If you've been to the Lawrenceville Farmer's Market, then you probably noticed Rancho Alegre offering vegetables and herbs to the fortunate early-risers. If you stopped at the booth, then you might have noticed that the zucchinis were a little crooked and the tomatoes had an occasional blemish.
    We embrace the imperfections because it's a result of the organically grown processes practiced at the Rancho Alegre garden. The fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow naturally in a happy environment with the aid of the bright sun, the fertile soil, occasional rain, and the buzzing bees, and never with the use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, or any other chemical.
    Now why is eating organically grown foods important? Chemical fertilizers are used to create plump and perfect crops, while chemical pesticides kill little critters such as ladybugs and bees. These chemicals not only sit on top of the produce, but are also absorbed into it. Many of the pesticides work by fatally damaging the bug's nervous system. And although tests are done to determine the affects of these chemicals on humans, they rarely investigate the long-term effects.
    Not only does eating organically grown foods keep you and your family safe and healthy, it keeps chemicals out of our water supply and out of our Earth's soil.
    Rancho Alegre has many workshops, camps, and day trips that take advantage of the beautiful garden and all it's processes. So stop by soon and come embrace the imperfections with us.

- by Alan Gutierrez, a multimedia artist with great interests in healthy eating and living.