Beyond Organic

This is written for myself as much as anyone else. In reading the Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, I find myself getting excited. Some know that I want to become a farmer. I am an outdoors person at heart, whether or not my current lifestyle shows it. I grew up following Dad around in his farming endeavors and the idea of seeing something, flora or fauna, grow, develop, and mature more than intrigued me and stills does. Since I've started at Dordt, I've been introduced to new possibilities and ideas, most of which I like. I feel as though I have a new-found appreciation for everything living: everything that begins, grows, and finally ends. I guess I feel like a different person.

The reason for my excitement in the book is it gives stories of men that farm ecologically and sustainably. If you're going to write me off as a hippie, humor me by reading on. Farming sustainably incorporates multiple rotations, animals, cover crops, waste recycling, and minimized inputs. So basically diverse farming within a closed system where animals and plants benefit from one another, further benefiting the farmer (or me). The best way for me to explain further is by giving a practical example of an agro-ecosystem. I'll give you personally ideas at a later date.

My first example is that of rice farming. Normally, rice is grown in paddies that are filled with water, fertilized, and sprayed to keep weeds from crowding the crop and reducing yields. Enter the duck. These ducks are added to the paddies as soon as they are are a few weeks old and the rice has had a chance to establish and begin growing. These ducks are fenced in and allowed to swim freely until the rice is ready for harvest and the webbed ones are full grown. The reasons for this relationship are quite awesome. Weeds are utterly eliminated: as soon as they germinate, the billed divers do the bottums up and eat the fresh, green, tasty weeds. Insect pests are taken care of. Fertilization... check. Did I mention that the ducks are eating weeds and bugs? Okay, so we have a system where weeds are controlled, pests are controlled, plants are fertilized and invigorated, and ducks are raised...for the price of the ducklings, rice seedlings, and the price of fence. Hippie that; Steve out.