ECOLOGICAL FARMERS AT OUR SCHOOL

In order to study our local agriculture we have decided to invite some ecological farmers to our school.
The pupils interviewed them and they have explained everything about their farms.

 

Some of the questions: 

1. WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED FOR ECOLOGICAL FARMING?

- a wish to preserve the clean environment / nature

- eating healthy

- Healthy food for customers and their friends

- Financial reason

 

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FARMING IN AN ECOLOGICAL WAY? 

- Different periods of time, from 3-10 years on areas from 3-40ha.  

 

3. DO YOU USE SYNTHETIC ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS? HOW DO YOU FIGHT THE PESTS? 

•They DON’T use synthetic fertilizers, but they do use COPPER and SULPHUR in the vineyards.

•They use sprays from herbal teas or degradated herbs to fight the pests.

•Later on, plants protect themselves by symbiosis. Ladybirds eat lice, garlic repels voles etc.

Another way to fight diseases and pests is rotation. It enrichens the soil.

•Farmers also grow a special type of clover called ‘lucerna’ on the fields. Then they plow it and after a couple of years the soil is revitalized.

•They also turn the manure into compost and that is the best way to fight diseases.

 

 

4. WHAT KIND OF PLANTS DO YOU GROW?  

•Mostly vegetables (tomato, green pepper, beans, potato, pumpkins etc.)

•Wheat, ‘tritikala’ (old type of wheat) buckwheat, rye, oats etc.

•Some bake bread, sell pastry, apple juice, apple vinegar

They all have vineyards, they sell grape juice

 

5. HOW ARE YOUR PRODUCTS DIFFERENT FROM NON-ECOLOGICAL ONES?

•The quantity of products is smaller

•The crops are smaller and less nice to look at

•You can also find a worm or two

BUT

•They are healthier

•Natural taste

•The capons and other animals grow slower, but the meat is tastier and firmer. Animals have to spend half a year in the barn, unbound and half a year grazing outside.

 

6. DO THE FARMERS HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR BEING ECOLOGICAL FARMS?

•Yes, they all have certificates.

 

7. WHO BUYS YOUR PRODUCTS AND CROPS? 

•Different age groups, from young to old.

•They sell their products at home, on the stands and on different events.

•Some farmers sell their products on ECO marketplaces in larger cities. These products are a bit more expensive.

 

8. WHO HELPS YOU WITH FARMING?

•all the farmers told us that their spouses help with the work.

•One of the farmers also has a mother who bakes different food for the market.

•Two of them are retired teachers and they find farming very relaxing.

 

  9. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS WAY OF FARMING TO OTHER PEOPLE?

•they all said: Yes, absolutely. But you have to keep in mind that there are no big earnings in the begining, but later on it is possible to earn quite some money.

• Not only that, you produce healthier food for your family. 

 

INTERESTING FACTS

we found out that on one farm they have a house for ladybirds. They eat lice in the vineyard. They

also have a house for wild bees which are 20x better pollinators than domestic ones.