OK first for all my friends out there, an update to the No Snivilin Farm Saga---We made the $995 payment last week, so we are only 30 days out on our short term note, selling 30 goats and using the money earmarked for vegetable seeds. We also managed to come up with enough money for the electric bill (3 weeks). Of course, all this means we can't buy hay next week, or people food, or plant the 3 acres of vegetables we had planned, but at least the bank got it's money. Next week, the bank wants another $1995, which I think we can raise, but again, it's going to get a bit hungry around here...
But that's not really what I want to talk about. Sustainability, physical and environmental sustainability is a subject very close to my heart...It's why we started the farm, and the alternative energy company. It's also in real trouble. Not because of the technology, but because once again, we are letting the politicians and corporations set the agenda, and the spin. Take solar as a for instance... Solar thermal electric, with biogas back-up can be built and operated with out large corporate or government involvement (or profits), Solar PV cannot. Guess which one gets the subsidy, and the press.
You're probably saying to yourself right now, that farmerchuck is a nut...Jerome just did a diary showing the inroads that wind is making. I don't disagree, we need wind. We also need everything else we can bring to the table, as well as a significant change in the attitude that all of us present.
But that's still not what I came here to talk about...It has become increasingly obvious to me that we can no longer count on government agencies, or corporations to fix what needs to be fixed in the world. I feel like many of you that we are on our own. Please don't misunderstand me, politics is important, but we no longer have the luxury of infinite time for debate.
We need to take the intellectual and financial resources we have NOW, and devote them and ourselves to developing and selling a sustainable lifestyle. In my case, I intend continue to lobby for programs to help farmers develop sustainability plans for their farms, and develop sustainable energy systems for them, system which enable them to run their farms without having to give up all of their income to energy companies. Systems which don't require them to place their agricultural land into energy production.
The lobbying probably won't be successful in an economic sense, but just possibly it will prevent laws from being enacted forbidding such activities, or over-regulating them to the point of impossibility.
I am also pleading, maybe even begging, for wealthy individuals, or institutions to take a step back, think for a moment, and realize that they need to support activities of this sort...A nation or region with a firm sustainable base will help and serve many more people over time, than a one shot donation to some cause out of sight. WE need to be the activists, not just in word, but in deed. It may be naive of me, as I am obviously no expert on financial sustainability,(looking around, the current financial situation does not look all that sustainable either)but I don't believe the answers we need to come up with are going to be produced by people chasing profits.
postscript:
Following up on a most excellent rant by Runs with Scissors, and in the spirit of Kossacks being the Reality Based Community, I do humbly present this section, attempting to clear up some misconceptions about agriculture as she is currently practiced in this country. If I step on a cherished dream or fantasy of yours I apolagize in advance, but I'm just giving a view from the ground, and calling it as I see it. All examples I allude to are personal, and have been experienced by me. I realize that this may be interpreted as arguing from anecdote, but I am assured by various folks that keep statistics, that my numbers and the current state of my farm are not unusual, and represent a fairly typical situation.I would like to start by clearing up a couple of misconceptions that seem to be prevalent in the outside world, and while not quite so glaring here, certainly have been expressed.
Take our attitude towards farmers. Many in this community are very supportive, purchasing local produce in season, attending farmers markets, but an equivalent number seem to believe we are getting some kind of free ride, and most telling, "would you let your daughter (or son) marry one?". Even here in the enlightened, reality based community many seem to regard small farmers as a holdover from a better vanished time, and as a somewhat ignorant and unimportant demographic.
1) All farmers are republicans--It is true, many farmers are republicans, so are many doctors, firemen, and garbage men. If you are saying that most of the agribusiness concerns have benefitted under the current regime, well d'uh... but I promise you that has been at the expense of the farmers more so even than the taxpayers.
2) All farms/farmers are subsidized...just not true. For the most part, what aid money does make it into small farmers hands tends to be in the form of loans (and not at reduced interest) what grants do trickle down to us tend to be earmarked for environmental purposes, and all is tied to a having a third party perform the work, even if you are qualified.
3)Farms and farmers get reduced rate mortgages...Mine is 8.5% and is an ARM without a cap...any questions?
4)All farmers are looking for a handout--- most of us are too proud to even go to a food pantry...we want things like reasonable interest rates, and an acknowledgement of what we do.