That lecture on organic farming I went to today was really interesting. There’s a lot of misconceptions about what “organic” really is. Most people think it means no pesticides but that’s not true. Also, it takes at least three years following organic farming practices before you can be certified organic. And hydroponic or aquaponic crops can’t be considered organic because they don’t use soil or benefit the ecosystem in any way.

Currently in Trinidad there are no official rules as to what constitutes “organic” or any governing body that regulates it. There is a group that is on the process of deciding the certification process. It has to be tailored to our climate and way of farming. So basically anything local you see labeled “organic” is lying.

One of the most interesting things I learnt is that anything with the label “natural” on it is deceptive. It practically means ‘not made of plastic’ so don’t use it as a marker of quality. Just about anything goes.

We’re going to be clearing several acres of our land soon and hope to start growing some crops within the coming months. This is really Chris’s baby but I’m interested as well so I’ve been attending free classes every Tuesday (with Chris). The last one was landscaping. It was also super informative. I’m learning a lot and it’s been really interesting.