Presented by

Hello! My name is Adam and I’m a CCOF Certified Organic Farmer. I’d like to welcome you out to the farm to teach you all

about Organic food and farming.

If you don’t know about Organics, don’t worry! I’ll explain everything as we go along.

To start with…Organic Farmers believe in the use of “renewable resources”. They protect the soil and water so we can keep our environment healthy. Since 1973, CCOF has been supporting organic farmers and ensuring the quality of organic foods. CCOF has produced this activity book to teach you about where organic food comes from. To learn more visit www.ccof.org.

Organic Farming is a way to produce healthy and delicious foods by using natural farming methods. Organic foods are grown and produced without the use of antibiotics, synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewer sludge or bioengineering. Today, many farmers are making the switch to organic (maybe even in your own city)!!

Organic food is good for the environment, local businesses, farms, and especially YOU! Organic food supports healthy people and a healthy planet. Come find out just how we do it!

Healthy and fertile soil is the cornerstone of organic farming. Soil does more than just provide a material for plants to grow in. It has other amazing qualities that affect plant growth too. Here are just a few of the physical qualities of soil:

Besides physical properties, some of soil’s most important characteristics are its chemical properties. Different soils have different amounts of available mineral nutrients in them. These nutrients are taken up through the roots and are essential for a plant’s growth and health. Think of them like the important vitamins that we humans need to stay healthy. Some common nutrients found in the soil are:

Nutrients like Nitrogen and Phosphorous help plants grow bigger and faster. Potassium can protect plants from diseases, Calcium strengthens cell walls, and Magnesium is needed for growth. Organic farmers use natural methods to control the levels of nutrients in their soils. No artifi cial fertilizers are used. Instead, we have millions of “little helpers” that keep the soil healthy and fertile. You will meet them on the next page!

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. Soil water holding capacity determines how much water can be held and is available to plants.

2. Soil provides a physical shield against various toxins that can harm plants.

3. Soil texture and structure aide in plant “respiration” (breathing).

Super Soil

Calcium (Ca) Nitrogen (N)Phosphorous (P)

Magnesium (Mg)

Potassium (K)

Question: Non-organic farmers rely on artifi cial fertilizers to put more Nitrogen and Phosphorous into the soil. Why is artifi cial fertilizer use a problem? Circle the correct answer.

It runs off into oceans, rivers and streams It releases gases into the air.

A B

• The nutrients (N&P) make algae grow.• The algae uses up lots of the oxygen that fi sh need to live.• The algae blocks sunlight from reaching underwater plants

and can be toxic to some fi sh.

• These gases are known as greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, NOx).• These gases are known to cause “global warming”.• Some of the gases cause smog and air pollution.

The correct answer is A and B! Artifi cial fertilizers can do all of the above.

Conservation, a Bird’s Eye ViewOrganic farmers understand that biodiversity is key to their success. This does not just mean variety in food crops. Organic

farmers are very active in increasing the diversity of wild plant and animal species on the farm. They know than an organic farm is not just a place to grow food, but also a habitat for many other living creatures. All of these creatures create the healthy environment that a farmer needs to grow food.

Organic farmers plant and maintain wild areas thatcontain diverse wildfl owers, grasses, trees and shrubs. These areas are perfect homes formany species of insects,birds and mammals.

• Organic farms are great places for birds to live because there are no toxic pesticides to harm them.

• Large birds, like owls and hawks, are important signs of a healthy environment.

• Organic farmers help these special birds by creating bird boxes for them.

• Bird boxes provide nesting sites and homes for birds like the Barn Owl.

• The Barn Owl helps the farmer by eating rodents- like mice and gophers- who damage crops.

1. 2. 3.

Draw an abdomen Draw a thorax Draw the head

4. 5. 6.

Give your bee some stripes Draw 2 wings, 2 atennae Finish the wings+ 6 legs Add an eye GREAT JOB!

Busy BeesPollination is the transfer of pollen between male and female fl owers. The act of pollination is very important for plants to

produce seeds and fruits. But who does all this hard work? BEES, of course!! Bees travel from fl ower to fl ower to search for nectar and carry pollen with them as they go. Some of your favorite foods, like watermelons and cherry tomatoes, need bees to pollinate them. Honeybees and bumble bees are the most commonly known pollinators. Thanks to them, we enjoy delicious fruits, nuts, vegetables and honey!!

Sadly, many bee populations in North America are decreasing. Native bees -those who originally live in a given area- are especially in danger. Habitat loss, toxic pesticides and herbicides are surely to blame. Many bees are poisoned by toxic pesticides while visiting fl owers on farms. Some pesticides kill bees in the crops while others contaminate the pollen and nectar that bees bring back to their hives. Herbicide use and habitat loss leave bees with less food to eat and fewer places to nest.

Organic farms are often close to native bees’ wild habitats, and bees often visit organic farms in search of fl owers. On organic farms, farmers value our hard-working friends. That is why we don’t use toxic pesticides or herbicides that can harm them. Organic farms are a place where all types of bees can grow and live happily and healthfully.

Activity: Draw your own pollinator! Follow the steps below to make a very cool bee. (You might want to grab an extra piece of paper for your drawing).

Did you know?1. Nearly ¾ of our crops are pollinated by bees2. A bee beats its wings 11,000 cycles per minute. Try moving

your arms that fast!3. Worker bees do a special dance when they return to the hive.

The dance instructs other bees where they can fi nd food.

Where can I buy organic food?Organic food is becoming more available all over the United States. Organic food could usually only be found at health-

food stores and specialty stores. Now organic food can be found at your corner grocery store and supermarket.

A GREAT place to fi nd a variety of fresh, delicious organic food is directly from a farmer at a farmers market. Farmers markets have been around for centuries and are starting to become more common in the United States once again. Farmers markets are local gatherings at public places, like parks, where farmers sell their produce and goods directly to the public. Some towns have farmers markets as often as once or twice a week. To fi nd a farmers market near you, visit www.localharvest.org and www.ccof.org.

Activity: This organic farmer has a lot of great produce to sell. Can you help him fi nd his way to the farmers market in town? Guide him through the tricky streets—but be sure not to run into any roadblocks or stop signs, you won’t be able to pass.

Why are farmers markets so great?• Food is FRESH! Most conventional produce travels 1500 miles before it reaches stores. Food

from other countries has to travel even further and can take many days to reach stores. • Shopping at farmers markets saves valuable fuel! All the traveling that the foods in supermar-

kets do wastes a lot of oil and gasoline, precious natural resources that are becoming scarce. • There is great VARIETY! You can fi nd unusual produce at farmers markets that you can’t at

grocery stores.• They support small farmers and strengthen local community and economy.

Word Hunt! Activity: Can you dig up the dirt on Organic Farming? Look for the words in the box on your

right. All of these words have to do with things we learned about soil. You will fi nd the words up, down, left, right, or even diagonally. Good luck!

O R G A W I E R U T X E T F

M R O W H T R A E J K S U L

I E G V A G B A G I O N N Q

O D K A A P Q K A P G J N M

R O J A N N T G M U V G I U

G T T D A I E O S D I R T I

A A I R E T C A B I E I R C

N M S O L A L S H B U P O L

I E Y O O D K H L P G V G A

S N U T R I E N T S Y U E C

M N M S Z P J K L Y G H N F

1. Dirt2. Nutrients3. Bacteria4. Fungus5. Earthworm6. Nitrogen7. Organism8. Calcium9. Nematode10. Compost11. Hyphae12. Organic13. Roots14. Texture

COMPOST is simply a pile of decomposing organic matter. It has a very special purpose for organic farmers. For all the great food we take out of the soil, we have to put something back in to replenish it. Composting is the natural process by which we return nutrients and fine organic material back to the earth. Using Compost improves soil’s “water holding capacity”, structure, texture and fertility. Basically, we are recycling our own waste. The compost heap is made of things that bacteria, fungi, insects and worms like to eat: old fruit, old vegetables, and leaf litter! We occasionally turn the pile to keep the air flowing. The final product of composting is a rich, earthy, fertile material called HUMUS. Plants love it!

Activity: unscramble the words below to discover good things to put in compost.

1. IRAH ______________ 4. PALEP EROC ______________2. KAO VELEAS ______________ 5. ANNABA LEPE ______________ 3. GGE LHSESL ______________ 6. OTPAOT ISSNK ______________

Crossword Puzzle Activity: For your fi nal activity you will need to think hard to remember everything you have

learned about organic farming. All the words you need can be found in the box on the right.

Across

2. Farmers ________ their crops to reduce pest and disease-outbreaks and to balance nutrients in the soil.

3. Organic farmers do not use these toxic chemicals to kill pests.

6. Organic farmers do not use chemical________ to add nutrients to the soil.

7. Soil ________ are creatures that maintain the health of the soil.

9. ______ insects can help farmers control pests.

12. Composting is a great way for farmers to reduce __________.

13. These special birds make their homes on organic farms and hunt rodents.

14. Bees are very important because they _________ fl owers to make fruits and seeds.

Down

1. These important soil organisms improve soil structure and make soil more fertile.

4. Food found at farmers markets conserves this because it does not travel far.

5. Organic farmers build these to provide habitats for wild birds.

6. This machine kills weeds with fi re.

8. Healthy ______ is the fountain of organic farming.

9. ______, or “the variety of living things”, is key to keeping a healthy environment.

10. _______ is used to feed the soil organisms that make nutrients available to plants.

11. Organic farmers can ________ weeds to avoid disrupting the soil, damaging the crop and using herbicides.

Now that you are fi nished, write down the letters that appear in the bubbles

from the puzzle above. You will need them on the next page.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

compostbenefi cialhandpullwastepollinatebarnowlsfl ameweederenergyorganismspesticidessoilbirdboxesrotatebiodiversityworms

Planting the Seeds… Organic farmers have discovered a lot of great methods of growing food and managing land. These methods actually

improve the quality and health of our environment. Organic farming conserves soil and other precious natural resources, improves wildlife, and keeps our land, water and air free of toxic chemicals. Everywhere, organic farmers are planting the seeds for a brighter tomorrow. But organic farmers can’t do it alone, they need the support of their communities to make a positive change. You can help them in their goal to make a healthy planet by spreading the word about organic farming. Together, we can make sure that our world is healthy and fruitful for generations to come.

Spread the good news about organic agriculture. Fill in the blanks with the letters from the previous page in order to complete the secret message!

SA_E _HE _L_NET

EAT __GAN__!!

GlossaryDon’t fret if you don’t recognize some of the words I say. Many of the boldface words are probably unfamiliar.

Here is a list to help you understand what they mean. Words are listed alphabetically under the title of the page they appear on. Some common words are listed before the pages.

Biodiversity The total variety of all living things. The most common way biodiversity is measured is by the number of species in a given area.

Herbicides Chemicals that are designed to kill unwanted plants, like weeds.

Organic matter/material Dead residue that is left from once-living plants and animals. This is a very important part of the soil.

Pesticides Chemicals that are designed to kill unwanted insects. (Toxic chemical pesticides do not break down in the environment easily; they can last for many years and spread off of farm sites).

Super SoilMineral nutrients Elements found in the soil that are needed to maintain plant growth and health. These elements are absorbed through the plant’s roots.

Structure Determines how soil particles are grouped or clumped together and how much space is found between the groupings.

Texture The distribution of soil particle size.

Toxins Any chemical substance that is harmful or poisonous to a living thing.

Water holding capacity Determines the soil’s ability to hold water.

Soil SafariDecomposition The process by which dead organic material (residue from plants and animals) is broken down by bacteria and fungus.

Photosynthesis The process by which plants make sugars (food) out of sunlight.

Soil organisms Small or microscopic organisms that play important roles in the creation and maintenance of soil and soil health.

Word Hunt!Humus The fi nal product of composting. Dark material that is decomposed plant and animal matter. This material contains mineral nutrients and improves the ability of soil to hold water.

Important InsectsLarvae The early stage of many insects before they reach adulthood. Larvae often look like worms.

Busy BeesAbdomen The lower part of an insect’s (bee’s) body that contains the reproductive and digestive organs.

Thorax The middle part of an insect’s (bee’s) body. This is where the wings are attached.

On the FarmCover Crops Crops grown to improve the soil and improve conditions for other crops.

Topsoil The upper part of the soil that is ideal for growing plants.

Conservation, a Bird’s-Eye ViewHabitat The area where a particular organism or creature lives or can be found.