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Organic farming has been with us since farming began but it has taken on new meaning. The demand for organic farms has increased over the years so much that almost part of the country has them. Organic farms were the way farmers planted and looked after tier crops till fertilizer were discovered. Up to a point, these chemicals which were originally created to help in the control of soil fertility had rather become man’s enemies. The poisonous substances were the cause of many diseases. Food from these farms therefore became unwholesome. Compounding the problem was the discovery that chemicals used to control weeds were equally poisonous. It could be said that these developments created the need for a new kind of farm – one which the farmer had taken steps to ensure that no chemical has been used in either tending the crops or soil.

Organic farms have therefore become a much needed property for many. As this need grows, real estate investors began to look at that area for profits. They can buy organic farms or possibly create one from scratch and make money from them.

If you intend to buy an organic farm, you will as a matter of importance of soil test to determine the extent to which chemicals have been applied o the farm. This is needed because the whole idea of an organic farm is to avoid chemicals. The presence of chemicals, especially in high levels, will not make your products attractive. So you will require an expert to carry out an assessment of the place to determine the status of the soil.

Again, you will have to know the fertility of the soil and its ability to support the type of crops you will be growing on the farm. You will have to be very careful here because each area has its type of soil. As an organic farm, you will not be applying fertilizers to improve the soil so you need to get and that basically supports the crop you want to grow without.

One thing you may want practice on your organic farm is biodiversity. This is an option that organic farmers would want to practise. It is just the system of ensuing that both plants and animals on your far are able to coexist. The animals will not destroy the crops and the crops would not prevent the animals from producing their optimum. This type of agricultural practice provides the owner with big returns. He is able to protect both animal and crop resources.

Many farms are going green. Going green means they are able to able to apply methods that will ensure that they provide minimal destruction to the environment. In rural settings, this involves using various means to minimize the use of water, conserving the environment and sometimes even apportioning some part of the land for afforestation. You will not develop this part nor put up any residential structures. The government is rewarding this type of development with tax incentives. You can have a much as 30% in tax rebates if you practice a green farm.

You can be able to enjoy your past time of an organic farm management and earn income as well with your organic farm. You would only have to pay attention to soil erosion that tends to take way much of land’s beauty and quality. Once you are able to contain that, you can always count on a beautiful organic farm that will produce quality produce for higher prices. In the event of a resale you will derive high gains and be positioned to invest in other properties. Like with all businesses, you need to consider all aspects of the organic farm to make it work for you.

Ian Burmistroff writes for http://www.RuralListings.com, classifieds of rural real estate such as land for sale, Farms for sale, ranches for sale , etc.

Food is, as we have been saying for some time, the central battle for freedom and survival.  “Change”, which sounds great, has, in fact, become the mantra of those who seek corporate triumph over independent producers – and it’s happening around food. The mechanism is simple: a set of bills ostensibly devoted to “food safety” and “food security” — and a plan to put Big Agribiz supporters in charge.

In charge of what? Your food and mine – it’s supply, farming, production, food quality, irradiation, Codex on your dinner table, unlabeled GMOs and other profitable, but lethal, corporate-friendly food strategies.  Through appointments and legislation, the change is coming fast and furious which could even make our own family farms and gardens the site of criminal activity if we attempt to grow our own food or produce and sell it.

So sure are they of victory that the President of change is about to appoint Michael Taylor, a lawyer for, and former executive at Monsanto, to head the empowered “food (sic)k safety (sic)k” agency.

Today’s eAction Item is quite simple: TELL THE PRESIDENT “NO” TO TAYLOR!

Time is short and the issue is of immense importance.

Urgent 3-Part Action Item:

Step 1: Click here to email the President NOW:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26941

Step 2: Call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414 and the comment center 202-456-1111. Let’s keep those phones ringing!

Step 3: Click here to tell Congress “NO!” to all of the fake food “safety” bills. They provide neither real, wholesome food nor safety:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/t/1128/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26714

Politicians often come up with bad ideas. These are not just bad ideas: they are a catastrophically bad ideas for BOTH health and freedom. In fact, we are facing nothing short of food tyranny that will kill not only organic farming, but lots of people as well, along with the entire private farming sector. Your own gardens are at risk.

The President’s appointment of someone so closely associated with industrialized “food” is “change” in exactly the wrong direction.

Let’s demand real change: that Congress and the President change directions!

Anyone can be a farmer. Growing plants can be done almost anywhere. You don’t have to have large fields and hundreds of acres. You have to have imagination. People who grow dope do it in cellars and in caves. Select plants to raise that that you see being sold in quanity by local nurseries or garden centers. In our area arborvitae are in hot demand. These plants can be started from cuttings or you can buy rooted cuttings. Thousands can be grown in a 20′x20′ area in small containers. Arborvitae are not the only plants that you can choose. Dwarf conifers and bonsai are other avenues to consider. The first thing to consider is what plants you like. They make a nice starting point. I like arborvitae. Plus they are easy to grow. There are many varieties to select from. They are compact and very popular. A 2-3″ rooted cutting in 3 years should be 2′ if growing conditions are optimal. These might sell for as much as $5-10 depending on your market and quality. If you were to raise 1000 of them that might be $5-10,000. You can market them just as I do on the internet. Being small you can ship them via UPS practically anywhere.

An example of a plant that is not suitable for small plot urban farming is an Oak tree. It is very fast in growing (good), but has a big tap root, and is best marketed when over 6-8′ tall. You will use up your space with a hard to confine, large tree that is not suitable for close compact container production. Shipping will also be more costly as starter plants tend to be larger hence larger shipping fees per tree. Besides I have sold many people 50 -100 arbs at a time but no one, 100 oaks at a time. My largest order for arbs to one homeowner was 265.

Try to target plants that will sell multiples to a customer rather than just one at a time. If you target single plants to individual customers you need high value plants for your sales cost per unit will be higher. You will hear the same story from your customers about 1 plant as you will about 10 plants. I can tell you without a doubt that each customer will tell you about his property and his neighbors dog. I would rather hear the story once for each 10 plants that I sell. That is why I like plants that sell in multiples to a single customer. Additionally an unusual or exotic plant is seldom purched in quanity and the buyer has little knowledge of the plant. They will have many more questions about this plant. This translates to a higher amount of time spent on a smaller volume of product sold.

Arborvitae are commonly used evergreen shrubs or trees useful in urban areas where low maintenance and durability is needed. Many cultivars with forms such as being globed in shape, columnar, or narrow pyramidal, tend to be near buildings, doors, and walkways. Other forms which are larger are used for screens and buffers that are planted in rows. These plants will be easy to raise on your small urban lot.

The form of arborvitae is small, medium, or large depending on the cultivar. Some reach 50′, others only 3′. Most prefer full sun to partial sun. Planting in dense shade conditions should be avoided. A moist , well drained, loamy soil in full sunlight are ideal conditions for growing healthy arborvitae. These plants will tolerate rocky, clay, urban conditions of heat drought and pollution. The most important pest we have is bagworms which must be controlled to prevent complete defoliation. Some cultivars have multiple leaders which also prove to be a detraction for the plant. Pruning out multiple leaders in some cultivars is a simple remeady.

As you raise these plants if you find that you are selling more than you can raise on your property, an add in the newspaper such as, “Wanted: land to grow trees on” will help you find vacant parcels to use in growing more stock. This land may be free to use as many owners want in urban areas land to be used as it is then maintained. We have had many offers of free land to use in raising nursery stock. (You should check with your local BTK Code Enforcement Officer to make sure that this use is acceptable.)

Another suggestion is that you work for another local urban grower. They may have facilities set up that they would allow you to use after hours. When they see that you are a willing go getter, they might even ask you to grow special plants that they don’t want to grow because the volumes are light or they are to intensive in labor. At any rate it is the best way to learn the trede and its secrets. Most nurserymen will tell all their trade secrets because its the best way to help the industry and build a network of reliable and knowledgeable associates.

Article Source: http://www.articlegarden.com/

You can see more articles by Bill at his web sites www.seedlingsrus.com

Today’s consumer is educated and more and more people want to know about how their food is treated and where it comes from. Words such as “organic” and “sustainable” that were once reserved for a small population of foodies or environmentalists are now making their way into everyday vocabulary.

As a result, farmers are reacting to this new shift in food culture and are learning about alternative growing and treatment methods. For three generations, The Orr Family Farm has been owned and operated by George S. Orr & Sons, Inc. Today, this 1,000-acre farm is managed by Mike and Mark Orr. And, two years ago, Katy Orr-Trenary returned to manage the farm’s market.

“Our family has a responsibility to the future stewards of our land, and to future customers,” she explained. “That’s why we are implementing new farming methods; we are flexible and open to change.”

Educating the Consumer

According to Katy, many people believe that there are only two types of farming: conventional and organic. However, a continuum lies between the two – integrated pest management (IPM) – an effective and environmentally-sensitive approach to pest management.

IPM is based on a combination of common-sense practices. Its programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest-control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

The Orr Family Farm has practiced IPM for years, however, new pest management strategies have recently become available that are safer for the environment, worker/applicator, and the consumer (less pesticides and lower toxicity pesticides used on food). However, most of these new tools are more specific in activity (affect one or two pests, rather than multiple pests); require more critical timing (pest-stage specific); command a greater knowledge base; and are more expensive.

Additionally, the proper use of these new tools requires more monitoring by the grower, but it can also result in reduced pesticide use and cost; and improvements in fruit quality because management strategies are implemented at the optimum time, based on monitoring information.

So, how are these new strategies to be implemented? Dr. Henry Hogmire and Dr. Alan Biggs, Extension Specialists from the West Virginia University Tree Fruit Research Farm in Kearneysville, WV shared information with the Orr Family Farm about the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) which is providing the funding to help enhance IPM practices.

The incentive payment provided by NRCS makes it possible for growers to implement these strategies and to maintain the economic viability and sustainability of the orchard business. And, the consumer benefits from having food with lower levels and less toxic pesticide residues.

At the conclusion of each season, Dr. Hogmire will sign off that the components of the IPM plan have been completed, and the grower will receive payment from NRCS.

How Does IPM Work?

Phil Bolyard, who manages the IPM program, explains that the program is divided into three different levels. Level one is reduced-risk pesticides; level two is reduced-risk pesticides and mating disruption; and level three is reduced-risk pesticides, mating disruption, and advanced monitoring and management.

“We have 21 acres at level one and 732.6 acres at level three,” Bolyard said. “And, only apples and peaches are allowed in the program.” Dr. Hogmire explains that the reason only apples and peaches are allowed is because that is their area of expertise.

“Since we developed the program, these were the initial crops included,” he said. “The commercial tree fruit industry in West Virginia is concentrated in the Eastern Panhandle, with growers serviced by programs developed and delivered from the West Virginia University Kearneysville Tree Fruit Research and Education Center. An effort is underway to expand the program to include other crops, such as soybeans.”

At the end of the season, samples are taken from the crop of each block to determine if the IPM program was successful or not. According to Dr. Hogmire, the measure of success will be the grower’s ability to maintain or improve fruit quality and/or yield profitability while implementing the components of their IPM plan. A summary analysis will be used to refine the program to make improvements for the following year.