[Homestead] Globalism
Gene GeRue
genegerue at ruralize.com
Sun Feb 24 10:56:21 EST 2008
On Feb 24, 2008, at 8:01 AM, Clansgian at wmconnect.com wrote:
> So three things need added to the formula:
>
> 1) How much space is really needed? As Lynda has pointed out, if
> you forego
> the beef and pork and eat chicken and rabbit, 90% of your diet can
> come from a
> very small place.
Impossible to prove, but I suspect that far fewer than half of all red
meat eaters are willing to give it up. This will change. She also
mentioned dairy. The mind boggles at the implications.
>
> 2) Most of the land that could be cultivated like this is not
> counted a
> potential farm land at all.
That's true. Much more than just acreage or square footage, though,
are the realities of land use--think roads, airports, shopping malls,
schools, stadiums.
Further reducing usable land is the factor of climate. Ask Rob how
well his long-season veggies did in Minnesota. Ask southerners how
well their apples and cherries do.
Yet more important: poll Americans and ask how many will grow food at
their homes.
> 3) Horticultural cultivation is vastly more efficient than machine
> based
> agribusiness in terms of resources needed for a given amount of
> produce.
Hands down true. And pulling a hand cart is more efficient than
driving a truck to get firewood. And cutting hay with a scythe is more
efficient than using a tractor. And singing with your family is more
efficient than watching television. You do these things. But surely
you know that you are a tiny minority, that few Americans would not be
perplexed or amused at your choice of lifestyle.
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