Sustainable Farming

Below is a short video about the Stone Ridge Orchard in Stone Ridge, New York.

The orchard sells their produce at their own fruit stand. They also have a pick your own option for much of their fruit. This offers customers a great opportunity to see where their food comes from and how it is grown.

Although the orchard is not certified organic, they do not use herbicides, and they use organic mulches instead of chemical fertilizers. They have also minimized their usage of chemical pesticides by adopting integrated pest management (IPM) strategies such as pheromone traps and plants that deter unwanted insects.

The commitment to selling produce locally can be as important if not more so than being certified organic. The local model allows consumers to directly support small farmers and reduces the need for giant factory farms. Having direct contact with the source of their food also increases consumer awareness about the challenges faced by small farmers trying to practice sustainability. Also, local produce can be picked when it is ripe so it tastes much better than fruit that was picked green and transported thousands of miles.

Larry Thompson owns a 140 acre farm in Boring, Oregon. Thompson’s parents began the farm by selling strawberries, raspberries and broccoli to local processing plants in 1947. The processing plants dictated the prices and the profit margin on the farm was nonexistent. When Larry took over the farm in 1983, he sought ways to increase profitability. He began selling produce at his own fruit stand and turning some of his fields into U-pick areas. These changes not only dramatically increase his profit, they also provided a means for people in the community and nearby Portland to develop a stronger connecting with the source of their food. Thompson now grows 34 different crops and sells them at six farmers markets and two farm stands.

Part of Thompson’s appeal is that he does not use chemical pesticides or fungicides and he uses greatly reduced amounts of herbicides. Thompson plants cover crops in order to keep the weeds down and prevent soil erosion. He also controls the pests by planting flowers and other plants that provide a habitat for beneficial insects.

 In reward for his efforts toward sustainability, Thompson has been appointed to the regional chair of the Western SARE program. The SARE program is a branch of the USDA that performs research and provides grants to farmers who are developing sustainability. For more information about SARE or Larry Thompson, you can visit:

http://www.sare.org/index.htm or http://wsare.usu.edu/pub/sare2000/014.htm.

The Azure Farm is a 2,000 acre wheat farm and cattle ranch in Dufur Oregon. Back in the 1950s, they began heavy usage of chemical fertilizers, as did most other farmers. The fertilizer began to damage the soil, allowing weeds and pests to gain an upper hand. As pesticides and herbicides were applied, the farm became trapped in a vicious chemical cycle with no easy way out. However, in 1971 Azure Farm swore off the chemicals for good. Initially, the yields were very low, but over time the soil recovered.

The new clientele for the organic wheat was also looking for sources of other organic products. So, in 1987, Azure Standard was started as a distributor of organics and health foods. They now offer products from hundreds of suppliers and they sell to retailers, coops, and individuals.

 http://beta.azurestandard.com/index.php

Welcome to my sustainable farming blog! Over the next few months I will be exploring US agriculture and how it has become largely unsustainable. I would like to address the effects of pesticides, fertilizers, and massive factory farms on the environment and the quality of produce. Most of my effort, however, will be devoted to highlighting individuals and companies who have been successful in promoting and implementing sustainable farming procedures. We will look at the hurdles they have faced and the techniques they have utilized to overcome them. I will also have a reference page where you can find information about what you can do to support and encourage sustainable farmers.