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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

Earth charity

Chris and I buy organic and wild foodstuffs almost exclusively. These  
foods cost substantially more than non-organic food. So why do we  
spend so much more than we must?

There are three reasons for spending food money as we do. The first is  
health benefits. We don’t buy disease treatment insurance; we buy  
healthful food. The second reason is to reward farmers so they will  
keep producing top-quality food. The third reason, which I think of as  
an investment, is Earth charity.

For instance: we buy eggs that are from free-range hens that are fed  
all organic feed and no antibiotics. We pay about three dollars per  
dozen for these eggs. We could buy ordinary eggs laid by caged hens  
fed a non-organic diet for a dollar a dozen. That is a two-dollar-per- 
dozen premium. Some would say such an expenditure is foolish. Some  
would use stronger words.

Here is my calculation: We pay a dollar to the hens, we pay a dollar  
to the farmer and we pay a dollar toward Earth charity. We want happy  
hens laying healthful eggs. We want happy farmers who produce organic  
food to keep doing it. And we believe it makes sense to donate to  
Earth charity.

What does Earth charity mean? What does that last dollar do? Lots of  
things; I'll just name a few. It ensures that there are fewer  
chemicals floating in the air, being breathed by my fellow humans. It  
means fewer chemicals flowing with eroding soil down to streams,  
rivers, lakes and ocean, thence to be ingested by the wild fish we  
eat. It means chicken manure spread by the hens feeds the soil which  
helps to maintain a thriving soil community, which produces healthier  
plants for the hens to eat. I'm sure you will think of more. Bottom  
line: we think Earth charity is a good investment.

I once read a saying that goes something like this: We do not inherit  
the land from our parents; we borrow it from our children.