Do you have a little space, a little energy, and a little sun? If so, why not plant your own vegetable garden. It is fun, rewarding, and it can be healthful as well. It can be healthful for two distinct reasons. First, being outdoors and working in your garden is good for the spirit. Second, if you have clean soil, and if you do not use unnatural fertilizers or chemical pesticides, the odds are that the vegetables will be safer the traditional store-bought produce.

The truth of the matter is that there are many questions about the safety of chemical pesticides and herbicides. While answers are in short supply, there are some hints already out there. For example, many old orchards in this country are now, sadly to say, housing developments. Arsenic was frequently applied to kill bugs at these orchards. Now the bugs and apples are gone, but he arsenic, often at unsafe levels, remains.

And in Florida, residents in several counties are now learning more than they ever wanted to about a pesticide called malathion. Malathion has been used to kill the much dreaded fruit-fly. But now, it appears that the poison may be worse than the beastly fly. While the jury is still out, a major class action lawsuit by many Floridians was just filed against the New Jersey manufacturer of this pesticide alleging that people became sick due to malathion exposure.

So a garden is one way to grow safe produce. Of course, if your soil is dirty because, for example, it used to be a pesticide abused farm, or a factory site, or because there had been an oil leak, etc., than your garden won't be too safe. In fact, you should be certain that you have clean dirt before you start a vegetable garden. If not, the vegetables might absorb some of the toxins.

If you don't want to have to worry about your soil quality, or if you are not inclined to garden, there is a commercial alterative: organic produce. What used to only belong to "hippies," is now mainstream (almost). The sales figures are impressive, and they are soaring.

According to published reports, the organic food industry has grown at 20% per year for the past five years. It is a four billion-dollar plus industry. And everyone is getting in the action, from main stream supermarkets to General Mills.

General Mills has just launched its organic Sunrise cereal line. It contains organic whole wheat, corn, oats, and barley. And what else, organic sugar!

People are not just buying beans and rice, either. Organic meat sales are on the rise. Organically grown meat often comes from animals that are fed vegetarian diets, free of pesticides and antibiotics. Companies already offer organic chicken, hot dogs and hamburger patties. USDA certification of these meats is coming soon.

For some, this coming of age follows years of hard work and consumer education. Take, for example, Washington's CF Fresh, a leading organic seller and importer. The company's founder, Roger Wechsler, started out working for a wholesaler in 1972. CF Fresh sells organic produce and juices on behalf of dozens of growers in Washington, California and British Columbia. It also imports organic products from South America.

I asked Roger if he can explain this recent growth that his industry is enjoying. He attributes it to a combination of motivated organic growers and conventional growers who are increasingly adopting some organic growing practices. Roger advises that these efforts have increased quantity and quality of production, and anticipates continued 20% annual growth over the next five years.

Saint Louis' Bean E Grains Natural Food Markets also reports strong growth. Owner David Ellmer anticipates that the organic market will double over the next five years. Selling 50 varieties of beans and grains, 32 varieties of pasta, and eight kinds of rice, Ellmer admits that there is money to be made in the organic business. But, he adds, "most of us also consider this a social responsibility too."

Bean E Grains is planning a new retail store, which will feature its current line, organic vegetables, as well as a fruit and coffee bar. Now, if they only had organic donuts ....

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.