Veganic Agriculture

The standard American agricultural model depletes fruit and vegetables of the vitamins and minerals, and adds toxic chemicals. Almost all the elements are found in soil, and are needed for optimal health.  Fertilizers and pesticides are poison.

According to Dr. Ron Weiss of Ethos Health and Farm in New Jersey, years ago there was fear that American farmers would not be able to grow enough food to feed all Americans.  A political decision was made to use every inch of farm land to grow crops.  The ultimatum was ‘Get Big or Get Out!’.  Small family farms were forced out of business, and large agricultural entities were formed. The situation has since softened, but the damage is already done.

The standard American agricultural model has one goal – profit.  Crop rotation does not exist in standard American agriculture or in Organic agriculture.  It involves leaving one field empty for the soil to rest and replenish.  An empty field does not produce a profit.  Instead, fields are repeatedly planted and harvested, depleting the soil of its natural nutrients and requiring heavy applications of fertilizers and pesticides. This is done on both conventional farms and organic farms.

I graduated from the Organic Growers School of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Program when I had a Vegan Retreat / Veganic Farm near Asheville, North Carolina.  An Organic Certifier from Clemson University told me that on an Indian reservation there is not a single bug, they do not use any pesticides; they rotate the crops.

In order to maintain an acceptable level of nutrients, the soil needs to be replenished between crops.  It needs to rest and be nourished so that the next crop will have access to the vitamins and minerals which give fruit and vegetables their nutritional value and taste  Without this natural practice, it is necessary, even for organic farms, to use fertilizers to sustain the new crops.  Poisonous pesticides are used to kill the predators who become entrenched, feasting on their favorite crop, and becoming resistant to pesticides.   Instead of putting in a crop that predators do not like so they would leave, stronger poisons or more poison are used.  Organic farms use the mandated organic fertilizers and pesticides.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to conventional or organic agriculture.  It is Veganic Agriculture!