Maybe you are wondering about the benefits of organic farming or better yet, what is “organic?” Technically, organic refers to the way farmers grow and process foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat.
I use to just buy food in cans from the grocery store, and from the non-organic cheapest produce. I would also purchase meals from a fast food restaurant so that I could eat and get back to work. I had the hurry up and get my work done so that I could rest a bit before the “next days work”. I had eaten healthy while I grew up, and we had a garden that was great. However I had learned some not so good habits while I was in the service. From bootcamp, I learned that meals should take 15 minutes from start to finish, including getting my food. The habit was entrenched into my mind, and that is the habit I adopted for years.
After getting out of the service, I had gotten stuck in that habit of poor eating habits. Even to the detriment of my health. I knew better than to eat that way, but I choose to anyway. After 8 heart attacks, I finally got it back into my head that I need to add great fuel to my body to have a healthy body.
These are the benefits of Organic Farming from my viewpoint:
- Organic farming promotes soils that are teaming with life and rich in micro nutrients which produces better quality food with higher nutrition value.
- Uses natural fertilizers such as manure or compost to enrich soil and feed plants.
- Uses beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease
- Manages weeds by rotating crops, tilling, hand weeding or mulching.
- Gives animals organic feed and access to the outdoors. Uses preventive measures such as rotational grazing, a balanced diet and clean housing to help minimize disease
Organic food costs a little more, but for me it has been a small price to pay for the benefits to my health. I have gone from needing a heart transplant, being kept alive by a pacemaker and drugs, to having a measurable increase in my heart function due to many factors, but the major one is good fuel for my body.
Cannot afford to purchase straight organic?
Purchase food that you eat the most of organically. The more you eat of fresh, live food, the healthier you will tend to be. It has worked for me!
What are the benefits of Organic Farming for the farmer?
- Thousand of corporations are targeting consumers worldwide by adding organic foods to their product lines.
- Consumer demand for organically grown foods and livestock products are increasing. Sales of organic products are the fastest growing sector of agriculture. Sales continue to grow by over 20% annually and have shown an annual increase of at least 20% during the last 6 years.
- Over the next 10 years analysts are projecting total sales of organic products to exceed one hundred billion dollars worldwide. The vast majority of growth will in occur in the United States, Japan and throughout Europe. (Source – IFOAM, International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement)
- Organic farming is a science within itself that conventional farmers can learn while they transfer their capital resources and skills to master a trade that can be even more profitable than conventional farming.
- Researchers in the United States have found that by following organic farming methods, conventional farmer’s can actually reduce production cost by over 25%. This is accomplished by eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, minimizing soil erosion by up to 50% and increasing crop yields up to five-fold within five years.
- Organic farms can support substantially higher levels of wildlife especially in lowlands and where animals can roam pastures or graze on grassland. Not only does wildlife benefit, but entire ecosystems and ground water are improved by simply following organic farming methods.
- Consumers purchasing organically grown foods can taste the difference and see the quality of virtually any organic product they buy. Regardless of minimal price differences
- Consumers buy organically grown food products not just because of competitive prices, but due to the increased availability of organic food products as seen in both grocery and organic food specialty stores
The number one benefit of organic farming is: Eating organic foods may in fact, reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer for individuals who abstain from consuming products produced by conventional farming methods. Biochemist are continually researching the inherent benefits of organically grown foods and discovering the consequences consuming products loaded with toxins and chemicals which, until recently, have only begun to be introduced to humans.
The fact is, you ultimately are what you eat.
The benefits for all of the above points come down to these three basic statements:
Better Health through Organic Farming
More Customers thus more profits through Organic Farming
Healthier land through Organic Farming.
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I would like to give you a gift of our book on 4 ways to increase your profits on your Organic Farm.
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We are looking forward to hearing your thoughts of what the Benefits of Organic Farming have given to you!
Turning Your Dreams into the Life of Your Dreams
Chris Downs —– The Caretaker
Hisfarm.org
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