“Here’s a brief history of civilization…”
…First 5,000 years, almost everybody is a farmer.
Last 50 years, almost nobody is a farmer. The 2 percent of Americans who farm are exotic, largely invisible pixies who magically turn petrochemicals into grocery-chain products encased in plastic wrap.”
The above quote, and my headline, are from an article entitled Satisfying an Old Hunger, by William Dietrich in this morning’s Footprint section of the Sunday paper. Go there, read it, it’s encouraging, enlightening and entertaining–a farmer who “calls and sings” to his pasture-raised cattle to get them to return to the barn, instead of confining them to “filthy feedlots.” I’m in love… In fact the subtitle for the entire section reads:
Real Food Makes a Comeback: You may now kiss your local farmer
Ethical bananas, urban communities, and pretty potagers. It was a good read and I hope a permanent addition to the Seattle Times’ Sunday offering. Admittedly, it was a bit uber-hip - Picks for veggie-growing virgins - but I only felt really old and not-uber-hip a few times. Obviously, they don’t let the farmers write the headlines!
It was a perfect way to start my day as I head out on a solo roadtrip through Eastern Washington to Moscow, Idaho. Blue skies, wheat fields, “blue highways” and roadside farmstands. NPR on the radio…and QUIET! What am I doing? Lorene, go pack and hit the road!!!
One last quote from the article that I think I’m going to post in several places throughout my home and office:
“At some point people in the resource industries gain their self-worth from what they do, not in how much money they make.” — Bob Hart, farmer, La Conner Flats Farm (and my newest hero)
