Organic Gardening Jenny Isler Clark University, Sustainability Coordinator May 31, 2011

ECO-ENTREPRENEUR: ORGANICS CONTEXT: WHY ? - ENVIRONMENT - HEALTH BACKGROUND: WHAT ? - ORGANIC IS… - EXAMPLES - BY THE NUMBERS STORY: HOW ? - FOURWINDS ORGANICS

ENVIRONMENT  Biodiversity  Water  Climate change Gulf of Mexico hypoxic ‘dead zone’ created by fertilizer runoff 7000 sq mi.16% US fisheries Source: NASA; USCoC

HEALTH  “You are what you eat”  Vitamins  Pesticides  Disease?

..... ORGANIC IS… “ an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.” Source: OTA WHAT?  a system of farming that improves soil fertility without using toxic chemicals like those found in fertilizers and pesticides.  a way of growing that considers the soil, the plants, their fruits and those that eat them as one interdependent system. HEALTHY SOIL = HEALTHY PLANTS = GOOD FOOD

Sources: Organic Trade Association, Organic Industry Survey 2010 USDA, Recent Growth Patterns in the US Organics Food Market, Bulletin 777 The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2010 BY THE NUMBERS 20% average annual growth Organic fruit & veg lead market 2009 vs 2008: % Market penetration : (% all food sales) 1997: 0.8 % 2005:2.5 % 2006:2.8% Global organic food sales: 2003:$24.8 billion 2008:$50.9 billion

FOURWINDS ORGANICS  Passion & personal connection  Market need  Planning  Network  Persistence  Adaptability

THANK YOU! QUESTIONS ?