This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 5:12 pm and is filed under Organic Clothing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Organic cotton is grown using different methods than conventional cotton and is often produced for the purpose of organic clothing. In ordered to be labeled as organic, growers, producers, and manufacturers must follow strict guidelines. Everything about the process is inspected carefully. If any of the standards or guidelines are not met, then the cotton cannot be certified as organic.
The process of making organic cotton begins with the soil. Most organic farmers use soil that is extra rich in nutrients. When the soil is healthy, the plant will be healthy and more resistant to problems that would otherwise require chemicals like pesticides or herbicides.
Farmers create nutritious soil by crop rotation and cover cropping. Crop rotation is a practice in which different crops are rotated among the same fields. By varying the crops in each field, over time, it enriches the soil with different nutrients that help sustain the cotton crop the next time it is planted. Cover cropping is a system of planting crops that cover the soil and help prevent erosion. It also provides nitrogen for the upcoming cotton crop if it is tilled into the soil prior to planting or it can reduce the release of nutrients if planted after the cotton.
There are numerous benefits to growing organic cotton. The main benefit is that there are fewer chemicals in the environment. Research has proven that exposure to harsh chemicals like pesticides can cause mild problems such as headaches and nausea. Prolonged exposure can cause more serious illnesses like cancer or problems with our hormones, nervous system, reproductive system and immune system. Goods grown organically also retain more of their natural nutritional value.