"Organic" gardening and farming has a long and honorable history.  But today, the word Organic has been appropriated by the Federal Government and by the mega-industries.  Many consumers, farmers and producers cannot afford the time or expense to participate in the work of the Federal Committees that decide what is and is not Organic.  This has become another realm of industrial ag, and the corporate food distribution chain.  We would  have to have political clout to obtain the appointments to these bodies before we could begin to meaningfully participate.  Small farms and ranches don't amass the votes that make us attractive to politicians, ergo, little clout.

We are not opposed to those who grow and market Certified Organic products.  Our family buys organic produce.  I have been an organic (please note no capitals) gardener and rancher for years. 

As I understand the practice, "organic"  means taking care first and foremost of the soil.  First, you have to have good dirt.  Then, you have to have good things growing on it, as nature intended. Finally, you have to treat the system right. Then, you can decide who gets to eat that good stuff!

Let me use beef as an example of what one must do to have beef Certified as "Organic".

First, one must pay a large fee to, and file pages of paperwork with an agency granted the authority to decide who in the state is Organic.  They  inspect your operation, but will not give you any advice.  Just more pages of stuff.  For advice, you must hire a private consultant.

Second, you must follow the dictated organic practices (the agency gets to add its own layer of requirements to those of the Federal Government) for three years.  You will be paying inspection fees during this time, and for as long as you are certified as well. 

Assuming you complete this run, you may then tell the world that your stock (or most of it) is Certified Organic. 

Oh, but there is one last problem.  Unless your animals are harvested in a USDA inspected, Certified Organic abattoir, the meat cannot be sold as Certified Organic.  There is no Certified Organic processor in the State of Florida.  Therefor, there is no locally provided Certified Organic beef.  It has to be trucked here.  To buy Organic Beef in Florida is to pay for thousands of miles of trucking of grains, livestock and meat to major distributors of consumer goods.  Hardly what our nation needs today.

There is more to the problem of Organic Certification.  Some of the requirements are unsupported by adequately focused research.  Some permitted anti-parasitcal substances have long "withdrawal" periods before harvest is permitted.  Some prohibited substances actually help dung beetle survival, and have no withdrawal periods.  Dung beetles are part of our organic soil management program.

I hope you can now see why we don't choose to be "certified".  Our cultural methods use the traditional practices of organic farming and husbandry.  Our guides and mentors are the literature and teachings of Sir Albert Howard,  Rudolf Steiner,  J.I. Rodale and Lady Eve Balfour. 

We agree with this statement; "The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings."

(International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) - The Principles of Organic Agriculture - Principle of health)

For a good explanation of organic ag, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_farming

Robert Strawn, the current owner's father, lived to 102 years.  (One of his brothers made it to 100.)  His diet consisted mostly of our beef, supplemented with a few vegetables and tubers.  The current generation is also doing well, by the way.  We remain careful and cautious in our respect for our land and our livestock.  Because we eat here too.
Safe, healthy, quality foods responsibly provided
Deep Creek Ranch, Inc.


Which egg is "Certified Organic"? 

One egg is from what we call "yard chickens".  It was the gift of another farmer.  The other was purchased at a chain market and "Certified" in the Federally approved way, to be sure.

One is loaded with nutrients, and is from a chicken free to be the omnivorous animal it was designed to be,  by nature.  Goodness knows what that hen ate, uncontrolled by the hand of man or the United States Government!

The other had a "vegetarian" diet, according to the label.  The diet had to meet the criteria of the Organic regulations of the USA.

The egg on the left is the yard chicken.  The egg on the right is just another good reason not to be a vegetarian or vegan.  But, it is Certified Organic.  Maybe that shouldn't be taken to mean certified to be really good food?.