As part of a recent academic project, I spent many hours
researching organic farming in the United States, and particularly in the State
of Ohio. I found some very good resources on the topic and I wanted to
consolidate those into an easy to use reference, and voila’ - Organic Ohio was
born.
With more than 9 billion mouths to feed by 2050, organic
farming, which generally results in crop yields which are lower than traditional
methods, seems, at least at first-look, to be an unviable option to meeting
this demanding challenge. But upon closer examination, I began to see how
micro-farms and other small farmers, through the development of sustainable
methods, along with an emphasis on buying and selling organic produce locally
(community supported agriculture or CSA) organic farming, along with providing
a safer, healthier food option, can also help communities to achieve a level of
self-reliance when it comes to much of its food supply.
The USDA has provided much support for organic farming under
the Farm Bill of 2014. The agency has been very focused on getting veterans
involved in farming and many private organizations also offer support in the
way of internships, education and training, loans, and grants. While a shift in
political power may certainly affect the level of support the federal
government will provide in the future, the time is right for those who have
carefully developed a sound business plan and want to start or expand organic
farming operations in the United States.
Organic Ohio will provide the latest information and
resources to help those of us who are interested in the organic farming
industry in Ohio, and across the nation. Feel free to leave a comment, I
appreciate your visit and hope you will return often!
