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Sustainable Farming
Sustainable farming means farming for the long-term health of people and
the land. Farmers who use sustainable methods try to meet the needs of their
families and communities for nutritious food while also conserving water,
improving soil, and saving seeds for the future.
Most food comes from the land. But many people do not have enough land,
or any land at all, to meet their needs for healthy food. Sustainable farming,
cooperative food marketing (see page 313), and fair distribution of food can
help to overcome these difficulties.
Farmers are caretakers of the land, and they are experts at what they do.
Farmers develop methods of sustainable farming, and change and adapt these
methods to serve the needs of their communities and the conditions of the
land they work. Sustainable farming in cities and towns, or in areas that have
been farmed for generations, helps solve problems of hunger, migration, loss of
valuable soil, and contamination of water supplies.
Sustainable farming methods are not only for farmers. They are also
valuable for home gardeners, health and development workers, and anyone
who wants to begin a community garden or a city farm to improve nutrition,
food security, and community health.