Going organic

Organic is one of those hippie words. Only tree huggers buy organically made products.

Nate and I are not hippies, nor do we regularly hug trees, but we have been looking into what all this organic stuff is about--mostly organic cotton. And what we've found is quite interesting:

1. Organic cotton is grown free of toxic chemicals using biologically based and sustainable growing methods (such as crop rotation and natural fertilizers) rather than with highly synthetic and destructive fertilizers.


2. Amazingly, conventional cotton (what you will find in most stores) is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world--meaning sprayed with harmful pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers.


3. But, so what, right? Many of us spray our lawns and gardens with pesticides and fertilizers. What's wrong with using that to kill the bugs and other unwanted organisms on the plants? Here are a few reasons:
   
   • The sprays often kill helpful organisms too.
   • The sprays leak into the ground water.
   • The sprays are harmful to the workers.
   • The sprays stay on the actual product--but we don't eat cotton! Don't we? How many things do you eat that have cotton seed oil in them? And how many of the animals that we eat are eating cotton seed before they get to us?
     
   These concerns also pertain to all produce grown in conventional ways.


4. Many of the companies which use organic cotton also have fair trade and high social work standards. This was a pleasant surprise for me, since I have been hoping for some time to find a company which treats their employees right--especially their lower income employees. They do use overseas labor, but the working conditions and wages are better at sustaining people and communities.


5. (I'm not done yet) Many of the pretty colors in our clothes are made with dyes containing toxins that harm the environment and create waste. Am I giving up pretty colors? Nope. There are other ways to dye cloth and even to color grow the cotton.

Organic cotton is more expensive and less convenient to buy. I see this as a benefit because I will probably buy less and think more carefully about my purchases. I am frequently tempted to buy more than I actually need. The price of organic products may start to go down if the demand increases, though. You can also find sales on many organic cotton sites that bring the price down. See this page for a cost comparison that shows an example of why an organic cotton product costs more: http://www.simplelife.com/organiccotton/26COSTVRSSVAL.html

Are Nate and I buying everything organic? Not yet. :) And we're certainly not throwing away all of our non-organic clothing (that would be just as wasteful). We are moving to buy more organic products, though. Why?

1. To be good stewards of the world God has given us by attempting to create less waste and consume less.


2. Not because it's convenient or inexpensive, but because it is worthwhile and helps us think about what we buy.


3. To support labor practices that sustain instead of oppress and create a fair and safe environment instead of a dangerous and unjust one. Many would say that people working in sweatshops is "just the way it is", but as Christians, we are called to speak out against injustice and this is one way we can do that--by not purchasing from those stores/companies which exploit people. As Peter Leithart says in Against Christianity (he is a Christian--you have to read the book to find out what he means by that title): "what the world calls the 'operations of the market' the Church must sometimes label as oppression of the needy and grinding the faces of the poor." (p. 54).

I hope this explains some things. Let me know if you would like links to some online organic cotton stores I have found. Many of them will answer more questions you have about organic products in their FAQs.

Books I Recommend

Jane Eyre--It was slow for me up until around 200 pages. At that point, however, it became quite exciting and I even thought about the book while I wasn't reading it. Overall, a wonderful book that enlarged my vocabulary, among other things.

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates--Given to me by Meesch. I do not think I would have ever discovered this fantastic book. I like so many things about it. The characters are well-developed, as is the plot. I easily grew attached to many of the characters. Some of the boys in the book take an ice skating adventure around Holland, during which I learned much about Dutch history. Like Jane Eyre, the vocabulary was enjoyable, but was easier to understand. I think a middle school child or even upper elementary who hasn't been too wooed by the television would enjoy such a book.

Around the World in Eighty Days--Having only seen the previews for the recent movie (which I will not ever see after reading this wonderful book), I had a much different picture of what it would be like. Passepartout is French in the book--not Jackie Chan. Phileas Fogg sets out because he places a bet with fellow members of the club and is a subdued and even cold sort of man. I don't know the whole premise of the movie, but I do know that it must be way off in more than one way. Read the book!

Thanks

Many thanks to all the positive comments. I thought I'd try to answer some of the questions asked in a post instead of replying to comments:

Tori--Thank you for the prayers. We always value those above all other things.

Becky (and I'm sure many others are wondering)--At this point, we are not going to find out if it is a boy or a girl. This makes some of the planning hard, but we think it is worth the anticipation of finding out on the day he or she is born. So, what does everyone think: Boy or girl?

Angel--Thank you for your offer of support. I'm sure I'll take you up on it at one time AND another. :)

Elizabeth--It was quite amazing to hear our baby's heartbeat. Up until we heard it, I kept praying it would be there. Nate will tell you that he thought it sounded like horse hooves galloping. :) She said it was around 150 bpm! It makes it even more unbelievable and sad to me that so many women kill their babies when they are this far along (or earlier, for that matter) by having an abortion.

Lisa (and Kortnie :) )--Of course I figured the "We" was you and Kortnie. You are still the grammar guru. We wanted to wait until we heard the heartbeat to post about it. We know that there is still and always a possibility that something will happen, but this felt like a good point to publish it more publicly. Nate and I had both come up with multiple ways to post about it, but this was my last minute idea.

I think that's all. As for how I'm doing: Morning sickness is almost completely gone and I'm less tired than I was. I have other pregnancy "signs" or effects that I probably won't post about on here, but wouldn't mind talking about if brought up. I will try to keep everyone updated on when we start feeling the baby moving and other fun things. We are just thankful for each day that God continues to grow this little one inside of me.

Please join with us in praying that not only would God watch over our baby, but would he also be preparing us imperfect, but redeemed parents to raise our little child (sinner) in the ways of the Lord our God and drawing our child close to Him in such a way that he or she would be given a heart of flesh to replace his/her heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26). And in addition to this, that our child would grow to do what the Lord requires of him or her: to do justice, love kindness (hesed), and walk humbly with his or her God (Micah 6:8).

Career Change

About two months ago I learned of a job opening in May, and I immediately and joyfully accepted. It's now official (with hearing the baby's heartbeat today--quite amazing) that I will be retiring from teaching fifth grade and venture into the world of full time mom come sometime in May. :)

Finished

I had two sewing super sessions, on Friday night and Saturday morning, and finished Nate's pajama pants. Once we have our picture gallery up (by December, we hope), the pictures will be posted of Nate modeling them. It's quite satisfying to finish a sewing project and to see that they actually fit!

Weather

It has been positively gorgeous this week. In the 50s at night and 70s during the day. Nate and I had a date tonight at Collina's---we walked to and from the restaurant, taking advantage of the beautiful weather God has given us.

On Books

I was just again realizing today how much I love books. Reading is one of my very favorite pass times. Fortunately, I have married someone who enjoys reading as much as I do. We both hope to instill this passion for reading good literature and other quality books, but especially God's Word, into our children. Even now, I am going through my books and getting rid of the ones that I do not think are worth the time to either read to our children or have our children read alone.

However, as I think about my love for books, I also remember the many times I have been convicted of my idolatry of my books. There are times when I am more concerned for well-being of my books than for my persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ or for someone who doesn't even know Christ. I suppose with our loves comes the constant need to check that those loves are not placed above God and our enjoyment of Him.