To understand organic skin care, you have to understand organic farming because all of the ingredients in organic skin care are organically produced. This means that each and every ingredient should be certified as organically grown, not just the majority of them. It is a good idea to check companies that you are considering for your organic skin care products to make sure that they are selling certified products and that the products you purchase from them are certified. There are companies out there which make false claims about being organic and those that sell some non organic products along with organic products. Through understanding organic farming, you will see that organic skin care is better for both you and the environment.

Basically, organic farming is a return to the way farming used to be done, utilizing a number of things to replenish soil nourishment including: crop rotation, composting, and cover crops. Climate hardy plants grown in well nourished soil have better insect and disease resistance than their non organic counterparts do. Because of this resistance, the organic plants do not require fertilizers and pesticides in massive amounts. Even when help is needed, organic farmers protect their plants through a variety of ways that still do not utilize synthetic chemicals. Sadly, this does not mean that there are absolutely no pesticides in organic plants. Because of the over use of pesticides, even our rain carries them, which means that organic plants are subjected to them through the rain.

Biodiversity is promoted by the organic farmers way of growing different crops and natural resource systems (like air and water) are protected because of the way that organic farmers store and compost the animal waste they use in replenishing soil nutrients. The overall effect on the environment through organic farming can be seen through reduced greenhouse gases. On a local level, farmers see less water used, less soil erosion, improved fertility, safer groundwater, and more abundant wildlife.

Organic is all about the way that various agricultural products are grown (or raised) and processed. By farming organically, the health of the ecosystem is maintained. Toxins in fertilizers and pesticides are bypassed because these products are not used in organic farming. The focus is on the environment: soil regeneration and water conservation being the two biggest issues and animal welfare playing a large part as well. During processing quality is retained because organic foods are not subjected to artificial ingredients, irradiation, or preservatives.

Aside from man made additives, pesticides, and fertilizers, organic food is also free of man made herbicides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Animals raised organically are not fed by products of other animals (rather, they eat organically grown foods) and they are free to roam and enjoy their existence (instead of being locked in cages).

In raising animals organically, a diet of certified organic food is used; this means that, in addition to the absence of the above mentioned synthetics, there are no hormones ingested by organically raised animals. Prevention of disease is a by product of the animals healthy living, so antibiotics are also not passed on to us through ingestion. Through this well nourished, free to roam life, it has been found that animals raised for things like milk and eggs tend to live much longer than their non organic counterparts.

According to the United States National Organic Standards Board, Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

For products to be certified organic, they must meet a set of strict standards within the industry. These standards are verified by a third party agency, sometimes the government. In order to be certified, both farms and processing plants must be checked and found to be in compliance with the standards that have been set. After initial certification, farms and facilities are still inspected regularly to verify that the organic standards are still being met.

Organic does not just refer to the actual plants and animals produced for human consumption. It applies to anything which is manufactured in such a way that it meets the certification standards. This is why one moisturizer may be organic while another is not, even though both companies use the same ingredients. Organic farming has grown to the extent that you can find a huge variety of food (even processed foods), but it goes even further than food. You can buy organic clothing, organic bedding, linens, and other items.

By: Louise Forrest

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