Vote: +2

"Definitely Local Goods (Food or Non-Food).

Essentially the arguments are complex, but well grown (even if not considered to be organic) seasonal food is more sustainable. "Organic" has been hijacked, there are so many requirements to meet some "ideal". Its a marketing tool and a marketeers dream. The better option would be to have governments force the reduction of dependance on harmful chemicals and bad "farming" practices. The fact that we use a chemical, that can be shown not to be harmful to the environment, should not prevent its use on the grounds that an industrial process has been used to preduce it rather than an organic process (note organic here being used in its original context!)."

By: Xyhfna :: 3 years ago

Vote: +2

"When I buy fruit/vegs, it is usually from our local fruit & veg shop. They have a limited range of organic produce - & certainly buy it if available. I hail from Tasmania (affectionately known as 'The Apple Isle'), sadly, most of the 1st grade apples & cherries, in particular,are exported, & we are left with slightly inferior specimens, but still prefer to buy locally produced fruit & vegs. Tasmanian potatoes, carrots, walnuts, to name a few, & garlic (which is organic, & not 'bleached' as imported from China), are truly tasty.
Am also fortunate to live in a small community where many people generously give what they grow in their own gardens. Yummo!!"

By: Gemholly :: 3 years ago

Vote: +2

"Try to buy local and certified organic. Lucky to have the option where I live. I have found the local and organic last a lot longer and are more flavourful than supermarket fruit and veg.

Also growing your own vegetables at home or at local community garden is a great option. The area where I live is just starting up a community garden which is intended to be a 'showcase' example of community gardens in our city. :)"

By: Annie :: 2 years ago

Vote: +4

"Jan,
"Candeeb, buying locally doesnt' create jobs, it just moves them away from poor african farmers to your neighbourhood". This is what you said and I am sorry but I have to disagree with you. If we can increae the amount of locally grown foods in our own backyards, jobs would increase. There would be a greater need for those who cultivate and harvest as well as the number of people who would be able to sell their crops. As for taking the jobs away from the African farmers, well I disagree with you there too. Those farmers need to produce food for themselves and thier communities and not worry about having it shipped over here and to other countries before they feed themselves. We can help them with giving them seeds and the know-how to plant and cultivate thier own crops, but they have to work thier own fields to provide for themselves first before thinking about supplying the restof the world with the food they need for themselves. And not only that, the amount of CO2 emmisions that it takes to first plant and grow the crops is huge and then they have to ship their goods to all the other contries which causes more CO2 emissions to be released. As for reheating leftovers, I am the frst one to opt for not wasting anything. But when it comes to using frozen and canned vegetables, I have to say that is not an option for me. Have you stopped to read the label on those frozen veggies and canned veggies to see what preservatives are in them? I would much prefer to spend a little extra to have the locally grown frest veggies. And I dont only depend on the local growers, I also grow a lot of my own veggies as well as fresh herbs and share them with my neighbors.
I think your heart is in the right place but I dont think you really get the gist of this whole debate. Did you read any of the other replies to this question? They also make for good arguments about what the question is posing. You might want to research this topic a little more."

By: candeeb :: 2 years ago

Vote: +2

"I agree entirely with Annie but Jan makes a good point though about buying less and reheating the leftovers. i read that the number of waste is critical. We are a generation of waste, not really how I would like to be remembered..."

By: Cecilia :: 2 years ago

Vote: +3

"Most of what is said is undoubtedly true, and could/should be commended. I have a few issues with the Soil Association in that they only permit 4 pesticides, and their view of why people buy organic. They, like others, manipulate information. I refuse to by items that are labelled "Organic" as a primary selling point. I buy Fair Trade, I buy fresh/frozen vegetables, I have a vegetarian diet, I grow my own fruit and veg, and I make a point of trying to buying horticultural products (not including equipment) that are bio-degradable. If an item that i want is labelled organic as part of a list of programmes, then i might consider buying it, instead of an alternative. I know from experience that it is sometimes difficult to grow produce due to pests (greenfly, whitefly, blackfly, slugs, snails, caterpillars) and weeds. This year and last, there has been a higher prevalence of pests, and this year there is a major lack of pest controlling beneficial predators (ladybirds, amphibians, etc). My snail population has exploded, and between the white-, black- and green-fly together they have destroyed a large number of my plants. I use a ferrous based "organic" granular compound as a snail/slug repellent, which seems to work. Unfortunately, the "organic" pesticides for the control of white-, black- and green-fly are not fantastically effective, but after several applications what the pests didn't kill seem to be recovering, but its a somewhat depleted population. It doesn't help that we are experiencing hotter drier summers which the plants are not used to, and the loss of the predators means that there is little to do except accept the losses or invest in non organic controls. As for weeds, i have yet to find an adequate solution organic or otherwise to control weeds."

By: Xyhfna :: 2 years ago

Vote: +3

"i would buy local. i think organic has become a marketing concept as an excuse to overprice food products!"

By: aimee :: 2 years ago

Vote: +0

"I forgot to add yesterday the most important thing of all, let's start to back up our words with actions. We can't afford to wait as each moment we delay only exascerbates the problems even further. While you may think that you as one person can't possibly effect any change all on your own, you couldn't be more wrong. Not only can you effect change , but you can lead by example, teach others how they can help. One person at a time if need be until we have amassed an army of people who are eager to create the changes that we need to save our planet and all that lives ok it."

By: candeeb :: 2 years ago

Vote: +1

"I think we have become a society of extravagance and convenience. What ever happened to charity begins at home? I understand that it is important to help other nations and certainly those that cant help themselves, however we have problems right in our own backyards that need to be addressed before we run off and start spending money and sustainability in other countries. I completely understand that we need to help those nations and underdeveloped people who have no other recourse then to look to such countries as the US, Britain and China. But I also believe that we cant truly help anyone if we don't first put out all the fires in our own backyards. We are not in a position to help out anyone until we have first dealt with our own problems and made the necessary resolutions in our own country. To continue to deny this fact, will only continue to create the problems that are ongoing here in our country and allow for us not to be able to help anyone in the long run."

By: candeeb :: 2 years ago