Unless you're unusually well-off or grow all your own food, it's unlikely that every single food item you buy will be organic.
So, many of us wonder which products to spend the extra pence or pounds on for organic certification. During organic fortnight, I found that most people have decided for themselves which foods they prefer to buy organic, but how often are these beliefs based on a patchy version of the truth, or pure guesswork?
For fruit and vegetables, the closest I've come to an official line on this list compiled by The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a not-for-profit environmental research organisation. Its 'dirty dozen'; foods that are more likely to be coated in pesticides, includes peaches, apples and strawberries, while it urges less caution on onions and avocados.
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It may be a little early to start thinking about Christmas, but the London & Scottish International have got me all excited about Christmas parties (or any Friday night for that matter). And the reason why? Their award winning organic spirits.
Top of the bunch is the classic Juniper Green Gin. This smooth-as-can-be gin is made with delicate herbs, including juniper and coriander seeds, for a taste that is so pure and clean that only the finest of mixers (if you must) will do. I recommend sweetener-free Fever Tree Tonic.
For a gold star vodka martini (or bloody mary), get your hands on their UK5 vodka. It doesn’t leave you with any icy harshness in the back of your mouth - instead it’s gently but perfectly potent.
Both drinks are made from organic grain, natural yeast, and fermented the old fashioned way without any chemical enhancers, glycerol or carbon filtering.
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Healthwise balms (from the Healthwise Clinic), are a series of 100% natural and organic remedies for all sorts of skin problems. The Yellow balm is ideal for non-reddening skin conditions such as eczema, while the Purple balm works against reddening skin problems such as acne, nappy rash or sunburn. For a nourishing skin detox (or to get rid of fungal infections) choose the Clarifying balm and for a bit of pampering pick the moisturizing Beauty balm.
As well as protecting and treating the skin, unlike most skin remedies, Healthwise balms are utterly lovely to use. Each soothing balm is non-greasy and has a calming sent of organic sesame oil and mild plant extracts. Plus they are suitable for vegetarians; completely biodegradable and free of any unnecessary chemicals.
The 'Choose Love' clothing line from Katherine Hamnett will no longer be available in Tesco stores, as the designer has opted to end her relationship with the chain, citing ideological differences.
Hamnett launched the range in March. The capsule collection consisted of organic, fairtrade cotton t-shirts bearing slogans such as 'Choose Love' and 'Save the Future'. But Hamnett ultimately felt that the sentiment expressed by the garments were at odds with the morals of Tesco.
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If chocolate did grow on trees I'd want it to be as delicious as this. The Chocolate Tree are very special, because not only do they make some of the best organic, fairtrade chocolate I've ever tasted...they make it four miles from my house! The idea isn't just to make great chocolate to sell online and in shops, it's to get it to a wider audience by selling their wares at music festivals across the country. It's a novel idea to sell such a quality product at these types of events, but all you have to do is try a bar of the dark chocolate with big chunks of mango or a bar of white chocolate with cherries and you'll be hooked.
Other products include handmade truffles, chocolate dipped strawberries and gingerbread men all made using mostly local and organic ingredients. They are certainly going to give big name organic chocolate manufacturers a run for their money. Check out their website for stockists and look out for them at a festival near you.
We're coming into October, and now is the time for thinking about next year’s garden. It may seem that this year’s crop is only just ending, but with frosts predicted for this weekend, the Autumn is well and truly here and it’s time to start planning those bulbs for next Spring, the over-wintering onions, peas and garlic, planting those raspberry canes and ordering next year’s seeds.
That’s where the 2008 Organic Gardening Catalogue comes in handy and makes you spend more money than you’d planned.
In case you’ve not come across it before, the Organic Gardening Catalogue has everything you could possibly need – and many things you didn’t know you needed – for organic gardening, at home and in the allotment. This is the place for organic seeds, heritage varieties of plants, green manures, organic fertilisers, biological pest controls, tools, books, and even Christmas gifts for the enthusiastic gardener in your life.
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The Village Bakery - makers of some of the tastiest artisan bread in town - has just introduced a compostable bread bag for its loaves.
The new bags are made from Master-bi film which is completely biodegradable and ideal for the compost. Master-bi film is produced using renewable and sustainable materials and is GM free.
Old Village Bakery favourites like the Rye, Rye with Coriander and Country bread will all be packaged in the new eco-bags. And this lovely company have also introduced two new breads for the occasion: the hearty Spelt and for lazy Sundays, a Honey and Sunflower bread.
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