Alternative Alternative agricultural agricultural

systemssystems

Organic AgricultureOrganic Agriculture

Agriculture that relies on crop Agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pestssoil productivity and control pests

Synthetic fertilizers, synthetic Synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, livestock feed additives, pesticides, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms and genetically modified organisms are NOT allowed.are NOT allowed.

Organic Agriculture in Organic Agriculture in EuropeEurope

Organic Agriculture in Organic Agriculture in The U.S.The U.S.

National Organic National Organic ProgramProgram

The USDA National The USDA National Organic Program Organic Program certifies farms as certifies farms as organicorganic

Accredited agencies Accredited agencies inspect farms to insure inspect farms to insure they are in compliance they are in compliance with National Organic with National Organic StandardsStandards

A penalty of up to A penalty of up to $11,000 can be $11,000 can be charged for mis-charged for mis-labeled foodlabeled food

Organic Farming 101Organic Farming 101

To become an organic farm a farmer must To become an organic farm a farmer must transition the land for 3 years.transition the land for 3 years.

Present an organic system plan with records Present an organic system plan with records of: all farm practices, products used, how co-of: all farm practices, products used, how co-mingling of organic and non-organic products mingling of organic and non-organic products or non-approved substances is avoidedor non-approved substances is avoided

Annual inspections and unannounced Annual inspections and unannounced inspectionsinspections

Random sampling of products for evidence of Random sampling of products for evidence of unauthorized substancesunauthorized substances

Organic Soil Organic Soil ManagementManagement

Healthy soil is at the Healthy soil is at the center of organic center of organic agricultureagriculture

Farmers use crop Farmers use crop rotation to maintain soil rotation to maintain soil health, manage weeds health, manage weeds and pestsand pests

Farmers can use Farmers can use compost, manure, compost, manure, minerals such as rock minerals such as rock phosphate to fertilize the phosphate to fertilize the soilsoil

Alley cropping, Alley cropping, intercropping,intercropping,

Green manureGreen manure

Organic Weed Organic Weed managementmanagement Hand weedingHand weeding MulchMulch Corn gluten mealCorn gluten meal VinegarVinegar Flame weedingFlame weeding Crops such as ryeCrops such as rye

Organic Pest Organic Pest ManagementManagement

Biocontrol – using Biocontrol – using natural predators natural predators to control pests ex. to control pests ex. Ladybugs, spidersLadybugs, spiders

Row coversRow covers Crop rotationCrop rotation Organic approved Organic approved

pesticides ex. pesticides ex. Surround, garlic, Surround, garlic, neem, BT, neem, BT, pyrethrumpyrethrum

Why does organic food cost Why does organic food cost more?more?

Organic farming involves more riskOrganic farming involves more risk Limits on pesticides means more hand weedingLimits on pesticides means more hand weeding Compost and manure are bulkier than Compost and manure are bulkier than

synthetic fertilizers so cost more to transportsynthetic fertilizers so cost more to transport Crop rotation means you can’t grow your Crop rotation means you can’t grow your

highest value crop every yearhighest value crop every year Demand exceeds supplyDemand exceeds supply Certification costsCertification costs Organic farmers do not receive the same Organic farmers do not receive the same

subsidiessubsidies

Where can you buy Where can you buy Organic?Organic?

Local grocery storesLocal grocery stores Health food storesHealth food stores Farmers marketsFarmers markets Community Supported Community Supported

Agriculture (CSA)Agriculture (CSA)A partnership between A partnership between

farmer and consumerfarmer and consumerConsumer takes on some of Consumer takes on some of

thetherisks of farmerrisks of farmerMembers receive a weekly Members receive a weekly

shareshareof locally grown organicof locally grown organicproduceproduce

Agroecology (Miguel Agroecology (Miguel Altieri)Altieri)

The application of ecology to the design The application of ecology to the design and management of sustainable and management of sustainable agroecosystemsagroecosystems

Use renewable resourcesUse renewable resources Minimize the use of materials that harm the Minimize the use of materials that harm the

environmentenvironment Conserve soil, water, energyConserve soil, water, energy Manage ecological relationships – enhance Manage ecological relationships – enhance

beneficial insect populations, recycle beneficial insect populations, recycle nutrientsnutrients

Diversify – crops and livestockDiversify – crops and livestock

Biodynamic Farming Biodynamic Farming (Rudolph Steiner)(Rudolph Steiner)

Organic farming with Organic farming with a spiritual world viewa spiritual world view

Considers the farm as Considers the farm as an organisman organism

Relies of herbal and Relies of herbal and mineral preparations mineral preparations ex fill cow horn with ex fill cow horn with manure and bury it in manure and bury it in the groundthe ground

Uses an astronomical Uses an astronomical calendar ex. Planting calendar ex. Planting according to phases of according to phases of the moonthe moon

Permaculture (Bill Permaculture (Bill Mollison)Mollison)

Permaculture is a design system for Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. creating sustainable human environments.

For people to feed themselves sustainably, For people to feed themselves sustainably, they need to move away from industrialized they need to move away from industrialized agriculture. agriculture.

Industrial farms use technology powered by Industrial farms use technology powered by fossil fuels and each farm specializes in fossil fuels and each farm specializes in producing high yields of a single crop. producing high yields of a single crop.

Permaculture is built upon an ethic of Permaculture is built upon an ethic of caring for the earth and interacting with the caring for the earth and interacting with the environment in mutually beneficial ways. environment in mutually beneficial ways.

Permaculture DesignPermaculture Design The core of permaculture is The core of permaculture is

design and the working design and the working relationships and connections relationships and connections between all things. between all things.

Each component in a system Each component in a system performs multiple functions, performs multiple functions, and each function is and each function is supported by many elements. supported by many elements.

Example: Chicken greenhouseExample: Chicken greenhouseChicken coop heats greenhouseChicken coop heats greenhouseChicken pecking clears land for Chicken pecking clears land for

cropscropsManure fertilizes soilManure fertilizes soilFeathers used as mulchFeathers used as mulch http://www.youtube.com/watchttp://www.youtube.com/watc

h?v=q7JgenD4fdw&feature=rh?v=q7JgenD4fdw&feature=relatedelated

AquaponicsAquaponics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLsV_7wJlVE&feature=relatedLsV_7wJlVE&feature=related