Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Health Foundation was established and became the forerunner to the Rodale
Institute. Among other things, Rodale emphasized building natural soil fertil-
ity after nitrogen fertilizers became unavailable during World War II, when
ammonium supplies were diverted from agriculture to munitions.
RODALE, THE CHAMPION FOR ORGANIC
J. I. Rodale was known for his missionary-like zeal in promoting organic
agriculture. In 1954, Rodale wrote, “Organics is not a fad. It has been a
long-established practice — much more firmly grounded than the cur-
rent chemical flair. Present agricultural practices are leading us down-
hill.”
Turning Point
Perhaps the key turning point in the organic movement came in 1962 with
the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. Educated in marine bio-
logy and zoology at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory and Johns
Hopkins University, Carson served as a scientist and writer for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. Following World War II, she became concerned about
the overuse and misuse of pesticides and spoke out against pesticide prac-
tices that she believed were threatening all life by destroying the ecosystems
to which we belong.
Carson did what all of the organic advocates could not do by reaching out
to everyone, everywhere. People who had never heard of organic agriculture
and who had never been on a farm suddenly became vitally concerned with
food safety and agricultural practices that protected the environment. Rath-
er just than a small number of farmers and gardeners, people around the
world became environmental advocates. Here was born the widespread de-
mand for commercially available organic produce, meats, and dairy products.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search