Enjoy Living an Organic Lifestyle
As you begin shopping around for organic, you will discover that
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) breaks this
down into three categories. Organic products consisting of less
than 70% organic ingredients may or may not list the organically
produced ingredients on the package label. However, any organic
claims cannot be made on the front side of the package.
1. 100% Organic - All the ingredients are just that - 100%
organic
2. Organic - Ingredients are a minimum of 95% organic
3. Made with Organic Ingredients - Ingredients are a minimum of
70% organic and the remaining 30% have tight restrictions, which
includes GMOs
In addition, the USDA provides an organic seal, which is a
guarantee to consumers that the integrity and quality of the
product meets high standards. Any operation that is
organic-certified is required to maintain a system plan along
with records whereby compliance can be verified. To ensure the
standards are met, these operators are required to undergo
random inspections. Organic practices are very specific, which
include:
* Crop Rotation - Alternating each field with different types of
crops to help stop soil depletion and to prevent breeding
grounds for insects
* Replanting - Planting some crops such as clover to help add
nutrients to the soil, as well as increase organic matter and
prevent weeks
* Insects - Using good insects such as ladybugs and lacewings to
fight against bad insects
* Compost - Adding compost (manure, plant waste, food scraps)
helps the soil retain nutrients and moisture
* Disease - Feeding livestock organic foods while providing them
with a stress-free environment to prevent disease and maintain
healthy animals
With organic crops and livestock, no pesticides or chemical
fertilizers are used, which contaminate both soil and water
supply. You will discover much more in my book The Ultimate Organic
Lifestyle, learning all about organic living and what you
can do to begin living an organic life. You will enjoy cooking
with organic foods and find that you feel better and when you
buy organic you are actually working toward improving our
ecosystem. Remember, organic is not just a process but a
complete change of life - for the BETTER!