I often hear the same story over and over again “organic is too expensive”. These are often the same individuals who aren’t educating themselves on what really is organic, what really needs to be organic and how they can incorporate better lifestyle changes in general not just with food.
Food is one aspect of the whole spectrum. Where the food comes from, how it’s grown, and who harvests it and then how is it transported to its final destination. These are factors to consider as well, not just the label “organic”
First thing, it’s best to keep it local and seasonal. Even if it’s organic, if it comes from another country, by the time it reaches your plate, and let’s also consider the place of purchase, it’s lost most if not all of its “life energy”. Just like people get fatigued and lose energy during travel, so does food. Food more so than people actually. Once food is cut from its source, just as a newborn baby is cut from its initial source (umbilical cord and placenta), it starts to diminish its energy. And this is why love and proper nourishment are so important to encourage any living thing to grow and nurture in this world.
If you are buying from the grocery store, look at the labels and look specifically at the first number. It is a 4 or 5 digit number that starts with 3,4,8, 9. 3 and 4 are conventional, so although they aren’t GMO, they are still sprayed with poisons. 8 is GMO and 9 is organic. This article has a great way of remembering the difference. http://energyfanatics.com/2009/04/24/fruit-label-organic-genetically-engineered/
This site has a list of the most commonly used GMO products in foods that must be avoided:
http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/brands/invisible-gm-ingredients.html
Be sure to remove the label stickers as soon as you purchase them. The labels hold a negative energy to them and kill the food. By being in your presence and with your intention to feed and nourish yourself and those you provide nourishment for you, this raises the energy and helps bring in some life and love. It’s not what you’re eating its how at this point. And removing the labels helps a little on an energetic level.
Now remember what is said organic in stores is usually “certified” which means its price is automatically going to be more expensive than from a local farmer who is often actually organic but has no certification because it’s too expensive and he isn’t looking to make a huge financial gain from his crop. There are some pretty modest and down to earth farmers out there believe it or not. You just have to do your research and seek them out.
You can only do your best, especially when food isn’t in season.
Some useful tips:
1. stock up on local and seasonal foods, make preserves, cut big, vacuum pack and freeze for a later time. Even if it’s not raw, it’s still more nutritious than imported goods.
2. buy or make your own food and household cleansers (here’s a fantastic site with natural ways to make homemade cleaning products, but not for food) http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/revision_id.499694/workspace_id.-4
3. Keep food without skins organic (example: celery, green leaves), the rest peel.
4. Do you best to avoid the “dirty dozen” (now more so like the 10 dirty dozen)
Check out this site to see the list of many foods, what’s really in them and do your best to keep these organic or choose not to consume them. http://www.whatsonmyfood.org
5. soak all seeds and nuts (peel almonds after soaking them) easier to digest because the enzyme inhibitors become active from the mimicing of rain, increase in volume, more nutritious, less toxic, more delicious
6. Make your own homemade dressings, sauces, preserves, smoothies, juices, baked goods, soups, etc. Make enough for a while and keep it frozen.
7. Invest in a blender, vacuum sealer (for freezing)
(Note: if it’s not vacuum sealed it will freezer burn therefore losing more of its nutrients, be less tasty and even lose more of its colour)
8. Invest in a water filter, even if it’s the $30 one. Most important is for your shower (your skin is the largest organ and therefore it absorbs everything easily and faster), you wash your food with tap water, so make sure it’s filtered. Filters may not remove all treatment in the water (chlorine, flouride, odor, etc. but it removes something which is better than nothing)
9. Invest in a few cooking classes, preserving classes, and use youtube, library books, internet in general has great tips. www.groupon.com has a fantastic source for discounted classes.
10. see the journey of maintaining your health as a pleasure not a chore. See it as brushing your teeth. It’s automatic by now to do, and essential for maintainence and avoiding the dentist right? So is your inner temple. Your body is your temple, make the conscious effort to do your best to keep it healthy with food, positive attitude, positive environments, physical activity, stretching, breathing, best quality food, water and products (including make up, lotion, clothes: the dyes on clothes need to be washed a lot before wearing or invest in good quality cottons/hemp/linen/rayon)
11. For those with children, educate them. Cook together, go foraging and fruit veggie picking together. It’s important for not just adults but for the children to know where their food comes from.
12. Go into your local forest or find or ones up north from you and learn to forage mushrooms, weeds, medicinal ingredients that are potent and safe, edible and delicious and best part FREE!
13. There are many people to learn from, seek for the ones in your area.
14. Do energy exchanges (aka: barter/trade) for organic food.
15. Instead of looking for excuses of why you can’t afford organic, look for solutions.
When one looks at their life, there’s always something to be eliminated and something new to incorporate. Whether it be a new way of thinking, an old habit/pattern to reconsider and readjust or to start/continue the healthy path way through whole foods and the best foods you can afford and get access to.
I suggest looking at your life right now. What can you honestly say you no longer need at this moment. And what are you willing to open up to creating the space for?
