when it comes to sustainable agriculture,
what we’re really talkin’ about is ‘doing the right thing’.
from not harming the environment, to working with the environment….
to fostering an environment that welcomes beneficial insects and cover crops or weeds.
it’s also about our health and setting ourselves up for a healthy harvest
- free of chemicals and pesticides.
it’s about building community, appreciating the heritage, the knowledge, the experience
but it’s also about understanding and valuing the animals
and the overall food production system
by not pumping the livestock with antibiotics and/or excessive feed
using factory-style practices – leaving the animals restrained
not able to live out their natural tendencies
it’s about the long-term – the future …. about what we leave
to those that come to the land after us
bossy k on rural ag site
it’s about respect
November 28th, 2011 at 7:59 am
To many people forget that this is how most farmers feel. We care about our animals because:
1. We enjoy them. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t work as hard as we do putting in so many hours to care for them.
2. We know that happy animals produce better, taste better and so on. They need to be healthy, eat well and be in a clean environment. Think California Happy Cows commercials folks!
3. They are expensive to replace (note that this is last on the roll call)
We treat the land with respect for many of the same reasons.
1. We enjoy working the land and since it is just borrowed from the next generation…we hope to leave it better than we found it.
2. Taking care of the land means good crops for our animals, please refer to section one!
3. We show respect for nature and all it provides, including wildlife. There is nothing like watching deer or turkeys at play while doing crop work!
Here on our farm, sustainability isn’t just a word. It’s a way of life. We try to do everything so it has more than one purpose. From composting manure from all of our animals and food scraps to spread onto cropland and gardens so that we can produce food for the animals and ourselves to recycling and rain water collections to reduce our ground water usage.
Our milk isn’t just for drinking either. We provide food for calves and ourselves (butter and whip cream from the cream; custards and cheeses from the milk; pancakes and biscuits from the buttermilk).
It is about respect…for ourselves, our hard work, our dedication, our animals, our environment and even our communities!
Thanks for the post to ignite me out of my shell this morning!
November 28th, 2011 at 8:11 am
Excellent points and couldn’t agree more! Thank you for taking the time this morning to share that….most definitely “a way of life!”