What People Who Care About The Earth Should
Know About How Their Food is Grown
GMOsGMOs pesticidespesticides artificial/chemical fertilizersartificial/chemical fertilizers manuremanure animal by-productsanimal by-products animal exploitationanimal exploitation loss of wild space and habitatloss of wild space and habitat
Just a few of the issues…….
•Monsanto to Sell Biotech Sweet Corn for U.S. Consumers
• By Jack Kaskey - Aug 4, 2011 11:25 AM PT
• Monsanto Co. (MON), the world’s biggest vegetable seed maker, said it will begin selling genetically modified sweet corn in the U.S. this year, the first product it has developed for the consumer market.
Pesticides kill pollinators and beneficial insects……
Free eco-system providers
Photo Courtesy of USFWS
…… and birds….
Photo Courtesy of USDA NRCS
…… and amphibians, such as the Red-legged Frog - a Species in Decline,
Chemical fertilizers = ground water pollution through nitrate and phosphate
leaching erosion
Mississippi Delta Dead Zone
Soil food webChanges in number and species
CAFOConcentrated Animal Feeding Operations
Dairy cow POWs on a 3000 cow operation
Fish Farm on the Snake River in ID
….. and pollution downstream
TILLAGE and CULTIVATION =
LOSS Of EARTHWORMS,
SOIL INSECTS AND MICROBES
Loss of habitat - wetlands and riparian areas
Photo Courtesy of USFWS
Loss of wild areas, “Habitat Connectivity” and biodiversity:
Organic AgricultureThe production of crops and animals without
the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
NOSB Principles of Organic Production:Healthy soils and environmentEnhance biodiversity, ecosystem functionUse renewable resourcesPlants, animals, techniques are locally adaptedManage the farm as a systemTraceability
Conventional organic uses manure and Conventional organic uses manure and animal parts (bones, blood, feathers, animal parts (bones, blood, feathers,
bodies) as fertilizer…..bodies) as fertilizer…..
Manure problems: herbicide/antibiotic contamination, nitrate-N leaching into ground water, human pathogens such as E. coli and salmonella…..
“Cattle are the primary reservoir of Escherichia coli. This has serious implications for the land-based disposal of organic wastes such as cattle manure, cattle slurry and abattoir waste.” Potential health risks associated with the persistence of Escherichia coli O157 in agricultural environments 2010 D.L. Jones
“This study points out the potential human health risks associated with consumption of fresh vegetables grown in soil amended with antibiotic laden manures. The risks may be higher for people who are allergic to antibiotics and there is also the possibility of enhanced antimicrobial resistance as a result of human consumption of these vegetables. “Antibiotic Uptake by Plants from Soil Fertilized with Animal Manure 2005K. Kumar *a, S. C. Guptaa, S. K. Baidoob, B. Chandera and C. J. Rosena
Liquid fish fertilizer sprayed on crops to produce high yields on over-tilled, over-cropped soils.
Pastured, organically raised chickens lay eggs in buses that move from one fresh pasture to another.
Pastured chickens are vulnerable to predators who are eliminated
by trapping and shooting
Most grocery stores who sell Organic have Zero-tolerance for insects, so
Organic farms spray organic insecticides.
Spraying Organic Insecticides = Loss of lady bugs, spiders, and syrphid flies
Spraying “selective”Organic Insecticides, such as Bt, is better.
“Industry Standards” for quality:“ Barbie Broccoli” skinny stems, big heads.
“Conventional Organic” vegetable production – lots of bare soil to control weeds.
Murdered soil food web
Conventional Organic Production: Conventional Organic Production: Monocrop Desert Monocrop Desert
lots of tillage to manage water, lots of tillage to manage water, nutrients, and weeds. nutrients, and weeds.
HOW DO WE RECONNECT NATURE,
AGRICULTURE and OURSELVES?
Veganic Farming and Gardening
the soil microorganisms we try not to disturb with excessive tillage, the birds, butterflies, and insects we do not poison with insecticides, the weeds that are not killed with herbicides, and the animals who are not killed for food or fertilizer.
Veganic farming and gardening is a willingness to balance our existence with the natural world.
Veganic Works With Nature to Mimic Natural Plant Eco-Systems:Veganic Works With Nature to Mimic Natural Plant Eco-Systems:
Reduced tillage – keeping soil covered,Reduced tillage – keeping soil covered,
Increased plant diversity, Increased plant diversity,
Regular addition of plant residues.Regular addition of plant residues.
Plant – based Fertilizer System:Using Clover Living Mulches
Plant – based Fertilizer System:Using Clover Living Mulches
Case study @ Biodesign FarmCase study @ Biodesign Farm
NO BARE SOIL - Soil covered spring, summer, fall, & winter.NO BARE SOIL - Soil covered spring, summer, fall, & winter.
Light tillage in the spring (lots of plant residue left)Light tillage in the spring (lots of plant residue left)
Bed making – Plant residue inside beds
Bed making – Plant residue inside beds
Seed new cover between rows in spring, recruits from previous season’s living mulch already re-growing
Seed new cover between rows in spring, recruits from previous season’s living mulch already re-growing
New living mulch well-established by late spring for broccoli harvest
New living mulch well-established by late spring for broccoli harvest
Mature living mulch kept mowed monthly (surface-applied residue)
Mature living mulch kept mowed monthly (surface-applied residue)
Benefits of Living Mulch
System: balanced nutrient supply
Benefits of Living Mulch
System: balanced nutrient supply
Improved yield and qualityImproved yield and quality
Improved cold toleranceImproved cold tolerance
Habitat for beneficials provided
Habitat for beneficials provided
Habitat for pollinators = increased fruit set
Habitat for pollinators = increased fruit set
Long-term soil health improved with Living Mulch systemLong-term soil health improved with Living Mulch system
2003 5.4 204 222 613 397 1998 7.6 44 2006 5.2 260 261 323 254 2024 7.6 33
N levels dropwithout manure
No-till Experiments 2004- 2010
No-till Brussels sprouts
www.veganicpermaculture.com
Possible on a large scale?
Living mulch experiment on 10 acre field in CO.September 2011
FOREST GARDEN: Seven layers
Peaches, strawberries , and grapes in a forest garden
Releasing fruit trees from the jungle andChop & Drop mulch on aforest farm in Panama
Farming with Nature:Fukuoka
Conventional organic – raspberries under plastic high tunnels
Multi-layer, multi-species orchard
PLANT- BASED FERTILIZER IN THE
CITY?TRANSFORM
LAWN TO GARDEN t
Photo Courtesy of Sam Earnshaw
Buy local and ask questions about farming methods.
Manure? How do you manage weeds? Insects? Diseases? Veganic/stock-free?
Predator Friendly Label
Salmon-Safe Label
Farm Bill 2012 – Change Policy!
• Conservation Security Act
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program
• Forest Land Enhancement Program
• Grasslands Reserve Program
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
• Wetlands Reserve Program
• Organic - NOP
• Animal Rights
Wild Farm [email protected]
wildfarmalliance.org We envision community-based, ecologically managed farms, seamlessly integrated into a landscape that accommodates the full range of native species and ecological processes.
Get involved
www.goveganic.net
www.northwestveg.org
www.veganicpermaculture.com