DON’T PANIC - EAT ORGANIC!

In this day and age we are seeing more evidence of the food that we eat having a detrimental effect on our health (such as food additives being linked to asthma and heart disease). Many of us want a more organic way of life which involves food being produced without the use of unnecessary chemical sprays and a method of farming which is friendlier to the environment.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire set about raising people’s awareness of organic foods and below you can find a few tips towards following on a more organic way of life.

Reasons to eat organic food:

• Organic food tastes extremely good.
• Organic fruit and vegetables contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than non-organic food.
• Organic systems aim to avoid the use of artificial chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers and are produced without GMOs.
• Organic farming stresses the importance of animal welfare.
• Organic food is produced without the routine use of antibiotics.
• Organic food production reduces dependence on non-renewable resources and concentrates more on developing a healthy fertile soil.
• Organic production is more sustainable and friendly to both the environment and wildlife. There has not been a case of BSE in any herd which has been in full organic management since before 1985.
• Organic systems rely on a modern and scientific understanding of ecology and soil science, while also depending on traditional methods of crop rotations to ensure fertility as well as weed and pest control.

Where can I buy Organic Food?

• Supermarkets - all major chains now stock a selection of organic goods and the choice is getting bigger all the time.
• Farmer’s Markets - this is a good way to buy direct from your local farmers (prices are often cheaper than the above). In Cambridge, you will find the Market Square packed with local producers (mainly organic but not all - just ask the stallholder) every Sunday from 10.30am - 16.30pm.
• Farm Shops - visit the farm itself, many are located in the Cambridgeshire countryside!
• Box Schemes - these involve the delivery of fresh, seasonal produce either direct to your door or from a central pick up point.
• Independent Retailers - Various health food shops will often sell a selection of organic produce.

How do I know if it is Organic?
Under UK law, any organic product must display a certification symbol or number, the main certification mark being that of the Soil Association which appears on about 70% of all organic food in this country.

Growing your own Organic Food
Growing your own is a great way to provide nutritious food for yourself and your family at very little cost. You can avoid the use of pesticides and GMO’s and have food with a lot more flavour ready to eat in your back garden!

If you don’t have any space at home to grow your own, there are various allotment schemes whereby you can hire your own space on which to grow your own, contact:
The Cambridge Allotments Network
01223 501581
www.allotments.net

What do I use as Compost?
The Romans introduced composting more than 2000 years ago as a way of building up the fertility of the soil and today it is estimated that there are at least 4 million tonnes of household waste per annum which could used as compost!

If you want to start composting your waste, the basics are as follows:

• You can compost practically anything that has lived (it is best to avoid meat, fish and bones as these can attract rodents and start to smell extremely bad).
• The easiest way to start making compost is to have an open cold heap in the corner of the garden, if you are using a bin you should turn the pile at regular intervals in order to provide enough air to keep the process going.
• You can buy special compost bins or make your own using four wooden pallets wired together and lined with old cardboard. The top of the pile should be covered with carpet or something similar to keep out the rain.

There are numerous websites where you can gather more information on composting:
www.organicgarden.org.uk
www.hdra.org.uk
www.soilassociation.org