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An organic farmer and author from the Maine coast spoke about his experiences in agriculture to a group of more than 40 University of Maine students Thursday evening.
Eliot Coleman, operator of the Four Season Farm in Harborside, Maine and author of “The New Organic Grower” and “Four Season Harvest” spoke for the Progressive Student Alliance’s (PSA) fourth event in its Peace and Progress week. The event was cosponsored by the Sustainable Agriculture Enthusiasts.
Coleman addressed the topic of sustainable agriculture, both from his perspective running his acre-and-a-half coastal Maine farm and his travels throughout Europe.
Drawing on his personal experiences as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and studying European organic farming methods, Coleman described ways farmers can achieve large crop-yields with few weeds and pests. He said this could be accomplished even under difficult growing conditions and with small plots of land.
“If people ask me the secrets of successful small farming, I tell them it’s just like any other business: attention to details,” Coleman said.
Coleman demonstrated how he can get 14-and-a-half month’s use out of his land in 12 months. He achieves this by using movable greenhouses he has designed to grow crops inside during the winter and outside during the summer.
Another example was his technique for convincing artichokes – which often are not grown in Maine – that they have experienced two years of growth in a one-year period.
He does not use pesticides on any of the crops he grows. He said crop rotation and the proper soil conditions ensure that pests do not ruin his crops.
Coleman tied all of his specific examples together into a defense of the practice of organic farming, which he said was a practical option.
“Anyone who thinks you can’t feed the world organically has no idea what they’re talking about,” Coleman said.
Coleman spoke of his interest in ski racing and other outdoor activities he participated in earlier in his life. Eventually this interest in more extreme sports led him to the more relaxed outdoor activity of organic farming.
“I got a piece of land and got started working on it, and it turned out to be the greatest adventure I ever went on,” Coleman said.
Members of PSA found the lecture tied in well with the theme of their Peace and Progress week.
“It was real, productive knowledge that a person could utilize to live in harmony with nature. … It can be done, and that’s progress,” PSA member Jeff Hake said.
Another member, Samantha Edith Hansen, said, “I think this was our most popular event.”
The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer period. Many of those in attendance had thorough knowledge of agricultural practices, and asked specific questions about Coleman’s techniques and experiences.
