tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post7493230342857631295..comments2024-01-27T11:40:35.680+00:00Comments on Bean Sprouts: Interview with Friends of the EarthMelanie Rimmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871992146568559100noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-73412415944149907032007-03-21T14:42:00.000+00:002007-03-21T14:42:00.000+00:00If you want a lengthier argument as to why the org...If you want a lengthier argument as to why the organic certification schemes can be bad for livestock and certain types of farms, have a look at <A URL="http://www.land-care.org.uk/environment/current_topics/2005/watkins_organic_18_01/watkins_organic_18_01.html">http://www.land-care.org.uk/environment/current_topics/2005/watkins_organic_18_01/watkins_organic_18_01.html</A><BR/><BR/>As always, there is much more to it than "organic good", "non-organic bad". <BR/><BR/>And don't get me wrong, I'm generally in favour of organic farming and food production but as you say, you have to be much better informed than just taking organic philosophy and certification at face value.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-31300302764642738812007-03-21T09:38:00.000+00:002007-03-21T09:38:00.000+00:00No more organic meat for us either! Thanks for th...No more organic meat for us either! Thanks for the great interview Mel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-76342594992293873122007-03-20T23:55:00.000+00:002007-03-20T23:55:00.000+00:00I saw on Rich's blog which is at: http://boake...I saw on Rich's blog which is at: http://boakes.org <BR/>that Andy Walker is seeking sponsorship to help 'Friends of the Earth'. He is acting as a voluntary 'body' in the Xtreme Everest project.Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931734565442371796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-36596349492935248332007-03-20T14:35:00.000+00:002007-03-20T14:35:00.000+00:00Good points, Stonehead. Obviously if you have no c...Good points, Stonehead. Obviously if you have no choice then you have no choice and just have to take what you can get. I am lucky enough to have an excellent farm shop nearby (nearer than the nearest high street) where both the greengrocer and the butcher are very helpful and knowledgeable about their stock. They tell me about the conditions that the food was produced in, and if they described meat such as yours I would buy it happily. It's all about information and trust - I can get my information from the staff at the farm shop who I trust, but in most shops the only information available is on the label. Even then the information my not be trustworthy unless backed up by law, as the "organic" designation is.<BR/><BR/>So in a nutshell, when I have the choice I choose to buy food that gives me trustworthy information about the conditions of production, including animal welfare, minimal use of agrochemicals, minimal routine animal medication (steroids, antibiotics), no GM and other things. Quite a big nutshell, then, like a coconut perhaps.<BR/><BR/>I'd love to eat your meat, Stonehead. Was that a backhanded invitataion to dinner?Melanie Rimmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05871992146568559100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-16302834138395530232007-03-19T21:27:00.000+00:002007-03-19T21:27:00.000+00:00And what do you do when there is no local market o...And what do you do when there is no local market or greengrocer? Or what if their stock is expensive, poor quality or both? (Obviously, we grow our own veg but not everyone can.)<BR/><BR/>Also, it's worth checking if locally grown produce is grown using organic methods even if not certified organic. We can't afford organic certification but all our fruit and vegetables are grown using organic methods, while our animals are not only fed mainly on organic feed but are actually reared to higher standards than most of the organic certification standards (some of which allow a lot of liberties to be taken with animal welfare).<BR/><BR/>Our pork, chicken and eggs come from animals that are not fed any GM feeds. Nor does their feed use hexane extraction. Our animals are fed our own vegetables, organic feeds, and barley from a local farmer who uses minimal inputs (again, he can't afford to be certified as organic). <BR/><BR/>Would you steer clear of our meat because it's not certified "organic"? And what about the stocking rates and housing conditions that some organic standards allow?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-52303871016047542262007-03-19T12:00:00.000+00:002007-03-19T12:00:00.000+00:00Excellent interview, great questions. Since reari...Excellent interview, great questions. Since rearing our own piglets and goats I've become only too aware how much GM there is in animal feeds. Its actually difficult sourcing GM free feed here in Ireland, the local co-ops don't stock it, it has to be ordered in and does cost significantly more. I for one would welcome a choice of buying meat GM free which would be a little more expensive, but less than organic.<BR/><BR/>www.sallygardens.typepad.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29284826.post-85087302860125840362007-03-19T07:46:00.000+00:002007-03-19T07:46:00.000+00:00I didn't know that about non organic meat either. ...I didn't know that about non organic meat either. Good interview!Kirstyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08872643132081917648noreply@blogger.com