Now, sitting on the front porch of our family’s cabin in rural Missouri, just a couple miles down the road from my family’s original homestead, I have been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve been mulling over what was gained and what was lost by the great migration from rural to urban and from farms to desk jobs.
Read MoreThe USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Prospective Plantings Report was recently released. U.S. farmers are expected to plant 97 million acres of corn in the 2020 season. This number is up from last year despite abysmally low commodity prices and decreased demand for biofuels. Why do farmers continue to plant these commodity crops with little return?
Read MoreCompanion planting with multiple crops interplanted, organic matter on top of the soil, multiple compost beds, plants going to seed for seed saving, heritage varieties of tomatoes planted throughout the garden that are growing in every which way… the mad gardener’s garden.
Read MoreI would be flying to Australia to attend an agri-food tech conference and my wardrobe consisted of four shirts, worn continuously over the last five months and washed only when the mud was sufficiently thick to offend my sensibilities. Hardly the “smart casual” stated in the event description…
Read MoreSustainable, holistic, bio-dynamic, regenerative… there is an ever-evolving list of buzzwords to describe farming that employs environmentally friendly practices and methodologies that are more in-line with nature.
Read MoreI just completed my one-month mark on the road and have spoken with many farmers, agri-food businesses and consumers that have a wide range of opinions on what our food and agriculture system should look like.
Read MoreAmericans spend less on food than any other country. In 2018, Americans spent an average of 9.7% of their disposable income on food (USDA ERS). In New Zealand, Kiwis spend an average of 17%-20% of their disposable income on food. (New Zealand Now Cost of Living Calculator). Why is this?
Read MoreA while back I was traveling for work and had the unique opportunity to join in conversation with farmers and food companies around the same table. The conversation that ensued over dinner and the following day has continued to replay as I make my daily eating choices.
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