Alternative agricultural systems

Organic Agriculture Agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests Agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests Synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms are NOT allowed. Synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms are NOT allowed.

Organic Agriculture in Europe

Organic Agriculture in The U.S.

National Organic Program The USDA National Organic Program certifies farms as organic The USDA National Organic Program certifies farms as organic Accredited agencies inspect farms to insure they are in compliance with National Organic Standards Accredited agencies inspect farms to insure they are in compliance with National Organic Standards A penalty of up to $11,000 can be charged for mis-labeled food A penalty of up to $11,000 can be charged for mis-labeled food

Organic Farming 101 To become an organic farm a farmer must transition the land for 3 years. To become an organic farm a farmer must transition the land for 3 years. Present an organic system plan with records of: all farm practices, products used, how co-mingling of organic and non-organic products or non-approved substances is avoided Present an organic system plan with records of: all farm practices, products used, how co-mingling of organic and non-organic products or non-approved substances is avoided Annual inspections and unannounced inspections Annual inspections and unannounced inspections Random sampling of products for evidence of unauthorized substances Random sampling of products for evidence of unauthorized substances

Organic Soil Management Healthy soil is at the center of organic agriculture Healthy soil is at the center of organic agriculture Farmers use crop rotation to maintain soil health, manage weeds and pests Farmers use crop rotation to maintain soil health, manage weeds and pests Farmers can use compost, manure, minerals such as rock phosphate to fertilize the soil Farmers can use compost, manure, minerals such as rock phosphate to fertilize the soil Alley cropping, intercropping, Alley cropping, intercropping, Green manure Green manure

Organic Weed management Hand weeding Hand weeding Mulch Mulch Corn gluten meal Corn gluten meal Vinegar Vinegar Flame weeding Flame weeding Crops such as rye Crops such as rye

Organic Pest Management Biocontrol – using natural predators to control pests ex. Ladybugs, spiders Biocontrol – using natural predators to control pests ex. Ladybugs, spiders Row covers Row covers Crop rotation Crop rotation Organic approved pesticides ex. Surround, garlic, neem, BT, pyrethrum Organic approved pesticides ex. Surround, garlic, neem, BT, pyrethrum

Why does organic food cost more? Organic farming involves more risk Organic farming involves more risk Limits on pesticides means more hand weeding Limits on pesticides means more hand weeding Compost and manure are bulkier than synthetic fertilizers so cost more to transport Compost and manure are bulkier than synthetic fertilizers so cost more to transport Crop rotation means you can’t grow your highest value crop every year Crop rotation means you can’t grow your highest value crop every year Demand exceeds supply Demand exceeds supply Certification costs Certification costs Organic farmers do not receive the same subsidies Organic farmers do not receive the same subsidies

Where can you buy Organic? Local grocery stores Local grocery stores Health food stores Health food stores Farmers markets Farmers markets Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) A partnership between farmer and consumer Consumer takes on some of the risks of farmer Members receive a weekly share of locally grown organic produce

Agroecology (Miguel Altieri) The application of ecology to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems The application of ecology to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems Use renewable resources Use renewable resources Minimize the use of materials that harm the environment Minimize the use of materials that harm the environment Conserve soil, water, energy Conserve soil, water, energy Manage ecological relationships – enhance beneficial insect populations, recycle nutrients Manage ecological relationships – enhance beneficial insect populations, recycle nutrients Diversify – crops and livestock Diversify – crops and livestock

Biodynamic Farming (Rudolph Steiner) Organic farming with a spiritual world view Organic farming with a spiritual world view Considers the farm as an organism Considers the farm as an organism Relies of herbal and mineral preparations ex fill cow horn with manure and bury it in the ground Relies of herbal and mineral preparations ex fill cow horn with manure and bury it in the ground Uses an astronomical calendar ex. Planting according to phases of the moon Uses an astronomical calendar ex. Planting according to phases of the moon

Permaculture (Bill Mollison) Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. Permaculture is a design system for creating sustainable human environments. For people to feed themselves sustainably, they need to move away from industrialized agriculture. For people to feed themselves sustainably, they need to move away from industrialized agriculture. Industrial farms use technology powered by fossil fuels and each farm specializes in producing high yields of a single crop. Industrial farms use technology powered by fossil fuels and each farm specializes in producing high yields of a single crop. Permaculture is built upon an ethic of caring for the earth and interacting with the environment in mutually beneficial ways. Permaculture is built upon an ethic of caring for the earth and interacting with the environment in mutually beneficial ways.

Permaculture Design The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Example: Chicken greenhouse Example: Chicken greenhouse Chicken coop heats greenhouse Chicken pecking clears land for crops Manure fertilizes soil Feathers used as mulch q7JgenD4fdw&feature=related q7JgenD4fdw&feature=related q7JgenD4fdw&feature=related q7JgenD4fdw&feature=related

Aquaponics VE&feature=related VE&feature=related VE&feature=related VE&feature=related