factory farms operate on cheap, nonre-
newable fossil fuels. Their heavy pesti-
cide use both contaminates groundwa-
ter and soil and fosters erosion.
Why Buy Organic
SUPPORT LOCAL FARMS
When we buy our meat and dairy
Meat & Dairy?
products from an organic stand at a
farmers’ market, we support that farm
and the whole concept of healthy food,
ensuring its continued availability. If we
Eating fewer animal products is a good choice
don’t, we are likely supporting the less
for us and for our environment. When we support
wholesome practices of the multina-
farms that ethically take care of the animals they raise in a
tional food industry.
Buying organic animal products,
more humane way, we provide healthier choices for our families
rather than conventional versions, is
and support healthy and ecological neighborhoods. Look for
better for our family’s health, our com-
farm products that meet these criteria:
munity and our world.
Adapted from: Care2.com/green-
living/why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html,
NO ANTIBIOTICS,
ductively as organic fertilizer, recycling
an article by Annie B. Bond.
HORMONES, GMO FEED
its nutrients.
OR OTHER DRUGS
Industrial farms produce so much
manure that it becomes a larger health
Animals raised organically cannot be
Organic Farm
risk, contaminating wells and water-
fed antibiotics, genetically modifi ed
ways with E. coli and other pathogens.
Certifi cation
foods, or the bovine human growth
hormone (rbGH) or other drugs. The
FEWER CHEMICALS
in a Nutshell
animals receive certifi ed 100 percent
Organic agriculture uses crop rotation
To qualify farm products for U.S.
organic feed and a wider range of nutri-
and other techniques to improve soil
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
ents than those raised in factory farms.
fertility, instead of synthetic chemical
Organically raised animals have
certifi cation, a farmer must track
pesticides and fertilizers. Organic live-
been shown to be signifi cantly healthier
and report all related activities,
stock are not fed food containing these
than their factory-raised counterparts.
chemicals, which concentrate in animal
including animal feed and food crop
The products from these animals carry a
fat, so our exposure to such toxins is
practices, livestock health and living
certifi ed organic label.
reduced.
conditions, and product processing,
NO MAD COWS
Farmers working on organic farms
packaging, storage and shipping.
The practice of feeding cattle the
also are exposed to fewer chemicals. Requirements are rigorous.
ground-up remains of other cows ap-
Organic farming safeguards groundwa-
pears to cause mad cow disease, or bo-
ter, topsoil, habitats and neighborhood
Specifi cally:
vine spongiform encephalopathy, which
health. Land must have been free of prohibited
destroys the central nervous system and
substances for at least three years.
EMBRACE DIVERSITY
brain, and can pass to humans who
Small, sustainable farms tend to raise
No harmful pesticides, fertilizers,
eat the cows. In humans, it has a long
a wider variety of livestock; industrial
antibiotics or hormones may be used.
latency period, and causes Creutzfeldt-
farms rely more upon monocultures.
Using sewage sludge as fertilizer is
Jakob disease.
We support a healthy gene pool by
prohibited.
This practice is outlawed in or-
purchasing diverse foods.
No use of genetically modifi ed
ganic production.
MORE HUMANE TREATMENT
USE RESOURCES WISELY
organisms (GMOs) is allowed.
Organic farms use 70 percent less en-
No irradiation of feed is allowed.
Free-range and ranch-raised animals are
ergy than factory farms through careful There can be no commingling of organic
not confi ned. They spend much of their
ecological management that leverages and nonorganic items at any stage.
time outdoors in the fresh air.
nature’s checks and balances to solve
Factory farms treat animals like
Annual inspections of grounds and
pest problems and preserve topsoil
commodities, holding them in tightly
facilities must be conducted by a
from erosion. When we buy from local
confi ned pens. Often, they never move
disinterested third party.
farms, we also reduce the distance food
more than a few feet their whole lives. The farmer must undergo a detailed
travels from fi eld to table.
RECYCLE MANURE
annual audit of purchases, production
In producing, transporting, pro-
and sales.
Sustainable farms use their manure pro- cessing and marketing food, typical
www.MichiganHealthyLiving.com
November 2008
19
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