Organic September 2019
Organic September is a month-long campaign designed to encourage more people to try organic and to educate people about organic food and farming practices. Organic September aims to educate people about the multiple proven benefits of organic food and raise awareness for all organic farmers and producers!
The standard for organic food is laid down in European law so any food labeled organic must meet strict rules, unlike non-organic food production. There are many difference between organic and non-organic food such as, when manufacturing non-organic produce a wide range of mined fertilisers and pesticides are used, unlike organic food which is produced using natural fertilisers from plants, less energy and more respect for wildlife.
With climate change, rising diet-related ill-health and widespread declines in our wildlife, in mind the need to produce healthy produce, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protect wildlife has inclined greatly over the years! There is no real problem solver for this devastating world issues however, the buying decisions we make everyday could be a powerful form of direct action!
Why Choose Organic?
Organic means working with nature, higher levels of animal welfare, lower levels of pesticides, no manufactured herbicides or artificial fertilisers and more environmentally sustainable management of the land and natural environment, which means more wildlife. Organic food comes from trusted sources, all organic farm and food companies are inspected at least once a year and the standard for organic food are laid down in European law.
Whatever you’re buying; from cotton buds to carrots, when you choose organic food, drink or beauty and textiles, you choose products that promote a better world. Organic produce has many healthier and respectful values which non-organic produce does such as;
- Fewer are pesticides are used and when they are they aren’t harmful and thoroughly tested prior to use.
- No artificial colours and preservatives are used as they are banned under organic standards.
- Always free range meaning the very highest standards of animal welfare and animals rears without the routine use of drugs, antibiotics and wormers.
- Better for the wildlife- Organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies. There is up to 50% moore wildlife on organic farms!
- Better for plants- No systems of farming does more to reduce gas emissions from agriculture and protect natural resources.
- Its nutritionally different- A significant difference has been found between organic and non-organic farming.
- No GM ingredients meaning organic animals can not be fed on GM feed.
Let’s Get Involved…
There is many simple ways you can get involved in the organic movement and support Organic September today! Check out this small list of things you can try, there is even enough for one each day of #OrganicSeptember! With everyone’s help we can make a world of difference and support Organic September to raise more awareness for organic produce and farming!
- Host an organic meal – Spread the love for organic food with a dinner party to introduce organic food to your friends and family! See if they notice the difference in taste!
- Buy organic – Choosing organic produce the next time you shop is the most direct form of action you can take in helping the amazing organisation, Organic September! The higher the demand for organic food, the higher demand in organic farms which means moe wildlife and healthier soil.
- Supporting your local businesses – Buying organic food from your nearby independent retailers is a great way to support local businesses in your neighbourhood, raising awareness for home-grown produce and nurturing your local economy.
- Eating Out Sustainably – Find cafes and restaurants across the country and near to you which have committed to always having organic ingredients on the menu.
- Grow Your Own – Get started on your journey to making your wonderful garden and organic dream! Growing delicious and popular herbs that are easy to grow from home. As well as organic fruit and veg with you can buy seeds from your local garden centre.
- Share your organic knowledge – Get out there and share your passion with the world! Whether you decide to go to an organic tasting session or do a talk or an informative post on a social media platform you are spreading the word for this amazing cause and raising more of an awareness for organic produce! You could even contact us content you have created about organic produce which we can share on our platforms, at explorekent@kent.gov.uk
- Rediscover your wild side – Reconnect with natural and get out and about! Whether you take an adventure through your local town , create some recycled insect houses or take a relaxed stroll to work to support #NationalCarFreeDay
- Spread the word – Tell everyone you know you are supporting Organic September this year and get them involved, the more people that know, the easier it becomes to grow the movement!
- Try a veg box – Enjoy a large, seasonal veg box delivered to your door full of organic goodies for you and the family to enjoy! One of our favourite organisations that produce veg boxes are communigrow!
- Volunteer on an organic farm – Visit a local organic farm, organisation or charity, like the Explore Kent team did, and help them out by getting you hands dirty and meeting fellow organic enthusiasts just like yourself! Check out our Communigrow Blog where the Explore Kent team ventured to the beautiful allotment charity, Communigrow! Find out what we got up to in our fabulous Blog
- Start thinking of yourself differently – We are all food citizens, with the power to change the food systems we are part of, let choosing organic be the first step you take towards living more sustainably this September and the foreseeable future.
- Campaign for Organic – Take action and write to your local council unnecessary use of harmful pesticides on the streets, bring to the attention of your local MPs about putting more organic relevant topics on the agenda and help spread the word about the huge potential organic agriculture has for reducing the impacts of climate change and global warming.
- Support the super chefs – Help support the fantastic chefs that are working hard to put organic produce on the menu by eating on of our Organic Served Here award holders – find the closest restaurant or cafe to you!
To discover even more way just like these on how to get involved with Organic September and contribute as much as you can, uncover the secrets of Organic september website!
With so many easy and accessible ways to support and help raise awareness for #OrganicSeptember so why not help raise awareness for this wonderful organisation and make a stand for organic produce and farmer! Always remember, every little helps! With one small action, it can make a huge difference! Whether you chose to buy some organic food from your local farm shop or visit and organic farm and volunteer, you are making the world a better place and more organic!
For volunteering opportunities check out WWOOF UK, which is an organisation that promotes awareness of ecological farming practices by providing visitors with the opportunity to live and learn on organic properties! As well as this we have our personal favourite organic charity, where the Explore Kent team volunteered at, Communigrow where they welcome all volunteers with open arms to help build their magical allotment!
The Explore Kent team will continuously try and help organic produce become more of a topic and raise much more awareness for Organic September as we travel through the month, with organic picnics, making a conscious effort to purchase as much organic food as we can and maybe even visit another organic organisation!
Come and join #OrganicSeptemeber with their amazing campaign to make organic food and farming a more known and respected topic and as a community help slow down climate change and global warming!