How to Boost Your Farm’s Eco Credentials

We think of farms as inherently earth-friendly, but this isn’t automatically the case. Sometimes, the farm does above average damage to the environment. The good news is that there have been plenty of developments in recent years, and now it’s more than possible to run a farm that has a low carbon footprint, especially if it’s a small farm. Whether you’re already on the path towards being eco-friendly or it’s the first time you’ve thought about it, take a read below, where we outline some useful tips for reducing your farm’s carbon footprint. 

Grow the Right Things

We think of farming in pretty one-dimension terms; the truth is that it’s a varied industry to be in. There are many different types of farming, and different types of methods, too. As such, it’s worthwhile looking at just how intensive your current farming practices are. For example, if you’re currently cultivating meat, then it could be worth looking at making the transition towards plant-based products, which are significantly less damaging to the environment (actually, they’re not even comparable). There’s been a big shift towards vegan diets in recent years, so there should be a market, no matter where you live.  

Making the Most of Mother Nature

The great thing about mother nature is that it...provides essentially everything that we need to live well on this earth, and everything we need to farm. To boost your farm’s eco-credentials, take a look at utilizing the elements into your farming practices. For example, you could get a rainwater tank from National Poly Industries. It makes little sense to pay to receive water from other sources if you can get all you need from the sky! It’s just the means of collecting and storing rainwater that has historically been a problem, but now there’s an effective method.     

Energy Sources

It takes a lot of energy to do, well, just about anything! But especially on a farm, which involves a lot of different, complex processes. There’s no getting around the fact that you will need a lot of energy; it’s out of your hands. But what is in your hands is how you produce that energy. You might be connected to the grid, but you won’t need to use that energy. If you’re out in a wide-open farm, then you may be able to get the bulk of your energy from solar panels. This will help to reduce your environmental impact even further. 

No Waste

One issue that many farms have is one of wastages. A recent study showed that many farms were highly ineffective; they were wasting too much of what they were producing because of poor storage options or overly high standards -- an apple doesn’t have to look like the perfect piece of fruit in order to be sold. No-one will care if it’s an odd shape if it’s tasty! Look at changing your practices so that you make the most of all that you produce. Your farm will be bona fide eco-friendly, and you’ll be showing others how it’s done, too.