Issues related to supporting our local sustainable farmers
Hi,
Recently I came across this Op-Ed in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/opinion/01hedin.html?em&ex=1204779600&...) regarding a small organic farmer's challenges in dealing with the Department of Agricultural in using farming land to grow non-commodity crops. Since one of the goals of a local sustainable community is to support the local farmers, I am curious as to any ideas from our group as to how we might be able to assist our local farmers in dealing with these issues. At our last meeting, there was some discussion as to how BSLC might be able to work with Rural Roots or the Treasure Valley Food Coalition. But are we "organized" enough to contribute a useful presence?
So the goal of this forum is to start a discussion to garner ideas, thoughts, reasons, or just high-reaching dreams as to promoting this concept of local sustainability, and how to support our local providers of these sustainable goods in ways beyond just purchasing their products.
Scott
Boise Sustainable Living Community
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March 11th, 2008
Thanks for bringing this up,
Thanks for bringing this up, Scott. I had no idea. And to be sure, the issues are complex and far reaching.
I've been doing some digging and came up with this website that seems useful for getting up to speed on the issue.
http://www.farmandfoodproject.org/farm_bill_overview.asp
From that website comes this quote from Michael Pollan:
To speak of the farm bill's influence on the American food system does not begin to describe its full impact--on the environment, on global poverty, even on immigration...And though we don't ordinarily think of the farm bill in these terms, few pieces of legislation have as profound an impact on the American landscape and environment...
And the most helpful overview I've been able to find is here: http://www.ecoliteracy.org/publications/rsl/dan_imhoff_farm_bill.html
I'd be interested in hearing from local producers, too. I'm curious how this impacts our local farmers like Mike Heath and Beth Rasgorshek.
As far as influencing our elected state officials, I've given up on anything sane coming from that quarter. We can't even seem to vote them out. I'd be curious as to how they've voted, but I'm not very hopeful on this front. Someone surprise me.
March 10th, 2008
Interesting and disturbing
Interesting and disturbing article, Scott.
I'm not an activist, nor am I what you would call "politically savvy." So I'm not sure how to approach an issue like this in a political way that would get any kind of results. However, a couple of comments come to mind.
First, I think purchasing their products at a fair and unsubsidized price would be a reasonable start. If we make it possible for organic farmers to make ends meet without suckling at the government's teet this would not be a problem. Recently there was a conversation among some of this group's members about the actual cost of stuff...not the subsidized cost, but the actual cost of stuff. Unfortunately, most of us are spoiled and would fall into seizures if we were faced with buying produce at a price that actually covered the cost of growing it and getting it to market sans subsidies. I think most of the foods we are talking about would be cost prohibitive for a large segment of the population.
Secondly, I think that it's safe to say that a majority of the subsidies go to large-scale, corporate farming operations and not to farms like Casey O's or Peaceful Belly. And it's these small, local operations that are the most sustainable. These are the operations we want to support and encourage -- not the large, government-subsidized operations that ship their questionably-organic product across the country.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." -Marianne Williamson
www.idahoenergycomplex.net
Greening Up
March 9th, 2008
Local Sustainable Farmers
It would be interesting to involve some of the local farmers in this discussion. Have they experienced this problem in Idaho? The Rice Family farm in between Meridian and Kuna comes to mind. They grow organic fruit and vegetables, and the farm has been in the family for three generations. This family probably hasn't ever participated in the Federal subsidy program so they have probably been free to decide what they grow on their land. I wonder if they wanted to expand and use some of their neighbors land to grow more fruit and vegetables if they would run into the same problem that the man from Minnesota did?
I will send your posting to Casey O'Leary, a local organic farmer, and see if she responds. What the BSLC could do for local farmers is be there to support them: write letters to legislators, research, provide funding, network/make contacts, etc. Many of the members of the BSLC were involved in bringing Dr. Helen Caldicott to Boise to speak and inform the public of the dangers of nuclear energy. So this group is capable of having a voice for sustainable agriculture and making things happen locally if needed.