I’d never been to Organicfest in downtown Ashvegas, and I’d gotten a few reports that it wasn’t all that, so I hit downtown Ashvegas Saturday with low expectations. Truth be told, there wasn’t much happening when I got there late in the afternoon. Still, I think it’s cool that the crunchies have their own fest in town. Events like this are what make Ashvegas great.
What did I take in?
Bat guano salesmen; mournful hum-and-strummers rhyming “poly-vinyl-chloride” with “genocide;” the sharp scent of fresh brewed fair trade coffee; swami Virato, beard a-straggle, holding court on how the roasting of pigs at Earth Fare must have smelled like the cooking of corpses at Auschwitz; babes with big dogs; lots of people getting rubbed.
Events like this always get me thinking – am I living responsibly? Let me consider:
I do not grow organic vegetables. I do have a working compost pile. I do not wear only natural fibers. I do like to run around the house naked. I do not fully understand “fair trade” coffee. I do think you should know how you’re spending your money. I don’t own a hybrid car. I do worry about this country’s oil consumption.
Like most, I do a little and could definitely do more. But that would be more work. And sometimes I get fed up with the whole scene. I mean, really, it doesn’t make sense – feels like a scam when all the so-called “natural” stuff is 100 times more expensive than the stuff that’s supposed to be killing us and our environment.
Also, the all-natural movement, if that’s what you want to call it, claims a social responsibility for the economic downtrodden, here in the U.S. and around the world. But again, it seems to me that all the biodiesel and expensive coffee is most out of reach to the poor and needy. Seems like I only see rich people walking around in hemp.
3 Comments
The unfortunate truth of the expensiveness of organics is that it’s a matter of supply and demand, coupled with a lack of government subsidies. The reason why organics seem more expensive is that non-organics are artificially cheap. The farmers, pesticide companies, oil companies, tractor and combine manufacturers – all of them are subsidized by the government.
Also, in alot of cases, one huge company (like Monsanto, etc) owns everything from the farmland to the pesticides to the manufacturing plant to the packaging system. With organics and local foods, yeah you might pay a premium up front, but then you’re avoiding the “hidden costs” of pollution, damaged farmland, oil consumption, and eating pesticides… not to mention that organics just taste better.
If people continue to support organics and reveal the truth about pesticide-laden, government-subsidized agribusiness, someday perhaps organics won’t be “more expensive,” because they’ll be all that’s available.
Well said Mr. Vegas. Its hard for us poor folk to make all the right decisions. I venture into Earthfare seeking free samples, but its a crazy bike ride to get over to Westgate.
Have any of you guys been to Amazing Savings, discount foods from the health food stores. One is on Sweeten Creek road south of town, and one is on rte70 on way to Black Mtn. $30 = full cart of organic well made food!
I like the farmers market too.
Your comments are right on–it does take cash to choose to live responsibly, to some extent. But small changes can make a big difference. The most sustainable and inexpensive practice is to grow some of your own vegetables–all it takes is a small patch of land or access to a community garden. And let me tell you about my tomatoes…the $3.50/lb versions at Greenlife have nothiing on these babies.
They were really rhyming “poly-vinyl-chloride” with “genocide”? And I didn’t need to know about the pigs, thank you, Virato, you nut. Bacon is a gift from the gods, you know.