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| Books on Argiculture Organic Farming and Food Production: Grown without any chemicals, pesticides or additives. Using traditional farming techniques it aims to create healthy plants and soil. The methods used include companion planting to reduce pest infestation, using compost to replace nutrients, rotating crops and using local varieties of species. This is a major step in the right direction and away from the commercial agriculture. However, the emphasis is still on the plant and not on soil well-being. Biodynamic Food: Uses similar principles to organic food. The plants are grown using techniques that rejuvenate the soil. Natural fertilizers such as animal manures, dynamic sprays and sheet composting are used to maintain a healthy soil. Homeopathic solutions and preparations as well as predation by animals is encouraged to control pests. Bio-dynamic farmers plant their crops using the phases of the moon as a guide. Recognition is given to cosmic influences adding a spiritual dimension. Healthy soil is all important because on healthy soil can produce healthy plants. The biodynamic system extends into every detail of farm management and farm life. It can bee seen as the cleanest possible way of producing food. Chemically Produced Food (Commercial methods) Produce sprayed with synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. These chemicals can kill bugs but they also destroy soil organisms and organic matter. This in turn will cause soil erosion. The problem with using chemicals is that once an insect produces resistance to it you need to use more and stronger amounts. Chemically produce food can also have preservatives added or be irradiated to lengthens it's shelf life. It is now widely accepted that the industrial approach to agriculture is not sustainable and will ultimately and inevitably lead to a degradation of the environment that will have dire consequences. Food will become less and less nutritious and taste will diminish more and more. We all know the difference between a supermarket tomato and one grown in the home garden. How does this affect the consumer? Chemicals not only affect the soil they are sprayed onto. Rain washes these chemicals into our waterways and the water that we drink. Through the food we eat chemicals are taken into our bodies. Here they can damage our immune system and cause allergies, infections and cancers. It is also worth to remember the importance of natural taste of food. The nutritious part of food stuffs feeds the body whereas the subtle taste feeds the spiritual aspects of a person. |
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