Growers First Inc.
P.O. Box 4227
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
Phone: 949.551.1085
Email: info@growersfirst.org
Environment
In the remote areas of developing countries, issues involving the environment are rarely, if ever, part of the thought process. For most, their thoughts are mainly on survival. At Growers First, part of our mission is to show that oftentimes, what is best for the environment can also be best for the farmer.
These practices include:
- Organic farming - Avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilizers is good for the environment and can lead to a 25% premium in price in the market.
- Intercropping - Planting secondary trees along side coffee trees in is actually better for the crop yield and improves the carbon footprint of the area at the same time.
- Water Solutions – conservation and management of crop irrigation and water used in processing can create efficiency and productivity.
Environmental stewardship has the benefit of aiding the farmers in their crop productivity, and increasing the value while at the same time avoiding negative impact on the ecosystem.
Organic Practices
Growers First’s training focuses on the dual benefit of using organic practices - which increases the value of their crops – and at the same time has a positive impact on the environment. One way of helping to keep toxins out of the ecosystem is by using organic fertilizers rather than chemicals. Also, using organic methods of pest control helps keep the environment cleaner. Using controlled irrigation and terracing methods helps keep water runoff and soil erosion to a minimum and reduces contamination of streams and rivers. These benefits encourage environmental stewardship.
Intercropping
Intercropping is another area that has the dual effect of helping the grower’s crops and the environment at the same time. Since trees are the main source of converting the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into oxygen, increasing the number of trees on a given farm, reduces its carbon footprint and improves air quality.
Unknown to many remote indigenous growers, some commodity crops – like coffee – actually produce a more valuable product if they are grown in the shade of taller trees. Intercropping is the practice of planting additional tree crops on the same acreage as an existing crop.
Water Solutions
Water issues an important area of focus in the overall Growers First process. We look at solutions to address:
- Using controlled irrigation and terracing helps keep water runoff and soil erosion to a minimum and reduces contamination of streams and rivers.
- After the cleaning process, the waste materials are separated from the water which can be filtered and reused, significantly reducing the consumption of water and keeping waste products out of the ecosystem.
- Making potable water accessible to growers and families.
