The "Organic" Skinny

It was meant to be a simple post that I could link back to when I use the word "organic", describing how I am referring to "organically grown", as opposed to simply "certified organic"...

I spent Sunday helping out a farmer in Chiba who grows produce for our local coop. It was nothing "exciting" really, just the monotonous, yet strangely satisfying and interesting, work of planting onion seedlings. As we worked we chatted about various things, including his farming history (he quite his job two years ago to start farming) and farming philosophy. One topic that naturally came up was the concept of "organic" and "non-organic" foods and certification. Based on this conversation, and some previous reader comments, I began to realize that I have been lax, if not down-right irresponsible, in terms of making clear what I mean with my references to "organic".

Now, as you may know, one of the things I have been trying to do (beside gardening) to waste time, instead of becoming a productive member of society (i.e. get a job), is to learn more about the food I eat, where it comes from, how it is grown and processed, and how that effects me and everyone else.

...What was to be a simple three paragraph post has entered the "groan zone". I soon realized that if I were to write it today, without the help of an editor it would be one very looooooong post, filled with incoherent ramblings.... and I'm not even done searching and surfing yet.

And so, since I have used up all my "ok to waste on blogging" time for the past three days, I request a deadline extension as I research further. I also ask for any additional questions I should be asking myself in terms of "organic food and labeling"

Here are some that I am currently trying to summarize into the requisite three paragraphs.

• What is the "spirit" of organic labeling?
• What are peoples reasons for buying organic?
• What is the difference between "synthetic", "artificial", and "natural"?
• What are the actual regulations (both in the US and Japan)?
• How do these meet or not meet the spirit?
• Is this "spirit" something that should be considered regardless of wether or not it makes scientific sense?
• Why do I care?
• Is "organic" a broken or meaningless concept?
• Given it's shortcomings and possibly diluted meaning, does it's gaining popularity pose a threat to a sustainable future? Or, is it still beneficial in order to move the market demand slowly in the right direction?
• What is acceptable to me in terms of the food I eat? And why?
• What is the basis for this decision? Science? Personal values? Both? Simply because it's trendy and cool?
• What is the whole confusion about organic labeling, and what about this most recent brew-ha-ha?