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2-3-05
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In the morning, I kept on thinking about the competition. At last,
I made a decision that is I will join the competition because I know that

Organic foods, which are the products of organic farming, are much richer in natural nutrients and dietary fibers than those vegetables treated chemically with fertilizers and pesticides. Organic foods are best for our own health.Also, it is kind to the environment.
It is:
to enriches the soil and increases
its fertility through crop rotation.
to protects water quality from
chemical contamination.
to promotes biodiversity as
the use of chemical fertilizers kill all living organism

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Although Dad told me what is organic farming yesterday,
I still know little about that. So in the afternoon, I surfed the Net for
more information to help me growing the competition plant.

I found lots of information about organic farming,
such as why we go organic,

Why Organic?

Organic farming is no new invention. It is actually the legacy and wisdom laid down by our ancestors. Organic farmers like us manage our farms as a whole system. We rotate crops from field to field in order to control pests, weeds, and improve soil health and fertility. We also use cover crops, selected bushes, trees and flowers to promote populations of beneficial insects. And we only use natural fertilizers such as bone meal and peanut powder; natural pesticides such as chili powder and white pepper; and natural weed killers - the human hands. We get into the fields everyday with our own hands to keep weeds and pests under control.




 

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Advantages and disadvantages of organic farming.

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

No extra money will be spent on fertilizers as organic farmers only use cover crops, compost and green manure to build healthy soil. So, the plants are better able to resist disease and insect predation.

Extra space is required for animal feces and other crops storage (including cover crops, compost, green manure).

No harmful or toxic chemicals are accumulated in the soil so that the population of soil organisms will not be disturbed.

Green manure, which usually comes from livestock and poultry excretory wastes, is smelly.

Natural soils do not cause soil pollution and thus it is safe for higher organisms (including humans) to consume the plants and crops.

Green manure takes longer time in the decomposition process when compared to artificial or industrial fertilizers.

A diverse population of soil organisms, insects, birds and other organisms are used as biological controls to keep pest problems under control. This can monitor the pest populations effectively and efficiently under a variety of strategies (i.e. insect predators, mating disruption, traps and barriers).

Organic farm usually operates in smaller scale and meet strict regulations before its products release into market for sale. Therefore, organic foods usually cost more than conventional food.

Weeds are controlled through increased cultivation, together with cover crops, mulches, flame weeding and crop rotation, the environment cannot be disrupted by applying toxic, non-biodegradable herbicides.

Organic farming requires more labor and management intensive issues than conventional farming.

Most of the livestock and poultry wastes can be stored in a tank before they are ready to apply on the soil.

Livestock diseases and parasites are controlled through preventative measures (i.e. rotation and razing) instead of choosing antibiotics or other chemicals. Products from livestock are safe and clean for human consumption.