tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post4124186082918018075..comments2023-11-07T06:51:41.301-06:00Comments on The Beginning Farmer: The Global Food Crisis and Small FarmsEthan Bookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01333115493519268802noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post-79409588496291016862008-07-01T10:10:00.000-05:002008-07-01T10:10:00.000-05:00Great thoughts Farm Mama ... keep them coming!Great thoughts Farm Mama ... keep them coming!Ethan Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333115493519268802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35188043.post-73509493345571174552008-06-29T06:58:00.000-05:002008-06-29T06:58:00.000-05:00I believe that the small, diversified farm can def...I believe that the small, diversified farm can definitely be part of the answer, especially in the long run. Healthy food can be produced without destroying the land and without consuming large amounts of oil based products in fertilizing, herbicides, packaging and transporting long distances. It can also enable consumers to access healthy, delicious food and support their neighbors and stimulate the local economy at the same time. I became committed to buying local and eating seasonally after reading Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" about a year ago. <BR/> I hate the high gas prices as much as anyone else, but the silver lining may be that it is bringing home the reality that we cannot sustain our consumption of energy at the current rate. The rising food prices also help make the food produced by the small farmer more attractive from an economic standpoint.<BR/> We all need to reach out and help the hungry in developing countries, but far better to do it by giving them an animal, seeds or helping develop farming skills than to hand out food. (Their government officials are also far less likely to try to profit from any handouts, also.)farm mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14283516534670969257noreply@blogger.com