Mission and Guiding Principles

of The Organic Field School

at Gardens of Eagan

The Organic Field School at Gardens of Eagan is dedicated to transforming our food and farming systems by providing organic and ecologically based, practical education and research to farmers and to teaching the benefits and values of ecological and organic farming systems to the public.
(June 28, 2009)

Guiding Principles

Community Model and Access

•    Food purchasers, organizations, farmers, policy makers, educators and the businesses that have roles in the local, organic food system – all benefit from having access to a successful, economically viable, working, organic farm. Each plays a key role in the food system we wish to create.
•    Citizens need a connection to ecological and organic farmers in order for more people to choose organic products and thus transform food and farming systems.
•    Farmers need credible farming models of environmentally and economically viable organic agriculture systems in order for more farmers to choose to farm organically and thus transform food and farming systems.

Education

•    The transformation of our food and farming systems into one based on organic and ecological farming inherently involves public education.
•    Beginning and transitioning farmers need experience based education and practical information to successfully manage their organic farms.
•    Existing farmers need ongoing training, educational enrichment and professional development opportunities.

Health

•    More people are recognizing that diet, health, agriculture and the environment are directly connected and that the food system they support determines how the Earth is used.
•    Reducing the widespread use and abuse of toxic agricultural inputs will benefit human health and the environment.
•    Credible scientific data regularly shows increased nutrition levels in organically grown foods.
•    Increasing the amount of farmland in regional, organic production will benefit human health and the ecosystem.

Economy and Environment

•    Economic sustainability always includes environmental sustainability.
•    The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people. (NOSB)
•    Increasing organic production contributes to mitigation and adaption to climate change.
•    Biological diversity reduces vulnerability and increases resilience.
•    Regional, ecologically based, organic food and farming systems support an economic transition toward a secure, sustainable and equitable food future.

Interactions

•    Community, education, health, economy and environment are all connected and inter-related.