Some General Information About Organic Food Farming

  What are the benefits of eating food produced by organic food farming? There are many controversies regarding the benefits of organic food.

According to some research and studies, organic vegetables contains more nutrients such as Vitamin C and polyphenols compared to non-organic food. Considering the lack of pesticides, this is not surprising. For non-organic farming, it is common to use all sorts of pesticides to produce bigger and better looking vegetables. However, as you may know, pesticides are chemical compounds, which do have side effects in terms of health.

It might be even worse for young children who are more susceptible to such chemical compounds. The same goes with preservatives and sweeteners, which are used for non-organic food. They can create health problems as time goes on. Organic home grown vegetables is free from all sorts of pesticides, preservatives and other chemicals.

Hence, it might be safe to say that organic vegetables does offer a better health alternative to non-organic food. For non-organic livestock, it has been noted that antibiotics are commonly used for prevention of disease and increasing the body size of livestock. Animals seem fatter after injection of antibiotics. Some countries like UK do not encourage the usage of antibiotics on livestock for growth promotion.

Nevertheless, they are still widely used in such countries. In the case of organic farming, antibiotics are only used for treating diseases. Organic farming promotes good husbandry and suitable stocking levels for prevention of diseases instead of focusing on wide antibiotic usage. What happens when animals have higher residues of antibiotic in their bodies?

The residues are passed on to humankind in the form of meat. As you may know, antibiotic usage has health side effects. Another consequence of using antibiotics on animals is the probability of immunity attained by certain bacteria and germs like Salmonella. In other words, if any of these bacteria or germs is passed on to humans through meat, it might be untreatable using antibiotics.

There are many disputes as to the health benefits of eating organic food. Organic food farming does not use pesticide, preservatives and sweeteners. In other words, there is definitely less side effects to one's health especially to a child's health. As the English saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Hence, it might better for a person to experiment eating organic food for a few weeks to find out if there is any important difference between eating it and non-organic food.

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat and the nutrition of the food you eat is just a symptom of the soil it came from. If you consume high quality foods that were grown in an organic, nutrient rich soil, then you will most likely be healthy, assuming you practice a holistic lifestyle to some degree. If you eat poor quality foods that come from a soil dense with toxins and void of life and nutrients, then inevitably, your body will follow suit and become toxic.

If you eat animal products such as meat, poultry, or dairy, the lifestyle these animals had when they were alive will also impact your health in either a positive or negative manner. Your body will be healthier if the animal products you eat come from animals that were raised in clean and stress-free environments, free of growth hormones and antibiotics, and bred consuming plants grown in healthy organic soil. To examine this circle of health, we must visit organic farming.

Organic on the South Lawn

Organic farming, the green and natural way of planting and harvesting crops, is on an upswing these days. This method of farming is becoming popular because it works with Mother Nature, not against her. Even the First Lady, Michelle Obama, has planted an organic garden on the South Lawn of the White House, an impressive 1,100-square-foot plot of raised beds consisting of 55 varieties of vegetables, all originating from organic seedlings at the Executive Mansion's greenhouses. Although the term "organic" has exploded within the past few years, its concept has been around since the mid 1900's.

Where Did the Term, "Organic Farming" Come From?

In 1940, Lord Northbourne, an agriculturist, coined the term, "organic farming" in his book, Look to the Land. He based this phrase on the concept of "the farm as organism" and wrote about "the farm as a living whole" (p.81). He held a holistic view and believed that the farm itself needed to be a living entity and any farming in which the farm does not need to be dependent on chemicals to operate should be labeled as organic farming. Lord Northbourne's idea took some time to spread. It wasn't until the 1970's when organic crop production began to develop as an industry.

What Exactly is Organic?

Organic food is grown without the use of toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones, and antibiotics and cannot be genetically engineered. Organic produce and meat are immensely better for your health than commercially farmed foods and because organic farming does not involve the use of chemicals https://www.agrifarming.in/, it also supports a healthy environment. Commercial farming methods uses various pesticides and fertilizers which destroy soils, negatively affects the plants grown in such soils, sickens the animals eating these plants, and ultimately harms the humans dependent upon them.

Other Benefits of Organically Farmed Food

Not only do organically farmed foods contain fewer toxins, but they also have a much higher nutritional value than commercially farmed products. Although organic foods tend to cost more, they do contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and proteins. Another benefit is that they contain high levels of potent antioxidants called, "phenolic compounds," nutrients responsible for removing cancer-causing free radicals in the body. Organic foods, especially produce often taste much better than commercially farmed foods.

"Organically Grown" Verses "Certified Organic"

Farms located in the United States that wish to grow and distribute organic food are required to adhere to strict guidelines established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), The National Organic Program (NOP), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For a farm to achieve organic certification in the United States, the fields used for agricultural farming must be farmed for a minimum of three years without the use of conventional pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. This is to assure that any chemical residues left in the soil from previous exposure is removed. Farmers harvesting during this three year grace period are able to label their food as "organically grown." However, three years is not a long period, and there is no guarantee that the soil at these farms is completely free of chemicals at this time. For example, DDT, a highly toxic insecticide banned in the U.S. in 1972 but still used in other countries today, has a reported half-life of 2-15 years. Since the soils of "organically grown" food may still contain pesticides, it is best to purchase foods labeled as "certified organic." An even healthier and more economic solution is to grow your own organic herbs and vegetables this season.

Grow Your Own Organic Garden

If you are interested in gardening, but have never practiced it before, it is never too late to start. In fact, given the dire straights of our food industry, now is a perfect time to begin sowing your own organic vegetable seeds. In doing so, you will be improving and controlling your own health and aiding in the restoration of environmental balance.

Roll Up Your Sleeves, Get Dirty, Give Back to the Environment, and Put Organic Onto Your Plate and Into Your Body

Growing your own organic vegetable garden is a wonderful experience and reminding your taste buds what it is like to eat unaltered food again is a gift. Committing your mind, muscles, and nurturing spirit for a couple hours a week to a garden you have tended to since its birth is well worth the investment. To watch the soil, sun, and air work together to produce sustenance for you and your family is miraculous and extremely gratifying.

For that short window of time when you are harvesting some of the freshest vegetables you have ever eaten, you will have satisfaction in knowing that you have momentarily regained control from food scientists and a profit-driven government (whose ties are mostly to the agricultural industry, not always the people) that is unceasingly feeding consumers with unhealthy products and faulty nutrition-education.

When you are in control of the food that you are consuming, you do not have to spend great lengths of time deciphering food labels or worrying that in your quest to find high quality and organic produce you are burning a hole in your wallet. Nor will you have to fret over pesticides or bogus health claims!

If creating your own vegetable garden is not an option, you can still take advantage of fresh organic crops. Some great alternatives include container gardening, community gardening, and seeking out local farmer's markets, which are becoming increasingly popular.

Think Before You Act

So next time you are about to purchase produce or meat, take a minute and decide which route you want to go: commercially farmed or organically farmed. If you can, choose the food that came from the richest and most healthy of all soils: organic. Your body, its health, and the environment will thank you in the long run.

After all, you are what you eat.

(In upcoming articles I will touch upon many more topics dealing with organic food such as "organic gardening tips" and "learning how to choose between organic brands.")

Tips on How To Choose Your Sod Installation Company

At Suffolk Sod Father we want you to know how to make the right choice when hiring a sod installer. Following this handy guide will help you choose the right company, know what you should expect, both before and after the sod installation.

1. Protect yourself and your property: Is the sod installer you've chosen licensed and insured? No work should be done without the proper certificates. This protects you and the company as accidents can occur. This information should be readily available from the installer or their website.

2. Experience Counts: And how can you tell? It's easier than you think, use word of mouth referrals from friends or simply Google "sod installers" to find local providers. You want to see that the company has a good business history, and has sod installation as one of the services provided. Many landscapers will provide this service, however not all lay sod or do design work. Ask for references, and to see jobs that were completed by the sod company.

3. Sod supplier: Ask where your sod will be purchased. It is not unusual to request a sod sample, literature from the sod farm, including the seed mixture used. There are many varieties of sod grown by sod farms and selection of the appropriate sod for your region is imperative.

4. Meeting the installer: What your installer will look for and why:

a. Do you have currently or will you be having a sprinklers system installed? After the sod is laid, your installer should adjust all the heads to accommodate the sod height.

b. Is the soil healthy? A soil analysis should be done to determine the soils integrity.

c. What are the growing conditions? Your installer will be taking notice of shaded areas, and may recommend trimming back trees to allow for adequate sunlight.

d. How much sod is required? Now is the time to mention any scheduled projects such as flower beds, walkways, patios, etc. Accurate measurements will reduce waste and keep the cost of sod and cost of sod installation down.

After a thorough walk through of your property your installer will provide you with an estimate as well as a warranty. Doing your homework now will ensure your sod installation will go smoothly and be done correctly. Sod is an affordable alternative to lawn renovation and yearly reseeding. With a proper annual maintenance program, your sod will look great for years to come!

We hope that our tips for choosing your sod installation company will be helpful to you in planning your sod project.

Kevin Godberson is Founder and President of Godberson Landscaping - a landscaping design and maintenance company that has been transforming yards for Suffolk County homeowners from boring to beautiful since 1991. For more landscaping tips visit us online at

Every homeowner knows that their grass is a crucial part of their landscaping and their lawn reflects on the overall appearance of their home. But what if you are one of those homeowners that got stuck with an overgrown landscape when you moved into your house? Trees, shrubs and weeds have overgrown a once beautiful landscape and are now stealing sunlight and nutrients from your lawn. Take back the control of your landscape's beauty and give your home a fresh, new look by installing new sod. It's an easy DIY project that will drastically improve the value of your Atlanta property in less than 48 hrs!

Sod is a professionally grown turf of grass that creates an instant transformation to your landscape. Sold in rolls or mats, sod looks like a thick carpet of densely grown, well-developed grass blades with soil and roots https://sodgreen.com/. Your best bet for a good variety and fresh cuts is to find a local sod farm.

With the many different types of grass to select from, it's important to get the right kind of grass for the area in which it will be grown. So, to ensure that you get the best out of your landscape investment, there are a few things you should consider before choosing a sod:

1. Is the sod free of weeds?

Don't buy sod from just any provider that is offering a "too-good-to-be-true" kind of deal. See the sod for yourself! Go directly to the sod farm and see the sod you will be purchasing. The drive is well-worth the time and effort to ensure you are getting superior quality, fresh cut sod.

2. When is the sod cut and stacked before being delivered?

To ensure you are getting the freshest sod cuts, your order should be cut and stacked on the same day of delivery. In fact, as a DIY sod installer, you might want to pick it up yourself.

3. Where is the sod grown?

It's difficult to know for certain if a sod ordered from online vendor is going to be sod grown in your local area. Many farm brokers will purchase grass that is grown in a different area or state and have it shipped to them before it is delivered to you. How fresh can that be? Laying sod should be done with the freshest cuts of sod with minimal transportation time to achieve the best results.

4. What type of sod is best for my Atlanta landscape?

Call the sod farm directly to discuss the many different varieties of fresh cut sod that you can install. Sometimes you can refer to a quick comparison chart on their website that offers some insight, but if you are just unsure about what is right for your Atlanta home, simply call them up. The sod farm should ask all the important questions when considering which sod to suggest for your area. For example, how old are your trees in your landscape? Where exactly in Atlanta will the grass be grown? Will it be under a well-established and thriving Willow tree in Roswell, GA or a hill-terraced, open-area backyard in Canton, GA? Will the sod be growing in a shady area at the base of a Downtown Atlanta Condo or will it be growing beside a new fountain in a subdivision in Buckhead with plenty of water but minimal sunlight? All these factors are important since each sod variety is unique in its tolerances and maintenance needs. The sod farm specializes in producing beautiful turf, so let them help you in your decision making for the right sod for your project.

DIY sod installation is easy when you have the right knowledge and the right resources to accomplish your project. Get the best sod installation results by purchasing fresh cut sod varieties like premium Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede and Fescue.