It’s important to recognise that ‘organic’ doesn’t automatically mean environmentally friendly.
In other words, your organic quinoa is most likely shipped in from South America, representing significant food miles. You're probably buying organic beef from an animal who's diet comprises 40% cereals that have been grown on land that could have been used to grow crops to directly feed people and used significant fossil fuels to plough, sow and harvest.
Many organic vegetables are grown as monocultures on farms that do not integrate livestock into the rotation, which are essential for nutrient cycling, sequestering carbon and keeping soils truly healthy and regenerative. And organic standards allow for many derogations including, and especially for sheep, systemic insecticidal fly sprays and wormers that damage soil life and that are not declared on the food label.
At Smiling Tree, we certainly practise organic, permaculture and holistic farming methods. However, we strive to go 'beyond organic' by looking beyond the basic requirements to obtain certification. With careful consideration of the specific conditions, soils and climate of the farm, we mindfully choose our breeds and farming methods to ensure that our activities are sustainable and regenerative. We aim to keep our animals healthy naturally and to produce nutrient-rich food from a closed-loop, carbon-neutral, local, seasonal, antibiotic and medication-free system. We also produce all our own power and harvest over 80% of our water needs.