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A debate rages on concerning the merits and perils between conventional and organic farming. Is organic farming cost-effective? In the context of illness and disease is organic farming truly healthier? Organic farmers, on the whole, have lower yields than conventional farming. And there are some that believe that the label 'organic' that is shown on produce, meat or any other foodstuff is not enough to ensure that the food is truly so.
However, Tom and Nancy Zennie of Cloverdale, Indiana have made it their business to commit to organic farming. Their organic sheep farm produces organic sheep, lamb, wool and garlic. Tom is a scientist and uses his vast knowledge to prepare the fertile grounds for feed. Nancy is the 'hands on' farmer. Her gift to the enterprise is priceless.
What brought these two people to organic sheep farming and why do they believe so passionately in its necessity?
ABS) Tell us a little bit about yourselves, your background and how you came to organic sheep farming?
ZS) We are a family owned organic lamb, sheep and vegetable farm. We have been raising organic lamb for more than 20 years. We also produce other certified organic products which include organic garlic and organic hay and organic wool and wool products made from organic wool.
All our lambs are free range and graze on certified organic pasture and have access to our own organic hay and grains. Our lambs are only 4-5 months of age when they are taken in for processing. They are custom cut to our customers specifications and delivered free locally. Virtually every cut of these lambs can be put on the grill and is very tender. Our lamb is sold over the internet and also through eight health food stores in Indiana and Michigan.
Tom has a background in natural products chemistry and uses his scientific knowledge to understand the best way to use organic methods of farming. Nancy has taught herself all the best ways to use animal husbandry to keep the lambs and sheep healthy in an organic environment. Tom is the engineer for the farm and Nancy is the hands on person. She is the most important person on the farm during the lambing season. Tom does his part doing the feed formulation and keeping the lights on and fences working and the hay baled. Our two kids help out with everything on farm from haying to feeding to building fence. We raise or harvest about 75% of our own food and have been doing it for more than 25 years since we moved to the country from the city. (Too bad we can't produce a good dry Beaujolais' wine!)
ABS) Why organic?
ZS) When we started having kids, the significance of what we fed our children became of utmost importance. We were products of the sixties and seventies and always did have a sense of an alternate lifestyle but the coming of the kids solidified our commitment to a clean and pure environment.
We are the generation of "Silent Spring" and Paul Erlich's Zero Population Growth (ZPG) mentalities and we became aware that the earth is a closed system and that everything you do to it or put into it will be recycled back to you or your kids eventually.
In order to farm organically you have to understand the life cycle of all living things that affect your crops and livestock. That requires a deeper understanding of the ecology of your surroundings, of how best to produce healthy soils and manage pests, insects and parasites organically. We firmly believe that all the synthetic chemicals in our environment do have the potential to harm our bodies and only natural or non toxic substances are used on our farm.
Likely Page BreakMankind did not evolve with these new man-made synthetic chemicals and thus we can't tolerate them without some health consequences. Particularly worrisome is that GMO corn, soybeans and cotton are everywhere in the farm environment and they are spreading their foreign genes rampantly.
ABS) If asked by someone who knew little about organic foods, what would you tell them to convince them of its value for them and their family?
ZS) When you buy organic foods with the certified organic label, there is an assurance that the food was produced without the use of any herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. We believe that eating organic products helps in allowing a persons own body to develop good defense mechanisms to help fight off infections and diseases.
ABS) The Zen Sheep Farm also produces organic wood products. What is the single best reason to use organic wool?
ZS) It is hypoallergenic and does not emit any toxic or synthetic gases and chemicals like synthetic fabrics and fillings. Many people are very sensitive to the urethane gas that is given off by the synthetic polyester foam stuffing and other fabrics. We had a customer that was so sensitive to these synthetic fibers and fills that she actually had an entire couch made out of our organic wool.
ABS) I noted on the Zen Sheep Farm website you have a segment for Sheep Jokes - what's your favorite?
ZS) The best one is about the business consultant that didn't know a thing about the real world of farming. It's on our web site www.Zensheepfarm.com
The following is an excerpt from the website for the USDA explaining the National Organic Program.
"The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards."
That's a pretty tall order and when you consider the commitment that is involved in bringing us organic foods, perhaps the cost involved is not so hard to understand.
However, Tom and Nancy Zennie of Cloverdale, Indiana have made it their business to commit to organic farming. Their organic sheep farm produces organic sheep, lamb, wool and garlic. Tom is a scientist and uses his vast knowledge to prepare the fertile grounds for feed. Nancy is the 'hands on' farmer. Her gift to the enterprise is priceless.
What brought these two people to organic sheep farming and why do they believe so passionately in its necessity?
ABS) Tell us a little bit about yourselves, your background and how you came to organic sheep farming?
ZS) We are a family owned organic lamb, sheep and vegetable farm. We have been raising organic lamb for more than 20 years. We also produce other certified organic products which include organic garlic and organic hay and organic wool and wool products made from organic wool.
All our lambs are free range and graze on certified organic pasture and have access to our own organic hay and grains. Our lambs are only 4-5 months of age when they are taken in for processing. They are custom cut to our customers specifications and delivered free locally. Virtually every cut of these lambs can be put on the grill and is very tender. Our lamb is sold over the internet and also through eight health food stores in Indiana and Michigan.
Tom has a background in natural products chemistry and uses his scientific knowledge to understand the best way to use organic methods of farming. Nancy has taught herself all the best ways to use animal husbandry to keep the lambs and sheep healthy in an organic environment. Tom is the engineer for the farm and Nancy is the hands on person. She is the most important person on the farm during the lambing season. Tom does his part doing the feed formulation and keeping the lights on and fences working and the hay baled. Our two kids help out with everything on farm from haying to feeding to building fence. We raise or harvest about 75% of our own food and have been doing it for more than 25 years since we moved to the country from the city. (Too bad we can't produce a good dry Beaujolais' wine!)
ABS) Why organic?
ZS) When we started having kids, the significance of what we fed our children became of utmost importance. We were products of the sixties and seventies and always did have a sense of an alternate lifestyle but the coming of the kids solidified our commitment to a clean and pure environment.
We are the generation of "Silent Spring" and Paul Erlich's Zero Population Growth (ZPG) mentalities and we became aware that the earth is a closed system and that everything you do to it or put into it will be recycled back to you or your kids eventually.
In order to farm organically you have to understand the life cycle of all living things that affect your crops and livestock. That requires a deeper understanding of the ecology of your surroundings, of how best to produce healthy soils and manage pests, insects and parasites organically. We firmly believe that all the synthetic chemicals in our environment do have the potential to harm our bodies and only natural or non toxic substances are used on our farm.
Likely Page BreakMankind did not evolve with these new man-made synthetic chemicals and thus we can't tolerate them without some health consequences. Particularly worrisome is that GMO corn, soybeans and cotton are everywhere in the farm environment and they are spreading their foreign genes rampantly.
ABS) If asked by someone who knew little about organic foods, what would you tell them to convince them of its value for them and their family?
ZS) When you buy organic foods with the certified organic label, there is an assurance that the food was produced without the use of any herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. We believe that eating organic products helps in allowing a persons own body to develop good defense mechanisms to help fight off infections and diseases.
ABS) The Zen Sheep Farm also produces organic wood products. What is the single best reason to use organic wool?
ZS) It is hypoallergenic and does not emit any toxic or synthetic gases and chemicals like synthetic fabrics and fillings. Many people are very sensitive to the urethane gas that is given off by the synthetic polyester foam stuffing and other fabrics. We had a customer that was so sensitive to these synthetic fibers and fills that she actually had an entire couch made out of our organic wool.
ABS) I noted on the Zen Sheep Farm website you have a segment for Sheep Jokes - what's your favorite?
ZS) The best one is about the business consultant that didn't know a thing about the real world of farming. It's on our web site www.Zensheepfarm.com
The following is an excerpt from the website for the USDA explaining the National Organic Program.
"The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards."
That's a pretty tall order and when you consider the commitment that is involved in bringing us organic foods, perhaps the cost involved is not so hard to understand.
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