“The care
of the Earth is our most ancient and most
worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility.
To cherish what remains of it and to foster
its renewal is our only hope.”
--Wendell Berry
The model
of agriculture most prevalent in our society
today has one goal in mind: maximization of
profit via the maximization of production.
This model puts plants in the role of miniature
factories being fed artificial inputs in order
to maximize their outputs. The soil is simply
a medium in which the factories are planted.
The pursuit of this model leads to a host
of agricultural practices which undermine
the very ecosystem that makes agriculture
possible… the use of synthetic chemicals
that are damaging to the environment, tillage
practices that destroy the soil, and the reduction
of the biodiversity upon which the system
depends. In the long view, it is simply not
possible to destroy the system on the one
hand and expect it to continue to support
production on the other.
My philosophy
of farming is informed by this intellectual
understanding of industrial agricultural practices,
as well as by a spiritual connection to the
land I work. Over the years, first as a gardener
and then as a farmer, I developed a strong
personal relationship with the earth. As I
work with the soil… plunge my hands
in to it and breathe in its smells…
that relationship becomes very intimate. As
the soil nourishes me, I must also nourish
it. It is this relationship that inspires
me to make every effort to sustain the soil,
water, plant and animal life that make up
my farm's agro-ecosystem. Consequently, I
am pursuing Organic Certification through
Oregon
Tilth. This process takes three years,
during which time the farm will be inspected
annually to ensure that I am meeting all the
requirements for organic certification.
I find, however,
that meeting these requirements is only the
beginning. If I am to create a whole and nourishing
ecosystem I must do more…. more to increase
the biodiversity on the farm, more to complete
the nutrient cycle, more to reduce the use
of inputs from outside the farm. In practice,
sustainable agriculture is not a fixed goal,
but rather an ever moving target. Each step
I take reveals yet another road to greater
sustainability.
By
choosing to join the Artisan Organics community
you too are making a significant step toward
environmental sustainability. I look forward
to exploring this path together.
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