Advantages to Eating Organic and Local Vegetables
One of the most common misconceptions about eating organic is that it is expensive. Yes, some organic items may have a higher price-point than conventional food, but can you really afford NOT to eat organically? If you are willing to invest a little bit more money now, you could save mountains of money that may otherwise be spent on prescriptions, medication, cancer treatment, and medical bills that can result from the accumulation of toxins in your body from years of eating unhealthy foods.
I will admit that it can take some time to adjust to the differing prices. I can remember when I struggled with the justification of eating fresh, organic and local food. It can be difficult when you walk into a Safeway and see the price of their organic produce. However, along my own personal wellness journey I have picked up some valuable techniques which can help keep the costs down. We don’t need to buy organic foods from over-priced places like Safeway. Today I am going to tell you about one great way that will allow you to eat wholesome, organic food on a reasonable budget.
Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA). Without going into too many details, a CSA is a group of people who agree to support a local farm and its operations. Members share the risks and benefits of crop success with the farmer. So this means that if the growing season goes exceptionally well, then you get far more organic produce than you can imagine! Some CSA’s may have slightly different rules and fees, but the fundamentals are essentially the same. Members pay the farmer a set rate at the beginning of the growing season. In exchange, you receive an equal portion of the organic, local food that is cultivated. The food is generally harvested and delivered to designated drop-off area once a week for the member’s convenience.
Most cities have local farmers in their regions who offer CSA. You may need to do some searching to find the one nearest you. Here in Vancouver, I am part of the Nathan Creek Organic Farm CSA.
If you’re wondering just how affordable a community-supported agriculture is, I played with some numbers and estimated that I will be paying about $15 per week for a box full of the most nutrient-dense, fresh, local and organic produce. So for those who are still saying “I just can’t afford to eat organic” set down that $6.00 coffee from Starbucks and sign up for a CSA near you.
