[Blue Grass Fever]

Here is a good read in regards to all things related to the economy, food and Michigan.

Local Organic Food & Farming Can Help Revitalize the Economy

Discuss and opine.....

[Crustedfilth]

thats a really good idea.

I'll be doing my garden again this year. Tons of free veggies. LOL

[michmoldman]

I seen a show a few weeks back about all the products wheat can make. They are making plastic-like bottles that are biodegradeable, and pressed wheat/wood along with quite a few other things from wheat. Not sure when these things will actually be massed produced, but could be huge for a place like Michigan.

[Cliffie]

Heck yes! This is the kind of thing I like to hear. The main challenge is going to be finding a way to make regional, organic, etc. farming competitive with the big operators. I think there's a huge foot in the door because of the "foodie" movement -- people want to buy vine-ripened heirloom peppers instead of zombi peppers from factory farms -- but it would be even better if local produce were easily affordable for your average joes and janes trying to feed 5 kids on a budget.

I've often thought about how the different units in my condo complex could each plant something different and swap like mad when the crops came in. I could do the melons, Chip would plant rutabagas, Sue would raise sweet potatoes, things like that.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever

Here is a good read in regards to all things related to the economy, food and Michigan.

Local Organic Food & Farming Can Help Revitalize the Economy

Discuss and opine.....

My issue with organic foods is how do you know they're really organic? It's not unheard of for farm raised salmon to be sold as atlantic because they can get more for it. What's to stop someone from claiming something is organic that isn't so they can sell it at a higher price?

However, I do agree with buying local. Unfortunately, we can only to that for about two months out of the year.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

I seen a show a few weeks back about all the products wheat can make. They are making plastic-like bottles that are biodegradeable, and pressed wheat/wood along with quite a few other things from wheat. Not sure when these things will actually be massed produced, but could be huge for a place like Michigan.

What about the food shortage that will happen when wheat prices go up? This one is a trade off. Like ethanol. Manufacturing ethonal will simply lead to a shortage of corn. Great if you have a greater demand for ethanol than corn but not great if people need to eat the corn.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

What about the food shortage that will happen when wheat prices go up? This one is a trade off. Like ethanol. Manufacturing ethonal will simply lead to a shortage of corn. Great if you have a greater demand for ethanol than corn but not great if people need to eat the corn.

We need to get out of the commodity and cashflow mindset when it comes to food. That, in itself, is a very big problem right now.

Michigan used to produce 85% of its own food, now you'll be lucky if it is around 15%.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

My issue with organic foods is how do you know they're really organic? It's not unheard of for farm raised salmon to be sold as atlantic because they can get more for it. What's to stop someone from claiming something is organic that isn't so they can sell it at a higher price?

However, I do agree with buying local. Unfortunately, we can only to that for about two months out of the year.

That's where the community aspect comes in. Just as one might get to know a neighbor. You'll get to know the farming method of said neighbor/farmer.

Plus, there are many other things to buy local through-out the year, it doesn't just pertain to vegetables. There are a host of other products being made seasonally.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Crustedfilth

thats a really good idea.

I'll be doing my garden again this year. Tons of free veggies. LOL

You can actually make quite a chunk of change even if your land is a city lot.

I remember reading an article of a guy who produced a few tons of produce on something that resembled a run-of-the-mill city plot. The trick was using every inch of ground and plenty of trellis and hanging baskets.

I think they call this concept "urban farming".

[Blue Grass Fever]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

. The main challenge is going to be finding a way to make regional, organic, etc. farming competitive with the big operators.

There are things that are extremely leveraged to one's advantage compared to a big business.

One is soil. On big corp. farms, the soil is dilapidated and stripped down. There's studys that show if soil nutrients are not balance, you'll end up with a product that's less protein and more carb/gluten. So healthwise, there's one advantage.

Two, big ag businesses operate on a cashflow mindset. Think of a hamster in a wheel.. The small operator can operate on profit and quality simutaneously. The gross is much more in favor for the smaller operator as well.

Those are just a few, but there's enormous upside to get into some small ag business whether it'd be bread or pasta, so much so, you're seeing a trend in the grocers buying up products from local farmers.