Organic Food Does Not Have to Equal High Price

News reports, health care providers, doctors, and even friends and family, have stressed that processed foods and non-organic foods are unhealthy choices. They feel that going organic is the best way to improve your health. Having said that, taking a trip to your local food store can be something you dread because of the high cost of food these days, especially for organics, from what you've seen and heard. Truth be told, some organics, especially the ones you should incorporate in your diet, can be reasonably price if you know where and how to shop. You can even save more if you are willing to work a little for your money.

Purchasing from local farms will help carbon footprints for the environment due to less travel in shipping, and this is a great way to conserve, but when you are trying to save some green by conserving the amount of money that goes out of your pocket, you tend to wonder if the cost of going green is really worth it. Some food markets will charge just as much, if not more, for locally grown food as they do for foods shipped from Chili. So how can you escape this? Go to the farm yourself. Some farmers have decided to open their doors so people can shop for their own food.

As a child, I remember getting into our car every summer through fall and taking a trip to our local farm and orchard stands. We are fortunate that we live in a state where there are two farms that have been owned and operated by eight generations of family, Rogers Orchards, established in 1809, and Lyman Orchards, established in 1741. I loved to walk through the orchard shop in Rogers Orchards when young. The smell of fresh apples and peaches was just so wonderful to me and the pet bunnies were fun to see there too. My Grandmother and Mother would go often because the prices were significantly cheaper than going to the local food store.

Today, I still go to a local farm to purchase my fruits and vegetables, only this time, I tend to work a little so I can stretch my dollar further. What do I mean by that? I pick my own. A local farm here in Connecticut, allows you to do just that, and for about half the price you would pay per pound at a local food store. Lyman Orchards has a Pick Your Own program for blueberries, jostaberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, peaches, nectarines, pears and pumpkins. This farm is the 12th oldest family owned business in the United States and started inviting people to pick their own since 1972.

Lyman not only has a Pick Your Own program, but a free standing market that is open year round, unlike Rogers. In the market, you can purchase fresh pies, lettuce, garlic, salad dressings, cold cuts, dairy, and other fruits and vegetables. The prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are very reasonable and are close to, if not less, than what you would pay at your local food store, however, the homemade salad dressings and spices can get a bit pricey.

Organics should not have to break the bank, and driving to your local farm can help cut costs, but what if you don't have a local farm around your area? You can skimp. Yes, you heard me right, you don't have to go all organic in order to eat healthy. The USDA stresses that 12 fruits and vegetables absorb or retain more pesticides than any others. These are apples, lettuce, strawberries, wheat, oranges, cauliflower, pears, green beans (frozen), green beans (fresh), plums, grapes, and grapefruit. In these cases, it is best to purchase organic as opposed to regular produce.

Another inexpensive way to get fresh fruits and vegetables is to grow your own. You may think this would be a difficult task, especially if your thumb is black, but with a little practice, you can turn that thumb green. I thought I had a black thumb for many years because I just couldn't keep anything alive for too long but once I started doing some research, I found out that I was merely placing these plants in the wrong places. Once I started to learn where things grew well, I couldn't stop planting and now my home is exploding with plants of all kinds.

Don't have land to plant your garden? That's okay, neither do I, but I still have fresh home grown tomatoes and peppers thanks to a little potting soil and pots. My apartment complex has allowed me to move my tomato and pepper plants outside so they could get a sufficient amount of sun. Most will let you do this, but just be sure to refer to your lease, and talk it over with your landlord before doing so.

If they don't, that's okay too because most plants will flourish in a brightly lit window. I keep my herb garden inside because I have a nice south facing window. The only difference between a regular garden and a potted one is the frequency of watering. Generally, you will have to water potted plants more frequently.

A garden is a great alternative to store bought organic fruits and vegetables because most plants will thrive in soil. In fact, almost anything can be planted in a pot, even carrots. All you have to do is make sure that your pot is deep enough for the plant to produce a decent crop. Your crop may be a little smaller than its underground counterparts, but they are still worth the effort.

These plants will be just as organic as the ones you see in the market if you forgo pesticides. There are many natural ways to get rid of pests on your plants and a good book to refer to is The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual by Barbara Pleasant. This book has many ideas on how to go pesticide free for your plants. Don't let the title scare you either, most natural cures can be used for both the common house plant and the fruit and vegetable ones.

You may want to know about other organic products and if it is worth spending the extra cash on these. Some markets that specialize in organic have fairly high prices on meats and prepared foods because these are harder to stock. These products usually contain a plethora of organic food labels. Eggs, the worst culprit, contain the most labels out of all products. In fact, with labels like, antibiotic free, biodynamic, cage free, grass fed, fertilized, free farmed, free range, free roaming, free running, hormone free, irradiated, natural, no chemicals, no hormones administered, organic, pasteurized, vegetarian fed, and whole grain fed, decorating your carton, it's a wonder if the eggs have room in the packaging.

Most people, like me, never thought they'd see the day where a product needs to have credentials in order to be consumed, but I guess that day has come. If you are unsure about the labels that these products have, you can look them up on the Consumer Reports' Greener Choices Eco-Labels Center website (http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels). They have a very extensive list of labels for each product, including makeup.

As for buying them, that is a matter of choice. I will personally buy organic prepared foods when I need to. The reason for my doing so is not a matter of choice, but a matter of health. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a disease that causes wide-spread muscle pain and fatigue, in late 2005. Through my research, I have found that certain chemicals, additives, and pesticides, may have contributed to the deterioration of my health. Many health care professionals and expert patients agree that removing these things from your diet will help reduce pain associated with this disease.

When I read this, I thought it was worth a shot for many reasons. One being my health, of course, and the other being the cost of pills. When you are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia today, most doctors can only prescribe pain medication to help. The reason? There is no cure for Fibromyalgia and the medicine today can only mask the pain symptoms, not eradicate it. Pain pills are expensive with or without coverage and that can cause a sufferer like me even more pain when I open up my wallet.

At one point, I was paying $300 a month for pain medication out-of-pocket. That's a lot of money for anyone, but especially hard for someone who is starting a family. I was desperate to find an alternative and it looked like going organic might be the way, and it was. Once I started to learn how to read labeling at the food stores, was willing to pick and even grow my own foods, and find items on sale, it became rather easy to buy organic.

Some of these products are a little more, like macaroni and cheese, for instance, but you don't have to deplete your life savings for convenience anymore. On occasion, I will buy pasta for convenience. It's something quick to make before soccer practice-- let's face it. I will buy the organic pasta because wheat needs to be purchased organic, but I don't go for frozen dinners. Why? They are expensive and can be done at home for about half the cost. Yes, another way to go organic is to make your own frozen meals.

I started doing my own preserves and meals so I could eat healthy even when I was too tired to cook, but the idea still works for those that want an organic meal on the cheap. Frozen dinners, bakery products, and even jello and pudding can all be made at home for less and then frozen for a later meal. I tend to prepare these on a Sunday when I have time and then store them for later consumption. I've canned soups, jellies, and pasta sauce and I made lasagne and pot pie TV dinners for the family on days that I reserve for cooking. All in all, it doesn't cost more to purchase organic food, as long as you are willing to forgo convenience and spend a little more time working for your food like our ancestors did.