Is vegan farming all it's hyped to be?

[Guest guest]

The tradition of farming the land in New Mexico's Espanola Valley had been passed down from Don Bustos's Spanish ancestors, who tilled the same soil centuries before.

But when Bustos realised the traditional farming techniques he was using could harm his children's health, he went organic 15 years ago. Now, Bustos says he has found an even safer method - vegan organic farming without any animal fertilisers or by-products, a technique popular in Europe.

Much like certified organic farmers, veganic farmers use no synthetic chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified ingredients. Veganic farmers take it to another level by not using any manures or abattoir by-products. They don't even use organically approved pesticides.

Salmonella and E.coli are bacteria that live in the intestines of livestock and are present in their waste. Livestock waste, or manure, can be used to fertilise fields, potentially contaminating crops with the disease-causing bacteria. Crops can also be contaminated by contact with infected animals or their by-products, including bonemeal and blood meal, which are used as fertiliser as well. Veganic farmers use crop rotations and composted plant matter - or "green manure" - to fertilise their crops.

Bustos (51) was inspired to pursue veganic farming four years ago after listening to then US secretary of agriculture Mike Johanns speak.

"He was talking about ways to protect the safety of our food system, but to me you still have things like E-coli and salmonella from manure," Bustos says. "Now, I use no manures, no bonemeals, blood meal, no pesticides, nothing."

The method, also called stock-free farming, is an emerging concept in the United States.

Stephane Groleau, co-founder of the Veganic Agriculture Network based in Quebec, Canada, says he's aware of only a dozen veganic farms or gardeners in the US. He says the farming method is more popular in Europe because of lack of available land for raising livestock and concerns over livestock diseases transferring to humans.

"In Europe, what we see is that they import a lot of their meat and they don't have as many animals on their land. And animals require a lot of space, so if you have just a smallholding, it's very demanding for the farmer," Groleau says.

Veganic farmers in the US are motivated by the need to protect the environment and human health, says Ron Khosla, who operates a 30-hectare vegan organic farm in New Paltz, New York.

Khosla says the primary source of nutrients on many organic farms in the country comes from manure from confined animal operations, or what he calls "factory farms".

"You think you are getting these clean, happy vegetables, but more often than not they're grown in waste from factory farms," he said. "The animals … were fed non-organic feed laced with hormones and antibiotics. Those products bio-accumulate in the animals and it's present in their waste as well."

Both Kholsa and Bustos say they have a strong customer base that seeks out their produce because of the vegan-growing philosophy as well as an increasing awareness about food production.

 

 

Peter vv

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[Guest guest]

you know, i can't help but cringe when i read "the traditional farming techniques he was using"

its sorta sad when thousands of years of agriculture are forgotten, and 60 odd years of the past suddenly becomes "traditional"

how did dumping chemicals all over the land become "traditional"..?

Peter VV Jun 29, 2008 12:40 PM Re: Is vegan farming all it's hyped to be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tradition of farming the land in New Mexico's Espanola Valley had been passed down from Don Bustos's Spanish ancestors, who tilled the same soil centuries before.

But when Bustos realised the traditional farming techniques he was using could harm his children's health, he went organic 15 years ago. Now, Bustos says he has found an even safer method - vegan organic farming without any animal fertilisers or by-products, a technique popular in Europe.

Much like certified organic farmers, veganic farmers use no synthetic chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified ingredients. Veganic farmers take it to another level by not using any manures or abattoir by-products. They don't even use organically approved pesticides.

Salmonella and E.coli are bacteria that live in the intestines of livestock and are present in their waste. Livestock waste, or manure, can be used to fertilise fields, potentially contaminating crops with the disease-causing bacteria. Crops can also be contaminated by contact with infected animals or their by-products, including bonemeal and blood meal, which are used as fertiliser as well. Veganic farmers use crop rotations and composted plant matter - or "green manure" - to fertilise their crops.

Bustos (51) was inspired to pursue veganic farming four years ago after listening to then US secretary of agriculture Mike Johanns speak.

"He was talking about ways to protect the safety of our food system, but to me you still have things like E-coli and salmonella from manure," Bustos says. "Now, I use no manures, no bonemeals, blood meal, no pesticides, nothing."

The method, also called stock-free farming, is an emerging concept in the United States.

Stephane Groleau, co-founder of the Veganic Agriculture Network based in Quebec, Canada, says he's aware of only a dozen veganic farms or gardeners in the US. He says the farming method is more popular in Europe because of lack of available land for raising livestock and concerns over livestock diseases transferring to humans.

"In Europe, what we see is that they import a lot of their meat and they don't have as many animals on their land. And animals require a lot of space, so if you have just a smallholding, it's very demanding for the farmer," Groleau says.

Veganic farmers in the US are motivated by the need to protect the environment and human health, says Ron Khosla, who operates a 30-hectare vegan organic farm in New Paltz, New York.

Khosla says the primary source of nutrients on many organic farms in the country comes from manure from confined animal operations, or what he calls "factory farms".

"You think you are getting these clean, happy vegetables, but more often than not they're grown in waste from factory farms," he said. "The animals … were fed non-organic feed laced with hormones and antibiotics. Those products bio-accumulate in the animals and it's present in their waste as well."

Both Kholsa and Bustos say they have a strong customer base that seeks out their produce because of the vegan-growing philosophy as well as an increasing awareness about food production.

 

 

Peter vv

 

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“We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire and six years later boasts that no one can put it out.†- Bill Moyers

[Guest guest]



Well said Fraggle. I'veoften thought that.

 

Jo

 

 

-

fraggle

Monday, June 30, 2008 9:14 PM

Re: Is vegan farming all it's hyped to be?

 

 

 

you know, i can't help but cringe when i read "the traditional farming techniques he was using"

its sorta sad when thousands of years of agriculture are forgotten, and 60 odd years of the past suddenly becomes "traditional"

how did dumping chemicals all over the land become "traditional"..?

Peter VV Jun 29, 2008 12:40 PM Re: Is vegan farming all it's hyped to be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tradition of farming the land in New Mexico's Espanola Valley had been passed down from Don Bustos's Spanish ancestors, who tilled the same soil centuries before.

But when Bustos realised the traditional farming techniques he was using could harm his children's health, he went organic 15 years ago. Now, Bustos says he has found an even safer method - vegan organic farming without any animal fertilisers or by-products, a technique popular in Europe.

Much like certified organic farmers, veganic farmers use no synthetic chemical fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified ingredients. Veganic farmers take it to another level by not using any manures or abattoir by-products. They don't even use organically approved pesticides.

Salmonella and E.coli are bacteria that live in the intestines of livestock and are present in their waste. Livestock waste, or manure, can be used to fertilise fields, potentially contaminating crops with the disease-causing bacteria. Crops can also be contaminated by contact with infected animals or their by-products, including bonemeal and blood meal, which are used as fertiliser as well. Veganic farmers use crop rotations and composted plant matter - or "green manure" - to fertilise their crops.

Bustos (51) was inspired to pursue veganic farming four years ago after listening to then US secretary of agriculture Mike Johanns speak.

"He was talking about ways to protect the safety of our food system, but to me you still have things like E-coli and salmonella from manure," Bustos says. "Now, I use no manures, no bonemeals, blood meal, no pesticides, nothing."

The method, also called stock-free farming, is an emerging concept in the United States.

Stephane Groleau, co-founder of the Veganic Agriculture Network based in Quebec, Canada, says he's aware of only a dozen veganic farms or gardeners in the US. He says the farming method is more popular in Europe because of lack of available land for raising livestock and concerns over livestock diseases transferring to humans.

"In Europe, what we see is that they import a lot of their meat and they don't have as many animals on their land. And animals require a lot of space, so if you have just a smallholding, it's very demanding for the farmer," Groleau says.

Veganic farmers in the US are motivated by the need to protect the environment and human health, says Ron Khosla, who operates a 30-hectare vegan organic farm in New Paltz, New York.

Khosla says the primary source of nutrients on many organic farms in the country comes from manure from confined animal operations, or what he calls "factory farms".

"You think you are getting these clean, happy vegetables, but more often than not they're grown in waste from factory farms," he said. "The animals … were fed non-organic feed laced with hormones and antibiotics. Those products bio-accumulate in the animals and it's present in their waste as well."

Both Kholsa and Bustos say they have a strong customer base that seeks out their produce because of the vegan-growing philosophy as well as an increasing awareness about food production.

 

 

Peter vv

 

Not happy with your email address? Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at

“We now know that a neo-conservative is an arsonist who sets the house on fire and six years later boasts that no one can put it out.†- Bill Moyers