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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Globalism
  • Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:56:21 -0700


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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