Organic Herbs Are Cheaper And Safer

Organic herbs are cheaper and safer for both you and the environment. The rising demand for organic herbs stems for the growing awareness of how large scale corporate farming practices are doing damage not only to our bodies but also to our environment. The common barrier in the past to large scale demand for organic foods has been due to the price being cost prohibitive.

 As with all things economic this has been a supply and demand issue. Now that the rising awareness of personal health and environmental has gotten our attention the demand for organic foods has gone up. As time passes the growth will accelerate dramatically when health conscious people push the subject into mainstream thinking.

The best choice for purchasing organic herbs is to buy from small scale local family farmers. The fact that small local organic herb growers have greater control over their growing practices (pesticide use) and have virtually no potency reducing transportation times (environmental pollution) ensures that the long term dangers to the nations health is reduced.

 Small family operations typically have a greater environmental protection mindset due to the fact that the land they grow on is their valued personal property. The higher prices come from the supply and demand continuum. Slower and smaller production ensures higher prices. All commerce is a matter of economics when buying in bulk. Larger growers have discounted pricing but result in larger indirect costs of health problems as a result of the corporate farming practices.

Large scale farmers tend to focus on one or two herbs and grow the same ones on the same soil over and over while never allowing the soil to replenish its nutrients through other crop growth and/or resting the soil. The fact of poor nutrition and environmental pollutants leading to disease give credence to the importance of what should be a very simple choice when purchasing organic foods. Additionally you must consider the time issue. Buying locally ensures that the product is properly dried and not sitting on railroad cars or trucks while in green state and going though the dying time in the presence of road pollutants and pest laden railroad cars.

So, in my opinion the small organic grower is no more costly than the large corporate grower when you factor in these unseen long term expenses. That nagging factor of environmental damage costs and likely future medical costs from poor nutrtient density of corporate growers seems to level the field of pricing between large growers and small local growers.

 Due to that fact that large scale growers aren't able crop rotate their land the disease resistance factor in the plants is reduced over time, thereby requiring more petroleum based fertilizers and pesticides to deliver a crop. Truth be told by the time you factor in the costs of environmental damage and damage to ones health the cost of buying organic herbs in bulk are currently just as costly as buying from local growers. I recommend buying locally.

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Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_568306_23.html 

Author: Michael Manning

What Are “Certified Organic Herbs” ?

Bulk organic herbs are more economical to purchase than buying them in small bottled quantities – and more environmentally friendly to boot! By purchasing your herbs in bulk quantities, you can take advantage of large volume discounts, whether you are a retailer or a consumer of the end product. By purchasing bulk organic herbs in large amounts, you not only save, but ensure that what you need is there whether it’s for customer demand or cooking at home.

What Are “Certified Organic Herbs” ?

As consumer awareness increases about food – how it is grown, how far it travels, etc. – the demand for organic bulk herbs and certified organic spices also rises. Meanwhile, as the cost for many standard food items increases to the same level of locally-grown bulk organic herbs, the price of such organic foodstuffs becomes more competitive. But what exactly does “certified” mean?

Certified organic spices and bulk organic herbs are those raised in an ecologically sustainable way, without the kinds of chemical fertilizers or pesticides that can leach into the plant's leaves, roots, stems, flowers or bark, and leave a toxic residue. In addition, farmers who raise organic bulk herbs avoid the potentially destructive practice of monoculture. For instance, large-scale corporate agricultural operations may focus on the cultivation of only one or two products – for example, limiting a particular region to the production of only one or two Chinese herbs, such as a few varieties of ginseng. This practice causes plants to be less resistant to diseases as well as drain the soil of nutrients.

Farmers who raise organic bulk herbs focus on a healthy diversity of crops. This means a smaller supply (one of the reason that organic bulk herbs have been traditionally more expensive than non-organics), but it also means a healthier crop that is of superior quality. In the U.S. organic certification is handled on the state level by local governmental, non-profit and private agencies that have USDA approval. Since 2002, under the National Organic Program, produce such as bulk bath herbs and certified organic spices can only be labeled as such by adhering to specific requirements.

Herbs and Spices for Every Occasion

Chinese herbs are the basis of medication used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which Western medical science is starting to examine seriously. Of course, many women (and even men) appreciate a good soak in bulk bath herbs, and some of these even have therapeutic properties. Between this and the traditional kitchen uses of bulk herbs, it’s easy to see the wisdom in stocking up and keeping a good supply on hand.

Buy herbs in bulk for the savings, and to insure that you have them on hand when you need them.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_553075_17.html

Author: Anne Harvester

Leeks The Easiest Vegetable To Manage

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Forget what anyone has told you about growing leeks, there is too much thought and fuss behind it. But first let me tell you a little abut this wonderful vegetable that I only discovered since coming to Bulgaria behind it.

Every autumn you will see almost every Bulgarian who visits the bazaar carrying a leek home with them for dinner. It is a funny sight and reminds me of the Welsh comedian Max Walsh We with his giant leek. The Bulgarian leeks are almost as big! Most Bulgarian however grow their own it is so easy!

They are eaten raw in the main, as a side dish to either the main evening meal or with rakia, wine or beer. It is very rare that Bulgarian are without leeks throughout the autumn winter and early spring prior to fresh lettuce salads coming into crop.

Leeks are not grown from seed here other than the traders who sell the established seedlings on in bunches of twenty. These are bought and grown on in most vegetables gardens and smallholding. A hole is made in the earth and the seedlings planted in, watered throughout the remainder of the summer and eaten from October onwards. What could be easier that that? It is that easy hardly any fail regardless of the weather. The leek is one of the most durable vegetables without any diseases to worry about and take up very little space.

The health benefits are numerous without going into too much textbook detail. The fact is that they are far better for you than any convenience food and of course almost free to grow. Their use other than eaten raw is of course legendary, leek soup a classic example. Here n Bulgaria we have leek banistsa (leek filled filo pastry), a great favourite of mine.

If I had to say which was the easiest vegetable to grow, it would be garlic and leeks. You just put them in and apart from a little watering and weed tidying, you have a feast for winter!