I recently had lunch with friends and we started talking about all the great organic products and places out there now.
When I first went organic in 2003, there was a very limited range and mostly sad and uneven products that spoiled very quickly and cost 100% to 200% more than non-organic ones. I regularly experimented with finding larvae in my apples and lettuces, chewing busily, so I quickly learned to carefully inspect food before taking a bite. I remembered the old saying: the only thing worse than finding a worm in your apple is finding half a worm! My friends laughed at my apprehension. They accepted it as a sign of living and healthy food. Me, I like my food without larvae.
Fortunately, many things have changed since then. Now the quality has definitely improved and the prices seem to be only 20% higher than non-organic ones, especially if you know where to buy. (And I am very happy to report that I have not seen a larva or an insect on my products for years.) Even traditional supermarkets are rapidly expanding their organic ranges – the health food aisle is getting bigger, there are organic canned tomatoes and lentils, cereals, pastas, and organic tea for breakfast. Today I was delighted to see that now there is also organic holoumi cheese. Organic chicken, beef, and eggs have been around for a while, too. Even organic butchers are popping up.
Even the range of organic products in addition to organic food has expanded enormously. Now there is:
* organic skincare – stay tuned for my next article on Narelle Cheney creator Miessence
* organic hair dye, shampoo, etc. – my hairdresser (Bron at Endorphin Hair, Bulimba) says he has so many women with cancer who come there, especially for his products
* Organic personal hygiene products: toothpaste, deodorant, tampons, etc.
* Organic Cotton – The sheets and towels are so heavenly!
* Organic and chemical-free cleaning forms, including laundry products.
* organic essential oils and candles
Now it seems that there is almost nothing that is not available as an organic alternative. The only thing I can think of is toilet paper. Has anyone seen organic toilet paper?
When I first went organic, I tried many products, many of them did not impress me, particularly skin care ranges, toothpastes and deodorants. After talking to many wonderful consumers and manufacturers and slowly working through trial and error, I discovered that there are some great products available. So if you’ve tried a few products and haven’t been impressed, don’t give up, let us know what you’re looking for and we can help you find it.
Once you start looking for organic, you’ll notice it popping up everywhere. I live in a popular Brisbane suburb in Australia and there are two excellent organic food stores within walking distance of my home. One has a fabulous cafe and the other has a great variety naturist, gym and regularly hosts very informative health seminars for a very reasonable price.