Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Aim of This Site?
2. What If I Want to Sell My Product on This Site?
3. What Are Organics All About?
4. Where Can You Buy These Products?
5. How Can Organic Practices Help The Environment?
6. How Can Organic Produce Improve Your Health?
7. Why Use Organic Health and Beauty Products?
The purpose of this website is to help promote and encourage the use of organic products and practices around the home and garden so as to improve the lifestyle of everyone and to benefit the environment. Within the site you will find that we have included some articles that can be downloaded and other information to help you make an informed decision as to the benefits of organics.
There is also a blog where I will supply new information, as often as possible, so as to keep you updated on any new developments, so please return regularly and check out the new information. If you have any questions or would like to add to information supplied, please feel welcome to contact us by email on the address supplied. I hope to set up a forum if there is enough interest, so I too can continue to learn from others about new organic products and ideas.
2. What If I Want to Sell My Product on This Site?We have included a page devoted solely to organic products, so if you have something organic to sell and would like us to act as an affiliate, please contact us by email and we will discuss the matter. This page will be regularly updated as new products become available, so keep visiting the site.
3. What Are Organics All About?
Organic products are those which are produced without the use of any artificial chemicals or growing production techniques. Conventional growers use a variety of chemicals, when producing their crops, such as pesticides for pests and diseases control, fertilization, preservation of fruit and vegetables and manufacturers use them in the process of value adding or improving a product for other uses, such as shampoos, face creams etc.
To be certified as organic the products need to only include ingredients that have been produced by organic methods and have been certified by regulatory organizations. In Australia some of the organizations that can certify organic produce include - Australian Certified Organic, Organic Food Chain and Bio-Dynamic Research Institute. So when looking to buy organic produce look out for the certification sticker on the product or goods.
All products have to undergo extensive investigation by certifiers to ensure that all regulations and codes of practice have been followed to produce the goods. Regular checks are made to ascertain that the correct techniques are followed and that quality assurance procedures are in place to make sure the consumer receives what they have paid for.
Often organic fruits and vegetable products may not appear as good a quality as regular or conventionally grown produce, as the growers are unable to make use artificial chemicals to give the product a better quality appearance and as such, they may have spots or blemishes on them. But don’t let this deter you as organic produce tends to have improved flavor, be longer lasting and as some suggest have increased nutritional value.
4. Where Can You Buy These Products?Organic fruit and vegetables are now available in most supermarkets in varying amounts. Organic beauty, baby and household cleaning products are also becoming more readily available in shops as retailers come to realize that consumers are increasing demand for these products.
These and other specialized organic products such as health supplements, organic wines, and even chocolate are also becoming more readily available and like organic beauty products they can all be easily
purchased online.
As more and more consumers become used to purchasing goods online, due to the convenience of this form of shopping, especially people who work full time, mothers with young children and the elderly who have difficulty getting around, the number of organic online retailers are also increasing. The number of online shoppers is increasing every day world wide, as more and more shoppers realize that they can purchase just about anything online, that the goods are cheaper because the retailer has lower overhead costs and there is less concern about security issues with credit payments and the receiving of the goods as well as, how convenient it is to shop online with no waiting in line ups etc.
5. How Can Organic Practices Help The Environment?
The overall goal of organic growing methods is to work with the environment and not against it. All methods aim to create sustainable systems that support natural activities and tend not change the environment. Farmers working in organic systems aim to retain and preserve soil quality, use integrated pest management systems that look at natural methods of controlling pests and diseases and they rely on natural fertilizers, such as animal and green manures and rock salts etc. Organic growers make use of such techniques as rotations; inter planting with other crops, as well as, companion planting methods to assist in pest control and to increase the fertility of the soil. There are a number of different organic growing systems available, which make use of different techniques and practices and these are often referred to under the names of organic, bio-dynamic or permaculture methods.
Organic growing practices can help the environment by reducing the amount of chemicals that find their way into our waterways and the rest of the environment; they help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere by returning the carbon into the soil; and they help create and promote systems that maintain the equilibrium with other organisms in nature, such as birds, insects and other animals.
With the ever increasing incidence of diseases, in our modern society, such as, diabetes, heart disease, gastro intestinal problems and cancer, the consuming of organic produce from eggs, meat, cheese, oils, fresh fruit and vegetables and even chocolate and other sweets, can help reduce the load of chemicals in the body, improving health and vitality. Combined with regular exercise, reduced stress levels and the use of other organic or chemical free beauty and health products one can strive to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
People can also reduce the toxins in their body by monitoring the type of cleaning products they use in
their household and gardens and reducing or eliminating those that can enter the body through the skin or by inhalation, such as oven cleaners and other cleaning sprays, pesticides and herbicides used in the garden. Another issue with these aerosol sprays, such as deodorant sprays, is that they also add to the level of carbon in the atmosphere, which in turn, has added to problems associated with global warming and climate change. There is also the belief that the aluminium content in many deodorant sprays can also lead to health problems after continued usage.
There are lots of old natural methods available to use as substitutes and there are plenty of organic cleaning and washing products available on the market, such as those that include vinegar and methylated spirits. When buying washing powders or liquids look out for those with reduced or no phosphorus as this element when washed down the drain, ends up in our water ways and leads to what is called as eutrophication or pollution of our natural waterways. Increases in the level of phosphorus in the water increases the level of algae, which in turn competes with natural water plants and finally this interferes with fish and other water organisms in the rivers and oceans.
7. Why Use Organic Health and Beauty Products?There are an increasing number of people who are finding that they have problems or contract allergies or dermatitis, eczema after using certain shampoos, conditioners, face creams or perfumes. Such issues are often put down to having sensitive skins, but it is now thought, that it is the chemicals in these products that are at fault and are causing the irritation.
So as a result, there are plenty of adults and babies, who suffer from itching and irritated scalp and skin conditions, including mothers, new babies, the elderly and people with sensitive skin, who are looking for natural products, that don’t bring about such reactions.
On the market today there are a wide range of organic baby products, skin care products including sun screen, moisturizers, skin cleaners and makeup. Other new products available are those of nutritional value which include health supplements for those who are unable to eat fresh greens and other nutrients, as well as, vitamins and minerals.
Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to enquiries@universalorganichomeandgardens.com
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