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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This cute, big bag will help you compost in style this fall. Well, natural style, that is. The Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em Leaf Sack from Nether Wallop Trading Company holds a big bunch of leaves. Just place the full bag in a corner of your garden this fall and let it be. The jute bag will biodegrade, leaving you with some rich compost.

Image via Nether Wallop Trading Company

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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Coming up later on Tree Hugging Family: Review of an organic weed killer!

Image via flickr.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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She has now ventured into making wasp nests! And she’s not crazy. She’s concerned about using pesticides to kill wasps. Those nasty chemicals are bad for our important friends like bees. Read more about how pesticides are contributing to bee colony collapse disorder.

Hanging a fake wasp nest can be a very effective method of obtaining wasp-free zones inside your garden, porch or other area. Apparently, wasps don’t like company.

If you crochet, you’ll want to hurry over to Noreen’s post, Crocheted Wasp Nest for her pattern. If you’re not into making your own, then you can purchase fake wasp nests online. However, this is just a darn good time to take up crocheting for the bees!

Image via MorgueFile.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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Recycled tyre trug

Eco pine torch

Recycled tyre horse swing

And more.

[images via Hen & Hammock]

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