Table of Contents

Introduction: Organics today

Chapter 1:  The realm of organics

• The organic movement
• A systems approach
• Farm design

Chapter 2:  Soils, the basics of organics

• Soil organic matter
• Soil microbiome and Soil health*
• Compost *

Chapter 3:  Crops and cropping systems

• Plant diversity (polyculture)*
• Cropping systems*
• Cover crops*
• Plant–soil interaction
• Plant health

Chapter 4:  Pasture

• Pasture management
• Invasive species in pasture
• Rotational grazing

Chapter 5:  Livestock

• Livestock management
• Natural health prevention
• Natural healing
• Innovative housing
• Sustainability challenges

Chapter 6:  The integrated farm

• Crop-livestock rotations
• Synergies in integrated farm systems
• System resilience
• One health*

Chapter 7:  Environment

• Energy cycles *
• Greenhouse gases *
• Water availability *

Chapter 8:  Biodiversity

• Predator prey relations *
• Pollinators *
• Pest management (IPM) *
• Native species

Chapter 9:  Society

• Economic costs/benefits *
• Marketing strategies
• Integration of Organics with scale
• Farmer attitudes *
• Equity, diversity, inclusion in Organics

Chapter 10: Conversion to Organics

• The rules and methods
• Education and support
• Guidelines and milestones

Chapter 11:   Summary

(Chapters* have been written)