History of Organic Farming in America
By Anneliese Abbott
Organic History
Organic History Articles
As I work on my organic history research, I often find more information on specific topics than I will be able to include in my books. These articles are summaries of specific topics related to organic farming history. Some of them were previously published in Acres U.S.A. magazine; others were originally published as a series of blog posts on this website. The versions here have been updated and include full citations of my sources.I'm always open to suggestions for new article topics on this page.
The Indore Method of Composting
The Indore Method of Composting, developed by Sir Albert Howard in the 1920s, was the cornerstone of early organic farming. This article covers the scientific development of the Indore Method, including the influences of F. H. King, Selman A. Waksman, and the Rothamsted Experiment Station.
​
Sir Albert Howard's original concept of "humus farming" involved composting all wastes--including human excrements--to create a closed system of nutrient cycling. This article covers the history of Howard's "Law of Return," including the contributions of Justus von Liebig and the growth of the chemical fertilizer industry.
​
For His People: George Washington Carver and Organic Agriculture
George Washington Carver promoted composting, foraging, and diversified cropping systems to the impoverished Black farmers of Macon County, Alabama in the early twentieth century. This article examines Carver's background, experiment station work, and impact in the broader context of organic farming history.
​
Feeding the World: Malthusian Ideas in American Agriculture
The idea that it was the United State's responsibility to feed the world originated during and after World War II. This article covers the history of neo-Malthusianism and concerns about population growth in the wartime and postwar US.
​
Euell Gibbons: More Than Grape Nuts
Euell Gibbons is mainly remembered today for starring in a series of Grape Nuts commercials in the 1970s. But he was also almost single-handedly responsible for reviving interest in foraging wild foods and connecting organic farming to the enviornmental movement.