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Prince Charles Leads Organic Food Movement by Dena Ventrudo
By Dena Ventrudo
Dena Ventrudo is the Assistant Editor of Merlian News. She is a published poet and creative writer. Dena volunteered as an environmentalist with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) for three years serving as a project leader, an intern, and a board representative. She has a BA in Liberal Studies and has been a practicing pagan for 8 years and counting.
May 18, 2007 - 6:36:08 AM

When many of us here in America read about British royalty, the last thing we think of is organic farming. That's about to change!

Prince Charles has been setting the example for orangic growing since the 80's when he bought the Highgrove house and farm, neighboring the fields of the Dutchy Farm; about 1,100 acres of farmland in Gloucestershire, two hours from London.

When he first aquired the property in the 1980's, he said that he was, "appalled by the loss of his country's wildflower meadows, hedgerows and chalk grasslands to 'agri-industry'."  He then turned the gardens into organic showplaces to start setting an example he hoped would inspire others to preserve the land.

 Prince Charles has written a new book called The Elements of Organic Gardening, with Stephanie Donaldson (Weidenfeld & Nicolson). In this book, he states, "I can only say that for some reason I felt in my bones that if you abuse nature unneccessarily and fail to maintain a balance, then she will probably abuse you in return." 

The prince has recently begun a project to bring his organic products to the United States. His Duchy Originals high quality organic products are made from crops from his own farm to help preserve British ways of farming and eating.  They first appeared here in the states in the early 1990's. 

Last year Duchy Originals, stamped with the crest of the Duchy of Cornwall, had approximately $80 million in sales and profits of about $2.4 million went to Prince Charles' charities. Americans who want to try the products can find a small selection of teas, biscuits, jams, body lotions, and Highgrove brand gardening tools online at www.duchyusa.com or at stores like Zabar's and Whole Foods.

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