Abbie's Real Life Blog

Yesterday, the New York Times printed a useful article that listed off five easy ways to go organic.

Read it here, and then here’s the website they sourced, which makes it clear that there’s actually a list of 10 easy ways to go organic, but the NYT decided to pare it down.

Anyway.  Good stuff.  I think the part about organic milk is really an important step.  I don’t think it’s a coincidence how many young women these days have enormous breasts, and all sexist bullshit stupid one-liners aside, it’s kind of weird and gross.  And I’m speaking as one of those women.  Conveniently, there’s an organic dairy in my hometown!  But you don’t have to live near an organic dairy to get organic milk.  These days, lots of organic products can be found in many supermarkets.

I’m pretty pleased with myself that I’ve already switched to organic for three of the items listed here: peanut butter, ketchup, and apples.  We don’t drink milk at our house, so that’s not an issue for me.  (We drink organic rice milk instead.)  We don’t tend to buy a lot of potatoes in general, but I know that I’ll make the switch to the organic ones next time I do buy them.  (Which will likely be at Thanksgiving.)

The other website I referenced has a longer list that includes baby food, cotton, beef, soy, and corn.  I have to admit that I don’t always ensure that I purchase organic soy, but the thing about shopping in the health food sections and stores in my town means that I’m usually buying organic products without even knowing it.  I discovered that about my fresh-ground peanut butter last night.

I know it’s easy to encourage others to go organic when it usually means increasing the cost of everyday items, which isn’t so easy, and sometimes you lose out on convenience or taste or usability.  I know, for instance, that organic ketchup tastes differently than regular Heinz 57, but I think the taste is better.  Organic is certainly lower in sugar and salt, and that can be enough of a reason to switch.  I also already switched to organic pasta sauces, which have a different flavor than Prego.  But it didn’t take me long to switch, and now I think it tastes better, more “real”.  However, the cost difference (especially with marinara sauce) is slightly significant.  But it’s also the cost difference between buying store brand sauce or name brand sauce, and that’s rarely much of an actual quality or taste difference in the product.

Anyway, I have tried to switch to more organic, biodegradable, healthier products around my house.  Here’s a list of the ones that I think have really worked for me:

1. Method products.  We started out using their hand soaps and dish soaps, and last year I started using their laundry items too- the soap, fabric softener, and dryer sheets.  I’ve tried more natural laundry soaps in the past and didn’t find them nearly good enough, but I have to say that Method has been great all around.  Plus, you can get them at Target, so that’s very convenient, and they’re the same price as regular laundry detergent.  Also, I loved their holiday scents last year. 
2. Natural Value Waxed Paper Bags.  We used to use Ziplocs for lunch every day, but they go directly into the trash.  A better choice are these waxed paper bags, which I’ve found at most health food stores.  They’re made of recycled paper.  Put a sandwich or some chips in one, and then crumple down the top, and it stays shut, for the most part, until lunchtime.  It’s not for something really messy, but you wouldn’t be using Ziplocs for that either.  These are a great deal, and there’s no pain in throwing them out.
3. Tom’s of Maine toothpaste.  When I discovered that they put sugar in regular toothpaste, I switched to Tom’s of Maine, which, unlike some of these products, you can get at Target and grocery stores.  Again, there’s a taste difference (mostly because, you know, the lack of sugar), but you’ll get used to it.  Then you’ll have to borrow someone’s Colgate at some point, and you’ll just go “blargh” at the intense flavor.  But, seriously, sugar?  In toothpaste?  And the American Dental Association has approved this shit?
4. Preserve toothbrush.  The handles are made from recycled plastic from yogurt containers, and you can mail in your used toothbrushes and they’ll recycle them again.  Excellent!  They’re also nicely designed and not that much more expensive than regular toothbrushes.  Unfortunately, I’ve only found them at my local health food store.  But they also sell Preserve recycled plastic razors too.
5. Burt’s Bees.  I use their lip balm, cuticle cream, face soap, moisturizers, body soap, facial scrubs, toners, eye cream, and probably other things that I can’t even think of right now.  And, like Tom’s of Maine, you can increasingly get this stuff everywhere, including Target, drugstores, and beauty supply stores.  I cannot say enough good things about their tomato face soap- I use it daily and think it’s wonderful.

These aren’t obscure items, but they are extremely useful.  They also almost always come in packaging that can be recycled, and we are big on recycling.  Some of it isn’t organic, but it certainly involves companies that have organic items on their radar.  I think that companies like this are more important to support, if my support means that they will eventually be able to make the switch to organic themselves.