| What does “organic
agriculture” mean? |
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All life is organic and we are all
living organisms. In organic agriculture, we practice farming techniques that respect and
encourage life, including the microbes in the soil. We do not use manufactured chemicals
for pesticides or herbicides because they will damage the living soil. Only composts and
cover cropping are used to enrich soil fertility. Nourish the soil as nature intended, and
it will nourish the plant. Ultimately, the plant will nourish you! Our great-grandparents and grandparents expected a tomato
to taste like a tomato, and a potato to have a distinct rich flavor that didn't require
butter, sour cream or chives. In the past 50 years, conventional agriculture has changed
to high chemical use and vegetables have become less nutritious and less flavorful. They
are harvested before they are ripe and shipped long distances. They never develop the
wonderful flavors nor the high nutritional content that occur naturally in organic,
locally-produced fresh vegetables. |
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| Why support organic
agriculture? |
• For healthy soil |
Soil is not just a medium to hold
plants upright! Nor is it a random collection of minerals and chemicals. A healthy soil
that supports healthy vegetation is actually a complex biological community that interacts
with the plants, contributing to growth, preventing disease, and holding moisture. Living
soils provide plants with a broad spectrum of micronutrients and trace minerals, and soil
and plant together protect against erosion.
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| • For healthy water |
Water quality is degraded by
pesticides and herbicides. 38 states in the U.S. have contaminated groundwater due to
runn-off from conventional agriculture, polluting drinking water for more than half the
U.S. population. By farming organically, we not only prevent the dispersal of these
dangerous chemicals into groundwater, but we also protect rivers, lakes, and the species
that inhabit them.
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| • For healthy air |
Pesticide particles travel on the
wind for many miles. Applying pesticides via aerial spraying is injurious to the health of
farm workers and those who live near conventional farms. Burning crop residues instead of
plowing them under or composting them causes further air pollution. We use only certified
organic soap-based pest controls, carefully applied so as not to affect anything else but
the crop.
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| • For healthy food |
60% of all herbicides, 90% of
fungicides, and 30% of insecticides are considered carcinogenic by the Environmental
Protection Agency of the U.S. government. Organic agriculture produces a wide variety
crops without these harmful chemicals, irradiation, or biotechnology.
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| • To promote diversity |
Conventional
agriculture is based on the practice of monocropping large tracts of land. Using the same
soil to support the same crop year after year removes natural minerals and nutrients.
Chemical fertilizers are used in increasing amounts to replace the natural nutrients. In
organic agriculture, a wide variety of plants are rotated to prevent disease, nutrient
depletion, and pest infestations. Cover crops are planted during fallow times to prevent
erosion and increase soil fertility. Many organic farmers propagate heritage and other
unusual varieties for even greater diversity.
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| • To protect family farms |
The past decade has
seen the loss of over 650,000 small farms throughout our nation. Most organic farms,
however, are under 100 acres, and operated by a family, or cooperatively by several
families. Growing organic produce and herbs is a niche that small family farms can fill
successfully, and sustainable organic farms revitalize communities, leaving a legacy of
healthy farms for future generations.
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| • To promote recycling |
Composting recycles
plant and animal wastes back into the soil, converting what would otherwise clog our
landfills into natural fertilizer. Cover cropping in the off season recycles nutrients
back into productive soil and prevents erosion during the rainy months. |
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