Relationships
December 18th, 2006 by Jim VIn the last post Northern Farmer stated that “society seems to want to drive people away from peopleâ€. As far as I am concerned, our society wants to drive a wedge between farmers and the rest of society as well. This past Saturday, my oldest son and I went to visit a couple of farmers in my area who are trying to reverse that trend. One farmer told me that he tells customers that he wants to be their farmer. Both of these farmers, just like Northern Farmer, are farming responsibly and are shooting for optimal nutrition in the food that they supply. One of the farmers talked about his family watching the neighbors till a hill that probably should not be tilled, with the result that most of the neighbors top soil is gone. This same farmer and his family planted trees on a hill that was also sensitive to erosion and in thirty years 8 inches of top soil has formed. One of the farmers talked about being involved with a group of farmers that periodically meet together. It sounded like this group of farmers work to hold each other accountable - accountable to handle their finances properly and to farm responsibly. These guys are willing to suffer through the hassles that bureaucrats impose or try to impose on them in spite of the fact that the Minnesota Constitution guarantees farmers the right to peddle their goods without a license. One farmer showed us a room where he stores meat in freezers and where customers can come to buy meat. He told us that current regulations would require a drain in this room. The room only contains a bunch of chest freezers - why in the world would a drain be needed. The second farmer is providing a healthy food used by people for centuries, that our government treats like something that will kill us all. To be able to deliver real food to people, they are placing their livelihood and resources on the line in ways that most Americans can never imagine.
At the Acres USA conference, Joel Salatin pointed out that as a demographic group, farmers are too small to be able reverse the ways (like NAIS) in which our government is trying to over-regulate farming. He pointed out that farmers need consumers who will stand with them and be their advocates. Visiting these two farmers made me realize that those who farm need to work to build relationships with consumers plus those who are seeking good food need to search for responsible farmers and support them as much as they can. I encourage those of you seeking good food to find a responsible farmer - they are out there. Both farmers talked about a number of other farmers in the area who were farming organically and providing high quality food. It was encouraging to hear about the number of good farmers that are in my area.
Jim V
December 19th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Jim,
At least I noticed it, eh! Says allot about our current system of farming where everyone else takes the harvest.
A good post as always!
I think as time goes on more and more good farmers will be emerging, quite simply because those that are trying to farm in the modern industrialized system are designed to fail, no if’s, ands or buts. But the takers won’t let that come easily, there’ll be every legivslative trick in the book used from the best government money can buy! But the good farmers, or as they are sometimes called, “Farmer Pirates” are a slippery bunch! Joel goes into that in many of his books. Where there is an action, there’s a reaction!
One more note, I came across this Bible verse, first time I ever noticed it, probably the last one around here to notice it, but oh well
The hardworking farmer
should be the first to receive
a share of the crops.
2 Timothy 2:6
I think that should be put up on the top of this blog someplace!
December 19th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Hi Jim!
Good post!
You sure do offer much to ponder…………
Let your light shine!
December 19th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Hello Jim,
Enjoyed your post, it is sad to think that in order to get good food to people farmers may have to start going “underground”. It seems that the big food corporations and their buddies in governement will do all they can to stop the revival of the small, independent farmer. When will farmers and consumers wake up and take back their heritage?
December 19th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
“Little by little we are learning the true facts about the health values of our foods. The curtain of mystery has been pushed back far enough to show an exciting prospect for American farmers. To some it is a disturbing prospect. For as people begin to ask what foods, from what specific localities, contain the most vitamins and other health-building elements, land values will go up or down. Drastic changes of program will follow on a good many farms. A farmer will look at anything he has grown-say a potato- with a questioning eye.” Alfred H. Sinks in Country Gentleman June, 1948. What happened to that glimmer of understanding? How did thing get derailed? I think we only have to look at what’s on our kitchen shelves, the shelves at the grocery, the advertisements we are flooded with and then look in the mirror.
December 19th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Tom,
2 Timothy 2:6 is very appropriate. Hard working farmers should be rewarded, not hassled by a bunch of bureaucrats. I tried talking to a lawyer at church about creating an HSLDA-like group for farmers. I am not sure this discussion made too much headway, but at least he is going to think on it some.
Steven,
Thank you. There is a lot to contemplate - I could tell my mind was working on things as I slept last night. May the Lord give us wisdom!
Brent,
That is an excellent quote from the Country Gentleman. We sure did get derailed, didn’t we. Last couple of days I have heard an advertisement on a local Christian radio station trying to sell vitamins. They say the drop in nutrient value of our foods due to current farming practices results in our need for vitamins. Sad isn’t it. I don’t think some vitamin formulated by man will ever match the nutrients that could be in our food. You are right, looking in the mirror does not reveal a pretty sight. Time to fall on our faces and ask the Lord to intervene and to give us and our children strength for the task.
Jim V
December 20th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
I know our small farms around here HAVE to have local support to keep going. The same is true of the businesses in town. Do ya’ll shop local or do you drive to the nearest bigger city to get better prices?
December 20th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Patti,
I’ll answer just for myself. We haven’t been to the nearest city, thirty miles away, this past year, (except for moving Pastor Josh to the countryside). Everything is local, everything. So there’s an answer from me.
I’ve said it before on this blog, the only way they can get me to the city is in handcuffs
December 20th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Patti,
I too shop locally as much as possible. Our nearest town only has a gas station, meat market, implement dealer and feed meal. So for most things we end up going to a town of about 17,000 people which is about 12 miles away. In the last few years a number of the bigger chains have moved into this town of 17,000. It has disappointed me to see some of the smaller family run stores shut down. I always appreciate the better service you get in the family run stores.
Jim V