Why buy organic? Weve all been told that organic food is better for us; it contains
more minerals and less
dangerous chemicals, but many people dont
stop to think about the benefits organic food has on the environment
and on its producers. In addition to various other benefits, organic
products put fewer pesticides, fertilizers, and other dangerous
chemicals into the environment. This makes is beneficial for not
only your family, but for other families now and in the future.
One major benefit of reduced chemicals from agriculture is an
improvement in soil quality. Organic farming works to build the soil
naturally through companion planting and crop rotations. This works
with the natural system to keep the soil healthy. Traditional
agriculture uses chemicals to supplement soil; treating the symptom
without treating the cause.
Think all the chemicals from agriculture that end up in the plants
or soil? Think again. Water from rain or irrigation doesnt all stay
on the fields. It can run off into lakes, rivers, and streams. It
can also seep deep into the soil and enter underground water
supplies. And when this water leaves the fields, it takes all the
dangerous chemicals with it. So even if you dont eat the food
produced by traditional agriculture, you could still be getting
these chemicals through your local water supply. And while many
places control the amount of these chemicals, others cant. In many
rural areas, the only available source of water is from the ground.
If youre worried about the effect these dangerous chemicals might
have on your family, think of the consequences of working with these
chemicals every day. People who work on traditional farms are
exposed to fertilizers and pesticides more often and in higher
amounts than your family will ever be. There are many cases every
year of people being poisoned with agricultural chemicals;
accidentally and intentionally.
Pesticides can affect wildlife in the area. If you kill off all the
bugs, the birds have nothing to eat. Then the animals that eat the
birds will also have nothing to eat. If animals survive, but still
have chemicals in their system, they can poison larger animals that
eat them. Another factor is that not all insects are pests. Many
pesticides also kill beneficial wildlife as well as the harmful
inhabitants.
What may be the worst affect of traditional agriculture is that its
other practices make the need for pesticides and fertilizers
greater. Planting the same crop year after year can make your plants
more susceptible to pests. Failing to keep the soil from washing
away makes the new soil require more fertilizers so plants will
grow. Traditional farming is taking no steps to reduce their use of
chemicals, just to make them greater.
In addition to the benefits of chemical free agriculture, organic
producers work with the environment as a system. They promote
conservation of water and soil and strive to keep the land the way
it is so future generations can work the land as well.
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Organic Living