Organic & Sustainable Farms Directory - Page 151
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Organic & Sustainable Farming Benefits
The image of a traditional rural lifestyle, with cows grazing out at pasture, chickens pecking in the barnyard, and a lush mix of produce thriving in the fields, finds its fulfillment in the organic farm. Livestock are raised in healthy, airy conditions, free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
Organic farmers focus on feeding the soil, not the plants. Healthy soil rich in organic matter and microorganisms makes for vigorous plants that resist pests and disease. Healthy, living soil is vital to organic farming. The natural end result of this is that farmers strive to maintain ecological balance through their farming practices. Continual addition of compost, tilled-under cover crops, animal manures, and other naturally sourced nutrients enrich the soil in much the same way as happens in nature. This rich soil, in turn, yields flavorful produce higher in antioxidants and other nutrients than many conventional crops.
Organically-grown fields are also better equipped than conventional ones to fight off pests and disease. With efficient, intelligent management, organic farming offers similar yields to conventional. While conventional farms may have higher yields in optimum growing conditions, vigorous organic crops can even outyield conventional ones in a difficult growing year. Organic production does have higher labor costs, but this is generally offset with higher prices at the grocery store.
Organic farmers bring their considerable creativity to bear in selling their crops, as well. Many small farms operate roadside produce stands; others use community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs to sell their products. The CSA model, where consumers subscribe to a weekly, biweekly, or monthly "share" of whatever a farm is producing, is becoming increasingly popular. Harvest festivals and pick-your-own crops are also customer favorites.
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