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Coaldale, Alberta, Canada |
If you do it primarily for short term economics, you are done before you start. If you don't 'believe in it', you are also done before you start.
Having said that, I think it is an excellent idea for a small farm. Fact is it takes a ton more management/ac than a conv. farm. We started to switch in 2004 and have been certified for a few years now, so I speak from some experience. I would not switch back, but I must warn you it is HARD and even if you have never had long hair or smoked dope, your neighbors will view you with some suspicion. You need to be able to weather that.
Reading your post several times, I think you are not suited to attempt organic, as your heart does not seem to be in it. Personally, I'm convinced that it is the right thing to do for us. You need to be convinced of this as well. If you are not, keep doing what you are doing, nothing wrong with that either.
In my view, the way to fail in organics is to assume that organic production is conventional production without chemicals. We were forced to change our cropping system, embrace green manure/compost, idle a field every year, row crop cultivate very shallow and agressively, and in crop mechanical weed. We also flame weed. Learning curve was vertical. It hasn't flattened out yet, but it sure is fun and rewarding.
Howard | |
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Going organic
