how to farm with out chemicals?

Answer 1

A very difficult proposition if you are talking about a commercial operation. Would you risk your entire livelihood on principal?

For your own consumption, you can accept more crop losses as you learn what is and isn't possible.

Investigate the strategy known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Basically this says to improve cultural practices (soil prep, watering, plant selection) to reduce pest and disease as much as possible; use approved organics (such a Bacillus thuringiensus or neem oil or sulpher) when needed; resort to chemical spray--on known pests for which the commercial product is certified--when nontoxic measures fail. Pay particular attention from date of application to date of consumption.

Answer 2

I think the question you are asking is, "how do I farm organically?"

Organic farming doesn't mean what it once used to since companies are now mass marketing "organic" produce that is anything but.

Get a book by Mr. Eliot Coleman... "New Organic Grower." Eliot is perhaps the premier organic farmer in North America. It is not too techincal a book for the beginner, yet advanced enough to teach the seasoned farmer a thing or two.

If you cannot purchase a copy, check your local library. There is also lots of information online... hope this helps.

Answer 3

You cannot farm without chemicals. Water is a chemical, H20, the carbon dioxide the plants breath is a chemical, CO2, all fertilizer, whether from natural sources or manufactured, are chemicals. Soil itself is made from a combination of chemicals. It is possible to farm without adding some chemicals that are harmful to the environment, but impossible to farm without chemicals completely.

Answer 4

you can go to a place like grange co-op and get all sorts of stuff like bat guano, fish emulsions, pot ash.

or you can keep it simple. get some composted steer manure from wal-mart or a garden section in most stores, and add it to you compost pile at home. you can build your composte with any vegetable matter. coffee grounds are great too.

the best compost system is a 3 bin set-up. you can use any material to build it, and any size to fit your yard. dont put a lid on the bins.
bin 1: fresh material. grass, leaves, straw, non-composted manure pulled up weeds, some dirt, sand, ashes from the fireplace. mix this bin about 2/3 times a week. you will notice some material is more broken down than the rest. put this in bin 2
bin 2: composted manure, broken down material from bin 1, worm castings. mix this bin 2/3 times a week. you will notice some material is more broken down than the rest put this into bin 3
bin 3: this is the final product. it should be dark, loamy material. it's ready to be put into your garden.

keep bin 1 & 2 moist but not soggy.
don't put wood, bone, animal parts, into your composte.

Answer 5

In hydroponics vegtables are grown without pesticides and only minerals and water. You really have to do some reading on hydroponics.