Cuke Skywalker and Obi Wan Canolli take on Darth Tater in a fight for the safety and health of the market!
“May the farm be with you!”
Organic vs. Chemical Saturated Agriculture. Who will win! Will you join the resistance and save us and the planet with each purchase of local, organically grown fresh foods?
Thanks to Freerangestudios for the movie and all the good work. Concept and production by FreeRangeStudios.com
“Mistress Mary how does your Garden Grow?”
Arm yourself with understanding, know the issues. Here are some definitions:
Organic farming:
“Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved..”—International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
“Definition of Organic Agriculture”. IFOAM. http://www.ifoam.org/growing_organic/definitions/doa/index.html.
Organic farming developed the 1930’s and 1940’s, in response to growing dependence on chemical, synthetic fertilizers and pesticide in agriculture.
The basic tenants, to feed soils instead of plants by use compost, crop rotation and cover crops (green manure) for fertilizer to build rich fertile soils to grow nutrient rich foods. Avoid petrochemical, synthetic chemical fertilizers. The basic needs of plants for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and micro-nutrients are achieved naturally. By employing a system of integrated pest management for natural pest control. Diversifing crops and using natural approaches are the corner stone in healthy productivity.
Certified Organic:
Certification for organic foods developed out of the growing popularity of these foods. Early on when organic growers sold at local farmers markets certification was not necessary. But as the popularity of these food grew countries had to develop standards to prevent by growers attempting fraudantly profit from the growing popularity organic foods without meeting true certification standards.
The aspects of farming covered by organic certification standards are farm soils, growing practices, seeds, harvesting and processing of foods. All of these practices are free of synthetics, chemicals, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms, irradiation preservation, or use sewage sludge all which are a danger to personal and environmental health.
For specific criteria see USDA Organic Certification.
Natural Agriculture
Is an approach that expands on organic and views farming in a greater context of the web of life. It grew out of a vision of the interrelationship of all life.
According to the Shumei Natural Agriculture website, “Natural Agriculture stems from the teachings of Mokichi Okada, a Japanese philosopher and farming pioneer who lived in the early years of the 20th century.”
Though there are some distinct differences in practice, Natural Agriculture uses green mulch of leaves, twigs, or cover-crops whereas organic allows manure. But, essentially the ideals and goals are the same. Fresh, local, chemical free and sustainable are shared in the approaches.
“That act of reconnecting with nature through food is what Okada called Natural Agriculture. In the 21st century, it is practiced throughout the world, by people from many traditions and different faiths – from Japan and the Philippines, to the United States, the European Union, Brazil, Turkey and Zambia. It encompasses vegetable farms and consumer run Community Support Agriculture programs. It is helping to revive rural communities and teaching sustainability.” Shumei Natural Agriculture website.
Biodynamic Farming
Another movement that came out of the 1920’s when a group of farmers sought the help and guidance of Rudolf Steiner, a brilliant German Philosopher, Inventor, Theologian, Agriculture Expert, medicinal plant expert, inventor of Eurythmy, an art performance movement. Well known Waldorf Schools were founded on his principles.
According to the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association was founded in 1938, “Essentially, biodynamic farming and gardening looks upon the soil and the farm as living organisms.” Great care is taken to develope the health of soils using fermented sprays to build microbial life.
Biodynamics like Natural Farming considers the whole and takes great care in recogninzing the importance of the natural cycles from lunar to seasonal. Plants follow these cycles with the use of planting, and growing cycles. This link is to a recommemded planting calendare at the Biodynamic Association website 2008 Calendar.
Sustainable Agriculture
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 [1] first recognized sustainable principles.
According to the United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA), Sustainable Agriculture is defined as follows:
Stated by: “the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
- satisfy human food and fiber needs
- enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
- make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
- sustain the economic viability of farm operations
- enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”[2]
Industrial Agriculture
According to Wikipedia free encyclopedia Industrial agriculture is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political. They include innovation in agricultural machinery and farming methods, genetic technology, techniques for achieving economies of scale in production, the creation of new markets for consumption, the application of patent protection to genetic information, and global trade. These methods are widespread in developed nations and increasingly prevalent worldwide. Most of the meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, and vegetables available in supermarkets are produced using these methods of industrial agriculture.
The results of this form of agriculture, based on commercial needs, devoid of a holistic perspective, is pollution, declining soils, yields, increased disease among animals and people consuming them.
The environment impact with this agriculture’s dependence on petrochemical fertilizers pesticides, and need for distant transport to markets leave a huge carbon footprint and subsequent global warming is another negative impact. With the lack of diversity with farms providing just the mono crops corn, soybean, wheat the potential for system collapse and famine a potentially devastating security issue for any country using it.
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1. (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603
2. USDA Sustainable Agriculture link
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