Grow Organic Vegetables in Pots
Guess what? You can grow your own organic vegetables in your own yard, or on your own patio, or even in your own garden – in pots! It’s a lot easier than you might think, too. Go to your local garden store and purchase pots, first. It’s better to buy environmentally friendly pots like clay or wood. It’s important for the pot to have drainage holes in the bottom.
The next thing you need is organic soil. Most garden centers sell packaged organic potting soil. (Unfortunately, most of this organic soil is still being packaged in plastic, but we are working on that problem.) You might also check with your local organic farm. Sometimes organic farms sell organic soil and natural composted fertilizer as well.
Now you need to decide what kinds of vegetables that you will raise. For your early attempts, it is probably better to choose vegetables that don’t need a lot of space to grow, like radishes, lettuce, or carrots. As you get better at organic gardening, you’ll be ready to raise other, more labor-intensive crops.
You need seeds, but you don’t want to buy those little packets of seeds that are sold everywhere. You want to look for seeds or plants that have been organically grown so that you get the full benefit from your crops. The produce will be no better than the seed that it comes from.
One of the greatest benefits, in my opinion, to gardening in pots is that the gardener has so much more control of factors like light and shade. Most vegetables are just as pretty as many “decorative” plants. You can display your organic vegetables just like you would any other potted plant. After you get the hang of growing organic vegetables in pots, you might branch out (pun intended) to growing your own organic herbs, as well.
Going Beyond Organic Food
More and more people today are insisting that the food that they eat be produced using organic methods. They don’t want their fruits and vegetables to be grown with the aid of toxic pesticides and toxic fertilizers. They don’t want the meat that they consume to come from animals that have been loaded down with antibiotics and growth hormones. They don’t want the foods that they purchase to have had food preservatives and flavor enhancers added during processing. In other words, they want food to be in its natural state as nearly as possible.
Usually the reason why people “go organic” regarding their food is because they are concerned about the toxic chemicals that they are ingesting. But the health of the planet is an even better reason to go organic than just simply to avoid toxins and going green means going beyond just organic food.
“Green” cleaning products are available today. Most of these products are just as effective as, and some are more effective than, the highly toxic alternatives. Sadly, most “green” products are still more expensive than the toxic versions, but those of us who believe that keeping our planet from dying in its own filth is important don’t mind paying a little extra at the checkout counter.
There are even “green” choices in clothing. The most important thing here is to look for a label that says “certified organic.” That label means that the cotton used in making the product was grown without the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers or that the wool was sheared from sheep that weren’t fed antibiotics or growth hormones.
Going beyond organic food in an effort to protect our planet also means actively recycling and encouraging recycling of paper, plastic, metal, and other reusable materials.
CSAs and Organic Food
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a program in which many farms offer
subscriptions. Under this program, subscribers receive a weekly or monthly basket of
locally grown, in-season fruits, vegetables, flowers, eggs, and milk; sometimes other
products like coffee or tea are included as well. Most of the products in the baskets
are products that are produced on the farm, but they don’t have to be.
Under a CSA program, there is a relationship developed between the farm and the member’s
(shareholder’s or subscriber’s – several terms are used). Not all of the farms in the
CSA program are organic farms, although many are. By making a financial commitment to a
farm in a CSA program, people become “members” (or “shareholders,” or “subscribers”) of
the CSA. The membership entitles them to receive produce from the farm on a regular
basis through the growing season.
Usually memberships are paid for annually, but some farmers will accept weekly or
monthly payments, and some CSAs also require that members work a few hours on the farm
each week during the growing season. Regulations and requirements vary from farm to
farm.
The Community Supported Agriculture program is not one that has been well advertised
nationally. You might see some advertisements for locally owned farms that are part of
the program and you will have to determine which farms are organic and which are not.
This is, however, a method that those who want fresh, organically grown fruit and
vegetables that can be purchased locally.
More and more of the farms that are in the Community Supported Agriculture program are
organic farms. There’s still a long way to go, but organic farming is on the increase
along with the demand for organically produced food.
Consumer Demand for Organic Food
Price (whether the market likes to admit it or not) really is controlled by consumer demand for products and services. When demand falls, price also falls. When demand increases, price also increases. It’s a simple formula that isn’t very easily manipulated (although the oil companies are doing a pretty good job of manipulating it at the present, but that’s another article). We’re talking about organic food and the demand for it.
Today all health food stores and most herbal medicine stores carry some organic food items. Big chain grocery stores are also beginning to carry a line of organic products as well. The reason that more retailers are carrying organic products is because more consumers are demanding organic products. And, of course, the price is growing up. Price is going up because demand has increased and supply has not. There is less product desired by more people. Big demand + small supply = high prices.
I also like to think that people are just getting smarter when it comes to food choices. We’ve become a weight-conscious nation. You can hardly find a person who doesn’t know what calories, carbohydrates, and proteins are. Even little kids know the difference between saturated fat and unsaturated fat. Now the population is becoming more and more aware of how the food on grocery store shelves is produced. The problems with contaminated products from China raised awareness, I think, and that’s a good thing. (Not the contaminated products, but the awareness of the contaminated products.)
There is a rule, however, that says that what goes up must also come down. As more and more people demand organically produced food, more and more producers of food will choose to grow their products using organic methods. As more supply becomes available, the prices will go
down. It’s going to take a while, though.
Can Organic Food Help Depression?
“Food can have an immediate and lasting effect on mental health and behavior because of the way it affects the structure and function of the brain.” That is one of the statements in a recently released study concerning the effect of food on the mind.
Think about the things that go into our bodies every day; air, water, and food. Our bodies use these elements for our very existence. The body wouldn’t last long if any of these basic requirements weren’t met.
* Air: We know that inhaling smoke and other pollutants is detrimental to our physical as well as our mental health.
* Water: We also know that there are many diseases that can be contracted from unsafe drinking water, and some of these diseases can cause brain damage, among other things.
* Food: If air and water can affect our physical and mental well-being, then don’t you think that food might also affect our physical as well as our mental well-being? It stands to reason!
There are all kinds of “stuff” in food that the body uses as fuel. Sometimes we eat food just because it “tastes good.” But the food choices that we make can and do affect our brain function, and there really isn’t much doubt about that one. There is a much higher incidence of depression in countries where little fish is eaten. Scientists also know that schizophrenia is linked to a deficiency of antioxidant vitamins and essential fats. Yes, food affects the brain. What’s IN and ON that food also affects the brain.
The government has established “safe” levels of toxic chemicals that are allowed on traditionally grown fruits and vegetables. It has also established “safe” levels of antibiotics and growth hormones that are “safe” in meat products. The question is, safe for whom, and how much is too much? I think I’ll stick with organically produced meat!
Panama Organic Coffee Brands
Some of the world’s best organic coffee comes from Panama. Panama mountain grown organic coffee b enefits from the rich volcanic soil at the base of the extinct 11,000 foot volcano, Volcan Baru. A frequent cloud cover at high altitudes and forested slopes provide an ideal location for shade grown coffee. Whether you are looking for coffee for individual consumption or if you would like Panama wholesale organic coffee , look to the country on the isthmus joining the Americas for excellent coffee. There are a number of Panama organic coffee brands. The easiest way to find out about and to receive any of the excellent Panama organic coffee brands is to contact Panamá Natural Organic Coffee for availability and pricing.
Organic Coffee from Panama
The Cordillera Central of Panama, its mountainous spine, is an extension of the mountains of the North. Here, in the tropics, the highlands are referred to as the land of eternal spring. The elevation provides a relief from the coastal heat but, because Panama is in the tropics, it does not get cold. The highlands of Panama are ideal for growing coffee. The highlands around Boquete and Volcan in the province of Chiriquí have rich volcanic soil and a coffee growing culture going back a century. Small family owned farms grow coffee on the slopes of the mountains and hills of Panama. Many of these coffee farms produce shade grown coffee as growers have left much of the natural habitat in place. In addition, many growers have used sustainable growing techniques for coffee for years. Thus it was a small step for many to receive Bio Latina organic coffee certification . Bio Latina certifies producers and processors in behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, and agricultural authorities in Canada and the European Union. The highlands of Panama can be your source for individual bags of coffee or large shipments of Panama wholesale organic coffee.
Panama Organic Coffee Brands
If you are looking for a cup with great organic coffee aroma and healthy organic coffee antioxidants consider Panama organic coffee. There are many available organic coffee growers and processors. If your interest is in green coffee beans, Panama wholesale organic coffee may be for you. If your interest is in processed, bagged, and labeled organic coffee that is always an option. Here is a list of Panama organic coffee brands:
- Asociación de Caficultores Orgánicos Ngöbe Ascon
- Finca Dos Jefes
- Finca El Remedio – Ama de Casa
- Finca Ramon Arauz
- Finca San Miguel de La Montaña
- Finca Señor Ramón Arauz
- Hacienda Barbara Jaramillo
- Hacienda La Esperanza
- Leap Of Faith Farms, Inc
- Los Lajones Estate Coffee S.A.
In general you will need to speak Spanish in order to contact these folks so, if you are interested it will be easier to work through a local, bilingual company, to buy one of the excellent Panama organic coffee brands. If you interest is in purchasing either coffee for your own consumption or Panama wholesale organic coffee in bulk please feel free to contact us at Panamá Natural Organic Coffee by way of www.BuyOrganicCoffee.org today.
Are You What You Eat?
That old saying, “You are what you eat” has been around for a while. I am kind of inclined to believe that there is a lot to the concept.
Our food supply is filled with toxic substances. I know, I know. The government has established safety guidelines for how much of the toxic substances we can safely eat. Wait! EATING any toxic substances doesn’t sound all that safe to me. When I read that the levels of “safety” were determined for grown men who weighed at least 154 pounds, I was shocked. What about all of the people who are smaller? Are the same levels “safe” for women? When was the last time you saw a little kid that weighed 154 pounds of either sex? Are these “guidelines” relevant – much less effective? If we really are what we eat, right now most Americans would be toxic.
What is called “conventional” food production techniques include the use of chemical fertilizers (some of which end up IN the food), toxic pesticides (some of which end up ON the food) and drugs like antibiotics and growth hormones. Food that is processed and packaged is filled with artificial flavor enhancers and preservatives, many of which are known to be unsafe at high levels of consumption. Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients on packaged food? Good grief! I can’t even pronounce most of those words. What ARE they?
Well, if we really are what we eat, all of those things are us. They are in our bodies. They circulate through our systems. The question is, are they really safe? I’m not so sure that they are. We are what we eat – or so “they” say, and I choose to be nontoxic and drug free. What do you choose?
San Francisco Coffee Roasters
Whether your preference is healthy organic coffee or regular roasted coffee the best coffee flavor comes from freshly roasted beans. For a cup of coffee free of many unwanted impurities, full of healthy antioxidants, and good for the environment choose one of the San Francisco coffee roasters for organic coffee. Remember that in a cup of freshly roasted coffee from one of the San Francisco coffee roasters you will find natural ingredients that can cut the risk of Type II diabetes in half and make prostate cancer, endometial cancer, and colon cancer less frequent as well. All this just because you routinely visit one of the San Francisco coffee roasters for a fresh batch of roasted coffee.
Freshly Roasted Organic Coffee
When you check on San Francisco coffee roasters inquire about whether they offer freshly roasted organic coffees. These coffees are USDA certified or certified by a USDA affiliate. For example Bio Latina organic coffee certification tells you that coffee beans from Panama, Colombia, and elsewhere in Latin America were grown according to sustainable agricultural practices, processed separately, and stored separate from regular coffee. When you see a USDA seal or seal of a certifying agency such as Bio Latina you can be sure that you are getting genuine organic coffee. Ask for organic coffee and skip the 150 or so impurities that often show up in regular coffee. No pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers for you!
Other Sources of Roasted Organic Coffee
If roasted organic coffee from Panama interests you please contact us a www.BuyOrganicCoffee.org . Whether your interest in in wholesale coffee of coffee that is roasted and sent to you a bag at a time check with the folks at Buy Organic Coffee who speak English, Spanish, and organic coffee.
Tips for Storing Coffee
- Green coffee beans properly stored last for about two years
- Roasted coffee beans retain their flavor for up to six months when vacuum packed
- Once you open the container of roasted coffee beans do not refrigerate
- These beans will retain their flavor for up to two months
- Once you grind coffee beans the coffee retains its flavor for a few hours at the most
For a local roaster in San Francisco or the greater Bay Area here is a list of local vendors for both freshly roasted organic or regular coffees.
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Caffe Roma Coffee Roasting
- Caffe Trieste
- De La Paz Roasters
- Ecco Caffe
- Four Barrel Coffee
- Flywheel Coffee Roasters
- Graffeo Coffee
- Ritual Coffee Roasters
- Rogers Family Coffee Company
- San Francisco Coffee Roasting Company
- Sight Glass Coffee
- Toper Coffee Roasters
- Wrecking Ball Coffee
Remember not to stock up on large quantities of roasted coffee beans from San Francisco coffee roasters, at least not more than enough for a couple of months or you will see a decline in flavor from the first cup to the last. And, certainly, do not grind a large quantity of freshly roasted coffee as the decline in flavor will be precipitous over just a few days.