Do the Buschkoetters employ “sustainable agriculture” practices on their farm?
In some respects traceable to the once-tiny organic farm movement, sustainable agriculture is now on the verge of gaining mainstream acceptability and may offer some assistance in preserving family farming and rural communities.[4] The definition of sustainable agriculture is hotly contested, but most proponents agree that it involves the use of fewer chemical fertilizers, pesticides and drug treatments for livestock. In practical terms, this tends to mean using more crop rotation to fight the effects of weeds and insects; fertilizing the soil from on-farm sources such as small groups of unconfined livestock and nitrogen-fixing legumes; using biological practices and integrated pest management; and using careful conservation techniques.[5] The Buschkoetters make good use of terracing and windbreaks to prevent soil erosion. Planting the same crop in a field year after year depletes soil fertility and multiplies insect and weed problems, requiring the use of additional fertilizer, insect
