I know just how you feel. People do not understand why I want to garden,
when I am able to buy the stuff I need at the supermarket. But as someone
who was exposed to fall-out in the 50's from the tests in NM and also to
frequent DDT spraying in the same time period, I sometimes wonder why I am
still alive. But strawberries do not take good anymore at the store,
neither do most of the fresh (?) veggies, and they are covered with even
more poisons . I love gardening and canning stuff and will continue to do
so as long as I am able.
Regards,
Minelle Paloff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edna M Weigel" <eweigel@juno.com>
To: <sanet-mg@amani.ces.ncsu.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 3:15 PM
Subject: re: farmer's food; was Help Please@ Wheaties:Farmer....
> Alex wrote <snip>
> And it doesn't make any sense to grow wheat and buy Wheaties or corn and
> Buy Corn
> Flakes, but that's what USDA and everyone else tells us to do. Farmers
> are
> supposed to live like city folks- houses, cars, clothes, food... Just
> look at the
> propaganda that's put out. We've been told that, if we don't, we'll be
> considered
> rubes and ignorant rustics.
> <snip>
> Roberto wrote <snip>
> Many Philippine farmers are unfortunately already caught in the same
> trap as American farmers. However, we still do have enough subsistence
> farmers (who grow their own food and sell the surplus for cash) to
> know that subsistence farming works, especially if you stay away from
> the chemical, high-input ag trap. I know farmers who can grow in
> around 1 hectare (2+ acres?) all the food their family needs. Very
> roughly a fifth to a fourth of the land for vegetables and the rest
> for rice. With chicken and pigs in the backyard and perhaps some fruit
> trees, they have more than enough food for themselves, and much
> healthier than what urban dwellers eat. Subsistence farming is a good
> starting point for sustainable living.
> <snip>
> I agree that the propaganda mongers want farmers to be as
> dependent on processed foods as urbanites. I took the Master Gardener
> class (I already knew how to garden but wanted to find gardeners who have
> lived in this area longer) and heard "just go down to Safeway and buy
> it" so many times that my classmates (the ones who've stayed in touch)
> now preceede any question about food gardening with a commment to the
> effect of "I know we aren't supposed to grow our own, but..."
> What I resent is the knowledge that my tax dollars go to support
> the spreading of such messages as "just go down to Safeway" and "it's too
> much bother to grow your own" along with the raised eyebrows and snide
> remarks aimed at anyone gardening organically. And it doesn't sound like
> it is any better in the Phillipines.
> Meanwhile, in my circle of friends, more and more people realize
> that my husband and I eat better than most in large measure because of my
> garden. Admitedly, I'm not trying to sell my produce as a cash crop like
> many of you are. And I don't plan to expand my chicken flock beyond its
> present 10 because what I can get for organic eggs doesn't pay for
> organic chicken food which was originally intended for human consumption
> (I've not been able to find organic chicken food locally).
> I have a friend who likes to tell people my chickens eat better
> than most people do. She's right. But that's because most people would
> rather eat Wheaties and corn chips than whole grain wheat or corn. As
> for vegetables, the chickens get my leftovers and discards which are
> generally fresher than most people find in the supermarket.
> I'm sure there are those who think I should get a job in town so
> I could afford to buy more processed food rather than stay home and grow
> my own. They just don't know what good eating is. As for those of you
> who farm cash crops but don't garden, I urge you to budget a little land
> and a little time for home food production starting with your favorite
> vegetables. Safeway and the other supermarkets can't possibly compete
> with the flavor and freshness of just picked vegetables no matter what
> our county agent says!
> Best regards, Edna
>
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