Edible Farms Hydro Produce Farm
BY: MICHELLE STIBBS & AMY ALMSTEIER
What do you think about the recent Stanford study’s findings on organics?
MS: The Stanford study is stating this: “The published literature lacks strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventional foods. Consumption of organic foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.” The apparent bad news: they didn’t find any harmful diseases from eating conventional foods. However, the study was only over a 2 year span. Our bodies are strong, strong machines. Most bodies last through 30-40 years of constant abuse, repeated exposure to pesticides and chemicals before breaking down and becoming afflicted with disease. Following people for 2 years isn’t going to give you a breakthrough in diseases caused by the pesticides of conventional farming.
I think it’s most important to focus on the second half of their findings. ”Consumption of organic food may reduce exposure to pesticides residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria”. Can anyone say e.coli? Thank you Stanford, that’s all I need to know. If I can lower my exposure to pesticides by almost 30%, I will. The study also stated that there was a 33% risk difference of antibiotic resistant bacteria between the conventional and organic meats. I’d rather eat a chicken sandwich and not raise my chances of getting a food borne illness by 33%.
The study also reported, “significantly lower urinary pesticide levels among children consuming organic versus conventional diets.” For all the parents out there obsessing over organic strawberries or conventional ones, that statement should reassure them. Yes, it’s worth it. Yes, there’s a difference. Yes, I CAN do something to protect my child.
AA: My first thought was “which chemical company funded this study”? It sounds cynical but it must be asked as the world of Big Business operates in exactly that sort of way. While I was disappointed that it may change some consumer’s opinions about organics, overall I think the movement is only gaining momentum, regardless of this data. There are many factors that can diminish nutritional content, for instance if produce is grown in California and eaten in New York then of course the nutrient content would be diminished regardless of it is organic or not. The studies that the data was taken from may not necessarily have been comparing “apples to apples” so to speak. Furthermore statistical analysis can be manipulated and interpreted to support any desired outcome. Eating locally is just as important as eating organically – especially if higher nutrient content is what you are looking for and the sensationalized news stories did not report this angle. If in fact this study was funded by Big-Ag, then it just confirms they are getting nervous as more consumers move towards organics. The best way for them to protect their market share is to cast doubt in the minds of shoppers.
Do you spend more to purchase organics for your family?
MS: I will be the first to admit that while wandering at the farmers market, the conventional farmer’s prices are very enticing. On my last trip to our local Bay Area farmer’s market, conventional peaches were $1.75/lb. Organic ones were $2.75. That’s a big leap for a small budget. But when I think about the actual cost of the food (enter a link to your latest blog there), and the short and long term damage the pesticides do, I know the price of organic food isn’t only fair, but a bargain.
AA: Yes I do, and while sometimes it stings a little I look at it as “you get what you pay for”. My family has actually made the choice to eliminate cable television and a few other “luxuries” in order to budget more money for good quality food. Food, and ultimately our health are far more important than keeping up with those Kardashians.
If so, why are organics a priority for you?
MS: We’ve all heard the term, ‘You are What You Eat.’ That goes for plants too. While working in our garden, I explain to my 3 year old son, “Plants need sunshine and water to grow and live.” But I’m leaving out a vital aspect of the plant, and the process. The soil. When plants die and fall into the soil, they don’t just decompose, they lay there attracting certain fungi, microorganisms and bacteria. The exact microorganisms that will benefit their fellow and future plants. They are literally creating the perfect breeding ground, setting the stage for their sister plants. It’s almost magical. While alive the plants breed and attract specific fungi to their roots, fungi that creates a humus, an organic matter, that is ultra rich in the exact minerals that the plant needs to survive. The more humus a soil has, the more nutrients it produces. The more nutrients it produces, the more nutrients the plants grown in that soil have. The more minerals the plant has, the more minerals we get from eating it. It’s a pretty good system. So while we toss around the term nutrition, we can’t study the nutrition in the kale without studying the nutrition in the soil where the kale grew. Through the plant, we are eating the exact same minerals that are in the soil. Or lack of.
For me, that’s the scariest part of conventional farming. While organic farming tends to the soil and the microorganisms in it, conventional farming tends to the plant. When the soil is repeatedly treated with chemicals, it kills the microorganisms that literally bring life to the plant (and then to us). The soil will slowly turn to dust. Food grown in it will lack the minerals that they otherwise would have been programmed with. Instead of dousing our bodies with nutrients ‘farmed’ specifically for us by the plants, we will ingest chemicals and pesticides, placed in the soil by a man. Plants are what they eat. So are we. Organics really isn’t a choice.
AA: My oldest son is now 1 year old and eating solid foods. Additionally I’ve spent the majority of the last two years pregnant and or breastfeeding, so I have been especially strict about organics. Our bodies are constantly producing millions of cells, and the rate at which babies and children are growing is even more astonishing. I consider the food we eat to be the literal building blocks of these new cells. Cancer rates have skyrocketed throughout developing nations over the same time period that our food system has become more and more industrialized, and increasingly unnatural. I would say that it’s just
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plain common sense – farming and eating in direct conflict with nature is making us sick. Chemicals aren’t meant to be eaten, and I don’t need a study to tell me what common sense dictates. Furthermore large-scale chemical agriculture is unethical in the way it treats the land and exposes farm workers to very potent levels of toxins. Politicians are on the payroll and let these kinds of violations slide, so I find that the only way to have a voice and stand up for what’s right in this matter is to choose where I spend my money wisely. If those companies can’t profit from harmful chemical agriculture they will find more responsible ways to farm to satisfy consumer demand.
What do you think might be flawed about the Stanford study?
AA: While the focus of the study was nutrient content I would like to point out there are several HUGE fundamental flaws with EPA “safe” limits on pesticides, all of which were glossed over in the reporting. First, is that each type of produce is batch tested on it’s own. That means a batch conventional potatoes is deemed “safe”, then a batch of green beans may be deemed “safe” as well. These two batches could contain a variety of pesticides and other substances that may actually be fairly safe if all you were eating was one type of produce. But of course that’s crazy – no one eats that way. So if you are eating your RDA of conventional fruits and vegetables you’re consuming a whole lot of chemicals that haven’t been tested all together. One of the worst flaws in EPA testing surrounds “inerts”. These are ingredients that are labeled as such because they have no pest-killing action, not because they don’t have health consequences. There is a loophole in that there are no testing or “safe” limit requirements on these inert ingredients. The bottom line is, we purchase organics to keep our toxic load at bay. It’s disappointing that this study has used misleading headlines to sway consumers away from keeping toxins off their plates.
Will you still spend more on organics after reading about the Stanford Study?
MS: Yes. It didn’t sway me away from organics, if anything reading about higher pesticide levels found in children’s urine makes me even more inspired to eat, buy and grow organically.
AA: Absolutely. I was never purchasing organics for extra nutrients – I shop local, fresh, seasonal produce for that reason. I was purchasing organics because common sense tells me that filling my body with chemicals is a recipe for disaster. It is not what nature intended. Additionally it is a fallacy that organics have to be expensive, for instance at the farm stand today I purchased organic apples for .99/lb – they were $4.99/lb at my local grocery store! So yes, I will always buy organics but by seeking out good deals I don’t always have to spend more.
Do you grow produce at home?
MS: We are lucky enough to live in Northern California where you can grow kale, chard, and other cooler weather veggies almost year round – and we do. There’s a beauty in harvesting food steps from where you will eat it. There’s a peace in knowing what you are eating. Of being proud of your food, your work. You keep that with you, that feeling, it becomes part of you. Food isn’t just nourishment, it’s a communal event. It feeds our soul as well as our body. The people we share the meal with, the dance of cooking, they are all part of the event. The first act of preparation isn’t just cooking, it’s planting the seed.
AA: Yes. We currently have herbs, greens, and citrus trees. It’s so wonderful to have full knowledge of what has gone into your food. Once my children are older I plan to use the garden as a huge learning tool to teach them about where food comes from and how to eat healthy. This is another way my family can save money while still consuming organics.
What can the average person do to save on organics without sacrificing quality?
MS: I have a lot of conversations with my sister on this topic. How can a person eat organic without spending $6 on a single peach. (Sadly that’s a true price quote, from South Dakota summer 2012). A family can’t feasibly afford to eat $6 peaches. But they can’t afford not to either. There has to be a better way, and thankfully our society is becoming more conscious and aware of this issue. More and more farmers markets are springing up. CSA boxes and produce boxes are available for delivery to the home, most of them have fairly affordable pricing and can be delivered at regular intervals.
For those that live in a climate where gardening year round isn’t an option, now it can be. Urban farming no longer means squatting in abandoned lots and praying for rain. You can now set up a garden anywhere. The garage. The back porch. The kitchen. Urban farming has a whole new meaning, and is suddenly becoming a realistic reality. Companies like Terra Tech offer everything you need to set up anything from a small kale and broccoli garden, to a massive neighborhood co-op garden. Minimize your carbon footprint. Cultivate the soil. Teach your 3 year old the magic of plants, and the beauty of eating them.
AA: A home garden is ideal, even if you have limited space you can grow produce using Terra Tech’s equipment on kitchen countertops, balconies, or with a tent setup in the garage or basement. LED lighting makes these setups highly economical on your electric bill. Farmer’s Markets and CSA’s offer good pricing because they sell what is seasonal and do not have the overhead of a grocery store. This also gives you an opportunity to interface with the farmers who grew your food and that is such a wonderful thing. Don’t shy away from local vendors who aren’t certified organic – certification is a very expensive and lengthy process. Many farmers follow organic practices and simply lack the certification. Sometimes their produce is even superior as a small to medium sized farms often grow more varietals as well as better quality produce than organic factory farms (yes those do exist!). Hydroponics are another fantastic option that unfortunately at this time cannot be labeled certified organic even though they are not using chemical pesticides and herbicides. The quality of hydroponics such as those grown by Living Farms can be far superior to other produce. Living Farms also reduces costs by selling their produce in local grocery stores eliminating the expense of long-haul trucking. Localharvest.org can help you find CSA’s, farmer’s markets, and local vendors in your area.
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