Cultivating a Better World...
We are committed to organic food production methods. These methods "ensure that cultural, biological, and mechanical practices foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity." (USDA, 2014). That means we produce nutritious food that is grown in a way that minimizes the use of toxins while building soil quality and protecting water quality. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependant communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people. How does that impact you and your family? Organic foods reduce your exposure to harmful synthetic pesticides, descrease your intake of unnecessary hormones and antibiotics, and avoids the potential risk of genetically modified or engineered foods. Additionally, it respects farm animals by providing an environment that is humane and natural.
Why Buy Locally?
Local production reduces your "carbon footprint" by avoiding the long distance shipment of food products. Local farmers are members of your community and work with that community to ensure that the local soil and water quality is maximized. After all, we live here too! Additionally, locally grown food just tastes better. Many commercially grown vegetables are varities that were selected because they can be shipped long distances and arrive "looking pretty". Locally grown foods varieties are selected for their taste as they are picked shortly before you purchase them. They look just as good but taste far better! Just compare the taste of a supermarket tomato to the one fresh picked from our garden.
Environmentally Sustainable
Organic agriculture is the oldest form of agriculture on earth. Organic farmers use a systems approach, where interactions between crops, animals, insects, and soil are as important as the whole farm itself. We use methods that work well in our local environment, such as new varieties of crops, precision agriculture technologies, and more efficient machinery while avoiding what harms society and the environment, such as pollution from chemical pesticides and fertilizers and increasing antibiotic resistance. Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, organic farmers build healthy soil by using crop rotations, cover crops, and compost to maintain and enhance soil fertility. Crops are planted to ensure that soil erosion is minimized. Weed management and pest and disease management practices utlize only labor or substances that are naturally occurring. Soil and water pollution is virtually eliminated. So, organic food products keep you and your family healthy as they keep the environment healthy.
