Sustainability Issues Course
Blog Presentation
Agriculture – Conventional vs. Local vs. Organic
Agriculture plays a very important part of our survival in this world, not providing food for our communities, but playing its part in our local and nation economy. However, there are few different types of agriculture that have varying levels of positive and negative both within our community, and our economy but our health as well. Conventional Farming / Agriculture, though is the most common form of farming we are use to, it is also the most destructive way of farming. When we resort to this form of mass farming and food growth, we are helping create that need and contributing to the problem of creating the need for mass industry. Though this mass conventional farming may seem necessary to a certain degree, it often becomes an excuse to no longer pay attention to the risk of pollution and environmental destruction. When we resort to buying produce locally, then we are not only contributing to the local economy, but supporting our local farming and creating greater need for that local produce.
Conventional Agriculture
With Conventional/Mass Farming and Agriculture, we often have to rely on farming that is half way across, if not completely across the nation. When we purchase produce that has been shipped from far away, there are many factors to look into. A. How far away did this produce travel? B. What type of fuels are those distribution trucks using? C. How much carbon dioxide was introduced into the air as those trucks traveled? D. What is the environment like where this produce was grown? F. What pesticides were used on that produce as it was growing in the fields? Mass Agriculture brings on layers and layers of issues, such as cattle being raised in a tight confine and being fed high-energy grains which in turn lead to health problems in each of us, and also contribute to heart disease and other life threatening disease. Then those illnesses that were caused by poorly planned mass agriculture ended up costing the US billions of dollars each year. Conventional grown produce and agriculture utilizes the use of pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones and other chemicals.
Fertilizers being poured over Conventional Crops
The fertilizer that is used requires so much energy that it could supply 1,000,000 Americans with power for a full year, not to mention their factories “pollute the air with acids, ammonia, and various greenhouse gases.”1 There is use of antibiotics that have been known to “increase the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to those antibiotics. Those bacteria can cause difficult-to-treat human illnesses.” These massive feedlots also produce large amounts of “harmful gases and pollute water with run-off from manure.” In order to irrigate these conventional farming crops, they are “pumping water for irrigation which depletes natural aquifers built over millennia.”1
Local Agriculture
Local Farming helps answer several of those troubling questions that are up for concern when it comes to Conventional Farming. Local farming can drastically reduce the levels of CO2 being released than it would be with conventional farming as well. However locally grown produce and agriculture still utilizes the use of pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones and other chemicals. Pesticides that are used may have an impact on the eco-system around the crops by exterminating beneficial insects and plants, just as they would in Conventional Agriculture. Local Farming communities have developed a group called the CSA, The Community Supported Agriculture. “Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a growing movement between urban and rural communities that facilitates the partnership between growers and consumers.” 2 The CSA provides a guide to all local farms near your community. They provide a website that allows individuals to search for local farms and livestock farmers, giving the local community a chance to buy locally and support the small local farms and economy. A trend that is becoming more common is the “urban farming”. Several urban communities have the advantage of having the landscape available for urban farming. These are very small farms that primarily grow fruits and vegetables.
An Urban Farm behind the residence of home in Colorado
A great video provided by Local Food, Local Farm, Local Sustainability that show’s how to get started on your local or urban farm:
Fantastic Farm and Garden Calculator Video from Support Local Farming:
As also provided by Local Food, Local Farm, Local Sustainability, here are 7 things you can do to support your local farming:
Here are 7 things you can do to support local farming:
1. Go meet a farmer. Buying direct from a farm or farmers market enables farmers to keep 80 to 90 cent of each dollar spent by the consumer. Use the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory to find farms or farmers markets near you.2. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm. Buy a share of the harvest at the beginning of the season and pick up fresh food once a week at its peak harvest time. What could be easier?
3. Ask for locally grown food wherever you eat or shop. If they don’t have local food, keep asking. Explain why locally grown is better for the community, better for the environment, and better for you.
4. Support Rocky Mountain Growers Directory advertisers. They support our project which makes it a reality, so please support them and tell them you found them in the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory!
5. Support Colorado Local Sustainability. Our project is solely funded by our advertisers and donors. Such funding allows us to publish the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory, to maintain this website, to help market sustainable farms & ranches, and to help educate the public about buying local, sustainably produced food. If the directory and website have been useful to you, why not make a contribution to support our hard work?
6. Spread the word. Invite your friends and neighbors over for an “eat locally” grown dinner. Help others connect with farms near them. Tell people about our directory and website.
7. Shop differently. Buying local doesn’t have to be difficult, but it may require a little planning, and definitely breaking out of the grocery store mindset. If you have a general idea of your meal plans for the week, it is easy to buy local meat & produce once a week. Our local food shopping can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours and we love visiting our local farmers and getting truly fresh food!
Organic
The USDA says:
“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” Consumer Brochure, USDA National Organic Program
Organically grown produce and livestock
While there are several methods of farming and agriculture, one or two are far more harmful to the environment than others. Most people would agree that buying organic is always the right way to go; however, it may not always be practical for various reasons. Organic food is more expensive and not always easy to find. In those cases, the next best thing to do is to purchase produce that is grown locally and provided locally. Then you are not only supporting the local economy, but reducing the amount of CO2 that went into the air due to a much shorter transport for those goods to travel from the farm to the distributer. Therefore, while we may not be able to always purchase organic agriculture, both produce and livestock, it is possible to buy responsibly by buying locally grown. We can all do our part to become more sustainable and economically responsible through the choices we make at the grocery store.
Resources for this Blog Entry
3. USDA Organic Standards - http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/organic/organicfarming.htm
1. Tour the Food Supply - http://www.cspinet.org/EatingGreen/tour.html
2. Local Harvest / Farmers Markets - http://www.localharvest.org/
Support Local Farming - http://www.localsustainability.net/educate/support-local-farming/
Local Food System Development - http://beyondfactoryfarming.org/get-informed/locations/new-brunswick/local-food-system-development
Mom-Going-Organic-Sensibly - http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com/sustainable-agriculture.html
Pick Your Own – Organically Grown Resource Website - http://www.pickyourown.org/organic.htm
Sustainable Agriculture Bumper Sticker - http://www.zazzle.com/sustainable_agriculture_vegetable_bumper_sticker-128490319206705185
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