> I think that wholly organic is at least a goal one should be aspiring
> to, even if one compromises with other practices in the meantime.
> The bottom line to anything is that it has to WORK (and work well).
I agree with the last sentence, but I don't support the premise of making
*organics*, the goal of food production. The organic system is a set of
rules so consumers are aware of how their food was produced. (I can see
the feathers ruffling and the hair rising now!) Before I go further, I'd
like to state that the ORGANIC METHOD OF GROWING IS A VERY GOOD
SYSTEM!!!!! But it has negative baggage i.e. high fuel usage, higher
prices for food (low income folks can't afford it), culitivation and
tillage induce carbon loss and soil erosion, is more labor intensive, and
is generally not receptive to new technology that might be
environmentally friendly . There is no system in agriculture that is
perfect (unless we all decide to go out in the woods and eat wild berries
and nuts). This is why we need to evaluate everything in light of a
*local and whole world environmental perspective* and not hold it up to
an organic system . Alternative or sustainable ag gives us the
opportunity to this do without the limitations of a given system.
I like what Anita says in first part of her response, " We all need to be
open to the realities that individuals are facing out there, and if there
are limits to organics (at least as we currently know how to do it) then
we have to be open to that."
If we *educate* sustainable ideas with this perpective alot more change
will occur compared to beating up on the conventional system.
Steve Groff
>
>
> Anita Graf
> 313-F Conner Hall
> Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics
> University of Georgia
> Athens, GA 30602-7509
> (706) 542-1915 phone
> (706) 542-0739 fax
> agraf@agecon.uga.edu
>
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-- "New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable agriculture http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com Steve Groff Cedar Meadow Farm 679 Hilldale Rd Holtwood PA 17532 USA Ph. 717-284-5152
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