factories once used to produce wartime explosives began churning out synthetic high-nitrogen fertilizers, and the nerve agents developed and stockpiled for warfare led to the production of organophosphate pesticides.
The organic movement didn’t spring up to confront the use of chemicals overnight. It grew from studies and observations around the world by prominent people on both sides of the organic debate who laid the groundwork.
Father of Synthetic Fertilizers
The shift away from natural growing took root in the mid-1800s, when German scientist Justus von Liebig and agronomist Carl Sprengel independently preached the “Law of the Minimum”: that plant growth was limited by whatever single nutrient was lacking in the soil. The science is still used today and is a key part of soil testing and plant health. But the reductionist thinking led to an over-reliance on synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) to feed plants and boost production. For that reason, Liebig is sometimes referred to as the father of the fertilizer industry.
Advocate for Spiritual Growing
As chemical fertilizers gained popularity in Europe, scientist, clairvoyant, and philosopher Rudolf Steiner lectured on the importance of balancing animals, plants, and soil in a more holistic approach to farming. His talks in 1924 led to the publication of Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture. Steiner, who advocated an understanding of the spiritual connection to farming and nature, pioneered the biodynamic farming movement.
Observer from India
British botanist Sir Albert Howard, an adviser and farming researcher in India from the early 1900s to 1931, observed the healthy relationships among India’s farmers, their animals, and the crops they grew. His books, An Agricultural Testament and The Soil and Health, noted the importance of the farm as an ecosystem and the recycling of compost and animal waste to feed soil organisms and build humus. Howard is often described as the founder of the organic movement, although it wasn’t called organic at the time.
Spreading Howard’s Word
Sir Howard inspired the work of British scientist Lady Eve Balfour, who wrote The Living Soil in 1943. Howard’s teachings also helped spark the research of American J. I. Rodale, who was the first in the United States to use the word organic to describe sustainable and natural agriculture in an article in Fact Digest in 1940. Rodale later launched Organic Gardening magazine and established the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, which became a prime source of information for the organic farming movement.
Pesticide Whistle-Blower
Scientist and author Rachel Carson sounded the alarm on chemical pesticides in 1962 with her groundbreaking book Silent Spring, which illuminated the dangers of DDT and acted as a call to action against the widespread use of chemical pesticides. Environmental concerns about DDT helped turn consumers to the fledgling organic farming movement, whose followers grew steadily in the 1960s and 1970s, increasing the demand for naturally produced pesticide-free food.
Apples and Alar
In 1989, a 60 Minutes report on research linking the apple growth-regulator Alar to increased cancer risk sparked a backlash against chemicals in food. Actress Meryl Streep became a famous face for the Alar alert, and growers looked for ways to salvage the reputation of apples, some turning to the label “organic.” At the time, there were only regional organic certification groups with varying standards for defining the term organic. The industry needed national standards.
Organic Foods Production Act
In 1990 Congress approved the Organic Foods Production Act “to establish national standards governing the marketing of certain agricultural products as organically produced products; to assure consumers that organically produced products meet a consistent standard; and to facilitate interstate commerce in fresh and processed food that is organically produced.” The program, implemented in 2002, uses independent certifiers to ensure that farmers who call their products organic adhere to sustainable agricultural practices and avoid using chemical pesticides and fertilizers derived from synthetic means or human sewage. Certified organic farmers are also prohibited from using genetically engineered organisms.
Whatever your dream farm encompasses—peach grove, poultry farm, or mixed-vegetable market garden—nothing is more important than its location. The right property forms the foundation for everything else you do on a farm. You can tear down small buildings; you can clear and plow fields; you can grade roads and string fences. But features such as clean well water, shelter from prevailing winds, soil that drains well, a southern exposure, and proximity to a population center with potential customers are all attributes that can’t be altered once you settle in and begin farming. So before you even pick up a shovel or place your first seed order, you need to do some research.
Assessing Your Own Property
Dreaming of an organic farm on land you already own? You may be able to make it happen. Just consider some basic information about the property. You might find that the land is perfectly suited to an organic farm, you may need to make a few adjustments to make it work, or you may decide that you’re better off purchasing more suitable land. Start your assessment by asking the same questions you might ponder when scouting a new property:
• Is there enough level land with a sunny exposure to provide growing space for all of your vegetables?
• Is the earth beneath your lawn, backyard, or field deep.and loamy? Or is it lean, thin, compacted, and riddled with rocks?
• What is the climate? Is the season long enough to grow the crops you want to produce? Is the seasonal rainfall adequate?
• If you need to irrigate, will there be ample water, either from a public supply or a pond and private wells?
• If you want to farm commercially, are there enough customers living within your geographical area? When you answer this question, consider whether you will farm for yourself, sell to restaurants and farmers’ markets, run a farm stand, or sell CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) shares to customers who buy a season’s worth of vegetables and to pick up their goods each week.
• Is the property zoned for agriculture? Can you keep chickens, goats, cows, or other animals? If so, how many can you have?
• If you want to keep animals, is there enough land to grow hay? Or are there nearby growers who can supply it?
• What kinds of shelters are allowed on your land? Can you have a barn, stable, chicken coop, greenhouse, and storage shed for tools and equipment?
• Is your land safe for growing fruits and vegetables? Has it been contaminated with lead, heavy metals, or other pollutants that will make it difficult to grow and market food?
• Does it border a farm that uses pesticides? If you want to be certified organic, you will need to create buffer areas that stop pesticide drift.
Chances are you already know the answer to some of these questions, but it pays to look at your own property with the same critical eye that you would use on other land. The conditions could be enough to warrant a move.
Issues beyond the Land
It’s true that land issues are the primary concerns when looking for an organic farm property. But there are other things to think about, too—the farmhouse, the community, the neighborhood,
