Can Organic Farming Feed The World?
One of the knocks against organic farming is that it is labor-intensive in amount to the food produced. Considering the nearly 10 billion human mouths to feed on this planet - and who knows how many non-humans - can we afford to switch entirely to organic farming? We can't afford not to.
The Farms, They Are A-Changing (Apologies To Bob Dylan)
Large scale factory farming is not only hurting the planet, but is producing unsanitary food. Organic farming isn't the magic pill that will make all of our environmental problems go away, but it sure is a big push in the right direction. With organic farming, there is emphasis on recycling and using renewable materials for fertilizers, plant food and even pesticides. These renewable materials do not poison the groundwater or other species, like chemical fertilizers do.
Chemical pesticides include adding plants like lavender in among cash crops in organic farming. Most bugs do not like lavender, for some reason. They seem to be as appalled by the smell as we are of the smell of rotten eggs. Lavender isn't the only plant that gives of odors offensive to insects, but it is one of the best known.
Priority Shifts
We as the eating and (more importantly) the buying public need to shift our priorities in eating choices and buying choices in order to help save the planet. If we don't, our future generations are screwed. It's that simple. Why are we even arguing about this? Because people are inherently lazy and fear change - that's why.
Organic farming is just one thread in a tightly woven safety rope to haul us out of the mess we got ourselves into. We still need to recycle, make less waste and find renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. But we can all do an incredible service to the planet by doing one thing - eating less meat.
It takes a lot of energy and acres of dwindling farmland in order to feed one beef cow. We just don't have the luxury of eating meat whenever we feel like it anymore. If there wasn't a demand for meat, there wouldn't be such a pressing need to shift to organic farming worldwide.
We need to stop looking at what we can get right now and take action for the long term. Organic farming takes into account both our present and future needs. Whenever you can, please buy organic foods or clothes made from organic farming methods.
