What Organic is NOT

We hear the term thrown around a lot these days.  We see it in the produce aisle, on cleaning products, and these days, even on clothes.  But just what does it mean?  Often the discussion of what organic is, derives to what organic is NOT.  The term organic is associated with no fertilizer, no chemicals, no sprays, no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), and no antibiotics.  If that is what it is not, that leaves me pondering, what is it?! 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines organic as:

 “Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”_{http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPConsumers}

     While I have been interested in the idea since high school- I did my senior research project on organic standards- the term has become much more real for me this summer, interning on a peach and berry orchard.  While I have only been working here a month, I cannot count the number of times people have asked me if this farm is organic.

     Media tells us there are innumerable things to consider when selecting our food: methane from cows the carbon footprint of the semi bringing the food to the store, the conditions animals are raised in, super weeds, water quality, how the animal is slaughtered or as some prefer, “harvested,” and on down the list to the chemical makeup of fertilizers and pesticides.  We are bombarded with concerns about the production of the food and fiber products we use on a daily basis.  All too frequently, we lump all of these concerns under one umbrella that can be defeated by one generic, misleading term: organic. 

     The root of the problem is the word itself.  Organic means different things to different people.  To some it simply means home-grown, to others, grown with minimal inputs, and to others, a misconstrued vision of the old fashioned farmer putt-putting out to his field on his open cab tractor to single handedly pick his rows of corn.  But what does it really mean?  Knowing the potential for miscommunication of this word can put you ahead of the game.     

The term organic was first restricted on food packaging in 2002.  This was done in an attempt to clarify the meaning of organic.  Clearly, we still have a long journey ahead of us.  The USDA has a mile long list of specifications of what is organic and what is not.  If you have a keen interest, they can be perused here:

 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=3f34f4c22f9aa8e6d9864cc2683cea02&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title07/7cfr205_main_02.tpl

However, for those of us who like to skim, these standards can be summed up in this seal. 

This seal guarantees the product you are buying is organic by the USDA’s standards. If all these standards are met by the farmer, they can become certified and sell their product with the label “organic.”  If you have questions about other confusing packaging terms such as “natural,” “humane,” or “no added hormones,” check out their definitions here: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPConsumers

Some Common Organic Myths

1. Organic means no chemicals.

•  Organic producers use chemicals to control pests and weeds just like any other producer. 
• Without the use of these treatments (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides) (vaccinations in the case of livestock), there would be little to no crop to harvest. 
• Organic farmers are allowed to use a specified list of chemicals.  If these chemicals are not sufficient, they are then allowed to step up to another set of chemicals.  Some allowed chemicals for organic production include arsenic, potassium bicarbonate, isopropanol, and sodium hypochlorite.
• Chemically, plants cannot tell the difference between the forms of nutrients          they take up.  To a plant, phosphorous is phosphorous, whether it comes from manure or from diammonium phosphate.  To a plant, one form of fertilizer is just as good as another.

2.  Organic is better for the environment.

• Both organic & conventional farmers use practices to benefit the environment. 
• There are far too many variables to conclude that organic farming is morebeneficial for the environment.

3. Organic food is better for you.

• Many sources shout the benefits of organic food.  Few share what organic food actually is.  Refer to http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255 for specifics. 
• Organic food does not have more nutrients or different nutrients than other foods.
• Local food does have fewer preservatives than food that is processed and shipped.

4. Organic is the way all food should be grown.

• When comparing organic to conventional methods, organic methods produce less food.
• By 2050, our world population will reach over 9 billion. This will require us to produce more food than we have produced since the beginning of agriculture, all combined.  We will not be able to do this without advanced technology and science. 

      First and foremost, I suggest we all trust the producers who put in long hours to provide us with the safest food supply in the world.  But, if you have preferences for how your food is produced, don’t assume you have the same definition of “organic” as the person you bought it from.  Before you jump on the organic bandwagon, know your facts.  Take a moment to read the label, ask the producer at the farmer’s market, or do a little research your self.  Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food is one way the USDA helps make it easy for you to find out exactly how farmers produce their crops and livestock.  Check it out here: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=KNOWYOURFARMER

Organic is not free of chemicals or better for you and the environment.

Organic IS an option available to us as consumers.  And as with any decision, we must take a close look at the facts before following the crowd.

Gieringer’s Orchard- My Summer Job!

To wrap up my spring break, I spent the day with Frank, Melanie, & Bryce, learning about their orchard and attending a tomato grafting workshop at the Kansas State University- Olathe Research station.

1. Here are some of the younger peach trees. Notice the red tint?  Those are the branches that will produce peaches this year!  Each of these tiny branches will set about 20 fruit, which will need to be thinned to 3 or 4 so the weight of the peaches doesn’t break the branches.

2.Here are the strawberries- a new crop for the orchard this year.  The strawberries are planted in the fall and grow, then are covered for the winter months with large sheets of white plastic.  Here, the rows have just been uncovered and are ready for sunshine!  The fence surrounding the rows are to keep the deer from stealing the crop.  The plastic fabric around the plants will keep the fruit from sitting directly on the soil which can cause rot.

3. Dr. Cary Givard tells us about the healing chambers used for grafted tomato plants at the KSU Olathe Research station.  Tomatoes are grafted to promote disease resistance, increase yields, and create stronger plants with a sturdy root system and high yield scion (upper part of the plant.)

This summer, I will be working at Gieringer’s Orchard, learning about peach, blackberry, plum, sweet corn, and tomato production, as well as how they work as a local business. I am so excited to finally put my studies to use!  Frank told me they try to do at least one new thing every year to always keep growing. These are my kind of people! :)

To learn more about them, check out their website:  www.gieringersorchard.com or their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/GieringersOrchard 

With a Little Help From Our Friends

How easy it is to forget our own advice.  I can’t count the number of times I have told someone that I am there for them.  I hear it said over and over from those around me: “That’s what friends are for.”  Heck, I even wrote a speech about it when I was a state FFA officer. 

But it seems no matter how many times I say it to others, I always seem to think I can get away without it.  This week I was reminded yet AGAIN, the importance of sharing your experiences with your friends.  I think I need to take a piece of that speech I wrote and put it on my forehead or something.

            “None of us have problem free lives.  That’s something we all share and if we let it, it can bring us together, instead of keeping us apart.  Admitting weakness is hard for us to do.  We think it makes us less of a person if we have to rely on others.  It makes us feel like a burden.  We don’t want someone to have to take time out of their day to solve our problem!  Sometimes we even feel that we aren’t worthy of help.  It is so subconscious we don’t even realize how ridiculous it sounds.  We are unworthy of help?  No.  Every person is worthy of help.  You are alive for a reason.  You have a mission.  A mission that cannot be carried out if you don’t believe in yourself…………The best things are accomplished by teams- whether it’s that perfectly executed football play, a beautiful symphony, or a well-run campaign; each takes a group of people relying on each other.  Life is no different- we need to rely on each other and allow them to rely on us.  Being strong isn’t burrowing in a hole all alone.  Being strong is having the courage to share yourself with those around you, to be vulnerable and accept help.”

Sometimes we have to lose our “I AM MIGHTY, HEAR ME ROAR” attitude and realize we all get by with a little help from our friends.

Thank you to all of you who share the experiences of life with me and allow me to be part of yours.  You make it richer, fuller, and filled with laughter :) 

What To Do Instead of Finishing Your Online Accounting

Things you should do instead of finishing your online accounting class

1.  Sew a plethora of scarves.

2.  Take apart and resew 2 of your favorite shirts that were too big so that they fit. Be sure to include your mother on these so she can be annoyed by your lack of sewing expertise.

3.  Make crayon art.

Other methods include:

            Making friendship bracelets, embroidering pillowcases, spending copious      amounts of time on pinterest,  organize your closet, beat your score on                      Temple Run, and read at least 4 books.

Bonus: Make at least 23 different lists of things you are never actually                                                going to do.

Only after completing each of these tasks should you use the 2 remaining days of winter break to cram in 5 quizzes, 7 tests, and 5 homework assignments.  

That’s a nice sense of purpose you have there.  It would be a shame if something happened to it.

So there’s that…

                                                        Word to the Wise:                                                        For all those headed to the gym to work off those Thanksgiving pounds, be sure your ipod has a playlist with only music you like on it.  

                                                                  Why?  

Because when you pull said Ipod out of your pocket to flip past a song that was not to your liking, you will probably fling the Ipod across the gym-goer-crowded room under someone else’s machine.  In mortification you will try to jump off your elliptical to retrieve your ipod, end up falling and getting rug burn on your knee.  And explaining that you got rug burn while on an elliptical is just difficult to justify.  This just goes to prove that no one should use ellipticals because they make you look like a gazelle, and no one wants to look silly while working out.  That’s why people do Zumba.  But I did spend a total of twenty minutes at the gym….so there’s that.

Cue Desperate Attempts at Maturity

Had my first encounter with a sewing machine last night.  Thankfully the ER was not involved.  Also, looking around my room, which currently houses a blanket fort, a hamster, and copious amounts of junk food, it all became clear…..I am a 10 year old.  Cue desperate attempts at maturity.

Because I Can

   Do you ever feel like you have no idea what is going on in your life and are pretty sure nothing will ever be 100% peachy?  No?  Well that makes three of us then.  Well technically four, except Justine is much too centered to feel that way for more than a millisecond (she didn’t tell me that, but it’s basically accepted as scientific fact.)  So three of us- myself, Kurt, and Jordan, plus Justine, and that was the topic of conversation in our living room two nights ago. 

      Whether it’s roused by some event, hits out of the blue, or is more like a funk that can’t be cured no matter how many bowls of cappuccino chip ice cream have been consumed, this feeling was making us three ask a lot of questions.  (One being, why are we not studying for the test we had in less than 14 hours.)  We questioned everything from choices made, to future plans, to if people even like us as humans or not.  Bottom line: we decided a little change was necessary. 

      I walked away from our talk feeling much better knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling that way.  And when I opened my doodle book in my econ class the next morning I happened across a quote that just clicked, “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”  I suddenly remembered something that I seem to have to rediscover every time that feeling of “my life is so insignificant” rolls around: if I am scared, then I am doing it right.  If I wasn’t scared for what is next for me, then I am just wasting away in mediocrity.  And while I’m relatively sure I am just your average person, mediocre is not something I am striving for.  

     With that fear of “will I really achieve what I want to in life,” comes something that makes it worthwhile: not knowing what will happen next in my life means anything, anything can.   I am going to continue to dream bigger than feels safe.  Each of us have been given the option to do so, and maybe it’s naïve, but I only need one reason to keep striving for the life I imagine: Because I Can.