In New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges

[Viva_La_Revolution]

CORVALLIS, Ore. — For years, Tyler Jones, a livestock farmer here, avoided telling his grandfather how disillusioned he had become with industrial farming.

After all, his grandfather had worked closely with Earl L. Butz, the former federal secretary of agriculture who was known for saying, “Get big or get out.”

But several weeks before his grandfather died, Mr. Jones broached the subject. His grandfather surprised him. “You have to fix what Earl and I messed up,” Mr. Jones said his grandfather told him.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06farmers.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

[handmade34]

1. rec

"...the need here is pretty significant. We need to be even more creative than we’ve been to create strategies so that young people can access operations of all sizes.”


I would be in the field right now if it were possible... my passion, my dream has always been to farm... I want so much to believe great numbers of young people are interested (trying to convince my kids!!)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. K&R and bkmrkd. thanks for posting.

[bananas]

3. k&r - please post it in the environment/energy forum

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. feel free... nt

[fasttense]

5. With Russia and now Japan putting out radiation it is much more important that people eat local

organic or naturally grown foods.

Imported foods could easily contain radiation and get into processed foods. Not to mention any fresh or dried foods such as mushrooms which are directly imported to the US.

Then there is the issue of organic or naturally grown. Fertilizers are frequently imported and may contain radioactive materials. As a natural grower, I create my own fertilizer from chicken compost and other farm debris.

So it will really be important to stick with local natural farm foods for your own safety.