How I Plan to Switch to Organics

I would love to go organic, but like many people, I'm a bit turned off by how much more it cost. However, I've come up with a plan that will hopefully make the transition into organics less painful on the wallet.

1. Look at what really should take top priority. With all the hormones going into cows, it was pretty clear that milk was top on the list of "things to buy organic". According to MSNBC, it's worth the extra costs. The NY Times created a list of foods that would make the biggest impact if switched to organic. Along with milk, it includes potatoes, ketchup, peanut butter, and apples. As far as fruits and vegetables, Environmental Working Group created a chart ranking 44 popular fruits and vegetables in terms of their level of pesticide exposure. These resources were a great guide into helping me choose what to purchase organic.

2. Compare prices. It's time to bring back the good old fashion price book. To learn more about a price book, go here. Basically, I'll need go to various stores to jott down the prices of the items I identified as being top priority. I know that most of the time (if not all), the store brand will be cheaper than the manufacturer. However, I'll still need to write down both prices so I can use it as a reference for my calculations when I factor in coupons.

3. Get a hold of some coupons. I plan on keeping an extra open eye for coupons in the Sunday paper. I'll also visit manufacturer websites to see if there's any printable ones available. Mommy Gets Paid has written an excellent article on how to save money on organics with some great places to find coupons. With some luck and a watchful eye, I don't think coupons will be hard to find.

4. Grow my own. I'm far from having a green thumb, but I'm willing to give this a shot. I was thinking of doing something along the lines of a square foot garden, such as the one Frugal Dad did. I have also thought about having a little herb garden and a container garden with tomato plants. This is still an idea in the making, but I look forward to the challenge.

Photo by roland