While it's no secret that organic's the best thing for you, and the environment -- it's not really well known that organic methods are the main centerpiece of micro-farming.
The reason for this is, mainly, that when people think of farms they're thinking large scale industrial farms which're usually in the hands of gigantic corporations...of whom provide the grocery stores with most of the food and when presented with the idea of micro-farming (farming on five acres or less) one's given no reason to think it'll be any different.
The truth is, though, that it's actually very hard NOT to be organic on a small-scale. Especially considering how expensive alot of industrial farm methods really are for the small time farmer (not to mention the big time one too!).
The real benefit of micro-farming is that anyone can do it and it puts your land to a use that benefits nature...and therefore your health too!
In today's world, our health and what we eat has become increasingly important.
The U.S. is not alone in high food prices, for example, and considering the revelations that high energy prices have brought us and will probably continue to bring you and me...many people, including me see the draw of growing most of our own food.
Nowadays, I hear alot of people talking about how globalizing our food in a general sense is no longer smart and that localization of our food system becoming the next big thing. And we're already seeing the trends: new farmers markets are popping up around the U.S. and existing ones are growing, as well as the CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) becoming more and more popular.
The facts are: localization isn't a new idea, it's just got alot of potential in a modern world.
There's no cookie cutter guidelines for micro-farming, it's definition is rather general and encompasses alot of different kinds of farming (including urban farming, aka victory gardens, raising animals in your backyard, hydroponics, pot gardening, indoor and greenhouse gardening, basement gardening...you name it, as long as it's small -- it can be called micro-farming).
OK, so it's usually organic and we can all do it...is there anything that makes it particularly good for you?
Well, foremostly it's work. In our growing world of couch potatos, this is probably the thing that people usually either realize last or first. Of course your own methods will define HOW MUCH work it is, and when it's more work than usual...which brings us to another way it's good for you: micro-farming allows room for as much creativity as you want to have. It's not just a way to make sure what you eat is good for you, you can also use it as a form of expression and to exercise your mind.
Some of us really do need alot of mental exercise! And I don't know if there can ever be such a thing as too much thinking and creativity.
And finally, anything you grow or raise will contribute to nature provided you don't use alot of chemicals.
Plants will breathe in carbon dioxide and improve the air you and other living things in your area breathe.
They'll enrich the soil, which will improve the health of insects, microbes...and in extension anything that gets its food from the plants growing in it (including you!).
Also, there's reason to suggest that when provided with my fresh food to make meals out of -- people will naturally acclimate to healthier dishes.
It's as much psychology as it is science and can be art.
So, knowing all this much -- do you think that this is a good trend for the world today and will mean something even better than alot of us who're both advocates and practitioners of it realize?
If given the chance, would you do it? Encourage others to do it?
Something for you, or not?
Sound off on what you think!
Comments (2)
When the day comes that someone will shoot you over a bag of chips, we all will be happy to have a few vegetables growing in our back yard. I think that foraging and gleaning fruit trees will also become important, as well as bartering and trading systems where we can trade our produce for someone else's. Local is always better, but it is also a connection to the source of our food (and life) and an insurance against the collapse of our modern food delivery systems, should that occur.
Yayy i love organic grown stuff!
My roommate has a garden this kind of reminded me of her