Another reason to eat organic

There was one of those ridiculous articles in the LA Times last week - the ones where the benefits of organic food are questioned. In this one, a columnist asked shoppers if organic food was worth the price. Most said no, of course, because we're used to cheap food in this country.

But what made it really sad was that on the front page of the same newspaper was a report on the oil spill in the ocean off Santa Barbara.

What's the connection? Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are made from petroleum. (As are plastics, dishwashing soap and countless other things one wouldn't suspect.)

Non-organic farmers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. So if you're eating non-organically grown food, you're giving money to the petrochemical industry that devastates our natural environment.

That alone is reason enough to switch to organic food, even without the health benefits (organic produce has been found to be higher in nutrients than non-organically grown produce) and the environmental benefits (run-off from chemical-using farms pollutes rivers, groundwater and wells, and the soil).

Yes, organic produce is more expensive than non-organic. But it's worth it. If we are what we eat, wouldn't you rather be solar-powered than oil-powered?

(By the way, now is a good time to switch from petrochemical-based dishwashing soap to one made with coconut surfactants. Read the label to make sure - Planet and Seventh Generation are good brands. If your dishwashing liquid does not list its ingredients, it most likely is made with petroleum. Gross, eh?)