My husband and I are in the process of buying a 1000 sq. ft. home and I couldn't be happier with limiting the size of our house! It took some convincing with my husband (who seems to need a man cave and a cavernous basement/garage), but I have always preferred to limit our square footage as much as possible for all the reasons listed here.
I try to buy organic from the Dirty Dozen list put out by the EWG. I do prefer to buy local over organic whenever possible (including milk), from a smaller farm that I can ask specific questions about the growing conditions and pesticides use. I also have been paying attention to the country of origin. If it's organic but shipped from thousands of miles away versus a conventional produce that's from just a few states away...I chose the conventional. I don't buy organic processed food or meats because of my budget, but I have been trying my best to stay away from certain ingredients like HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), caramel coloring, and "natural" flavors. Though I eat as many whole foods as possible and limit anything processed, I do have a strict food budget, so that limits how much organic I can reasonably afford.
It may be easier to answer 'When don't I use organic?' I'm a big believer in non-GMO, sustainable foods, and an anti-Monsanto agenda. I eat 100% organic Mon-Fri and cheat a little on weekends. Making 2 salads every other day for work is easy. Organic eggs, oatmeal, sprouted breads, fruits for the mornings. Grass fed beefs for protein are easy to find. Truly other than onions and avocados, I try to buy the rest of my produce organically, and learning the higher alkaline foods is important too.
"Smaller spaces help to control clutter." YES! You will end up saving $ with a smaller house by purchasing less possessions. Also, lower utilities and taxes add up quickly (in a good way.) The key is the layout. A smaller house doesn't always mean less space if it's got good bones!
I always price check between the organic and conventional. If the organic is within a dollar of the conventional, I buy the organic. I also try to buy my lettuce organic, as well as the dirty dozen.
If I had unlimited budget, I would buy organic for all food. But as a compromise, I subscribe to CSA and receive a box of organic fruits and vegetables delivered to my door every other week. I also follow the recommendations of The Environmental Working Group (EWG) "Shoppers Guide to Pesticides" report. The group publishes a "dirty dozen" list of produce that have the highest level of pesticides. Based on that list, I buy organic apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and peaches. I buy "non-organic" fruits and veggies on the group's "clean fifteen" list, which includes cabbage, corn, pineapple, grapefruit, avocados. I can't afford free range non organic eggs, so I buy eggs from Trader Joes as a humane alternative. And i simply can't afford the high prices of grass fed organic meat, unfortunately. I know the recommendation is to offset the high cost by using smaller amounts, but I already stretch meat as far as it can go.
I can honestly say that I don't purchase organic. I do sometimes when it is the only thing available or if the other produce is looking nasty. Many of the organic farms are right next to the commercial farms or non-organic farms. They get run-off from those farms and end up not being organic at all. If people knew more about how the commercial farms actually worked, they probably would stop buying so much organic.
I try to always buy organic if I have the money to do so. I have also tried growing my own vegetables and fruits, however I have not had a lot of luck in that department due to my brown thumb. The more I read about the affects of the chemicals found in our foods, the more I worry about what I am putting in my family's bodies.
I will go with the extra expense of organic when it has a skin that is eaten and I'm purchasing from the grocery store. Strawberries are my top pick for organic!
We usually shop at the local farmer's market and don't worry so much about organic verses non-organic. This is because we know where the produce is coming from and get to meet the farmers.
My b.f. and I often buy a gallon of the organic milk that comes in a cardboard carton. It stays fresh a lot longer than the regular milk in a plastic jug, and it keeps us from buying a quart or half-gallon of the regular stuff, which is more expensive by the ounce. (When we buy a gallon of regular milk, we don't usually use it all before its expiration date. The expiration date is a lot further out on the stuff in the carton.)
Living in Southwest Florida, I found a local organic farmer near my home. I purchase all my produce from his small, unairconditioned store. It forces me to use what produce is in season rather than what is imported from other countries or up north.
I use organic when it is cost effective. If something organic is double the price of the regular item, and would blow my budget for feeding my family, I have to go with what I can afford. I would rather eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies that are not organic than one or two things that are and have my family fill up on things that are cheaper, but not good for you!
I have an office job and when I have downtime at work, I transcribe for two transcription companies. It's nice to have the extra income but I never feel financially secure since my day job is pretty low paying.
I think my house is actually pretty big. My master bedroom has a nook where we put a small TV with a single seat couch (it's part of a set; the rest of it is in the living room) that we don't even use. Next to our dining room is space to walk to the sliding door to get to the backyard.
It's nice to have space. The only time I dislike it is when I have to mop the floor! It's definitely true that a larger house means more expensive electric and gas bills.
But im generally fine with my house. Sometimes I wish for a house because the mortgage is so high.
Milk and the dirty dozen list.
I only buy organically if it's cheaper than its conventional equivalent. I just make sure to rinse all produce very well before eating.
My husband and I are in the process of buying a 1000 sq. ft. home and I couldn't be happier with limiting the size of our house! It took some convincing with my husband (who seems to need a man cave and a cavernous basement/garage), but I have always preferred to limit our square footage as much as possible for all the reasons listed here.
I try to buy organic from the Dirty Dozen list put out by the EWG. I do prefer to buy local over organic whenever possible (including milk), from a smaller farm that I can ask specific questions about the growing conditions and pesticides use. I also have been paying attention to the country of origin. If it's organic but shipped from thousands of miles away versus a conventional produce that's from just a few states away...I chose the conventional. I don't buy organic processed food or meats because of my budget, but I have been trying my best to stay away from certain ingredients like HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), caramel coloring, and "natural" flavors. Though I eat as many whole foods as possible and limit anything processed, I do have a strict food budget, so that limits how much organic I can reasonably afford.
We stick to organic soy milk but also upgrade to organic when the cost to upgrade is minimal.
I buy organic if the price drives me to it. In other words, I hardly ever buy organic!
It may be easier to answer 'When don't I use organic?' I'm a big believer in non-GMO, sustainable foods, and an anti-Monsanto agenda. I eat 100% organic Mon-Fri and cheat a little on weekends. Making 2 salads every other day for work is easy. Organic eggs, oatmeal, sprouted breads, fruits for the mornings. Grass fed beefs for protein are easy to find. Truly other than onions and avocados, I try to buy the rest of my produce organically, and learning the higher alkaline foods is important too.
"Smaller spaces help to control clutter." YES! You will end up saving $ with a smaller house by purchasing less possessions. Also, lower utilities and taxes add up quickly (in a good way.) The key is the layout. A smaller house doesn't always mean less space if it's got good bones!
I always price check between the organic and conventional. If the organic is within a dollar of the conventional, I buy the organic. I also try to buy my lettuce organic, as well as the dirty dozen.
I usually can't afford organic, but I try to buy organic apples and strawberries
If I had unlimited budget, I would buy organic for all food. But as a compromise, I subscribe to CSA and receive a box of organic fruits and vegetables delivered to my door every other week. I also follow the recommendations of The Environmental Working Group (EWG) "Shoppers Guide to Pesticides" report. The group publishes a "dirty dozen" list of produce that have the highest level of pesticides. Based on that list, I buy organic apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and peaches. I buy "non-organic" fruits and veggies on the group's "clean fifteen" list, which includes cabbage, corn, pineapple, grapefruit, avocados. I can't afford free range non organic eggs, so I buy eggs from Trader Joes as a humane alternative. And i simply can't afford the high prices of grass fed organic meat, unfortunately. I know the recommendation is to offset the high cost by using smaller amounts, but I already stretch meat as far as it can go.
We grow our own organic vegetables. I don't have any situations where I "Always" use organic, but if the prices are similar, I will choose organic.
I can honestly say that I don't purchase organic. I do sometimes when it is the only thing available or if the other produce is looking nasty. Many of the organic farms are right next to the commercial farms or non-organic farms. They get run-off from those farms and end up not being organic at all. If people knew more about how the commercial farms actually worked, they probably would stop buying so much organic.
Strawberries. They taste better too!
I try to always buy organic if I have the money to do so. I have also tried growing my own vegetables and fruits, however I have not had a lot of luck in that department due to my brown thumb. The more I read about the affects of the chemicals found in our foods, the more I worry about what I am putting in my family's bodies.
I buy organic carrots.
I will go with the extra expense of organic when it has a skin that is eaten and I'm purchasing from the grocery store. Strawberries are my top pick for organic!
We usually shop at the local farmer's market and don't worry so much about organic verses non-organic. This is because we know where the produce is coming from and get to meet the farmers.
My b.f. and I often buy a gallon of the organic milk that comes in a cardboard carton. It stays fresh a lot longer than the regular milk in a plastic jug, and it keeps us from buying a quart or half-gallon of the regular stuff, which is more expensive by the ounce. (When we buy a gallon of regular milk, we don't usually use it all before its expiration date. The expiration date is a lot further out on the stuff in the carton.)
You forgot tia maria and milk over ice-cubes!
And the hard-liquor + seven up combos (jack daniels /seven-up, southern comfort/ seven up etc) too!
Living in Southwest Florida, I found a local organic farmer near my home. I purchase all my produce from his small, unairconditioned store. It forces me to use what produce is in season rather than what is imported from other countries or up north.
I'll buy organic fruit but I typically don't search out "only organic" foods. I know its typically healther and not too much more expensive
I use organic when it is cost effective. If something organic is double the price of the regular item, and would blow my budget for feeding my family, I have to go with what I can afford. I would rather eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies that are not organic than one or two things that are and have my family fill up on things that are cheaper, but not good for you!
I have an office job and when I have downtime at work, I transcribe for two transcription companies. It's nice to have the extra income but I never feel financially secure since my day job is pretty low paying.
I think my house is actually pretty big. My master bedroom has a nook where we put a small TV with a single seat couch (it's part of a set; the rest of it is in the living room) that we don't even use. Next to our dining room is space to walk to the sliding door to get to the backyard.
It's nice to have space. The only time I dislike it is when I have to mop the floor! It's definitely true that a larger house means more expensive electric and gas bills.
But im generally fine with my house. Sometimes I wish for a house because the mortgage is so high.
I registered!