1. Organic vs. Conventional
By Annabelle, Genevieve, and Evie

2. What is Organic farming?
In 2000 a national standard for “organic” was made. Organic food is defined by how it cannot be made instead of how it can be made. It must be grown without using fertilizers, most synthetic fertilizers & pesticides, genetic engineering, growth hormones, irradiation, and antibiotics. Organic farming is the oldest form of agriculture. It wasn’t until after World War II that petroleum-based chemicals were used for farming. Organic farming is now a small industry. But the number of organic farmers is growing by about 12% per year.

3. What are the benefits of Organic farming?
Better health
Better taste
Environment safety
Animal welfare

4. What are the negatives of Organic Farming?
Organic food is more expensive than conventionally-produced food because: there is greater labour input, farmers don’t produce enough of a single product to lower the overall cost, and because of relatively small volumes.
Critics say that eating organic foods increases your exposure to biological contaminants. Specific concerns have been raised about manure, mycotoxins from molds, and E. Coli bacteria.

5. What is Conventional farming?
Conventional meat and poultry are fed conventional food. The pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers in the grain end up being stored as toxins in the fat of the animals. Conventionally raised animals and poultry are often cruelly kept in very confined spaces day and night, and are not given space to roam. This means they do not get the exercise needed to keep them healthy. Sickness is very common and spreads very fast through the barns.  Because of this, antibiotics and other drugs are used on an ongoing basis in an attempt to keep the animals healthy. In the USA, drugs are used in order to increase milk production.  This drug often results in very large, infected udders and pus getting into the milk.

6. What are the Benefits of Conventional Farming?
The benefits of Conventional Farming is the fact that farmers can supply there customers on demand . By giving them hormone supplements forcing them to grow faster.

7. What are the Negatives of Conventional farming?
Harmful effects on the environment and surround ecosystems.
The use of chemical and synthetic pesticides or fertilizers can diminish the nutrient rich soil which makes it impossible to grow anything.
Genetic-engineering and modification are used to make crops and animals grow faster, which means that they are not natural.

8. What is the difference between Conventional & Organic?
Though there is no difference in appearance between organic and conventional produce, choosing to buy organic is typically more expensive.
Why is this?
A conventional apple will give you just as much vitamins and nutrients as an organic apple, but it will also give you many unwanted chemicals.
The main difference between the two is that conventional farming use many synthetic and artificial chemicals, pesticides, and antibiotics where as organic farming uses none of the above.

9. What are farm animals useful for?
Meat
Dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cream.
Wool, leather, skins, fur
Manure for Fertilizer
Labour 
Land management-to control weeds and grass
To eat bugs, instead of the use of artificial pesticides

10. Why is having your own organic farm more beneficial and sustainable for you and the world?

11. Buying products produced conventionally is like spending less money to eat food that might be loaded with a few potentially harmful chemicals. This is neither good for you, or the environment.
Having your own small organic farm means being able to eat good food, and to be able to know where it has come from and what has gone into the making of it. And over time it costs a lot less than buying produce from the supermarket.
Chickens eat bugs and other garden pests which means no need for nasty pesticides, and pigs and goats will eat almost all of your dinner scraps so you will be wasting far less food.
Animal manure is also very good for your garden.

12. Raising your own backyard farm
By Annabelle, Genevieve, and Evie

13. Raising Chickens
Chickens feed on corn, maize, rye millet, sunflower seeds for essential oil and calcium, bugs, worms, and plants.
As treats, chickens really enjoy potatoes, tomatoes, cheese, rice, and noodles. But you can feed them almost anything.
Chickens don’t like sweets, cake and too much meat.
Chickens love sandboxes, this is where they cool and clean themselves. If they do not have a sandbox already, they will dig up the dirt and make one.
They need clean water, fresh air and sufficient sunlight.

14. When do chickens start to lay eggs?
Hens generally start laying eggs at about 18 to 20 weeks of age.
Egg production will slow down or stop (depending on the breed of hen) as winter approaches.
Some breeds will lay eggs for up to ten years but they will never lay as many eggs as they do in their first super-productive season.

15. Goats
Goats like having company. It is best to have a couple of goats, not just one.
Large area with a sturdy fence.
Some goats can live to be teenagers, though many dairy goats do not live passed ten years.
Goats need a supply of hay.
Goats will eat your garden and knock down low branches.
Treats: vegetable or fruit peelings, black oil sunflower seeds, corn or other grains, tree branches .
A clean, cool supply of water.
Goats will eat pretty much anything.
Goats can be aggressive, so act bold around them, even if you don't feel like it.

16. Rabbits Make sure that the rabbit has a clean, safe hutch to live in.
Rabbits need daily exercise.
Cage must be cleaned often.
Make sure it has plenty of water.
Feed rabbits with hay.
You must groom your rabbit.
Do not feed rabbits chocolate or too much fruit and vegetables.
Rabbits do not need baths.
Do not cut your rabbit’s hair.

17. Pigs Pigs need to be checked several times a day.
Good appetites, sleek hair coats, tightly curled tails, and bright eyes are all signs of a healthy pig.
Farm grain, corn, barley, oats and wheat are all good food for pigs, though they will eat almost anything and everything.
Pigs should be self-fed.
Water is the most important part of a pig’s diet.
Pigs need a clean, dry, draught-free area under a roof to sleep.
Do not overcrowd the pigs.
Do not let pigs get too hot or too cold.

18. Conclusion;
Our proposal is that there will be a farming area in the community. It will contain chickens, roosters, goats, pigs and rabbits. The community will all put in labour to maintain the farm improving the land and there economy. All animals will also breed for maintaining livestock.
Chickens; will lay eggs for the community to eat and sell free range. The chickens will also eat any bugs or pest lying around cleaning the area. Some of the chickens will be killed for eating and selling.
Roosters; are strictly there for breeding purposes so they can eventually kill the offspring's and eat them while still maintaining their numbers.
Goats; will be used for there milk and cheese. Providing the community with a healthy and tasty supplement. Goats eat almost anything, weeds and unwanted vegetation, thus clearing the paddock. Their meat will be sold and eaten by the community. They will own a small number of cashmere goats strictly for their fur.

19. Pigs; will produce a great amount of meat for sale. Ham, bacon and pork. They eat any scraps, so the cost of keeping the pigs is not so huge.
Rabbits; we will breed them to sell as pets and kill some of them for consumption.
The community will be improved with it’s profits rising, it’s land being cared for by the animals, the people can enjoy fresh meat + dairy products and people enjoying the animals presence. But ultimately ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

20. Bibliography

21. Bibliography (2)