The Workermonkey

Friday, February 17, 2006

Organic Equality 

# posted by wyldshaman @ 2/17/2006 03:34:00 PM

A 22-year study of Corn & Soybean yeilds on Organic VS Conventional farms concluded that they both produce about the same amount. But the Organic system uses 30% less fossil fuel and also conserves water and soil quality.

I will also add that, Pesticide exposure, a leading cause of cancer in farm workers and, i believe, the overall population, is completely mitigated under organic farming practices.

The study did say that the average cost of production on Organic farms was 15% higher.

But lets keep in mind that most farming in the USA is unprofitable, direct commodity subsidies in 2004 were $12.5 Billion. With the largest handouts going to the biggest farms. Imagine if this money was poured into small scale organic farms, or CSA's.

Lets also touch on the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico, last i knew it was the size of Massachusetts. This is caused by massive fertilzer runoff from row crops, like corn and soy, our tax dollars at work.

My point is that; Conventional farming is not the Only way, it is just one way, and not a very good way at that, it is unhealthy and unsustanable economically.

6 comments

Did I see "mitigated" in there? I'm very proud of you! From the guy, who like 3 years-4years ago told me "I don't like big words, I'm not going to use them". (Car ride back from free state project camp out.) Good point about the deadzone.

Seriously though. What did I tell you about the that book? Put that thing away before it gets you. It has an eerie seduction that has captured the minds of many men. Just becareful is all I'm saying.

By  NoBrainRequired, at Friday, February 17, 2006 6:12:00 PM  

All we are saying, is give peace a chance.

By  Brancibeer, at Friday, February 17, 2006 6:55:00 PM  

It is good to buy local organic produce (or other goods for that matter) from the person that did all the work, even if the price is a bit higher than the supermarket as it is more satisfying to hand it to the farmer than see it speed off electronically to the foreign owners of the supermarket. Even better is when the farm stand uses the honor system, that is encouraging in a time when people in general seem to suck.

Entirely unrelated but I am too lazy and it's not worth starting another topic: Anyone see the US lose two medals yesterday? Leading the women's ridercross final by a mile, Lindsey Lacobellis gets huge air and does a grab for the crowd, then catches an edge landing and ends up with silver. But hey, that's the American way, go big or go home! Although not so blatent, our women's hockey outshot Sweden in the semifinal 39-18, yet the opportunistic Swedes scored two on turnovers and ended up winning a shootout.

By  Damon, at Saturday, February 18, 2006 4:22:00 AM  

Farmer Direct is the way to go. Thats why im a big supporter of the community farm, small local farms that support the town. We have one in East Haddam called New Hope Farm, i tried to buy a share last year, but it was sold out.

But i am impressed with Stop & Shop, they came out with there own line of Organics called "Nature's Promise," and what i liked most about this, besides the competitive price, is that most of the produce is grown in the USA. It seems foolish to me to buy an Organic Apple from New Zealand, the shipping must MITIGATE any organic benefit.

On "Big Words," you refer to a time when you were reading the dictionary and learning a new word or two each day, half the time i didnt know what you were talking about and you refused to talk normal people english.

By  wyldshaman, at Saturday, February 18, 2006 10:07:00 AM  

Funny how things work. You start using big words and I still babble like an idiot. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess.

By  NoBrainRequired, at Saturday, February 18, 2006 11:39:00 AM  

All we are saying, is give peace a chance.

By  Brancibeer, at Saturday, February 18, 2006 7:35:00 PM  

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