Sometimes the email newsletters that I receive provide some very useful insite. This one is just such a case: Strawberries still top the Dirty Dozen List. By mnn (mother nature network)
My faithful readers know by now that we are trying hard to grow most all of our own food. We like to know exactly what’s going into the stuff that goes into our bodies. Not that we are perfect by any means, but we do try our best.
We also run away from chemicals. We use companion planting, natural gardening, and natural pest control techniques, and good old-fashioned hard work to keep our farm running. Every year we like to try some new method or idea that is running around. If it works great – we keep it and share. If it doesn’t work bummer – we lose it but will still share why/what went wrong.
The above article from MNN regarding strawberries and pesticides made us sad, and a bit angry. To us, one of the best and easiest things to grow almost anywhere is strawberries. So why should anyone (individual or company) need to use anything unnatural to grow them? We have grown them straight in the ground as well as a variety of pots, both doing equally well.
I have some friends in both very moist and very dry areas that are using different pot ideas and doing quite well with their strawberries. So why poison them? Sad to say, but I think it is all due to vanity!
Yep, we all are guilty of this one! We go into a store to buy food for ourselves and our families. What is the first thing you check out? How good does it look? Right? I am just as ashamed as you are on this. I always flip over anything in containers to see if there is a molded or rotting one in it. I squeeze my cucs to see if they are firm – if not I don’t buy them. I smell my tomatoes, melons, and most all fruits. I should be held accountable for some of this problem.
I allow blemishes and cut off rotting parts on our own homegrown food, but hate to pay for something that has a bruise on it – shame on me!
(Oh, except bananas – they taste better a bit bruised and make better tasting bread that way too.)
I love going to Farmer’s Markets to see all the produce others have to share. I notice that lots of that are not perfect, but I am willing to pay a reasonable price (as long as they can tell me they did not use pesticides or chemicals) for it anyway. I would love to see more Farmer’s Markets to choose from in the late summer/early fall months. Our local small town grocery store allows the backyard gardeners to sell their extras in their parking lot during the harvesting season. This is a great thing! So why am I so picky about the stuff inside the stores?
HELBERG FARM STORIES 
Over here in our supermarkets you can get some great deals by going in at the end of the day to pick up stuff that is on is final ‘sell by’ date.
We have rules about selling items after the sell by so most shops will take a cut to get rid of it. I have made entire meals out of deals like that.
Also… If you are really clever you can freeze some things that are on the limit.
My dad had a fruit and veg shop in the 80s and 90s and the world was different back then. People were not so fussy about having pristine produce. In fact, we have a bit of a theory in that it wasn’t the peoples fault… It was the shops.
The big supermarkets sold it that cleaner was better. So… What are the customers supposed to think?
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From what you’ve mentioned, it sounds as if you’re doing an admirable job of living ethically and sustainably. There are obviously some people who should be hard on themselves for their shortcomings, but I don’t think you’re one of them.
Hope you have a great weekend with as few chemicals as possible. 👍
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Thanx Mark! Sometimes all a body needs is a bit of positive input – 🙂
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