to consider going organic?

[NameGotLostInCyberspace]

We don't have money throw around but am thinking of going Organic. Especially milk. (an everyday cost) After doing some reading am thinking that Organic milk is alot better than "normal" milk. Do you only buy Organic? Why? thanks.

Better in what way?

Milk is milk is
Milk is
Milk

IMO

shrug

No harmful pesticides/ fertilizers.
no bovine growth hormones (BGH).
no antibiotics allowed. (if given cow removed from herd for upto 1 yr)

Just what I have read.

Haven't always had organic milk....but we've decided to have it from now on...because we feel it's better for us and organic produce always seems to taste better.

playing devil's advocate Some people argue that it's worse for the cows since "they don't get antibitoics when they need it". I do not know if my friend who argues this has any research to back her up, though.

I personally choose Organic milk, since a lot of the antibiotics pass through to the milk... I'd be interested to see what you've read, if you can find and post the links, please?

There are lists of "what fruit and veg you absolutely should buy organic or DIE!!!one!" online. From memory, the main ones are lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, and apples (but really it's anything that you eat the skin of, since that's where the majority of pesticides reside).

I just googled organic milk v regular milk for lots of links. solorya.hubpages.com/hub/Organic-Milk--Is-It-Worth-Your-Money Opinion or fact?

solorya.hubpages.com/hub/Organic-Milk--Is-It-Worth-Your-Money

I work in agriculture and chuckle every time I see one of the huge factory dairy farms - organic or conventional - where the cows are milked 3 times day and night by polish workers or robotic milking machines and never leave the shed. All their food is harvested or imported soya from Brazil and brought to them. They never graze a field. Not all dairy production is like this, but it is increasing all the time and there are organic farms like this too. I wish you city people would learn more about true sustainable agriculture and not be so obsessed with organic. It's just a certificate.

Organic milk is not that much more expensive so is a no brainer for us. You can buy quite a good range of frozen vege from waitrose - carrots, sweetcorn, mixed veg, spinach, green beans, peas that also don't cost much more. Meat and fresh fruit & vege we do a bit of both depending on price and availability.

We used to go for oranganic milk 'cos it tasted better. Then I got it wrong in a blind tasting and went back to conventional and saved the money.

IMHO no organic stuff tastes any better or is more nutritional than conventional stuff so isn't worth the extra costs.

and don't get me started on "biodynamic"

I meant to say, I chuckle because there are so many deluded city people who have not a clue about what goes on in farming and those who buy organic milk without realising that it can be factory farmed as well.

When you look into it in any depth, you find that just because something is "organic" that doesn't necessarily mean it is better for you in any way, or that it is "free from" anything in particular. Organic is just a label that can be applied after following certain procedures set out by various organisations. For example, sometimes a producer only has to be certified "free from" chemicals for three days before they can claim to be organic, and before those three days can use anything they like. And genetically modified bacteria with scorpion toxin spliced into their genes are recognised as an organic pesticide (B.thuringiensis) and so on ad nauseum.
You need to dig a bit and see just what's what and what it is you want/don't want in your food and then decide which brand/supplier have what you want.

And don't get me started on 'organic' vegetables from a supermarket. Grow your own, it's the only way.

:) at Doom.

There used to be a website / chat forum called Baby Greenhouse and one of the ladies on there did quite a detailed article about organics - very well researched and thorough. I can't remember all the detail but one of the conclusions was that the most beneficial "swap" would be to change ordinary dairy products for organic dairy products.

We've been "organic" for about 7 years now - since trying to conceive. It didn't happen as quickly as we wanted it to and I read a book called "Natural Solutions to Infertility" which recommended going organic. I also ended up giving birth very prematurely (at 27 weeks) but the babies were good weights for that gestation and had a very smooth ride through SCBU. The consultant once said my pregnancy diet must have been very good and somewhat irrationally I know, I put that down to going organic and eating very healthily.

I was a bit obsessive about it to start with - when I was weaning my children etc - absolutely everything was organic. I'm less strict about some things now, I simply can't afford to buy all organic now, but I do always buy organic milk, yoghurt, cheese, flour then fruit / veg / meat depending on the price differential.

I do agree with tunnel- as long as you're aware organic doesn't mean free range?

I do buy organic milk as it's not massively more expensive.

The full fat seems to have more creamy stuff at the top. Reminds me of when I were a young un and would get the milk from the doorstep.
I do think it tastes better and did a blind test at a friends house. Guess there was a 50/50 chance I'd get it right though.

Mandy did you follow a pregnancy diet regime or make one up? my friend is following a scrict diet whcih I think is connected to hyponbirthing- its been great for her but for some reason she won't tell me the details until i'm pregnant and I really want to know!

oh and agree organic milk is generally only 20p or so more. We do buy it but have no issues getting regular if its not available.

You are 100% organic. Unless you are a cyborg.

I'd rather spend my momey on welfare-friendly animal products and ethically-sourced foods. Organic doesn't always means that.

organic veg box is good if you're not green fingered- the food genuinely does taste MUCH better, I suspect because its fresh and (relatively) local rather than organic which is a happy coincidence.

Organic is certainly not the same as free range. For chickens, neither have living standards as good as a few hens in your back garden. I actually do buy organic milk, but that is because our organic milk here is from local farms and I know them, so I want to support their local business. Find your nearest farmers' market or farm shop and get to know them and you'll get much better produce. Most towns have them now.

Agree with tunnel.

tunnelmaniac you sound clued up. Please expain more. So if Organic milk is still from factory farmed cows is the milk pretty much the same?