Organic food??? - Crohns Disease Forum - Support group and forum for IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

Cookie · 07-28-2009, 04:19 PM

I just thought I would share this little story...

My Co-worker's family owns a hog farm. He was telling me about how they have big drums of hormones and anti-biotics that are continually pumped into the hogs' water supply to keep them fat, happy and disease free. Of course, this comes as no surprise, but this is the killer: The guy down the street has a totally organic wheat and vegetable farm. Since it's against regulations for him to use pesticides and chemical fertilizers, my co-worker's brother sells him ten tons of pig manure for fertilizer. Is anybody out there able to give me some reassurance why I should assume that none of those drugs are making their way into the "organic" vegetables?

Not that I'm a crazy, over-the-top naturalist type. Even before I heard this story, I was way too cynical to spend all that extra money on completely organic foods. But I do like to know as much as possible about what I put into my body, and stories like this just further cement the notion that it's virtually impossible to know what you are eating on a daily basis.

beth · 07-28-2009, 04:44 PM

The soil association here have strict rules on in-organic manure use on organic farms - composting time and frequency/etc. Not all certificate authorities are the same, sadly.

D Bergy · 07-28-2009, 04:49 PM

It is even hard to grow your own organic garden. I added compost from the county composting area. This consists of mostly lawn clippings and leaves that are dumped from various home owners.

The problem is that lawn fertilizer and any other pesticide used is also in this compost. So know I got some Horse manure from someone I know.

I have started my own compost pile, but it takes a while to get enough to use.

Dan

07-28-2009, 04:19 PM	#1
Cookie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 543	Organic food??? I just thought I would share this little story... My Co-worker's family owns a hog farm. He was telling me about how they have big drums of hormones and anti-biotics that are continually pumped into the hogs' water supply to keep them fat, happy and disease free. Of course, this comes as no surprise, but this is the killer: The guy down the street has a totally organic wheat and vegetable farm. Since it's against regulations for him to use pesticides and chemical fertilizers, my co-worker's brother sells him ten tons of pig manure for fertilizer. Is anybody out there able to give me some reassurance why I should assume that none of those drugs are making their way into the "organic" vegetables? Not that I'm a crazy, over-the-top naturalist type. Even before I heard this story, I was way too cynical to spend all that extra money on completely organic foods. But I do like to know as much as possible about what I put into my body, and stories like this just further cement the notion that it's virtually impossible to know what you are eating on a daily basis.

07-28-2009, 04:44 PM	#2
beth Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 881	The soil association here have strict rules on in-organic manure use on organic farms - composting time and frequency/etc. Not all certificate authorities are the same, sadly.

07-28-2009, 04:49 PM	#3
D Bergy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Minnesota USA Posts: 2,364	It is even hard to grow your own organic garden. I added compost from the county composting area. This consists of mostly lawn clippings and leaves that are dumped from various home owners. The problem is that lawn fertilizer and any other pesticide used is also in this compost. So know I got some Horse manure from someone I know. I have started my own compost pile, but it takes a while to get enough to use. Dan