Organic Nonsense

What makes a product certified organic? "Certified Organic" means that the product has been grown according to strict uniform standards set by the federal government. (CBS News.com) When purchasing food, look for the organic USDA stamp. If it doesn't have that label, don't buy it, or if you do, know that it is not really organic. Many consumers are fooled by an "All Natural" label, or even an organic label. But rest assured, these products are not certified and therefore not organic.

There are different certification processes. The baby clothes that I sell on my site are 100% Demeter certified. "Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the Brand. A comprehensive verification process insures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production Processing standards as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries; without a gap through every step from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging." The Demeter certification process actually exceeds the government mandated regulations. In addition to excluding the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical plant protection agents in agricultural crop production, or artificial additives during processing, it also requires very specific measures to strengthen the life processes in soil. Demeter farmers and processors actively contribute toward the shaping of a future worth living for. (Sckoon.com)

I recently read that Pottery Barn Kids offers a line of organic clothes. However, when I inquired about them being certified organic, they could not tell me the certification brand. Furthermore, the labels do not state "certified". This is something that you should be aware of if you buy organic products. Why spend the extra money if it isn't certified organic?

Another area of concern is with body care products. Many products are labeled as organic, when if fact, they are not. For more on this topic click on the following link. http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/nytimes051903.cfm

For your organic baby needs, (clothes and body care) visit http://www.susiejane.com/.

Organic Fashion Sense for Babies

My interest in the environment started long ago when I used to take the papers from my parent's office to the local recycling center. Today, I continue to take action in many ways. One example is by purchasing local, organic food. It can be a bit overwhelming to think of greening your life 100%. I suggest taking baby steps. Choose the most important aspect for yourself and your lifestyle. If you eat a large quantity of say, bananas, then buy organic bananas. Bananas have a large amount of chemicals for their trip to America including Thiabendazole, which damages the brain and nervous system. Or, if you have a baby in the house, focus on organic products for them. I believe in protecting little ones from a very toxic world as much as possible.

Organic baby food has been around for decades and today, we are seeing more and more availability of organic clothing for babies. Pottery Barn for Kids has just launched a small line of organic baby clothing, however, you must beware! In order for it to be beneficial, it must be certified. And Pottery Barn's line is NOT certified organic! (See "Organic Nonsense" blog)

Babies have very thin skin and should wear clothing that is free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. The production of organic cotton replenishes and maintains soil fertility and reduces the use of toxic chemicals and pesticides. Organic cotton is also very soft! Isn't that important for your little ones very thin, sensitive skin? To me, this makes perfect sense! Why not buy organic for your baby?

You may respond that it is more expensive. To that, I say perhaps it is. But maybe all you need to do is prioritize your needs/wants. It may mean that you only have one latte a week instead of everyday, or, maybe you're tempted by those silly Hollywood magazines. Whatever it may be, perhaps all you need to do is re-evaluate what you spend money on. And think about how you and your spending affects the soil and the laborers in foreign countries.

I have recently launched a online organic baby boutique (http://www.susiejane.com/) whose motto is "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Baby". We offer 100% certified organic baby/toddler clothing, biodynamic body products,organic alpaca wool knits, eco-friendly baby furniture, organic baby bedding (coming soon), and educational toys, games and music. I am a firm believer in the benefit of buying organic for ourselves and the environment!