tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post1932701541689342728..comments2024-03-08T23:02:52.735-06:00Comments on Little Blog In The Big Woods: "conventional" farming gets pricey-Greenpahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224906349154302210noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-72726191254906016012008-05-10T06:23:00.000-05:002008-05-10T06:23:00.000-05:00Everyone with a superior attitude about "organics"...Everyone with a superior attitude about "organics" needs to read this refutation and really contemplate why they are farming organically:<BR/><BR/>http://www.skepdic.com/organic.html<BR/><BR/>I am an organic gardener, and I work at a local organic farm. But I am under no illusions that the food is "better." <BR/><BR/>Most organics claims sound rather like religion.<BR/><BR/>I have no hope that organics can feed the world: BUT, if population controls were put into place AND millions of Americans would suddenly be willing to do the labor that we long-time farmers have done, then I would gladly eat my words.<BR/><BR/>Until then, I garden organically because it is about as close to independent as I'll ever become.<BR/><BR/>Mike in MaineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-71256164655374085882008-05-06T15:29:00.000-05:002008-05-06T15:29:00.000-05:00Excellent post!! My hubby and I are looking to hom...Excellent post!! My hubby and I are looking to homestead, and for city-dwellers, this kind of info is really invaluable. Thanks!!Valerie Robersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400026383513835586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-91220515534837561702008-05-06T06:18:00.000-05:002008-05-06T06:18:00.000-05:00I've been reading some Wendell Berry essays from "...I've been reading some Wendell Berry essays from "The Gift of Good Land". Very interesting reading, in light of our current energy/food/soil issues. Sad, too - many of the points he brings up are still applicable, and nothing has really changed in the 30 or so years since they were written. I had my doubts about reading something "so old" but it turns out that so many of the same issues are still there (only bigger). Berry doesn't talk about organic per se, but does rail against giant agribusiness, the use of pesticides & fertilizer, and our giant ongoing soil erosion problem - all solved by small-scale subsistence-type farming. He makes a good argument for the all natural small family farm.<BR/><BR/>In response to the hog farmers in MN - I wonder how their current issues tie in with the surplus of pork in Canada. I've heard that the Canadian gov't is paying their hog farmers to kill their pigs by fall because there is too much Canadian pork on the market and prices have plummeted. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89713037<BR/><BR/>Apparantly, a lot of that pork is headed across the southern border into the U.S.kaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09238416749475781275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-4735250126444786412008-05-05T10:55:00.000-05:002008-05-05T10:55:00.000-05:00Mud Mama- welcome! :-)RC- I had wondered where yo...Mud Mama- welcome! :-)<BR/><BR/>RC- I had wondered where you went! Yeah, it was looking a bit depressing there. You realize, I was holding back, of course. :-)<BR/><BR/>As it turns out, your exegesis is deeply tied up with my planned next post- should be up today.Greenpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17224906349154302210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-49376086322555213382008-05-04T21:28:00.000-05:002008-05-04T21:28:00.000-05:00I've always thought with the rising cost of fuel t...I've always thought with the rising cost of fuel that organics would eventually become cheaper then regular alternatives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-57542784459154219092008-05-04T12:09:00.000-05:002008-05-04T12:09:00.000-05:00Greenpa, baby, I didn't look in here for a while b...Greenpa, baby, I didn't look in here for a while because you were giving me disaster fatigue, and I think you had it too. All the little contretemps with the solar panels, hell, high water and the thievery, and so on, those pesky little incursions of dastardly reality that impose themselves upon the small farmer all of the time, and that lead to only the extremely insane and addicted persons deciding to continue efforts upon the plane that separates the quick from the dead, yes, I too have been there, done that, and yet, can't make myself stop.<BR/>So tell me, the phrase, "Not organic --better" needs a bit of exegesis and I mean all of the details. I know you very much value your privacy, I do too, so feel free to skip over any details that might compromise that privacy, but PLEASE, as a service to those of us who are very far away from other persons like yourself, give us some thoughts about the not quite organic idea. I really need to get some input about that. I will go read the Maple Spring Gardens thingie now, maybe an inspiration or two there. Thank you and good luck with the tick eradication. Have you considered guinea hens? They love eating ticks. They make a good stew also. The hens, not the ticks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-48339098409681653782008-05-03T11:31:00.000-05:002008-05-03T11:31:00.000-05:00As fuel prices skyrocket locally grown may be our ...As fuel prices skyrocket locally grown may be our only source. Areas with local small farm will be lucky to have them. Hard times are coming. Good luck to you all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-74648136264885856812008-05-03T08:14:00.000-05:002008-05-03T08:14:00.000-05:00Oh,l and I live in a town that is HELPING make org...Oh,l and I live in a town that is HELPING make organic locally sourced foods a viable reality for people - first our public school lunches are made with organic local meats, and 2nd, the town isn't imposing big fees on the local farmer's market or insisting that people pay to be certified to participate. It means we really can all afford to eat organic and local. Its wonderful really.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12730940231520639971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-61672697533901401002008-05-03T08:12:00.000-05:002008-05-03T08:12:00.000-05:00Greenpa! I just discovered your blog and I am in ...Greenpa! I just discovered your blog and I am in some kind of heaven reading it! :-) You're going to be a daily stop from now on. I'm hoping Papa Pan will come read too, but he's not into blogs the same way I am. I think the difference between us is that I am one of those annoying extreme optimists and I can easily read doom and gloom predictions and see my need for action, to STEP UP in it, not catastrophe.<BR/>I gotta run, there's a stable holding a load of horse shit for me :-)Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12730940231520639971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-66541092032034892342008-05-02T23:31:00.000-05:002008-05-02T23:31:00.000-05:00Hmmm, time for someone to check in on how Joel Sal...Hmmm, time for someone to check in on how Joel Salatin's farming model is working with the price of fuel up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-52836134581543269742008-05-02T19:04:00.000-05:002008-05-02T19:04:00.000-05:00It's about damn time the REAL cost of factory-styl...It's about damn time the REAL cost of factory-style agriculture started showing up in the grocery stores! Yes, my husband and I pay more for our organic, and more importantly, locally grown and raised produce and meats. But when you factor in the ag subsidies, the cost of oil, the carbon footprint, all that ... we're paying far less for the local stuff than we SHOULD be paying for the ConAgra nonsense.Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07028236160410626058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-46997496262363707082008-05-02T17:17:00.000-05:002008-05-02T17:17:00.000-05:00Yup, yup, yup. Along those lines, I like this far...Yup, yup, yup. Along those lines, I like this farmer's explanation of his farming practices: <A HREF="http://maplespringgardens.com/aboutorganic.htm" REL="nofollow">Maple Spring Gardens, About Organic</A>.etbnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705201307328226917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-28466686905222010352008-05-02T07:44:00.000-05:002008-05-02T07:44:00.000-05:00My guess is that there will be a split in the orga...My guess is that there will be a split in the organic producers. A portion will cling to the elite organic image and price. Others will do as you suggest and lower their prices to what people can afford. These will probably be the smaller local farms that deal more directly with consumers. Not 'Big' organic.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557475744075435325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703718837080088488.post-68755433949796570742008-05-01T14:48:00.000-05:002008-05-01T14:48:00.000-05:00I'm glad I'm not the only one who realizes that or...I'm glad I'm not the only one who realizes that organic agriculture is more efficient, money and land-wise. <BR/><BR/>I remember writing a paper a year ago on organic vs. conventional agriculture; studies have found that organic has greater yields as well as earning greater prices, while costing far less for the farmer to grow (due to not having to buy fertilizers, pesticides and being able to save their seeds). This translates into more security for the farmer. <BR/><BR/>I also know that small, local family farms are the best way to go. I just wonder how long it will take the rest of the nation to realize this?Anna Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09392881021927019092noreply@blogger.com