Organic farming is a form of agriculture that is based on ecological management which excludes the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and antibiotics applied on plants and animals. It promotes and focuses on agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity while minimizing the risk to human and animal health and natural resources. It has been proven as an effective approach with the United Nations (UN) in their report on world hunger and poverty.

People during the World War II had experienced food shortages. After the war, the farmers were encouraged to use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides as everyone wanted affordable and plenty of food. Meat was affected as well when the animals were administered with growth hormones and antibiotics. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides had caused severe water and environmental pollution. Over the years, the consumers have become more concerned about its disadvantage and started to support organic farming.

How organic farming is done

In organic farming, farmers naturally nourish soil with the use of quality compost, cover crops. Plants that grow on healthy soil are much better and can actually protect themselves from pests and disease without the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming also helps in protecting the global environment as they can significantly reduce the amount of factors that contribute to global warming such as carbon dioxide.

Animals are organically raised are fed with certified organic feeds, hormone-free and GMO-free. Organic farmers prevent disease on livestock by ensuring that they have are healthy, fed right, and have given comfortable shelters. One of the outcomes is some certified organic milk cows have a life expectancy 3 or 4 times the life expectancy of their conventional counterparts.

Organic foods

It is however that many in the industry are not convinced that organic foods are more nutritious than the conventionally grown food as there are no conclusive evidences shown.  Even though USDA certifies organic food, it does not claim that these are safer and more nutritious.

Some people prefer to choose organic food to avoid their exposure to the pesticide residues from conventional farming. But since organic foods tend to have more farming practices, they are more expensive than conventional foods.

Organic farming is very much debated topic and its environmental benefits will continue to be studied which in turn will find a better understanding on how it will cure or help in reducing the effects of environmental hazards brought by the modern agricultural practices.

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The incredible edible egg is a protein packed gift of nature. Whether starting off our day, binding our baked goods or enjoying a late night omelet that hits the spot, eggs are a very important part of our daily lives. They are considered the source for an all-in-one edible thing.

Organic eggs are eggs produced by the hens which are fed with all natural diets. There are no pesticides and the synthetic hormones in their diet. This means that these hens are not fed on the man made diet. The human body will not have to process hormones and pesticides which the hen has metabolized. The all natural diet ensures no harmful effects and perfect balance of the proteins, vitamins and the other essential minerals.

Cage free eggs are the most humane option as their living conditions have been kept as nature intended free roaming and not stuffed in cages with many others. These hens are given exposure to the nature. They are exposed to the sun light and the outdoors is in their reach thus producing better eggs for human consumption.

Cage free certified organic eggs may cost you a little more but they are definitely much better than the artificially enhanced eggs. These eggs are produced by the hens which are brought up in the ‘close to nature’ surroundings. These hens are provided natural food and they are not treated with any enhancers and growth catalysts at all. You can find the organic cage free eggs at your local store. You will find many different brands selling different varieties of the eggs. Just make sure that you pick organic and cage free eggs to make sure that you are getting the best and the all natural product.

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Organic farmers believe that a free range chicken is one happy chicken and therefore is not oozing with harmful toxins. Not only will it help your energy levels and staying power last longer but also it was said to delay the aging process when introduced along with overall healthy lifestyle.

Most free range chickens are kept organic, since then it became so popular to health buffs the world over causing a shortage in supply. This alone makes it a very lucrative business for farmers worldwide especially in times like these when people are beginning to make a conscious effort in living a healthy lifestyle. Organically raised chickens are grass fed and they are encouraged to live a stress free life of clean air and water. As much as possible, no chemicals are introduced to the chicken’s system, whether directly to the chicken or to its surrounding areas.

Free range chickens are a great source of protein. Aside from that, it offers many benefits to humans when consumed. It is healthy and very delicious too unlike those that are raised in coops which tend to be less tasty. Be warned though, since free range chickens require special care, it tends to cost more than its supermarket counterparts.

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Organic farming is a form of agricultural method wherein farm communities relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost fertilizer, biological methods of pest control and cultivation of fertile soil to make it more productive thus yielding better produce. It also strictly limits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, chemical-based plant grower, feed additives and GMO. Organic farming is closely based on the standards set by IFOAM or International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement and it is also regulated and enforced by most nations worldwide.

This core value is very similar to what sustainable living is all about. That same basic principle applies to all organic farm communities and it affects everyone that is working together for this common goal of lessening the human impact to the environment. By following organic farming methods, our soil is protected from erosion and it strongly promotes biodiversity among plant, animal and smaller organisms as well.

Some farmers would not adapt this kind of farming methods since organic farming is known to have lower yields. But since the population is getting more and more conscious of food safety due to health risks that some chemically contaminated produce can cause them, the demand is much stronger and people are willing to pay higher prices of organic ones. Because of this, along with the decreased cost of production since no synthetic fertilizers are used, it creates higher profit for organic farmers. This also called the attention of some farmers to join and manage their own organic farmlands.

Sustainable living is a lifestyle in which a person reduces his or her impact to the environment by limiting their usage of the Earth’s natural resources and avoids further damaging it. Sustainable agriculture works the same and provides better organic food which is not only good for human consumption but also great for maintaining balanced ecosystem.

Janice Hunter Creative Director for 11 Lions Media Group is raising awareness and spreading knowledge through creative content projects throughout the web. Learn more about organic farming visit 11Lions.com to reach higher levels of consciousness.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janice_Hunter
http://EzineArticles.com/?Organic-Farming—The-Sustainable-Way-to-Farm-and-Eat&id=2006856

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Bee farms are cheap and easy. In fact, they are most recommended for small scale farmers with no resources to start their own businesses with. Many organizations are working on introducing this kind of activity for developing countries like Africa and Asia. So far, may farmers have responded and bee farms are faring well.

There’s no better time to start your own bee farm than today since the demand is very high and the supply is somewhat lacking. It opens a door for poor farmers to somehow generate enough income to support his or her family. It can even be a family business since beekeeping can be done by everyone in the family including kids. Best of all, it can blend perfectly with your crops, assuming you’re also growing them. As we all know, bees pollinate, making your crops all the more healthy therefore increasing their productivity level.

Bees produce honey while honey has high value when sold. They are very easy to harvest and won’t require any additional technology to do so. All it takes is a simple know-how which most free seminars will teach you. Furthermore, its byproduct is well sought-after by manufacturing companies and even health conscious individuals so there’s no need to fret where to sell your goods after each harvest.

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Although it’s to be expected, the slow phase organic fertilizer is currently experiencing is partly due to the fact that farmers are quite confused on what organic fertilizers are and how it can work on their farms. It seems that there is no existing group or organization that helps spreading the word to farmers while commercial fertilizers come complete with instructions and even extend support to small farm communities. According to surveys, almost a hundred percent of gardening hobbyists already made the switch and have been enjoying the benefits of organic fertilizers ever since. It’s because they can afford to wait, spend a little more money and most of all, can try again next time if this season’s batch won’t come out great while farmers don’t have this kind of luxury and unfortunately, they are not informed how to do it properly.

Basically, anything that comes from nature and encourages bacterial growth is considered as an organic fertilizer. Some examples of which are manure, fish emulsions, blood meal, bone meal and even sewer sludge. Organic fertilizers take time to generate results but if one can afford the wait, it will all be worth it.

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Forest farming involves trimming down, albeit cautiously, some certain genus to reestablish balance and equilibrium of a particular forest. Forest farming is encouraged in areas wherein there is an existing issue of overabundance of certain species which restrict growth of other living organisms essential in the biological cycle. Some of the most popular harvests are exotic mushrooms such as Shiitake and other medicinal, edible fungi. This method of farming is not only about harvesting but also it involves planning and cultivating to ensure that the biocycle is not destroyed in any way. Forest farming proves to be a fun and profitable venture that anyone could explore.

Several government funded seminars are conducted to teach locals residing near forest areas about forest farming methods and techniques, as well as the kinds of mushrooms that could be grown in the area. These seminars go as far as how and where to sell your produce after harvests. Aside from mushrooms, there are other crops you can find, grow and harvest in forests since they have rich and very fertile soil that could grow practically anything you can think of. These crops include, but not limited to:  ginseng and ferns which are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

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Given these bountiful rewards, who could turn away from this very lucrative business? If the only thing that hinders you from acquiring your own income generating farm is land, think again; there are microfarms operated right in the heart of the city and its neighboring suburbs–one might even be near your place.

Actually, all you need is a piece of land. Determine how much space you can set aside for your own garden and consult an expert on what crops could be grown based on the condition of soil within your space. Usually, you can grow small crops like tomatoes, peppers and radishes. In microfarming, variety is important. However, if you plan to make this as an income generating one, stick to crops that are popular so you could sell them once they are ready and stay away from the ones that will take up too much space such as corn and potatoes. Start with a little garden first then if everything goes right in place, you can add a greenhouse later.

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A macrobiotic diet is different from a vegan diet. A vegan diet is exclusively greens while a macrobiotic diet includes some foods from animal sources, although in limited amounts only. In some ways, a vegan diet shares common food staples with macrobiotic diet such as brown rice and beans but their principles are different. Generally, macrobiotics is based on healthy eating practices that were applied before, when artificial and chemical compositions in food are unheard of.

Macrobiotic dieters state that macrobiotic is a way of life and not a diet which focuses on nutritional value of the food they eat. They believe that in order for the body to achieve maximum health levels, everything inside it should be in perfect balance. This means that a dieter should not deprive the body of nourishment but not overeat. Macrobiotics also has set of rules for cooking and what to eat on certain seasons such as spring, summer, fall and winter. You will also have to learn how to do a macrobiotic diet properly, if you are planning to engage with one.

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Choosing an organic lifestyle is not really that difficult.  The concern over the destruction of our planet have made people like you and me to rise up and take on the challenge to look for more environment friendly of manufacturing goods and services we enjoy everyday.

The easiest way of knowing for sure that an item is organic or environment friendly- from the manufacturing process until such time it reaches the store- is to check out the website of the company that manufactures the item.  Most companies are obliged by federal law to put the ingredients and components used to make certain products on their labels.  While it might say “natural” or “organic or “biodegradable” on the label, make sure to read the fine print and avoid products that are made with pesticides, toxic gases, heavy metals and volatile chemicals.

If the website is unavailable then look for certified seals or eco-labels that have been awarded by an independent, third party organization which has tested and vouched for the product.  Labels from TransFair (Fair Trade Certified),  GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Demeter, SKAL, KRAV, Oeko-Tex and ECOCERT are some of the labels which you should look out for.  Certification from any of these organizations means that the product has been manufactured following environment safe procedures and practices.

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