Re: ag education

Steve Groff (sgroff@epix.net)
Mon, 08 Feb 1999 08:47:18 -0500

Ann & Lei,
Both of you have made some excellent points! I have found that by
showing people a real farm scale example of what sustainable ag is like,
makes a much greater impact then spouting off some ideally correct
theory. I've intentionally tied in non sustainable ag sectors in my
field days just to get them exposed to what I'm doing. One example for
me is to do variety trials. People come to look at the latest varieties
and.... low and behold...they ask, how does he do that? Right before
their eyes is great looking tomatoes, grown with 1/3 the normal
pesticides and 1/2 fertilizer rates. This is the best way for me to
educate others on the merits of sus ag.
Lei's analogy of childbirth options meant something to me. We had a
positive experience in having our 3 children at a mid-wife birth center.
Hospitals are for the sick and having a child is a normal healthy event.
Granted, if things go wrong, hospitals are very important, and we need
them. I certainly don't have a problem with folks who feel more
comfortable in having their children in a hospital. It basically gets to
that "heart" issue that Greg was talking about. Both places have there
respective pros and cons. We need to keep an open mind as well in our
sustainable ideas and needs. Conventional Ag might hold a nugget of good
info once in a while. If we have an open ear to the other streams of
thought in ag they will respect solid sustainable practices. I think
this attitude is key to sustainable ag education.

Steve Groff

--
"New Generation Cropping Systems": the cutting edge of sustainable
agriculture
http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
Steve Groff
Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Rd
Holtwood PA 17532  USA
Ph. 717-284-5152






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