If you have visited my “about me” section, or if you follow me on Snapchat or Facebook, you probably know that I was born & raised in Iowa, and still reside there. Both my husband and myself were raised on family farms, and continue to help with them today.
Over the past decade (or a little more), there has been a growing debate on GMO’s, and organic verses conventional farming practices. Most of you probably think you can guess what side I’m on, but my answer will probably surprise you. You see, I think that BOTH organic and conventional farming are important. And I also think we couldn’t have one without the other.
You see, my family depends on conventional farming to produce a large enough crop to meet the demand. Not only is it a responsibility that we do not take lightly (feeding the world), but it is also our livelyhood. It’s easy to think that you have to take the right or the left side of this issue, but that’s not the case. If I told you that I was 100% against organic farming, I would be a complete hypocrite. I enjoy fresh veggies from the garden, and I think it’s a great way to show your kids the hard work that goes into growing food. However, I’m not ignorant enough to think that we could supply the entire population with enough food simply by having gardens in our backyards.
What I am against is the misconceptions about both conventional and organic farming practices. There is an unhealthy fear around GMO’s, with no proven scientific research to support it. We use technology in almost every aspect of our lives today, yet we are afraid to use it to aid in food production? Another misconception links GMO’s and processed foods. There is a difference between treating plants with chemicals to assist in production, and actually using chemicals to preserve food in a can. In fact, when I choose to start living a healthier lifestyle, eliminating as many processed foods as possible was a part of that. But it doesn’t mean that I only shop for products that are labeled “organic” either. And as far as conventional farming goes, I can personally attest the time, energy and research that goes into what farmers are producing and ensuring that production is completely safe for consumers.
I understand that a simple blog post probably will not sway your decision either way on this issue. But what I do hope is that it might catch your attention enough to do your research (and no, I don’t mean googling why GMO’s are bad for you, you’ll just find a bunch of crap that has no actual scientific support). Knowledge is power, and it is our responsibility as producers and consumers (organic and conventional) to know the facts, and not focus on the irrational fears.
“The less people know, the more stubbornly they know it.” -Osho
