Struggling to understand "organic"

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

I suspect that this conversation has been had here before, so if anyone wants to just direct me to it and let this thread drop, that's cool. But I don't understand exactly what "organic" means. Presumably, no synthetic hormones, pesticides, fertilizers? Is non-GMO implied, or explicit? Or just an issue that is ignored? Can something be labelled "organic" if one ingredient is organic, or if the main ingredient is organic and the others or not, or any one of the others is not? For instance, could "organic" granola be made with, say, vanilla that is not organic? Canned "organic italian-style tomatoes" with non-organic basil? Etc.

I have decided that I really want myself and my little family here to walk away from the synthetics and the GMO's. I'm over it, I'm sick of hoping they won't hurt us. I know you can only do so much, but whatever. This feels like a reasonable and good choice to me. So I'm trying to educate myself about these labels a little.


If anyone can think of anything else relevant I should know, besides what I've asked, let it fly. Thanks.

[redbrick]

Hi, "Painted", check out Herbs and Flowers. There's a thread titled "Organic, what does it mean?" or something to that effect. I bumped it to the top for you.

It should answer some of your questions. I'm pretty sure GMO is not considered organic, but I'm not certain. As for organic ingredients, I'm pretty sure that all ingredients must be organic for the product to be labeled as such. I may be wrong about that, however.

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

Thanks :)

[winter_unfazed]

There is a difference nowadays between organic and ecologically grown. Organic as Howard and Rodale originally defined it meant "grown without chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and with care taken to keep the soil from being depleted." Nowadays, at least in the U.S. and U.K., organic has a more complex legal definition and you cannot sell as organic unless your produce and farm have been evaluated on eleventy-one criteria ranging from how you till your soil to where you rest your pumpkins on the ground after harvest. Therefore, "ecological" has arisen to recapture the spirit of what Howard and Rodale first meant by "organic". Grown in harmony with nature, not necessarily in harmony with a bunch of red tape.

Jeffery

[windsng225]

Hi I painted, I truly think that unless you grow everything yourself, you can't be "organic". I mean everything like wheat flour, fish pond, cattle, just everything. Today that would take too much time, with grinding of the wheat to make the flour let alone the products that you need to make a cake! I am retired now and I don't have the time nor the place to do all of that. I wouldn't know where to start.
But, what I have done, for my family is; make home made just about everything without preservitives, make bread with organic flour even down to the chips, I make them myself. All this stuff takes time and all is done with as close to organic or as I say pure as I can get. I make my own jam as most people here do.
I live with my son and his girlfriend and they all are junk food junkies. So I try to make stuff that they and the kids (teen agers) will like. It's a lot of work. But I have tried to train them as far as shopping for food goes. If you read the box, bag and there are words that your can't pronounce or you don't know what it means, don't purchase it. I won't use it. So we are going as organic as we can here. I'm sure that there is a lot more that I can do, but at this point, all I do is cook, bake, can and eat!
I must say, I do like the eating part of it! lol.
joyce

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

Thanks everyone...I've been doing my best with the transition in our lifestyle, everything is not certified organic, but I am paying more attention and choosing wisely...I find I've been sometimes choosing things from France, England, etc. in the absence of an organic option, simply b/c I've heard they're not into the GMO thing there. Presumably synthetic pesticides, yes, but I'm content with no GMO's at times. I am excited to have my own stuff be ready to pick so I don't have to think about the veggies/fruits. And I have been doing a lot of baking things myself, which the family has enjoyed, so that's good. Really trying hard to adapt recipes to whole grains though, which has been kind of difficult with some things (mostly yeast breads). Any tips?

[flowerpower]

There is a difference nowadays between organic and ecologically grown. Organic as Howard and Rodale originally defined it meant "grown without chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and with care taken to keep the soil from being depleted." Nowadays, at least in the U.S. and U.K., organic has a more complex legal definition and you cannot sell as organic unless your produce and farm have been evaluated on eleventy-one criteria ranging from how you till your soil to where you rest your pumpkins on the ground after harvest. Therefore, "ecological" has arisen to recapture the spirit of what Howard and Rodale first meant by "organic". Grown in harmony with nature, not necessarily in harmony with a bunch of red tape.

Jeffery

I live on the edge of a wetland so I have never used anything "chemical" in my veggie garden. But there is no way it would meet the criteria for "certified organic". But that really doesn't matter, because I know what went into the soil and what didn't. It's nice to be able to eat a tomato and know it hasn't been sprayed with -who knows?

[Gregor]

A big THANK YOU ipaintedmyhousewhite, for wanting to be organic. Shure wish more people would see the lite and change. It is so much better for us and our environment. I agree that it is more expensive to convert, but in the long run, it is alot cheaper and it requires less fertilizer, and watering. :) :) :) :)

People like you make my job easier.

[GeorgeSims]

IPMHW,

I think it's possible to become "obsessed" with what is, and is not, "organic". Who can REALLY know what's in the foods we buy? "Organic", to me, is really a state of mind. I know that everything I grow myself, has been grown without the use of synthetics, GMOs, etc., etc., etc., but very few of us can grow everything we need to exist.

Just do your best, use common sense, and support others who are trying to do THEIR best.

My stepdaughter brought home a small (maybe one pint) bottle of Certified Organic maple syrup the other day. TWELVE AND A HALF BUCKS!!!. I think this is a case of "more money than sense".

Just be at peace with yourself, and you'll be fine!!!

[redbrick]

My stepdaughter brought home a small (maybe one pint) bottle of Certified Organic maple syrup the other day. TWELVE AND A HALF BUCKS!!!. I think this is a case of "more money than sense".
I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time understanding how maple syrup can be anything OTHER than organic?! Maybe I'm naive, but I just don't see people fertilizing a stand of maple trees!

George, I agree with you. Definitely more money than brains! No offence meant to your stepdaughter, but come on!

[CRAZY1]

Being Organic also requires a buffer zone that "protects" the veggie, fruit, or trees that produce whatever product is organic. This is to assure that no chemicals have been blown into the area where these are growing, or the root zone of a tree isn't contaminated by the chemicals used in a field that adjoins the "sugar bush" where the trees are. Hope that helps you out a bit.

[Joan]

I agree with Redbrick, "how maple syrup can be anything other than organic"
I try to raise vegetables we like and can freeze ahead for winter; I do not buy containers of anything with ingredients which are not recognized or unpronouncible. Luckily we have an amish market where I can get their frozen foods and locally canned items also.
I worked at a factory that was surrounded by farmers fields, in the spring the smell was not a healthy manure smell but something that smelled downright bad to breathe.
How do you stop the bad practices? I'd love suggestions.

[Ohiorganic]

In conventional maple syrup the sugaring folk pound cynide tablets into the maples to get the sap to run harder. Supposedly the cyanide does not get into the sap or syrup

Yeah and GMO's are JUST the same as normal foods...

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

Thank you ohiorganic for that information. I was wondering if it really was all that important to get organic maple syrup, for the reasons mentioned by others. Now I feel it is important.

[ipaintedmyhousewhite]

My grandfather used to tap the trees in the woods near his house and make syrup. I think this year I may tap our tree. I will not attempt to make syrup (too much energy for too little yield, in our case) but I like the "maple water," it's a nice treat.

[Sandbar]

Hello OhioOrganic and welcome to iDig. See that you live in Eaton. I used to live in Hamilton. I miss the longer growing season down there.

BTW, has anyone ever made "Maple Butter?" How do you make that differently from syrup ... just cook it longer?

The wife found some in a local health food store ... oh my, is it GOOD ... but, it costs $9 for a dinky little jar ... but, have I mentioned it is GOOD? :)