Oh no not a dirty carrot

[baldowrie]

my two are 11, one probably autistic, and just starting not believing. I am not reaffirming either way...I know they are sceptical

and Santa doesn't bring expensive gifts 'cause mum can't afford it!

should they ask me direct..I will tell them the truth

[QuakerBear]

WHAT!!!

Ow, chin hurts, I'll just pick it up from where it fell on my desk.

Seriously, has anyone told this teacher that Santa doesn't exist? He might be in for a shock.

This puts home-ed-ing in an even more posative light.

[baldowrie]

Oh I have a fair few of these little gems of wisdom


organic veg is sprayed with chemicals is another

You just have to shake your head at it all

Home ed has huge benefits not least the self esteem of children goes through the roof with it

[Thurston Garden]

[QuakerBear]

With regard to organic vegtables, I was under the impression (from some agricultural college friends) that something may legally be labeled as 'organic' in some cases where pesticides and herbicides have been used. This is because chemicals may be used if no other, viable alternative exists. So if you can prove that the only alternative to loosing a crop was to use a chemical, that crop will retain it's organic designation despite being drenched in chemicals. Without mentioning names they've described a few large organisations who take this to an extreme. I'm not talking about what individuals produce.

Has anyone else heard about this kind of abuse of the label organic?

[baldowrie]

Think many of us have, just as I know that some 'dirty carrots' in certain supermarkets are washed and cleaned then spray with clean 'dirt'.....neighbours used to work in a packing factory

And basically what you have said their QB is basically what I told the children this morning...being a dumb parent and all

[theabsinthefairy]

Designer dirt - whatever next.

[QuakerBear]

Packaging companies PUT dirt on washed vegtables. WHAT?

AARRGGH.

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE.

(feet stomp, feet stomp)

[Welsh Girls Allotment]

I also heard that you can buy spray on dirt for chelsea tractors

[theabsinthefairy]

Does it come in a nifty burbery check - if not I'm not interested, only the best for my landie!!








(ps - that is a joke )

[cir3ngirl]

My local organic farm grow vegan vegetables. This means they do not use fertilisers that has come from anilmal poo.

[QuakerBear]

Would it still be vegan if the manure came from people? People can make informed decisions and sign consent forms. Not sure I'd like to eat the veg though

[hamster]

My local organic farm grow vegan vegetables. This means they do not use fertilisers that has come from anilmal poo.

There's one near me like that. (Actually, looking at a map, it might feasibly be the same place - can't remember for the life of me what it's called though!) Apparently it was on the radio, but I missed it, which I was annoyed about as I was intrigued to find out how it worked. I think the farm is up for a Radio 4 Food and Farming award which are on this Friday lunchtime so I shall find out then.

I really hope you're wrong about people manure, QB....

[Helsbells]

I dont understand that about not using animal poo. I meant say they use cow poo or horse poo, well those animals are vegetarian anyway, and they are not harmed in the process of poo collection and subsequent distribution, whats the problme with animal poo?
What do they fertalize the ground with?

[hamster]

I have no idea what they fertilise the ground with!
I suppose the problem with using horse poo or cow poo is that if we were all vegan, there wouldn't be so many horses or cows kicking around, at least after a couple of decades, so if the idea of vegan organics is to take off on a large scale, it needs to be sustainable and not just rely on the by-products of the meat and/or dairy industry.


(If this inadvertently kicks off one of those horrendous forum debates about veganism with everyone insulting each other and getting boisterously evangelical about their diet, whatever it is, I really, really, sincerely apologise....)