The Dirt On Organic Farming

With our launch we thought that it would be great for our first blog post to describe how exactly organic farming works. We hear the word organic everywhere, but what does it really mean? If farmers are not using chemical pesticides and fertilizers to grow produce, then how are they keeping pests from eating everything?

Organic farming might seem like a return to the basics, but its actually a dynamic and innovative field that is constantly changing and growing. New technologies and scientific practices are being implemented to produce the best nature can provide. Farmers and scientists put a lot of care and creativity into developing the perfect environment for fruits and vegetables to grow in. Here's a look at a few of common practices of organic farming.

Maintaing soil quality: The most important aspect of organic farming is growing produce in nutrient rich soil. The nutrition component of soil dictates the quality of the fruit or vegetable. After all, healthy roots create the foundation for a healthy plant. Balancing out and building healthy soil are done a few ways.

1. Animal manure and compost: Manure and compost help improve the structure and ability of soil to retain water and nutrients. Fertilizer supplies nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium that provide plants the nourishment that they need without toxic chemical byproducts. All you need are a few farmyard animals.
   
   
2. Vermicompost: Red earthworms break down bio matter and their waste products improve the physical structure of soil, improve water retention capabilities, and enrich the soil with micro-organisms. Also, vermicompost releases nutrients as the plants need them, so there is no danger of giving over- fertilizing and “burning” plants.
   
   
3. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is something farmers have been doing for centuries to replenish soil nutrition after a growing season. Alternating crops with legumes (daals, beans, peanuts) reintroduces nitrogen because of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in the plant's roots. Through this process the soil is revitalized and ready for the next season.
   
   

Improving biodiversity: The farm is an ecosystem, with many different components interacting with one another. Organic farms are designed to increase the beneficial interactions between different plants and animals. For example, marigolds, which are so widely used in India are actually a natural weed killer and deter insects with their unique odor and planting mint next to cabbage keeps away cabbage moths. Broccoli grows really well with beets, but is incompatible with tomatoes. Understanding all the unique relationships between different plants and animals helps bring out the best in nature, and gives us the best tasting most nutritious produce.

Keeping pests away: Using special flowers and plant combinations helps with keeping bugs away, but for the most determined critters farmers make their own natural pesticides. Neem, which can be used to clean teeth, is concentrated into a spray which is then spritzed on plants for protection.

Growing organic is far from a simple process, and the way food is grown has a huge impact on how healthy it is! Great produce starts from the way it is grown, from the seed to fruit or vegetable which ends up on our table.

We hope you enjoyed our first blogpost. Stay tuned for more updates, recipes, and information about our partner farms and company.

Your Partner in Health,

I Say Organic