Lion, It is an interesting hypothosis,. you did say below I assert, not I
have observed, or I have accomplished. I think I agree that one could run a
30 member CSA veg/meat on a micro farm, I have serious doubts if it could be
done by one farmer in a 40 hour work week. 30 subscribers spending $1000
ea. might be difficult although once again not impossible. One must also
take into account seasonality. In cold weather climates is very difficult
to run a year round CSA, and unless your CSA members are into food
preservation they will be buying some of their food (maybe not meat, eggs)
some where else, so the micro farm or any cold climate farm may not feed
these 30 families year round. I very much agree that bigger is not always
better, maybe never better, but I have reservation that this system would
be the "answer" to food production . Also I take offense to farm land being
the "bad guy" in lose of habitat of course in some instances thats true, but
in the US anyway farmland is being lost to development which means habitat
is lost under buildings and concrete. Do you have any examples of this type
of farm with your income and labor projections? Beth
> How can micro-farming possibly be as productive as claimed?
> Essay by Lion Kuntz, March 22, 2000
>
> I assert that intelligent designs and management practices can allow one
> farmworker to provides a balanced diet to 30 CSA subscribers meats, eggs,
> fish, vegetables, herbs, and fruits, for a $30K to $35K annual income
(after
> farm-related expenses are deducted) to the farmworker, on two acres of
land.
> Many farmers are unable to assure themselves that much dependable income,
> and in fact often work at least part time in outside employment because
they
> cannot obtain the median income despite many acres of land cultivated.
>
> I further assert that about 40 hours weekly is sufficient to manage a well
> designed micro-farm, which is another challenge to the credibility of
small
> farmers who are expecting to give 80 hour work-weeks for more than half of
> the
> year.
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