Larger farms tend to rely on machines and organic or chemical sprays. When growing organically, you are feeding the soil. You are concerned with soil life and soil structure, Herbert says. All farmers add nutrients to the soil. Conventional farmers use a chemical compound known as NPK, which is nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Organic farmers add organic material to the land.
Organic matter contains trace nutrients as well as the NPK nutrients. Everything that was once alive is organic matter, Herbert explains. When a plant is grown in soil with about five percent organic matter, it is going to be more resistant to bugs and disease, and its not going to need pesticides and fungicides as much. Herbert examines a carrot for any dirt that missed the garden hose. He takes a bite and taps the air with the orange root as he illustrates another benefit of organic farming.