Organic versus Conventional Farming
Is organically grown food better than conventionally grown
food? For many the decision to buy organic food is a choice made in order to
keep mother earth healthy as well as the consumer herself, but have all the
considerations been reviewed? Molly McCargar of Pearmine Farms Inc. explained many
things the general public may be unaware of. Soil growing organic produce needs
more tilling in order to keep weeds and other plants from invading the produce.
Additional nitrogen is required for organically grown food that needs to be
combined with the soil through tilling. More tilling means either more manual
labor or more machine tilling. Manual tilling drives up the cost of labor for
the farmer and therefore the consumer; machine tilling means more diesel fuel
exhaust is pumped in the air. Machinery is required to be cleaned before working
in an organic field utilizing extra water and cleanser.
Molly and I discussed the benefits of conventional farming
and how pesticides and chemicals have improved over the years. Many of the
pesticides currently in use are naturally occurring and with high levels of
toxicity. Using these natural pesticides in low doses is more beneficial and
easier than it used to be in the days of heavy field spraying with artificial
chemicals. While chemicals are expensive, the crops produced have a higher yield
and can feed more people in the local area.
Ultimately, Molly tells me, farmers are in the business of
growing food to feed people. There are many considerations to how a farmer
grows food. Is there a large yield to produce, is it about the money (Molly
laughs!), or is there an aspiration to have an organic farm because it feels
good or wanting to have the feeling of doing the right thing. There are pros
and cons to each version of farming and the consumer has many options for purchasing
what they believe is the best option. Considering all variables in growing
options for the food we consume may be a daunting task, but there options for
every thought strain and value.
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