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  • From: <clearviewfarm AT bluefrog.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] odd request for the list
  • Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 17:14:16 -0800

Kathryn,

I think that the author of that article made some good points about organic "technology".  A neighbor of mine slighted my organic farming methods as not being very technological, but he is very naive about how I/we manage our farms.  The author does talk about practices that I use, like spraying Surround on my crops to repel insects.  I like the definition of technology that he offered, being the practical application of knowledge, especially in a particular area.  As far as I am concerned, those technological practices that I use are much more sustainable than using chemical pesticides, fertilizers and monocultures.  If you think he should dig deeper, then you might want to go back and tell specifically what you mean.  I don't think it is too late to do that.  That would be your opportunity to educate him.  We are working with nature and technology in a symbiotic way.

Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522

--- KAKerby AT aol.com wrote:

From: KAKerby AT aol.com
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] odd request for the list
Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 15:20:00 -0500 (EST)

I was recently contacted by someone who had written an article about organic farming, and he wanted my "take" on it.  I wasn't sure what to expect, nor why he would ask my opinion (or even how he found me).  But I said sure, I'll read it. You can read his article here.
 
When I did read it, I was rather irritated with the article - its premise, its arguments and its conclusion all smacked of a profound lack of understanding about organic farming and what the issues are.  I wrote back what I thought was a very gentle reply, encouraging this individual to "dig a little deeper" if he wanted to write about organic agriculture issues in any sort of competent and significant way.  His reply to that was "thanks anyway".  It felt like a lost opportunity to educate one more person on the issues faced by growers and livestock producers, whether organic or not.  On the other hand I wondered if I was making a big deal out of nothing.  He's not a policy maker, he's not even in the ag industry.  Just some guy who wanted to write about organic farming.  But the whole experience gave me a sour "missed opportunities" feeling.

I guess I'd be curious what y'all think of his article, and if I over-reacted.  I'd also be curious if anyone on the list has successfully "educated" someone who expressed a general interest in the topic, but came into it with what IMHO amounted to a junior high school level of knowledge about the subject matter.  I think education is so important if we are to protect and promote the work that we do.  I shudder to think this article really represents what the public thinks of our efforts (and our intelligence).  Or maybe I'm just over-reacting.
Kathryn Kerby
frogchorusfarm.com
Snohomish, WA
Ruminations - essays on the farming life at frogchorusfarm.com/weblog.html
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