Benefits of Organic Foods

Organically grown food has been around since time began. It is only in the last century that chemicals have been routinely applied to foods. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the health risks associated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives applied to foods since these additives are known to leave residues of toxic chemicals in our bodies. Conventional practices of food mass-production rely on chemicals to maximize yields. The trade-off is that the soil is depleted of essential elements, significantly reducing the nutritional values in our food. The benefit of organically grown food is that it contains more vitamins and minerals, promoting optimal health for everyone. Organic farmers recognize that healthy soil is the key to healthy food and that the regular addition of high-quality compost to the soil is necessary to replenish essential nutrients.

Why Use Compost?

Quality soil can happen naturally but it is based on one main equation: what you take out, you must put back in. The addition of organic matter via compost provides soil with a positive environment for plant growth. Compost feeds the soil, builds structure and helps provide an ongoing supply of the nutrients your plants need. Using approved organic compost ensures that only natural organic elements are being added to your soil.

Benefits of Compost

Improved Plant and Root Growth

Compost adds not only organic material to the soil but it adds trace elements such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron, which are required for root development and plant growth.

Reduced Rate of Nutrient Release

Compost binds the nutrients in the soil ensuring that they are available over a longer period of time for the plants to utilize them. This also helps prevent nutrients from running off in surface water during rain.

Improved Soil Porosity

Microbial activity is essential for fertile soil. Microorganisms break down organic materials making the nutrients in these materials available to plants. Compacted soil does not allow the water and air required by soil microorganisms to penetrate below the soil surface. Because compost consists of many different sized particles, it has a porous structure that helps to increase soil porosity.

Improved Water Retention Capacity

The organic matter in compost can soak up water during rain or watering and hold it for the use of the plants during dry periods.

Plant Disease Suppression

Research has shown that compost can inhibit the incidence of plant diseases.

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*Some of the information provided here has been used with the permission of the Composting Council of Canada.