Happy Thanksgiving...

From Heritage Organic Farm to YOU! We are thankful for each one of our loyal customers new and old and hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with family and friends.
We are so excited to announce a new pickup location in Savannah on Mondays at Ogeechee River Coffee Company in Habersham Village. The price is $30 per original/family box and $20 for petite boxes. They arrive by 1:30 and the store close at 7:00. Let us know if you or a friend would be interested.
We will also be opening a pickup location at Curves in Pooler and Curves in Statesboro in the next few weeks! Email us any questions.
Happy Turkey Day!
God Bless,

The Case for Organics

We hope everyone is enjoying their Fall activities. Wanted to post some more info on organics for those of you who still have some convincing to be done amongst family, friends, or even yourselves! 

Happy Reading! 

The Case for Organics

   Organic food is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics, nor GMOs.  Only natural methods and amendments are used.

Safety

   The EPA lists 65 pesticides used on food crops as possible, probable, or known cancer-causing agents.  Studies by the USDA found more than 80% or celery, peach, and apple samples contained pesticide residues even when prepared for normal use by washing, peeling or coring. (12 different carcinogens and 17 different neurotoxins).

   Over 50 pesticides are known to disrupt sperm  production, sperm counts around the world have fallen 50% in 50 years.  A recent study by the Consumer Reports found 75% of conventionally grown product had pesticide residue.  Despite mounting evidence that genetically modified foods pose serious health and environmental problems, the FDA doesn't require special testing or labeling.

   How can consumers tell if the food they are buying contain GMOs? In the US the only way to be sure is to buy certified organic food.  85% of all soy is now grown from GMO seeds, 40% of all corn and 75% of all canola.  Also sweet potatoes.

Nutrition

   Organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown food according to many recent studies.  The organically grown vegetables tested by Dr. Worthington (lettuce, spinach, carrots, potatoes, cabbage) were found to have averaged 27% more vitamin C, 23% more iron, and 29% more magnesium than their conventionally grown counter parts.  (reported in Nutrition Science News)

The Journal of Applied Nutrition study found the mineral content in organic produce twice as high as those in conventionally grown produce.

According to a study by the American Chemical Society, organic oranges contained 30% more Vitamin C than conventional oranges.

   Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry - organically grown plants contain more healthy compounds than conventionally grown crops.  They make vitamins, polyphenolics and other antioxidants to protect themselves from dangers such as pests and drought.  The thinking is that eating organic plants with their immune (defense) system enhances our immune system.  (Conventionally grown plants have chemicals to protect them so do not need a strong immune system.

   If you are feeding your family with conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in an attempt to boost their immune system, you may be doing more harm than good: eating an apple a day may no longer keep the doctor away.  A far better choice would be to buy organically grown produce, and local if possible.  Organic produce is FDA regulated to be grown without use of harmful pesticides or genetic modifications.  It is widely considered to be safer, healthier alternative.  What's more, these fruits and veggies are though to have high antioxidant levels.

Army worms are marching in...

Grey moths have been seen in the grasses at Heritage so when that happens in the Fall of the year, it means army worms are marching in! To control these bad bugs, EVERY blade of grass on the lawns and fields have been cut to eliminate their egg hatcheries. Also, our farmer will put out soldier bugs which are insects that destroy the army worms.

Also, thought we would share, Shirley's great-grandsons came out to the farm Friday to visit and boy did they have fun. They are absolutely fascinated by the farm, the machines, and how all of it "works."

Grady and Mooma (Shirley) checking out the tractor

Davis loved feeding the neighbors goats some of Heritage's fresh arugula

Hope you all have a great week!

The Judge

 Well, it looks like one of our hens might have turned out to be an Aracuna rooster. We have nicknamed him "The Judge." He seems quite gentle and provides as a protector to the hens. He herds the girls into the henhouse when he hears a hawk approaching. We should start seeing beautiful colored eggs from these girls in about another month!
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Fall is Coming Fast!

We had a great few weeks of vacation, got in a quick trip to the mountains, and are back into full swing now. We are still harvesting okra and peppers but are excited about our own little "planting party" we will be having in mid September.
As summer season ends and fall is just around the corner, we are reminded again how important it is for our health and the health of the planet for us to eat and feed our families organically grown food.
There is no substitute- not local, not sustainable, not natural.  When you buy products labeled USDA organic you greatly reduce your exposure to persistent, toxic herbicides and pesticides, which have been linked to birth defects, cancer, and other serious health problems.

September is Organic Food Month!!
 
Below is the first in a series of articles we will be posting on the benefits of organically grown food.
Protecting Children
  Few parents have time in their busy days to keep up with the latest research on children's health.  There are two recent studies, though, of which all parents should be aware.  The first was published in May 2010 by the prestigious President's Cancer Panel, which monitors and executes activities of the National Cancer program and reports directly to President Obama.
   The report, entitled "Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now," found that exposure to environmental contaminants, such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the overuse of antibiotics and growth hormones in the food chain, can be harmful to human health and increase the risk of contracting cancer.  It went on to note that "children can be exposed to toxins in utero via placental transfer and/or after birth via breast milk."
   On May 17, 2010, a similarly compelling study published in the journal Pediatrics concluded that exposure to organophosphate pesticides (compounds used in agriculture to kill pests) at levels common among U.S. children may contribute to a prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in these children.  Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study analyzed the levels of pesticide metabolites in the urine of 1,139 children ages 8 to 15, and found children with above-average levels had roughly twice the odds of being diagnosed with ADHD.
   Both of these studies highlight the importance of minimizing young children's exposure to even low levels of chemical pesticides.  In doing so, they also implicitly speak to the importance of choosing organic products. 
   By law, products bearing the USDA organic label are prohibited from being grown and processed using toxic and persistent pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.  In fact, organic food production and processing is the only system that uses certification and inspection to verify that these chemicals are not used.
   When your children's health is on the line, Organic.  It is worth it!

by: Rose, Jennifer. "Protecting Children." Buyorganic!


*Also, we added a peanuts dry roasted recipe to our Nutritional Notes and Recipes page on the right so make sure and check it out if you want to enjoy a simple snack. Just be sure and get organic peanuts of course. :)

Water Galore

Ag Engineers came out yesterday to survey at Heritage Farm to design an irrigation system for 2 of the 7 fields. The other 5 are already irrigated.  This is exciting! More produce on the way!!


Thought you might want to see too that our babies are growing up fast and sure are pretty!

Heritage's Angels

Members of the box club volunteer as field hands to cut okra and flowers and pick peas...temperature 99 degrees!!!!

Our annual inspection of our farm by USDA and QCS to maintain organic certification took place yesterday and as usual we passed the inspection with flying colors. This is our 20th year of certification! First farm in Georgia to be certified!