Veganic farming is the “new organic” farming model that runs entirely without any animal involvement. Done right, it restores soil health and sustains itself using key principals according to one farmer:
- Use nitrogen-fixing plants to replace animal manure
- Disturb the soil as little as possible,
- Keep a diversity of living plants in the ground as often as possible, and
- Keep the soil covered and protected as often as possible.
The new movie The Big Little Farm, popularizes “regenerative farming,” a model that relies on smaller operations and animals to restore soil health. The problem with this beautifully-produced movie is that it implies it’s not possible or ideal to operate a restorative farm without animals. At least 150 veganic farms operate throughout the U.S. today (see study results presented in 2nd video below) and as more best practices emerge, the model will continue growing for many reasons:
- Consumers want to know the plant-based food they eat are not contaminated by animal waste
- New food safety regulations increase the likelihood that animal waste contamination can be sourced to the farm creating it
- It works. One farmer in Sonoma County, CA, Singing Frogs Farm dramatically reduced water usage per crop, producing roughly $100,000 in vegetable sales per crop acre per year with over half of that revenue paying their year-round employees’ salaries.
For a great overview of veganic gardening, please check out these videos:
What Is Veganic Gardening? Is it viable?
Veganic Farming: Growing the Movement for Climate-Friendly Agriculture
Animal-free Farming | Living With The Land | Part 6
