Market Farming

["Rainbow's End Farms & Orchards" <rainbowsend AT swva.net>]

Some incredibly touching and soul searching
reflection today from folks here and on SANET.
Finally folks are realizing that we have to agree
together, get past the self, get past the fact
that our local business is fine, get past our
local markets and agree to consider the
commonalities that unite us. THESE are the very
things that led us to doing what we do in the
first place. THESE are the underlying principles
that I have been harping on for three days. IF we
could agree to reflect upon the positives that
unite us we would probably find that these are the
very same values that our customers are seeking.
The hope for the phrase and the trademark that
somehow reflects this was my hope for a rallying
point when I began this days ago. Not the
legalism, the procedural methodologies, the
administrivia, but first identifying the dream and
the values. IF we could but share some of these
values and put a stake in the ground at least that
gives a common point.

Today was the day of the first frost here....an
ending to another season.  But today was also a
day of the first birth on our new farm, as we saw
our first baby Boer goat take its first steps...a
day of new beginnings and hope for the future.
I'm hopeful for all of you out there that we can
work together towards the rebirth of responsible
sustainable small farming in the United States and
elsewhere.
Larry Walker
Rainbows End Farms and Orchards
880 Central Academy Road
Stuart, Virginia  24171
276-694-4324
----- Original Message -----
From: "Del Williams" <delannw AT dlogue.net>
To: "Market Farming"
<market-farming AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 8:37 PM
Subject: [market-farming] Cooperation


You know what, screw the predictable responses.

We ought to all find a common fricking ground.
Christ oh mighty.  Stop.

I can see the cross section of interest and
motivation and commitment among
us.  And why oh why, fight in the divisive and
accusatory details?

"Everybody wants to rule the world"

Find it .  Find the place of cross section for
commitment to what we all
know is important to us.  Yes, exchange what we
know.  Find that point of
what edifies... informs..

I don't mean to say we should never challenge
eachother's thinking.  None of
us would ever grow or improve our own lives
without conflict.  We just don't
benefit from division.

What is it?  Solvency?  Knowing your business died
with pride?  Or knowing
that your business thrived on the tail ride with
those who didn't give a
damn about your farm?  Let's face it.  Some
farmers and farm agencies don't
give a damn.  Their lives are too entrenched in
the current philosophy of
you know who and what.  I don't blame them.  They
are watching their whole
lives go down the drain for lack of capital and
labor to retool.  It sucks
to watch it.

Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, a lot of good
farmers are terrible at doing
business.  And corporate loves it.   Corporate
loves that kind of a sale.

How in the hell do you think I bought my place?
An old farmer going under
and getting out while the getting was good.  I
went to both auctions... the
one for farm equipment and the one for the
household.  Think it's fun to
watch people cry at an auction for  a 100 year old
farm?  Twice?

We're drowning, many of us.  Dealing with bigger
producers. A government
that has co-opted our philosophy and name brand...
beyond growing and
absolutely central to our lives.  Certification
beyond the ability and means
of small producers. If we don't stay together, we
are screwed.

I look at what you write and you are smart, hard
working individuals.  Not
looking for the government handout of corporate
welfare.  Well, welcome to
retail.  It's hard work.  I'd like to see you
successful.  If we of the same
pursuit can't find the interest, passion and cross
section of what we do,
then who in the hell will find it for us?

Kellogg's?  Kraft?  McDonald's?  Coke?  Novartis?
Add your own favorite
nemesis to the list.

Quit finding enmity within our own.  It's like
eating your young.

And if you are an outsider trying to find a means
to divide those who have a
philosophy and goal, then go.  We don't need your
ilk.  This is a good goal
and market farming should never go away.  Can you
imagine life without it if
you live in a community and you can't grow your
own?  Imagine that friends.
Imagine a world where every damn vegetable, fruit,
meat or egg comes from  a
factory farm.  Would any of us want that?  We know
too well what that
means... not only about general food production
but about the lives of
farmers and the health of families no matter where
they live.

I'm not talking to anyone in particular, I'm
saying to all of you on this
list.

We all do what we know how to do however small or
big... however connected
we are to the political machinery that helps us
make a living.

I can't stand the enmity.  Argument is good for
the mind.  I believe that.
It helps us think.

But enough of the personal bashing.  It divides
us.

I know this.  Relationships in business or
anywhere else never find
solutions in focusing on differences.   We work
out differences because we
understand the basis of difference.  And the basis
of finding a way to bring
a life to each of us.  But focus on difference?
It takes us away from what
put us together in the first place.

If I found a cross section of knowledge and
encouragement from the chemical
growers in my region ( as a far smaller organic
wannabe), then why in the
hell are we at each other's throats?  All my
neighbors - regardless of their
philosophy or lack thereof - wanted was to see
this farm survive.

It's their life too, even if they don't know it.
But  I think, they'd like
to see us prevail... because their lives, their
own commitments to rural
life, depend on it.

It's why I moved here in the first damn place.

Del Williams
Clifton IL
delannw AT dlogue.net





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