Of late, we are all becoming obsessed with organic foods. While it is relatively easy to procure dry organic rations, getting organic fresh foods and vegetables remains a challenge. One way of overcoming this is to grow your own vegetables.
The advantage of this is that you can have food that is natural and without chemical fertilisers used in their growth process. Growing your own vegetables has suddenly become so fashionable that now you can even seek help from a few companies who will lend you support and set up your terrace garden. If you are short on space, you can set up planters even on your window sills and in your balconies. Gardening consultants are also available who hold workshops and can be consulted even remotely through the internet.
People are beginning to make their own compost too―a relatively inexpensive endeavour. You can use your own wet kitchen waste to obtain your own organic fertilizers for your plants. And this is all free!
Why should we turn organic in the first place? What is wrong with the vegetables that one buys in the local market? Most people argue that everyone is eating them, so they must be okay.
However, health awareness is growing by the day. And with all the information available on the internet and on WhatsApp forwards, people have suddenly woken up to the dangers of eating pesticides in their food. You will agree that it is completely unnatural to stuff yourself with chemicals and with genetically modified organisms that weren’t made by the Almighty. It isn’t natural; so why should our bodies be stuffed with foreign elements in our food?
GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) foods are the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign gene may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans.
The definition of a GMO food is frightening. It seems the only reason we are stuffing ourselves with GMOs is because of our ignorance. While we are always ready to read jokes and forwards that fuel our inborn nature for everything gross, we don’t want to take the trouble to read up on the principles of organic farming or even learn what GMOs are.
Currently, GMO crops that are being sold all over the world include corn, soya, canola and cotton among other foodstuffs. Try and consciously avoid them and especially watch out for processed foods that may contain corn and soy products.
The one lesson learnt from all this is: Be natural at all times, including in your choice of food.