Choosing Organic?

I would love to be able to always choose to buy organic products. However, I face the real world constraints of limited funds and limited availability. Therefore, I try to make choices that most effectively allocate my resources to gain the most benefit for the environment and me.

For starters, I choose organic cotton whenever possible. Most people remain oblivious of the environmental impact related to cotton production. Approximately, 25% of all pesticides used worldwide are applied to cotton crops. The most acutely toxic pesticide registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aldicarb, is frequently applied to cotton crops. In fact, the EPA classifies the top nine pesticides used on cotton crops as Category I or II chemicals, which ranks them among the most dangerous chemicals registered. However, you don't find organic cotton in most stores, so I am limited to shopping on-line mostly.

While it takes more effort and money, I still find it a worthwhile investment for the environment and me. I will discuss choosing organic foods in a future blog.