What makes Garden of Eve organic produce special?
At Garden of Eve Farm, we operate as sustainably as possible, and grow an incredible diversity of plants. We have 70 varieties of vegetables, 20 varieties of herbs, and 30 varieties of flowers. We use NO poisonous pesticides or herbicides. Instead we rely on plants’ natural defense systems and ecological solutions to solve pest problems.
As environmental advocates, we try to walk our talk and create the changes we want to see in the world through our choices on a daily basis.
We are different from many typical farms, which are based on the practice of monocropping – growing many acres of just one crop. Single-crop farms often rely on large amounts of chemical pesticides and herbicides, which have been shown to increase the risk of cancer and to cause other chronic health problems. You’ll also notice the difference when you taste organic! Our produce has deliciously intense, sweeter flavors than conventionally grown produce.
How do I know that Garden of Eve produce is organic?
Use of the term “organic” is now defined and regulated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The fact that we are “Certified Organic” tells you that we have gone through a very rigorous certifying process conducted by the Northeast Organic Farming Association and USDA. We have proven that we use no synthetic herbicides, fertilizers, or pesticides, that we use cover crops to enrich the soil, and are good stewards of our environment.
Why is organic produce sometimes more expensive?
When you purchase an organic product you are paying to protect your own water, air, and soil. You are paying the real environmental and human cost of producing food in this country, not an artificially low price that doesn’t include the future costs of health bills and environmental degradation from the toxic chemicals that are used.
You are paying farmers a living wage to work from sunup to sundown growing your food for you, instead of driving farmers to bankruptcy as is the case in many agricultural industries today. Finally, you are paying for more nutritious, better tasting, and healthier fruits and vegetables.
Much of the USA’s large-scale agricultural production is sold artificially cheap because of huge government subsidies – your tax dollars going into the pockets of giant agribusinesses, not farmers. Unlike on small farms, agribusiness is highly mechanized and consumes vast quantities of fossil fuels. These farms are putting toxic chemicals into your air, your water, and your soil so that they can produce cheap food now, but we all pay the price later on.
However, compared to other sources of organic produce, we offer a great value and make sure that our CSA members always receive more produce than they have paid for per week, compared to buying the same organic products in a store.
Why Buy Organic Produce?
More and more studies show that not only does organic produce taste better, it is actually better for you. Why? Not just because it doesn’t have residues of toxic pesticides and herbicides, although that’s a good start.
Organic farmers don’t use petroleum-based fertilizers that act like “plant cocaine”, making vegetables grow unnaturally fast and large. Organic vegetables grow more slowly so they take up larger quantities of minerals and nutrients from the soil.
Americans spend barely 10% of their annual income on food, while Europeans spend on average 25%-30%. We are one of the most obese nations in the world. Do you see the correlation? If good healthy food isn’t worth your money, what is?
