Can one combine commercial farming with sustainable farming?
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From The Episode: Organic Dairyman: The FarmerOrganic Dairyman: The Farmer
Question by Pumpkin Pi: Can one combine commercial farming with sustainable farming?
I’m 23, and plan to start a farm by the time I’m 30. I want a small farm (maybe 5-10 acres), and I would like to make a living off the land as well as feed my family. (I have one son, but expect my family to grow in the next few years.) Is it possible to divide the land up, one side for commercial farming and one side for subsistence farming? Has this ever been done before?
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2 Responses to Can one combine commercial farming with sustainable farming?
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It is common misunderstanding that sustainable farming is subsistence farming and cannot be commercialized. Sustainable agriculture simply means agriculture practices that deliberately reduce external inputs (such as synthetic agrochemicals and fuel) and replaces these inputs from within the farm and from natural resources. Some sustainable agriculture practices are intercropping, crop rotation, organic farming, minimum or zero soil tillage, agroforestry, zero burning, integrated pest management (use of organisms to control pests and diseases), natural soil mulches, composting, cover crops, and green manure.
cbsteh
January 29, 2014 at 3:40 am
i read a story long ago about,, is 10 acres enough..turns out if your lucky and work yourself nearly to death every day it might be…but most can’t ..to many variables…but it can be done if your smarter than the average bear ,and lucky…you won’t be able to compete with the price of things today but if your an isolationist ..and you or your wife or kids don’t get sick and every thing gos the way you plan you will die a poor man ,and your kids will hate you for making them work every day just to live on your fantasy farm
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January 29, 2014 at 4:19 am