This month we've dubbed Organic October. We're trying to buy (or at least consider buying) organic products where possible, and also trying to use more organic practises in the garden. The word trying is important here and I'll explain why down lower.
We've spent quite a bit of time removing chemicals from our bathroom and our laundry this year, and have been cooking from scratch a lot more so that we are removing much of the chemicals from what we eat. This month, we're delving a little deeper and removing those unseen chemicals from the fruits, vegetables and grains we eat by choosing (where feasible) organic options. I'm no expert on organics, but my take on it is that the chemicals that are added during the growing of non-organic products are used to make them grow faster, remove pests and weeds etc. These chemicals come through to us, the consumer in small amounts, but they also damage the ecosystem around the land in which the product was grown, and this environment impact is the most important factor for us.
I don't have easy access to an organic green grocer, so I am choosing organic labelled products where I can, and otherwise, using mostly our own food crops, or choosing in season foods. I figure that many of the chemicals that are used on our foods are to either grow them out of season or to store them for selling out of season. Buying in season foods is also cheaper and they taste better, a win-win. The only challenge in buying only foods in season is that they are not always the foods my kids like to eat. For example, I try to get the kids to eat fruit each day, but they have never been big citrus fans, so winter through to now is a tough time to find in season fruits. But as they get older and their understanding of this grows, they're more willing to try, and this week we have finally won the "you will try and you will like mandarins" battle - woohoo!
We're also trying some other things such as organic baking products and cereals. Unfortunately, some of these are more than 4 times the price of the non-organic variety. I understand why, and truly want to support organic producers so that these prices can come down, but this isn't always easy on the budget, so I do what I can, and sometimes the weekly shop just won't allow the added expense. Some items however we now only buy organic - like tea and coffee. This feels like a good change.
In the garden, I'm also trying to go organic. I have always used chemicals sparingly, but this year they are only used as a last resort. Sadly, I've had to cave on this already with the use of some snail bait. As I've mentioned, I am trying to grow as many of my veg from seed as possible. I have started transplanting out into the garden, and despite all of my organic efforts (beer traps + egg shells + coffee spray + coffee grinds + morning snail and slug massacres), I have still heartbreakingly found whole seedlings chomped through overnight. I decided that it was expecting too much to tackle both fronts (seeds and completely organics), so have used a small amount of snail and slug pellets (the kind that say they won't hurt other animals) just to protect the seedlings. All other chemicals have been banned from the garden though.
BONUS CHALLENGE
In addition to our regular monthly challenges, we decided earlier in the year to make our mid-autumn and mid-spring months no heating and cooling months. October is therefore one of them. So in addition to our organic challenges, this month we have turned off our heater at the meter box and banned all other heaters and fans. This would be fine if the weather was always Spring like, but the last few days have given us f-f-f-freeeeezing evenings! We've toughed it out though, snuggling up in blankets, slippers and enjoying our hot water bottles and warm drinks. Why would we do this? partly because we like the challenge, partly to save power and therefore greenhouse emissions (and a few dollars) and partly to remind us that heating and cooling are a luxury that we can (at times) live without. Living in southern Victoria means we get quite cold Winters, and I think it would be unhealthy to live without heating all the time, and there are a couple of days a year when the air-conditioner being used for just a little while means we can continue to function. But a lot of the time, it is possible to be heater and cooler free.
Perhaps you'd like to join us on one or more of our challenges this month? Let me know if you do and how you go.
Have you tried nighttime raids on the garden with a torch to get the snails? I find I have the most luck going out at night than I do first thing in the morning. A few nights of snail hunting normally stops the problem. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteBarriers - lots of people talk about using different methods but barriers are the only thing that stop snails...whether you use sawdust, salt, coffee or copper - it has to be a complete barrier encircling...scattering really doesn't do much. Also, if you have lawn or grass near your vege...wait until it is hot and then mow it as low as you can....during heat the snails climb up grass to stay away from the hot ground and can be chopped (hm, that sounded hideous). Smashing them and giving them to the chooks is good, I also have a friend who owns ducks and she swears that (unlike chookies) the ducks don't eat her vege, they are awesome snail hunters though. Also remember snails generally lay their eggs in the soil so any action you take will take at least one breeding season to show if it is having an impact on the population. Can you tell I have a problem with snails too? LOL....my best advice is...know your enemy :D
ReplyDeleteLove following your greening journey....I use a hot water bottle too - as does my eldest but the little guy is too little yet....I found eldest stopped pulling out plug or undressing it at around four lol
So good to be reading your posts again - it has just taken me a while to catch up!