A mundane trip to the grocery store has turned into a time of moral reflection for Dreg on the cost of organics. He truly wants to do right for the health of his family and to benefit the earth but can he afford it?
It’s a showdown between good and evil and a choice must be made.
Either way, is he willing to pay the price?
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The moment I decided to consume all organic/natural products I knew it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have more energy, clarity of mind, greater skin, hair, and nails. Supplementation for what many grocery store products don’t provide are obtained through whole food vitamins and probiotics to ensure whole-body wellness. I’ll never go back to processed foods and drinks again. We’re natural in composition so natural is how we should eat.
This cartoon is right on the mark. It is a constant dilemma when you’re having to weigh what you can afford with what you know to be right. And when you’re buying organic products that have to be shipped across the country, if not 1/2 way around the world, to get to you then you have to figure in the pollution it took just to get them to you’re door. It’s why growing your own and buying things that are truly local is getting to be about the only answer.
It is hard when your poor to buy only organic. That’s why I decided to grow my own food with the help of Food Not Lawns. Take care, Juanita
MamaTaney reply on May 18, 2008:
Food Not Lawns is SUCH an inspiring book!! We’ve been growing our own for a couple years now, but reading this book motivates me to do SO much more and to be more involved with other people - not just worrying about what we’re growing for ourselves!!
There are so many things you can do, you just have to start somewhere!
Sam reply on May 22, 2008:
Who wrote Food not Lawns?
MamaTaney reply on May 22, 2008:
H.C. Flores wrote it. I first found it at the library, and was so inspired by it and impressed by it that I went out an ordered it from Amazon.com (they had a fairly good price for new/used). It really is a wonderful read too - full of knowledge and facts, great drawings, and fun to read as well.
Toby Hemenway, who wrote “Gaia’s Garden,” did the foreword for this book.
These days the first step to finding ‘organic’ foods, if you didn’t plant them yourself, is to look at who owns which product. Seriously, look up the biggest producers and make a list of all of their products… there won’t be much left on the shelf. 99% of the big producers use cost efficient methods to produce goods and sorry, organic just isn’t as important as the bottom line.
I’d bet more than 50% of food labeled ‘organic’ isn’t even organic.
Ok, so I have to add an extra comment/angle on this thread: how about when you’re on vacation?? We’re going out of town next week and I’ve been looking around (via the web, a true godsend in this case!) trying to find green places to eat or get food. Due to space issues, we can’t take as much of our own food down with us. Geez .. just when you thought it was safe to go into the water and relax, now you’ve got the green-conscience telling you that you’re being too naughty on your vacay!
allnaturalme reply on July 16, 2008:
This month we are on vacay and mama is feeling very condemned by the Cloth Diaper Goddess. (among other green deities) It’s just too $$ to pay for the laundromat every day and also a hassle to lug around the shitted nappies, so while we are out of town, we are using disposables and I guess the baby will have to go to hell.
Good luck foraging for healthy foods on your vacation. Remember you are leaving for a week to have FUN and relax. That means no self-damnation if you stray off the path - Overall enjoyment is probably more important for you and for family. At least that is what I’m telling myself when I need the green-conscience to zip it. (just for a little bit so I don’t go nuts)
MamaTaney reply on July 16, 2008:
Yup, cloth diapers + vacays = aww crap! Literally!! ha ha ha - sorry, couldn’t resist.
I checked out http://www.eatwild.com to try and find some local “treasures” but didn’t come up with any luck for where we’re going. Then I did a goodsearch (like google, but gives $$ to charities each time you search) for ‘natural food’ in Myrtle Beach, SC. Found a health food store with a deli less than 10 miles from where we’re staying. So, plan to hit that up while we’re there!
To be honest though, I find it rough to stick to 100% organic AND my budget with having little kids. In my head (a dangerous place to be for sure!) I KNOW it is better to feed my kids healthy, organic, and all-natural food. But have you seen how my kids eat!??! Or, their weird little food stages where they will only eat ‘x’?? Not to mention, kids don’t EVER waste any food: throwing on the floor, in the hair, spilling over, ‘I’m done & have tossed it out before you can stop me’, and so on. Seeing food that I’ve spent GOOD $$ on go to waste kills me!
But, of course, we all know my go-to solution now don’t we .. too bad Captain Morgan’s isn’t organic! 
(PS - I really am NOT an alcoholic .. I just play one on tv — or would it be the computer in this case? ha ha ha)
ssnuffy reply on July 17, 2008:
hi Mama, great comments thank you. 100 percent organics is tough for everyone, and ill bet most folks fail that goal. especially on Vacation. Aother great reason for a good supliment o cover yu n the kidz while your eaten junk n stuff. Then back to good foods as soon as your able. We all fight the same battle. keep on keepin on and you’ll reap the harvest. Gods very best your way>>>>>>>>>. ssnuffy
Sam reply on July 17, 2008:
Glad I’m not in the Mama-Boat yet. :-/ lol. But I still can’t wait either! 
Anyway, I’ve heard of diapers that are biodegradable. I think they’re called “Green Diapers,” or something like that. I’m sure they’re pretty expensive, but much easier than trying to wash cloth diapers while on vacation. And of course you won’t feel guilty by just throwing them away.
MamaTaney reply on July 18, 2008:
Yea, they make “green diapers” but I’ll be honest, I’ve yet to try them - they’re way expensive!! In fact, we haven’t even used cloth diapers in over a year. Ebay will no longer allow you to sell your gently used cloth diapers (or buy any!), so we’re stuck with a whole load that our youngest has outgrown. Also, last summer he began getting bad diaper rashes, and so we had to switch to disposables. Something with the heat and humidity and being so fair/sensitive-skinned was just making a horrible combo with the cloth diapers.
Oh well, can’t be green in every way - though that is the dream isn’t it?
Sam reply on July 20, 2008:
Yeah, I figured they were really expensive. hehe. I was buying biodegradable training pads for my puppy. They were ten bucks for maybe 12 of them. When you can buy regular pads for six dollars for 50.
Why did Ebay stop the selling of cloth diapers? That’s dumb. Maybe Sadie will put some up on Etsy. 
mamataney reply on July 26, 2008:
Sam,
Ebay claims that the reason they quit carrying them is for “pervert prevention” … ok, not their exact words, but basic concept. Ridiculous.
Ok, I just had to share this follow up here in regards to “Green Vacation” since we just got back today. I called ahead of time and found out that while the condo/hotel we were staying at doesn’t recycle personally, that Myrtle Beach, SC does and there was a drop-off very, very close by. AND, they took more things that home does!! We also were able to buy some organic groceries, as well as locally grown produce ~ gotta love those farmer produce stands! AND, for packing up some groceries we were taking down there we used our cloth grocery bags. This allowed us to re-use them for grocery shopping & the mandatory shopping trips (I know, consumerism, yuck, shame-on us!)!!
Biggest green-plus though was the effect on the inlaws who are SO, SO NOT green!! Mandatory recylcing, following them around turning off lights & tv’s and so on. Letting them see that you won’t die if you eat local and organic food. The thought of having some green-Gaia-lovin’ vibes rub off on them definitely rocks!
Sorry for this being a tad off topic, but just thought I would share some green-vacay tips/ideas.
Just had to add this since the huge “DUH” lightbulb went off in my head regarding it:
Some good places to nose around when trying buying organic/all natural on a budget: Big Lots and Dollar Store. Big Lots is definitely the jack-pot stop! We are able to almost always find organic cereals there. Today we lucked out and found Annie’s Bunny Cereals there for $2 a box!! We’ve found tons of organic foods there as well as organic body products and cleaning products. The list of all-natural products is even longer.
The Dollar Store is a hit-or-miss. They usually tend to have some organic teas in stock, maybe one other type of food. We once found Earthfare organic tortilla chips there. Talk about stocking up! The people watching us thought we were complete loons, but the chips were a good year away from their expiration date and in great condition!!
Sam reply on July 30, 2008:
Wow! Thanks! I was just thinking about this the other day. Because I know that buying in bulk is good because it’s less packaging and cheaper, but I don’t usually buy in bulk because I can never buy organic or natural foods. I’ll have to stop by Big Lots. The only places I’ve ever bought in bulk are Walmart and Sam’s Club. Thanks MamaT.
MamaTaney reply on July 30, 2008:
When I think of buying in bulk I usually think of bulk-bins where you bag your own stuff and get as much as you need. It is hard for me to think of buying in bulk at Sam’s. I guess in that sense though I buy most things in bulk, as I tend to buy twice what I need in order to have an always-stocked pantry (makes cooking dinners with kids underfoot A LOT easier!).
I had never shopped at Big Lots till a friend gave me a heads up on their organic and all-natural stuff. She said she could even find vegetarian organic food there. I’ve been really impressed with how much they carry. Only occasionally do I have to actually get my cereal from the supermarket anymore.
Sam reply on July 31, 2008:
Bulk bins? Not sure what those are. lol. Yeah, I rarely shop at Sam’s or Walmart, but that’s because they don’t have much of natural or organic. Nevermind the scandals behind Walmart’s employees, but that’s a whole other blog topic. lol. Anyway, I’ll have to see if I can find a Big Lots around here. We don’t have much here in little CT.
MamaTaney reply on August 1, 2008:
Bulk bins rock! You can almost always find some at Co-ops or local health food stores that carry food. You can get as much or as little of an item as you want. I try to always remember to take my cloth sacks (www.reusablebags.com) to fill instead of using their plastic bags - although I do re-use the plastic bags as bread bags since I bake our bread.
Our Co-op has a good selection of bulk stuff: granola, dried beans, rice, sugar, flour, popcorn, sweets, dog treat, teas, herbs, oils, tamari, shampoo & conditioner, and so on.
If your local health food store or Co-op doesn’t carry stuff like this, you should talk to them to see if they might be willing to!
Sam reply on August 1, 2008:
Neat! I’ll have to check it out. Sounds like these bins could help me make my awesome trail mix.
Mmmm…homemade bread. I could totally go for some of that right now. hehe. You always make me hungry MamaT! lol.
Oh yeah, I always try and remember my reusable bag. The Chico bag is the greatest invention. http://www.store.chicobag.com/index.html
And heres a slideshow that my mom just sent me on the effects of plastic bags. I think some of the pictures of the animals were altered, but I know the information is right. http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016
It definitely makes you think.
MamaTaney reply on August 3, 2008:
Homemade bread ROCKS!! There is just no going back! I bake sourdough bread using a starter that my mother shared with me. So easy, so fun. Yesterday I made a fresh loaf using some buttermilk that I had made when making butter. It is truly amazing how many ways you can reuse thing and how much life is left after each step, if that makes any sense. Take raw milk: skim the cream off to get cream (you’re still left with GOOD raw milk); blend the cream to get butter, you end up with both butter & buttermilk in the process. Use the butter for whatever, use the buttermilk for drinking or for various cooking purposes. Wonderful!
That slideshow is fantastic. We wondered the same thing about some of the photos being doctored, but the point and message is what is important.
It really makes me question whether it is better to reuse plastic bags or just recycle them. Some things, once you resuse them, you can’t recycle them (dog poo, barf bags, etc), so they get tossed. So, then, even though you’re getting more than one use out of them, aren’t you still back to square one with the original problem of them breaking down???
Dilemmas!
Sam reply on August 3, 2008:
Mmm.. sourdough is so good. hehe.
Yeah, that’s what I’ve said when people tell me “Well I use the plastic bags for trash bags when I bring them home.” Okay, so you found just one more use of them, then they just end up in the landfill anyway, just with more garbage in them. But atleast they’re trying, I guess. lol.
Thanks!
Going organic is necessary to sustain health But it’s not enough! Soils are depleated, nutrients strained. Suppliments are needed. I have found a great place to buy Company is Melaleuca. com
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All Natural Me reply on March 17, 2008:
Does Melaleuca still use artificial colorants in their products?
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ssnuffy reply on March 18, 2008:
Thank you for your responce, and the short answer to your question is yes. They also do not use Certified Organic materials because Industry standards have made the cost prohibitive. However, Melaleuca’s purpose, in billing itself as the “wellness company” is targeted at creating clean, non toxic products for your body as well as your home. Organic materials are used as much as possable and non-organic materials researched to insure quality. Therefore 23 years in business, featured in INC 500 many times, and 800 million in sales this year tells the story. Melaleuca holds the ONLY Patented process for moving nutrients through the cell membrane making it the
only effective means of nutritional absorbtion. And while I too wish all things to be all natural I need to go with whats available. 94 percent of the folks buying from Melaleuca are re-ordering.This speaks Directly to the
integrity of the company. Al,,, ssnuffy
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