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"I'd like to hear the preztell this country that Job Number One for us is getting more Americans into agriculture at the small, local scale. Translation: dismantle agri-business. Otherwise, we're going to have a lot of starving people across this land. That might seem like a strange destination for America, but I suppose that's why there's all the kicking and screaming."
We had alot of gardens, truck farms and critters not too many years ago
Never going to happen.......Gardening is hard work. The average American is to darn lazy to raise thier own food!!!!!
there alot of lazy people who don't to work at anything such as job or a garden.
It can be fun to say no work, not alot of food......even the economics can be and issue as food is still cheap. Well into the 60's and much later women were even taught home economics to keep the family prosperous and full.
The scale would need to tilt to where work and productively pay.
Alot of food did come from truck gardens and local farms well into the 60's. If the dollar slides as a world currency and gas goes up. The equation changes. Even in the 60's quite a few people would comment their vegetables cost way more then if they had just went to the store
Now it is watching someone pay twice as much for groceries then I do, and pay with the food stamp card. Too many "slick" people are busy working the system.
There is alot of push out there to get people to garden with almost zero results.
Not only will the prez NOT tell people to do that, but the corporatocracy does everything it can to prevent that from happening. I refer to to the USDA with their Animal ID and APHIS programs. Just google this stuff and you'll find plenty on it. They don't want small family farms in existence any more.
Their idea of how we should eat is Monsanto-GMO food, wrapped in plastic, raised with petro-chemical fertilizers and pesticides, bought with worthless paper money at supermarkets. This they feel equals CONTROL. If they can't control your food, they figure they can't control YOU (which is probably true). They sure as heck don't want you going off and becoming self-sufficient on them!
Not only will the prez NOT tell people to do that, but the corporatocracy does everything it can to prevent that from happening. I refer to to the USDA with their Animal ID and APHIS programs. Just google this stuff and you'll find plenty on it. They don't want small family farms in existence any more.
Their idea of how we should eat is Monsanto-GMO food, wrapped in plastic, raised with petro-chemical fertilizers and pesticides, bought with worthless paper money at supermarkets. This they feel equals CONTROL. If they can't control your food, they figure they can't control YOU (which is probably true). They sure as heck don't want you going off and becoming self-sufficient on them!
I think the rumors of the demise of the family garden and local small AG are premature; though, I agree that on levels larger than backyard production for personal use they are being actively discouraged by our federal government. Perhaps your experience in your part of the country is different? I thought "local dairy" was really taking off in the Northeast.
If anything I think we are beginning to see a resurgence in home gardening and home food preservation. In my metro area the farmers markets have grown substantially in size of participants and of customers alike. In my state county extention offices have not been able to keep up with the demand for home canning and food preservation classes x 2 years.
Take a look on eBay and you'll see some pretty competative bidding for the higher quality home pressure canners.
The edible landscaping trend (fruit trees instead of ornamentals & berry bushes instead of traditional shrubs) is beginning to gain a foothold too. Afterall, if you have to invest money to landscape your yard why not make a cut in your grocery store bill at the same time?
Turning yards into productive plots should be a no-brainer. If one has a limited income and has to pay for water usage it makes sense to me to put that water to GOOD use. And a lawn is not it. Especially with food prices that keep rising at the drop of a hat.
Fruit trees & bushes, garden beds with permanent producers like asparagus etc. that makes more sense to me. Instead of froo-froo type pets, raising chickens,rabbits gives more "bang for the buck" and time invested.
And for those that think they have to have a showcase yard it CAN be done with garden crops. Flowers are needed for both attracting good bugs (think bees for pollination) and deterring the bad ones.
Edible landscaping is far more common in the rest of the world than it is here. Even pioneers in this country had gardens surrounding their homes instead of lawns like we have today!
"I'd like to hear the preztell this country that Job Number One for us is getting more Americans into agriculture at the small, local scale. Translation: dismantle agri-business. Otherwise, we're going to have a lot of starving people across this land. That might seem like a strange destination for America, but I suppose that's why there's all the kicking and screaming."
We had alot of gardens, truck farms and critters not too many years ago
Without going into the reasons why this will NEVER happen, I have to say that I for one would be happy if I could get a great loan that an established farmer can get (very low interest etc.). In all states (as far as I can tell) there are a lot of programs to get beginning small farmers help, BUT, you have to show that you have worked on a commercial farm operation for at least three years to be considered a beginner farmer...
"I'd like to hear the prez tell this country that Job Number One for us is getting more Americans into agriculture at the small, local scale. Translation: dismantle agri-business. Otherwise, we're going to have a lot of starving people across this land.
I sure would be interested in an explanation of why "we're going to have a lot of starving people across this land." It's one thing to make a wild statement, and quite another thing to have a logical connecting of the dots to support and validate the statement. As it is, the person quoted sounds like a nut case. Of course, he could turn out to be right; it's just that there is no argument presented which would make sense of the statement. Does someone want to present that line of reasoning for me?
I sure would be interested in an explanation of why "we're going to have a lot of starving people across this land." It's one thing to make a wild statement, and quite another thing to have a logical connecting of the dots to support and validate the statement. As it is, the person quoted sounds like a nut case. Of course, he could turn out to be right; it's just that there is no argument presented which would make sense of the statement. Does someone want to present that line of reasoning for me?
He writes with wit and humour. It is best to read him in context. He writes a weekly column lampooning the current situation.
There is some real truth, that food now for most people comes over long distances paid for by the reserve currency of planet. With individual expections not alot of food is locally grown and consumed. As recentlyas the 60's most really was. You bought it grown nearby in season for fruits and vegetables or paid alot.
If buying power of the dollar is reduced such as becomes part of a basket of currencies rather then the main one. The one unforgivable thing Sadaam Hussien made noise about was trying to denominate oil sales in something other then dollars.
If we do continue to have a slow decline where incomes go down and prices go up. We could all eat quite well with more local ag.
It is downright stupid and not likely sustainable that all kinds of fruits vegetables and meat can be grown and shipped to the USA cheaper then growing local forerver. As far as starvation itself,may be overblown. But would in imho like to see some people loose wieght.
Like with the city farming guys, look what some people have made out of some large old houses in a slum. Likely cost less then a moderately nice car.
Only a fews year ago and area filled with vicious leeches and deadbeats who whine about thier handouts not being up to the standards they would like to become accustomed too.
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I agree for now, but
