Organics and Food

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Organic Food Productions Act defines organic agriculture as "an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity." According to a 15 year Rodale Institute study, organic agriculture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and uses 50 percent less energy than conventional farming methods. Conventional farming methods use chemical pesticides that kill microorganisms responsible for keeping carbon in the soil, as well as other species vital to the ecosystem. An organic diet is free of these harmful pesticides and hormones that are commonly found in everything from dairy and meat to vegetables and fruit. To promote the use of organic products, Earth Day Network cosponsors the ongoing Go Organic! Campaign for Earth Day and has lesson plans and fun activities devoted to organics education.

• What’s in your Food, What’s in your Body Environmental Jeopardy

• Organic Food, Organic Lifestyle Environmental Jeopardy

• Organics 101

Back to Lessons by Theme

Looking for lesson plans by discipline? Click here!

Learn how to Go Organic for Earth Day!

Perform "Walden" the play at your school