s UniteThe title of this chapter really sums up what seems to be happening in some areas of our country. Despite the sterotypes of the diverse groups of farmers and environmentalists, it seems that they are overcoming this "mis-trust" to work together. "People with wildly different backgrounds are learning more about each other as the come together to defeat common opponents". The book stated stereotypes such as farmers are often seen as stubbon and narrowminded by the environmentalist and the environmentalist are seen as people who dispense rules and don't understand what really goes on in a farm. At this point, when farm factories (CAFOs) are becoming detrimental to the environment (and the surrounding people) farmers are even known to defy the Farm Bureau to join the environmentalist to help with certain issues. It was interesting to see that in hog farming factories, 1 hog produces two to four times as much raw sewage as a human being! In reality there are only about 8,000 farms that are "certified organic", but their profits are growing 25% each year. If only the CAFOs didn't consider this "alternative" farming as risky, they could see that there are other options. Durastic change isn't going to happen over night, but it's good to see that there is common ground of interest in change on the rise.
A few questions for discussion: Would our environment change durastically if these farms went to all "organic"? What would happen to the price of food? Would organic farming really be "risky" or is it just different?
Bottom line, whether or not a farm is organic or a big factory, they are all just trying to survive. With a main issue of whether they are doing it environmentally friendly or not, regardless it has to be a combined effort on both sides.
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Jayme,
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear that these two groups are starting to come together. The more people become educated at most anything then they can make better decisions how to move forward. Good Post.
Jayme,
ReplyDeleteOrganics are becoming more popular these days, and an increase in sales of 25% shows its rise in popularity. My grandparents are farmers and often times they do not want to change their ways due to the cost of change. Money is the real barrier to the farmers doing things in a more environmentally friendly way.
I grew up in a small farm town. I think that a lot of farmers can be stubborn, but a lot of them seem to be comming around and doing the right thing. My dad sells farm supplies and I seems that there are a lot more farmers changing to organic.
ReplyDeleteJayme-
ReplyDeleteI lived in southern Alberta for a year and it is all farm land. What I came to understand was that these people are making a living and surviving economically based how their farm is producing. I think people should be educated before making any changes, butin the long run all work together in a healthier direction.
I think it's great to hear that people are starting to work together. I think with most things, it just takes a few people to get the ball rolling on a good idea like this.
ReplyDelete