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Organic Staff Training
Organic Food
Most people are aware that organically grown food is free from exposure
to harmful chemicals, but that is only one small part of what organic is
about.
A larger part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and
of the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised. Organic agriculture
is born from the idea that a healthy environment significantly benefits
crops and the health of those consuming them. In addition, organic practices
are also viable in the long term, since they are efficient in their use
of resources, and do not damage the environment and local communities like
large scale "chemical agriculture" does.
Certified Organic
There are many organizations worldwide that certify produce as being grown
in a manner that does not harm the environment and that preserves or improves
soil fertility, soil structure, and farm sustainability.
Organic, not Certified
Some of our farms prefer not to pursue an organic certification, but do
follow organic principles in growing their produce.
Transitional
Organic certification standards are very strict, and it usually takes years
for farms to achieve them, as all pesticide and chemical residue from the
soil is slowly broken down and leached away. Farms marked as "Transitional"
are farms in the process of getting their certification, but that are not
quite there yet.
Conventional
Conventional farming does not necessarily have to be as destructive as large-scale
chemical agriculture. There are many small farms worldwide that sparingly
use chemicals when needed, and that otherwise follow good guidelines in
the care of their environments and communities.
Biodynamic
Based on a series of lectures given by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner
in 1924, Biodynamics is a method of agriculture which seeks to actively
work with the health-giving forces of nature. It is the oldest non-chemical
agricultural movement, predating the organic agriculture movement by some
20 years and has now spread throughout the world.
Grass Fed / Pastured
Grass fed or pastured animals are raised on pasture, as opposed to being
kept in confinement and fed primarily grains. Pasturing livestock and poultry
is the traditional method of raising farm animals, is ecologically sustainable,
humane, and produces the most nutritious meat, dairy and eggs.
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