Or are you OK with putting the “USDA Organic” seal on food grown indoors, under artificial light, with a manmade cocktail of liquid nutrients feeding exposed roots?

Or do you think the term “certified organic” should be reserved for food grown in living earth, nourished by sunlight, fresh air and the complex interactions between plant roots and soil microbiology? 

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which will meet Oct. 31- Nov. 2, is set to rule on whether vegetables grown hydroponically, without soil, can be certified organic.

Who’s In favor? Mostly Big Ag companies, such as Wholesum Harvest and Driscoll’s, that want to replace organic farms with organic factories.

And Scotts Miracle-Gro, one of the biggest suppliers of the nutrients, growth mediums, containers, irrigation systems and lighting required for hydroponics, or soilless crop production. Scotts is also the exclusive distributor of Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.

TAKE ACTION BY MIDNIGHT OCT. 11: Keep the Soil in Organic! Please click here to sign our petition. Or text SOIL to 97779 to sign.

If you can, join the Keep the Soil in Organic events happening across the country this month, culminating in a rally outside the NOSB meeting in Jacksonville, Fla., on October 31.