[NAFEX] FEDCO

Anton Callaway marillen at earthlink.net
Thu Dec 27 10:32:36 EST 2007


There is truth to both observations below.  However, I also am puzzled by the lack of interest in plants, soil and environment displayed by some of the large cash-crop-only farmers.  Don't they have spare time for a hobby like even city people?  Why not garden as a hobby?  I guess many of them don't really enjoy it.

Efficiency is a broader issue than $$ in vs. $$ out.  If one relies on supermarkets for one's produce, the family's health is likely impacted by the sub-par quality food.  What impact does that have on the efficiency of the farmer?  What impact does this have on society?  Sometimes things look very practical and sensible until the impacts on greater society are taken into account.

Anton



-----Original Message-----
>From: Thomas Olenio <tolenio at sentex.net>
>Sent: Dec 27, 2007 5:06 AM
>To: 'North American Fruit Explorers' <nafex at lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [NAFEX] FEDCO
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>Steve wrote;
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>In a couple mile radius from me I can't think of a farm that still has a
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>vegetable garden of consequence, and only one old couple that keeps
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>chickens. The number of farmers who actually dabble in horticulture of any
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>sort is confined to a few ex-hippy back-to-the-land types.  The rest barely
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>even consider themselves to be farmers, sad to say--they are commodities
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>producers.
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>I know many farmers and the lack of family farm vegetable gardens becomes
>obvious if you understand their motives and drives.  Farmers are practical,
>pragmatic people and time is their most precious commodity.  If it is more
>practical and inexpensive to buy vegetables and fruit they will.  No good
>farmer worth his corn would spend $100 of his time to end up with $25 worth
>of produce.  The time invested in a vegetable garden is much better spent on
>their cash crop.
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>Farmers are pragmatic and practical to the bone.  The far greater
>percentages of farmers are not hippies, tree huggers, or eco-zeolots they
>are simply small business men who work with agriculture.  The law of
>economics and pragmatism are their model.  Do not look for veggie gardens
>but "efficiencies" on a well operated farm.
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>Sure you will find those willing to spend $100 in time for $25 of tangible
>results but they are not farmers, they are hobbyists'.
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>Later,
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>Tom
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