Organic farms facts for kids

Vegetables grown using organic farming methods.

Organic farming of different vegetables in Capay, California.

Chloroxylon helps control pests in organic rice farms in India.

Organic farming is a way of growing food without using man-made chemicals. This means no artificial pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. The goal is to protect the environment, wildlife, and even people from harmful substances.

What Makes Organic Farming Different?

Natural Ways to Grow Food

Organic farmers use natural materials to help plants grow. Instead of chemical fertilizers, they often use things like animal manure or compost. These natural materials add important nutrients back into the soil. This keeps the soil healthy and full of life.

Protecting Our Planet

Regular farming often uses chemicals that can hurt the environment. These chemicals can make the soil less healthy over time. They can also lead to more energy use and carbon pollution. Pesticides and other chemicals can also pollute water with nitrates. Organic farming avoids these problems. It helps keep our air, water, and soil cleaner.

Keeping People Healthy

Some studies suggest that chemicals used in regular farming might be harmful to human cells. While the original text mentions specific health issues, for kids, it's enough to say that organic farming aims to reduce exposure to these chemicals, which is generally seen as a healthier choice. Organic farming helps keep insects, pests, and weeds under control naturally. It also recycles farm waste, which means less pollution for our environment.

Types of Organic Farming

Organic Animal Farms

Organic farming isn't just for plants! It's also used for raising animals. On organic animal farms, livestock like cows or chickens are fed only organic food. This means their food is grown without man-made chemicals. These farms focus on the well-being of the animals. Many organic meat farms now sell their products online, making it easier for more people to buy organic meat. For example, "Das Gute Fleisch" (which means "the good meat") is a farm in Germany that sells organic meat online.

The main rule for organic farming is to use natural things and avoid man-made chemicals. For animals like these healthy cows, vaccines are important for their health, especially since antibiotics are not allowed.

Organic Gardens at Home

You can even use organic methods in your own garden! Many flower growers and home gardeners choose to farm organically. A common organic method is called biological control. This means using natural ways to get rid of pests instead of using poisons. For example, you can encourage ladybirds (also called ladybugs) to come into your garden. Ladybirds love to eat aphids, which are tiny pests that can harm plants.

Organic Labels and Certifications

Official Organic Labels

To help people know if food is truly organic, many countries have special labels. These labels show that a product meets strict rules for organic farming. In the USA, the USDA gives out official "USDA Organic Labels". For a product to get this label, it must follow all the USDA's rules for organic food.

Labels Around the World

In the EU, there is one main organic label. This label has very similar rules to the "100% organic" label in the USA. It can be quite challenging for farms in the EU to get this organic certification. Besides official government labels, some private companies also have their own labels. These companies rate products based on their own organic standards. Many customers trust these private labels because they have a good reputation.

Images for kids

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  A sign promoting organic food to help the planet.

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  This chart shows how much organic farmland has grown around the world from 2000 to 2008.

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  A sign at an organic apple orchard in Pateros, Washington, reminding farmers not to spray pesticides on these trees.

See also

In Spanish: Agricultura ecológica para niños