Organic Farming
Crop Rotation
One of the oldest techniques in agricultural, proper crop rotation can assist in both controlling pest populations and in boosting the soil’s fertility. By planning the sequence in which specific crops are planted in the same area of land, you can ensure that different families of plant with different qualities are planted successively. The planned rotation may vary from two to three years or longer.
As some pests and disease-carrying organisms are very selective when it comes to their hosts, by rotating in other, less appealing, plants, it means the food and host are removed, subsequently causing a reduction in population of troublesome organisms. Similarly, certain crops are more soil-exhausting than others (such as corn and potatoes) and should be planted alternately with soil-restoring crops (such as peas and beans); while deep-rooted crops should alternative with those with shallow root systems; and those that require a lot of manure should alternate with those that can do without.
Advantages of crop rotation
- Maintains soil fertility
- Reduces soil erosion
- Controls insect/mite pests
- Controls pest populations
- Prevents diseases
- Helps control weeds
Organic Farming
The term organic farming, coined by Lord Northbourne in his book, Look to the Land (1939) to describe a holistic, ecologically balanced approach to farming, has since become something of a catch phrase. Governments all over the world have introduced specific requirements for growers to meet in order to be certified as organic. The majority also have a lengthy and financially cumbersome process in place in order to effectively assess and certify aspiring growers.
For many small-scale farmers, this certification process can be prohibitive, particularly in instances such as the one Peas on Earth are in, where the local demand outweighs our ability to produce. This inevitably leads us to ask how much we will gain from organic certification and how willing our customers will be to pay more for the same produce, simply because the label has changed. There are also other considerations taking increasingly high priority – such as buying local in order to reduce your carbon footprint – which seem to have taken some of the emphasis and puritanical superiority away from the term ‘organic’.
Those growers and gardeners that are committed to ensuring the sustainability of their land and produce by using natural pesticides and fertilisers will, I’m sure, continue to do so whether certified or not. It is, after all, a personal choice and commitment, meaning that the principals of organic farming remain the same regardless of whether or not you are certified.