Farming should be sustainable. It is time for a change. In the existing agricultural system- known as- “conventional farming”, the population has seen tremendous increases in productivity, and therefore has come to expect abundant, cheap food. This food can travel thousands of miles before it reaches your lips and is often bland in its taste, as it has been bred for shelf life. Conventional farmin
g methods often include: large-scale farms; single crops grown season after season; large capital investments; uniform high-yield hybrid crops; extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers; confined, concentrated livestock systems. The costs of this type of farming come in the form of: ground water contamination from agricultural chemicals ; topsoil depletion; destruction of riparian zones therefore decreasing wildlife habitat and increasing erosion; and the decline of the small, family farm. When farming is sustainable, environmental health, economic viability, and social equity are integrated so that stewardship of both human and natural resources is in balance. By practicing sustainable agriculture methods, we are ensuring that future generations will find natural resources intact. Common practices in sustainable farming are: use of biological pest controls which are not harmful to natural systems or people; rotation of crops; methods of soil erosion reduction; soil and water conservation methods; maintenance of soil fertility; livestock grazing management including livestock density per acre and rotational grazing. Farmer’s who practice sustainable farming are able to maintain their natural resource base and are less reliant on artificial implements. Think global, buy local. Consumers have a “voice” when they make a “choice“. It is time to consider the hidden costs of environmental health, natural resource use and social justice when shopping. When you choose to eat local produce, meat and goods, you are sending a message. You have chosen food with superior taste and decreased transportation costs and you have decreased the time from the field to your table. Keep the “green” spaces green. The preservation of farmland is up to you. “The irreplaceable land that produces our food and provides us with scenic open space, wildlife habitat and clean water is increasingly at risk from urban sprawl…” [American Farmland Trust, Why Save Farmland. 7/99 ] When you eat locally you are supporting the small farmer by providing a source of income, thus allowing him to stay on the land. This support strengthens communities and allows for the preservation of rural landscapes and green spaces. At JMD farm we are stewards. We are continuously evolving in our role as caretakers of the land. We do our part by keeping animals out of waterways, rotating grazing pastures to eliminate erosion, using botanical pest controls, fertilizing using natural products only when needed, composting, etc. We are very deliberate in our efforts to stay connected to the land in the most natural ways possible. From us to you. JMD farm is located in the Shenandoah Valley, nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Mountains to the west, closest to the small locale of New Hope. Our goal is to produce high quality, all natural products, including black angus beef, Suffolk sheep, free-range chicken/eggs and fresh produce.
