1. Overview Conventional Farming Organic farming Video: My Father’s Garden The difference between conventional farming and organic farming Why are organic foods more expensive?

2. Conventional Farming 1940’s began farming with agri-chemicals Fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides 1972 Congress ordered the EPA to test all pesticides for potential health hazards. All agri-chemicals can remain until EPA proves dangerous 1990’s pesticide companies focus on genetic engineering Using agri-chemicals is the predominate way food is grown in U.S. so it is now called “conventional” farming

3. Organic Farming Based on : Using natural, renewable fertilizer and pesticides Compost, manure, Bt Farming in a way that maintains and replenishes the life and nutrients in the soil. The farmer feeds the living organisms in the soil. Handful of organic soil – 5 billion microorganisms Primary methods used: Crop diversity Crop rotation Biological pest control

4. Organic Foods Plants grown without conventional pesticides or fertilizers Produced without genetically engineered seeds Animals are fed organic feed and raised without use of antibiotics Food processed without irradiation or food additives

5. “Eating is an environmental act.” Wendell Berry