![i [heart] mountains](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S69e7DC5p0g/Sl6Ud907TCI/AAAAAAAABn0/HT_a-uQmVPY/S1000-R/Iheartmountains.gif)
Photo courtesy of the New York Times
If you have three spare minutes in your day, read Midwest farmer Jack Hedin's article My Forbidden Fruits (and Vegetables) from the Saturday New York Times. I've lately noticed that the demand for shares in local CSA's and for locally-grown produce in grocery stores seems to far outstrip supply, but I assumed that was simply because it is hard to get into farming and then actually make a living at it. I didn't realize that USDA and the Farm Bill are also working against small farmers trying to grow fruits and vegetables, or really anything that's not corn, wheat or soybeans. Why does it have to be so hard for the average American who doesn't have endless time and disposable income to buy and eat local, nutritious, delicious food that isn't grown using petroleum fertilizers and shipped 1500 miles? We are literally eating and drinking petroleum, not plant matter.
[My arm is getting sore from shaking my fist at the Man]
4 comments:
Shake on!
As you know, I'm living in the thick of farmers and farmland. Over Christmas at Holiday parties the gossip was all about how many farmers in the Delta are quitting cotton and planting more and more beans. (When they say beans - they always mean soy beans.) Apparently, the act of growing the cotton, with the machinery and all, is too expensive for what you get paid in the end.
But more recently, with all the talk of the farm bill, I have heard endless chatter on public radio, with farmers calling in and telling what is happening and what will happen to them because of this bill. And it is very distressing. A story this morning predicted that the real issue in the future may be that we become so dependent on the few states that produce the majority of our food, and so dependent on the imported food from other countries, that we run the risk of national starvation if our limited farms fail and our imported foods are cut off in a time of war or other global conflicts/disasters. Pretty scary stuff!
Food security is indeed a serious topic! I'm surprised that there are still farmers in MS growing cotton. Maybe we should bring back victory gardens : )
If this really grinds your crackers, then check out this campaign to contact members of Congress to address the issues with commodity farmland in the Farm Bill.
Thanks! I'll definitely be in touch with my electeds.
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