Veganic Farming: A Growing Trend

As people become more conscientious about how their purchases affect animals, the environment and their health, organic fruits, vegetables and other plant-based products have become increasingly popular and more widely available. Buying organically grown plant products supports farmers who are working to grow food in a more sustainable way and cultivate a healthier planet for us all.

Although organic farmers avoid pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified crops, many still use animal manures and slaughterhouse byproducts like bone, blood and fish meal. Animal agriculture byproducts can be contaminated with toxic chemicals, antibiotics and disease-causing bacteria, spoiling the whole point of organic agriculture. However, a growing trend in organic farming, called “veganic farming,” is bringing about some big changes in the way food is grown. Combining organic farming methods with vegan philosophy, veganic farmers are cultivating a better way to grow safe, healthy and animal-friendly food.

Some people have chosen to adopt a vegan diet because it is better for their health, the environment and all animals. Many people choose to buy organic plant foods for the same reasons. Choosing organic food is a step in the right direction, but for people who want to make sure they aren’t contributing to the suffering of animals on factory farms and are worried about contaminates on their organically grown food, veganic farming offers a positive solution.

Like organic farmers, veganic growers don’t use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or genetically modified crops. But veganic farmers go one step further by avoiding animal manure and slaughterhouse byproducts in favor of mulch, vegetable compost, green manures, crop rotation, and other plant-based techniques that don’t involve the exploitation of animals. Veganic growers ensure that the entire cycle of agriculture is organic by working to produce as much fertility as possible on their own land – without farm animals – and minimize the chance of contamination.

Back to the Future
There is really nothing new about veganic farming. Hundreds of years ago, nearly all farming was done without animal manure or animal byproducts simply because farmers did not keep animals in high concentrations, nor did they have a way to deliver manure from place to place. Ron Khosla – the owner of Huguenot Street Farm, a 77 acre veganic farm in New Paltz, New York – says that the ancient Romans and Chinese used green manures, and that during the 1800s, farmers in New York’s Hudson Valley knew and wrote about the problems of depending on animal manures for vegetable nutrient needs.

Currently, veganic farming is only practiced on a small number of commercial farms in the U.S., but the movement is growing. After the Vegan Organic Network planted the veganic farming seed in Europe, the Vegan Agricultural Network started laying down veganic roots in North America. Now there are a growing number of veganic farms sprouting up around the world.

Many of today’s veganic farmers say they have a strong customer base that seeks out their produce because they support their vegan growing philosophy and sustainable farming methods. In this way, people concerned about the health of the environment and animal cruelty on factory farms are making big changes in agriculture, simply by being mindful of where their dollars go and encouraging local farmers to make changes in the way they grow food.

Going Veganic Now
A great option for conscientious consumers who can’t find locally available veganic products is to start their own veganic gardens. Even people who live in apartments can grow plant-based food at home with balcony or window gardens. By making plant composts from kitchen scraps and yard clippings, you can easily avoid animal-based fertilizers and enjoy tantalizing tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, fresh strawberries, and many other veganic goodies right out of your own backyard.

For people without enough space for a home garden, buying organic produce, especially from local farms, is still a good idea. Try shopping for local, organic produce at farmer’s markets, co-ops or community supported agriculture (CSA) networks that sell shares of local produce to members. Also talk to farmers and to ask questions about how their crops are grown. Many farmers say that it was their customers who encouraged them to switch to veganic growing methods. In fact, Honey Brook Organic Farm, the largest organic CSA in the U.S., adopted veganic farming practices based on a suggestion from a vegan member.

Veganic farming may not be mainstream yet, but it is a growing trend. And it is nice to know that many organic farmers are starting to use methods that are completely animal-free. As more people become aware of how their food is produced and start to demand more veganically grown foods, these products will become more widely available. The seeds of change have been planted. It’s up to us to help them grow.