More on Healthy Soil and Organic Foods

“A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

The more I read, the more I recognize the importance of healthy farming techniques and healthy soil.  Rarely do consumers consider where food comes from and how it is produced, which has led to a demand for more education and a push for change.  Slowly, people are starting to understand that what they eat really does affect how they live, and that healthy eating begins at the source: farms.

What I have discovered in my research is that healthy soil is essential for the production of crops, which feed humans and livestock. Healthy soil provides a stable base to support plant roots.  Additionally, soil stores necessary water and nutrients for plant growth.

Unfortunately, industrial practices continue to damage and deplete this valuable, natural resource. While intensive plowing has caused nutrient depletion and wide-scale soil erosion, over-application of fertilizers and pesticides has contaminated soil and polluted waterways.

The good news is, many farmers are now choosing to use sustainable agricultural techniques, such as conservation tillage, crop rotation and organic fertilization, in order to protect valuable soil. Organic produce, meats and dairy are products of healthy farming techniques and healthy soil.

All this adds up to more reasons for eating organic.

Katherine Gotthardt, Writer for Wintergreen Organics and Naturals