Shallow vs. Deep Organic

Tree Frog early morning sun bathing on the summer rhubarb.

Moon Bear is attending the Washington State Farmer’s Market Association (WSFMA) convention this weekend in Vancouver. I was asked to bring promotional materials for the entry display. I asked myself: “What could I promote that would be of interest to my customers?”  I remembered how one question comes up all the time when I sell at the Salmon Creek Farmer’s Market: “Are you an organic farmer?”

The simple answer is “YES, most definitely.” And most people are satisfied with that. Then I saw that customers asked the same question to every produce vendor. It seems that nearly every farmer says Yes, just like me. And I wondered what it really means to call yourself “Organic”? Technically, the law says that I can say I’m organic without certification if I make under 5,000 dollars a year in sales of produce and I follow the law re. organic standards. But that’s the easy answer, and really a cop out. 

What does organic mean? Is it being “Certified Organic”? Yes, partly. And being certified is a Huge step above the agri-industrial complex’s idea of pseudo-food. But there are many variables on the spectrum of being organic.  If a customer asks more, I say that “I am not certified organic, (yet) but I grow in the organic method.” Then I say that being an organic producer means more about how I treat the land and beings on my farm. Looking around the market I wonder how many farmers fudge the truth or actually believe they’re organic when they are not?

All I can say is “Come out to our farm. See how we care for the land and plants and bugs and animals.” We’re a business. But we are also stewards of our particular patch of Earth. Being deeply organic is not just about never using forbidden synthetic fertilizers and other crop inputs. It’s about co-creating with the living soil and diverse plant population. It’s science, art and lifestyle.

Native bees are Important Pollinators

I want to educate the consumer about organic, starting with not just believing the label or the farmer’s proclamation that they are organic. 

It’s not just about what the farmer does Not do in the production of food. It is also about their proactive stance in building up the vitality of their farm. Healthy soil and habits equals healthier plants and tastier food.

So when someone tells you that they produce organically, think about shallow vs. deep farming practices. Think twice when someone reflexively says “Yes, I grow organically.” 

I encourage you to ask the farmer some hard questions:

-What does the term organic mean to the farmer? 

-How does their practice build the diverse fecundity of the soil while protecting the watershed and the creatures on the land?

-Is the farmer willing to show you the farm and her/his agricultural practices? 

-Is the soil alive?

-Is the food grown in a vital, conscious manner? 

Here’s a basic list of what I consider to be the differences between shallow and deep work with the earth.

Shallow Organic Farming:

- Reacts to issues in the garden such as pest infestation and soil infertility.

- Mimics the agri-industrial complex by using synthetic substitute fertilizers and pesticides as palliative measures.

 

- Views the land solely as a resource for crop production, akin to a factory.

 

- Manages the land, crops and inputs with a mindset of maximum production.

- Uses a one size fits all approach to soil fertility.

- Uses mono cultures and hybridized seed sources.

- Book learning. A mindset of “this is the way we’ve always done it.”

- Grows same plants in same place every year.

- Works and plans alone.

Deep Organic Farming:

- Works with the soil by observation and study to support a living, diverse and fertile ecosystem. Views pests as messengers instead of foes.

- Is proactive and nurturing in the stewardship of the living earth. Uses fertility inputs directly from the land when at all possible, such as green manures and homemade compost.

- Views land a co-creator and teacher. See the larger view of the entire farm ecosystem. Creates a vision statement for your farm.

- Leaves room for wild areas. Creates pollinator habitat. Rotate cover crops. Allows areas to go fallow for a season. Creates a business plan.

- Considers what you are growing and what the particular crop needs for maximum health.

- Diversifies. Plants more than one species when possible. Companion and multi-story planting.

- Learns from the plants and the soil. What do the weeds and pests and health of the crops tell you?

- Has a crop production and rotation plan and sticks to it.

- Allows community to infiltrate the structure of the farm and soil with gratitude and shared vision and good honest work.  

Thanks,

See you at the markets this summer.

Rick

(c) Copyright Rick Sievers, January 2014, All Rights Reserved