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Commonly
Asked
Questions
About
Organic
Farming? |
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What does "organic farming" mean?
Technically, an organic farm is one that follows a
certain set of guidelines set forth by an approved
certifying agency or group. These guidelines seek to
maintain the biological health of the certified
farms and to ensure consumer confidence in a
wholesome, natural food supply. In practice, organic
farming focuses on the health of the farm's soils as
the key to healthy crop and animal growth. A soil
rich in organic matter and alive with earthworms and
other beneficial soil life will naturally support
healthy crops, but such a soil, particularly in
intensive agriculture, needs to be nurtured and
"fed" through wise and thoughtful management. Crop
rotations, organic mulches, cover crops and careful
weed management all help to build a healthy, organic
soil.
What do you use for fertilizer?
Organic farmers enrich their soils with compost,
cover crops (such as clover, alfalfa and rye) and
the careful use of animal manure. By "feeding the
soil rather than the plant," biological activity in
the soil can provide most or all of the fertility
that healthy crops need in order to grow. For poor
soils or for crops that demand more nutrients, a
wide variety of organic fertilizers are available
that help feed the crop and also help support and
feed the biological life in the soil.
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What do you do about bugs?
Not all insects on the farm are pests. In fact,
many are working hard to your farm's benefit.
That is why it is important to "know your bugs."
Many organic farmers actually invite these
helpful bugs to their farms by planting
"beneficial insect" habitats (usually a mix of
flowering plants) in and around their fields to
help control their pest populations. Beneficial
insects are those that feed upon other insects
around them. A good example is the Ladybug which
can consume hundreds of aphids in a single day.
Sometimes, even on the best of farms, pest
insects can cause significant damage if not kept
in check. In those cases, a wide variety of pest
control products are available to the organic
grower. Generally, these are derived from
natural sources and are as, if not more,
effective as their conventional counterparts.
Often, organic controls are "targeted" controls
which means they have little or no effect on
other living creatures in your crops - only the
pest you want controlled. This helps to maintain
the biological health of the farm.
What about plant diseases?
An organic farmer's first defense against plant
diseases on the farm is good crop management. A
well followed crop rotation, careful weed and
pest control and a healthy, living soil are the
best prevention against most crop diseases. Of
course, in certain weather conditions problems
will arise. Again, a variety of disease control
products are approved for use by organic
farmers. The keys to effective control are
anticipation and careful observation. Caught
early, most crop diseases can be effectively and
safely controlled. This is an area of vigorous
research within the organic community where new
controls and products become available each
year.
What is Organic Farming?
Healthy Families ~
Family Farms Program
Buying Organic: Appalachian Harvest
Learning Landscapes
Program
Directory of Agricultural Resources
Sustainable Agriculture
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