We recently read a fascinating story about organic farming in Armenia on the excellent independent-journalism Web site ArmeniaNow.com.


A non-governmental organization called Green Lane has been establishing farmer field schools throughout the country for several years to teach techniques that not only protect the environment but that can help make small-scale farming both sustainable and profitable in Armenia’s mountainous terrain.


The folks in the picture are part of a consumer cooperative formed in 2002 to grow vegetables in the Masis region, province of Ararat. Other local efforts target a variety of crops as well as modern livestock practices.


There are also dedicated women’s farmer field schools such as one in Gargar village that’s conducting studies in growing and marketing medicinal herbs and other crops.


The all-organic effort ties in closely with similar programs in neighboring Georgia and aims to bring Armenia more closely in line with current European and world farming trends.