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History of Organic Farming

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Agrrro
History of Organic Farming

The History of Organic Farming begins at its earliest form. Traditional farming has been the first form of farming and was practiced for hundreds of years ago. Prior to the development of modern day agriculture (which is known as domesticated agriculture), people and their ancestors had little concern with what they ate or how they grew their plants and animals. Their main focus was producing food so they could eat and be fed. In fact, farmers only concerned with growing food for their immediate family and immediate kin. As time passed, farming became more complex and involved farming not only just one type of crop but several types of crops, while different types of animals and insects were used for meat, milk, eggs and other products.

 

With the discovery of the means of growing food commercially, the history of organic farming was forever changed. Organic farming was then introduced and it is still widely practiced today, despite the fact that it has many critics. At the very beginning, organic farming used practices that were more natural and relied on natural resources such as the wind, sun, rain, bugs and plant life. Many critics argue that modern day farming techniques are dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, destroying the natural resources of the land.

 

The History of Organic Farming includes both the history of traditional forms of gardening, as well as new forms of organic farming. The most popular forms of organic farming today are hydroponics, aquaculture (fishing) and biotechnology. Hydroponics is a form of gardening in which plants are grown in water, instead of soil. This type of gardening relies heavily on artificial light, as opposed to the traditional ways of growing such as sunlight, rain and the wind.

 

Aquaculture is the practice of raising livestock in saltwater, which differs from the normal soil gardening. Biotechnology is the study or development of various forms of micro-organisms, including bacteria and other forms of beneficial bacteria. Many critics argue against this type of organic farming because of the use of synthetic material to assist the growth of the micro-organisms, as well as the destruction of vital eco-systems and the destruction of biodiversity. These critics argue that with the continued use of synthetic materials and the continued destruction of our natural eco-system, we will witness the extinction of numerous species. However, others defend this as a necessary step in order for mankind to continue on with their self-imposed exile from nature.

 

The History of organic farming can also be divided into two major periods - pre-modern and post-modern. The pre-modern period is characterized by the development of human agriculture based solely on animal and plant farming as opposed to the history of organic farming, which relies primarily on the use of synthetic materials and pesticides as well as genetic engineering. The post-modern period is marked by the development of more advanced techniques in organic farming, as well as the domestication of a greater variety of livestock. Some of the most prominent animals used in organic agriculture today are: chickens, bees, guinea pigs, potatoes, cotton, corn, alfalfa, cabbages, tomatoes and lettuce.

 

The History of organic farming can be divided into four main sections. The first section, Pre-historic times, is characterized by the use of stone troughs as the sole method of cultivation. The second section, The Paleolithic era, saw the domestication of animals such as cattle and hippos, along with other animals. The third section, The Mesolithic era, brought about the use of agricultural tools and implements, while the fourth and final section, The Hunter-Gatherer era brought about the domestication of a wider range of animals, along with the use of bows and arrows as well as the ploughing of land. Today, agriculture is largely dependent on the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as well as genetically modified crops and the increasing demand for organic foods.

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