The "O" Word and the Language Police

1. or·gan·ic

   ôrˈganik/

   adjective

   adjective: organic

   1. 1.

      of, relating to, or derived from living matter.

      "organic soils"

      synonyms:

      living, live, animate, biological, biotic More

      • CHEMISTRY

        of, relating to, or denoting compounds containing carbon (other than simple binary compounds and salts) and chiefly or ultimately of biological origin.
      • (of food or farming methods) produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.

        synonyms:

        pesticide-free, additive-free, natural More

   2. 2.

      PHYSIOLOGY

      of or relating to a bodily organ or organs.

      • MEDICINE

        (of a disease) affecting the structure of an organ.
   3. 3.

      denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole.

      "the organic unity of the integral work of art"

      synonyms:

      structured, organized, coherent, integrated, coordinated, ordered,harmonious More

      • characterized by continuous or natural development.

        "companies expand as much by acquisition as by organic growth"

   
   

   late Middle English: via Latin from Greek organikos ‘relating to an organ or instrument.’

   Use over time for: organic

   

The above is from a Google search that I did using the phrase  "define:  organic."  So, the word "organic" has Greek roots and in it's current form is from late Middle English.  You can also see from the graph of the use over time that, beginning in about 1825, the use of the word rose in frequency and has had regular, consistent use since abut 1875.  However, the use of the word became regulated in the United States under Organic Foods Production Act of 1990.  

Recently I learned that, as a result of that act, farmers are prohibited from even using the word in a descriptive manner without a potential $11,000 fine for each use.  Really?  A word that has been in the English language since the early 1400s - prior to the European discovery of the North American continent.   Even if a farm is not holding itself out as certified organic, it cannot use that word to describe its growing methods or compare its methods to those of the certified farms.  A friend now calls it the "O" word as we chemical-free farmers cannot even utter the word.

How is it possible that a word that was in use during the British War of the Roses and is not a trademark has been essentially removed from the English language? 

Monday Morning Amusement

Quote for the Day

Source

This week, after a frustrating experience in which I was a victim of old-fashioned sexism and once again saw proof that equality still doesn't exist for women in the US, I feel a quote by Ms. Steinem is in order:

"In my heart, I think a woman has two choices:  either she's a feminist or a masochist."

~Gloria Steinem

How to Reduce Spending

I love this illustration, based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, as it gives a great mental picture to live by:

Don't know the source - share with me if you do so I can give credit

Ever since my "buy nothing new" challenge, I've tried to keep in mind that there are often alternatives to buying - and when you do need to purchase something, it doesn't necessarily need to be new.

Wellness Wednesday

Crazy busy on the farm these days, but not too busy to do a quick "Wellness Wednesday" post. Especially when the topic touches on the need for universal access to healthy food and what corporate crap is doing to our bodies and society.  Watch this:

Local Dollars

Here's an interesting infographic from an economic study done in Minnesota that might help encourage you to shop local:

As you can see, with non-local businesses, over half of your money leaves the community.  Unfortunately, with the rise of big box stores in many communities (such as the one I live in), there are rarely local choices.  However, the popularity of farmers' markets has made it easier to keep some food dollars in the community.  For anyone who hasn't shopped a farmers' market, you don't know what you're missing:  fresh-picked (usually within 24 hours) produce that is world's apart from the grocery store food that is sometimes 2 weeks old and has traveled an average of 1500 miles; treats from local bakers; and a feeling of community where old friends stop to chat over a fair trade coffee sold by a local entrepreneur.  So for this weekend, stop at your farmers' market  to support your community.

Monday Morning Amazement

My French tutor shared this sweet story with me.  Anyone who spends times with animals understands this story: