Some people have deeply held beliefs that are akin to religious convictions. I will not change their convictions.
I do believe there are many other factors that should be considered. The founding of our nation required 95% of the people to live on a farm and to barter for items. We have now transformed to nation where 5% live on a farm, allowing the other 95% to pursue other goals and objectives.
I am ignoring the statements that demonize the food producers because they are large. We can not have a productive discussion when using a board paint bush to describe people who have a tradition of farming that requires a subchapter S corporation to protect their assets and attempt to preserve the tradition. Even children who grow up on a farm may not wish to personally be involved in the farming activity as a career. When senior family members die there can be inheritance problems, especially if some family members want a cash settlement.
There have been lots of suggestions on this list that producing and processing your own food is cheaper than what can be purchased in the store. These statements are not true if the true cost of a person's time and cost of facilities/tools etc. are considered. There also is another cost involved - alternative uses of capital that are risk free.
I caution people to be realistic about these factors, especially if considering a small business opportunity. Over the years I have advised many people who contemplate such ventures and provide all of the management and most of the physical effort - "What will you do when you require time off for personal business, illness, disabilities, or death?". Will the business be able to continue without your direct input and oversight.
Imagine if we had to depend on real horsepower for transportation. We would also have a real pollution problem of a different nature. There also would be limitations in the distance we could travel in a day.
-- Rivka
Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.