ONE great equalizer of the world is hunger. We all need to eat, definitely! The only difference lies in the frequency, quality, and quantity of food we put in our mouths. The greatest advantage of having money is being given a choice. We can quite literally choose to put our money where our mouth is; and one of those ways is going organic.
Yes, everyone knows that organic food is a tad more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Whether it’s fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, or eggs, the organic version often has a heftier price tag. Is the organic concept really a health benefit or a cheap marketing ploy?
Certainly, it is not a marketing gimmick if what you’re buying is certified organic. There is no doubt that organic food is safer and healthier. Paying a slightly higher premium is the better alternative to getting sick through the ingestion of toxins and chemicals that are commonly found in mass-produced food.
In one of our joy rides, we happened to pass by Bemwa Farm in the boundary of Bukidnon and Davao (it is fronting the Seagull Resort and Restaurant). This is a certified organic farm that sells veggies like kale, various types of lettuce, strawberries (seasonal), etc. They also have a picturesque flower garden. The best was the field of happy sunflowers that really catches the eye. As millennials would say, this place is Instagrammable and social media worthy.
The weather is a bit temperamental because the Bemwa Farm’s sits on a high altitude. It is best to prepare for both foggy, drizzling weather and sunny skies. If you happen to be passing by the area, it would be the perfect opportunity to load up on organic, pesticide-free veggies. If you’re lucky enough to go there at the right time, they also have strawberries.
The Bemwa Farm is known to hire the Lumads, the indigenous people in the area, which promotes sustainable livelihood. The Lumads are known to be experts in farming, making this set-up a thriving, symbiotic relationship. It’s actually a nice advocacy to support, so do check out their FB page with the same name.
People can clearly see in Bemwa that organic veggies are raised without toxic pesticides that are hard to wash off with just water. In other organic farms, fruits, eggs, dairy, and meat are reared without harmful antibiotics or artificial growth hormones that affect our system. Ever wonder why cancer and chronic disorders are rampant these days? It’s all because of what we put in our mouths. Food, after all, has both the capacity to destroy or heal.
Organic may be the type of food product that costs more to farm and purchase, but the long-term benefits of choosing them are immeasurable. It costs more to produce because organic farmers don’t make the same shortcuts of conventional farming, which rely on old practices that are unhealthy for the consumers and harmful to the environment.
Instead of synthetic chemical pesticides, organic farming depends on manual labor such as: tilling the soil, mowing and cutting weeds, mulching, rotating crops, setting insect traps, and the like to keep weeds and crop-eating pests away. There is more labor involved with lesser product output because the farmers don’t rely on genetically modified crops or animals and they don’t use medicines to expedite growth.
Most people who ascribe to this organic lifestyle view it as a form of investment for one’s health, as it is seen as a preventive measure against the onset of diseases. After all, getting sick as a result of poor diet is more expensive in the long run when compared with what’s deemed as “pricey” organic food. On top of that, purchasing organic food is more environment friendly. Less toxins are released in our atmosphere making a contribution to have a better, more sustainable planet for future generations.
If you have the patience for it, perhaps now is the time to start thinking of growing herbs in your own backyard or your humble terra cotta pots. We humans have long been enslaved by the mindset that others will always grow our food for us. It is high time to be accountable, take back some of that responsibility, and start growing our own food.