To promote diversity Conventional agriculture is based on the practice of monocropping large tracts of land. Using the same soil to support the same crop year after year removes natural minerals and nutrients. Chemical fertilizers are used in increasing amounts to replace the natural nutrients. In organic agriculture, a wide variety of plants are rotated to prevent disease, nutrient depletion, and pest infestations. Cover crops are planted during fallow times to prevent erosion and increase soil fertility.
Many organic farmers propagate heritage and other unusual varieties for even greater diversity.
The past decade has seen the loss of over 650,000 small farms throughout our nation. Most organic farms, however, are under 100 acres, and operated by a family, or cooperatively by several families. Growing organic produce and herbs is a niche that small family farms can fill successfully, and sustainable organic farms revitalize communities, leaving a legacy of healthy farms for future generations. To promote recycling Composting recycles plant and animal wastes back into the soil, converting what would otherwise clog our landfills into natural fertilizer. Cover cropping in the off season recycles nutrients back into productive soil and prevents erosion during the rainy months.