There is great debate on whether purchasing organic food is worthwhile, as it is usually much more expensive than conventional food. The advantages of organic food are well documented. However, in my eyes, it comes down to one issue: Do you and your children want to eat pesticides with your food? Assuming your answer is no, and you want to go down the organic food route, how do you keep the cost down?
Grow your own. The cheapest method has got to be to grow your own. The great thing is that it doesn't require much garden space or even a garden! We grow tomatoes and strawberries in containers, and the extra benefit is that you get total control over the growing conditions. The best combination is organic soil with organically produced seeds or plants; that way, you ensure you get the full flavor and benefit. Containers can be placed anywhere that receives a reasonable amount of daylight, meaning you can use them on balconies or other hard surfaces.
Look for your local suppliers. One of the most satisfying things to do is buy organic food locally. That way, you get the freshest ingredients for your kitchen and also get to local businesses. It would help if you also got very competitive prices with no transportation costs for the supplier. Don't forget that these same businesses will be employing local staff, so you are also helping the local economy; everybody wins in this scenario.
Local markets We visit a big monthly market held on a disused airstrip. Organic food is just one of the varieties sold there, but the prices are excellent. Of course, they are all local suppliers, and with several of them in one place, we benefit from healthy competition and sample a lot of fruit!
Local box schemes: If you cannot leave your house or are too busy working to select your groceries by hand, why not subscribe to an organic box scheme? You will receive, delivered to your door, a weekly selection of fruit and vegetables in season.
Farm shops Finally, investigate whether any farms near you operate an organic farm shop. Our local one is on an open farm, so you can see where the animals are being kept and the crops being grown. They have a well-designed walking route around the farm, which makes a lovely day out for the kids, too.
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