A lot of people assume that if you go organic, it is all-or-nothing. Not true! Some fruits and veggies are more heavily sprayed than others. Some produce is even sprayed so little, that the difference between the conventionally grown and organic versions is only the price. Check out the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists from Environmental Working Group (EWG). Apples, celery, and strawberries top the list of produce you should buy organic. Onions, sweet corn, and pineapple are varieties that have barely any pesticides, even in their conventional versions. The EWG even has a handy printable guide that you can slip in your pocket and refer to in the produce section.

Becoming a certified organic farm is an expensive and time-consuming process that a lot of small farmers just can’t afford, and those that do, normally pass the cost onto the consumer. The next time you are at the farmer’s market, chat with the farmers and ask about their use of pesticides. Chances are, even if they aren’t certified organic, they are chemical-free. Around here, because the produces is without the certified organic stamp, farmers knock down their prices dramatically compared to their certified counterparts.

It can be easy to assume that you need acres to have a well-producing garden, but I can tell you from experience that isn’t true. My husband and I grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, butternut squash, watermelon, and zucchini all on our apartment patio. Even a small window herb garden can save you some serious cash. We’ve stuck cherry tomato plants in hanging baskets and basil plants by our living room window. You are paying for the space, so you might as well use it to your checkbook’s advantage by growing your own food.

Does the cost of organic food discourage you from buying it?