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Why Choose Organic?

Let's face it. Something has to be done about how we obtain our food. Most people don't stop to think about how their food has probably traveled at least 1000 miles from the place it was grown to get to thier table. This implies that people are less connected to the food sources that supply their bodies with nutrients and energy. These foods, if not produced in a natural, sustainable manner, are most likely saturated with herbicide and pesticide residues. Although widely accepted or simply ignored by most, these chemicals can be extremely harmful to not only your health, but the health of the enviornment.

Obtaining your food from local organic farmers is the best way to avoid all these problems surrounding how food is produced. It's also the best way to bring the freshest, healthiest produce to your family's table. Purchasing foods produced in your region can provide a sense of security about where your food came from, and what methods were used to obtian it. Organic farming usually takes place on a smaller scale than that of conventional agriculture, which allows the farmer to intensify the quality, nutrition, and taste of foods produced.

Besides providing quality food, organic agriculture focuses on regenerating farmland to a healthier state. The regenerative principles of organic farming rely on careful and conscienceous measures in order to recycle wastes created in the processes of cultivation. This leads to healthier soils, as well as the produce they create. Organic farms also grow a great diversity of crops,which guarantee a healthy farm ecosystem. In turn, the farm envionrnment promotes the necessary interactions with wildlife, which are so often taken for granted in conventional agriculture. The best part about it is that no chemicals are allowed in certified organic farming practices. Nothing can be applied to crops if synthetically produced or refined. That means, no nasty fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides make their way onto your plate!

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSAs

If you want the absolute "cream of the crop", purchasing a farm share for the season is the way to go. By purchasing a share from an organic farm, you essentially subscribe to fresh produce for as long as your farmer's season lasts. In the Thurston County area, that means about 3-4 months of all the best produce. This system, known as Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, eliminates the need for a middle man, which means the farmer sees all of his profits. You, in turn, receive your share weekly as a box of anything from mixed vegetables, fruits, and herbs, depending on what your farmer offers. Some farmers can provide CSAs with dairy, honey, and meat for an extra fee. Farmers usually offer different sizes of shares, from small to large families or simply for individuals.

Here's a few growers in Thurston County that can provide you with CSA subscriptions. If you're not a Puget Sound resident, visit http://newfarm.org/farmlocator/index.php to find organic CSAs in your area. If the subscription system isn't best for you, there's always the Olympia Farmer's Market at http://www.farmers-market.org . They're open from April to December, and it's a great place to meet the producers themselves.

CSA PROVIDERS IN THURSTON COUNTY:

Get Involved with Agriculture in Your Community!

If gardening is your hobby, or maybe you're looking for a worthy cause to volunteer for, than Thurston and Pierce Counties have some wonderful opportunities available. Non-profit organizations like GRuB, or Garden Raised Bounty (there's no grub without "u"!) need volunteers to help build raised garden beds at the homes of low-income Olympia families. They also have a youth outreach program which involves instructing highschool and middleschool students from eight different schools and agencies. You can find them at the link above, or call (360) 753-5522 for more info.

In Pierce County, the Emergency Food Network is another non-profit that has been distributing food at no charge to those in need since 1982. They run the Mother Earth Farm in Orting, a cannery in Kent, as well as a distribution center in Lakewood. They cater to 70 food banks, hot meal sites, and shelters. In 2003, their 8 acre organic farm produced over 105,000 lbs. of food, and the network distributed over $10 million in foodstuffs. To volunteer at the Cannery, call EFN at (253) 584-1040. To volunteer at Mother Earth Farm in Orting, call (253) 691-4921.