https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg
Jon is a farmer from northeastern Thailand. He founded the Pun Pun
Center for Self-reliance, an organic farm outside Chiang Mai, with his
wife Peggy Reents in 2003. Pun Pun doubles as a center for sustainable
living and seed production, aiming to bring indigenous and rare seeds
back into use. It regularly hosts training on simple techniques to live
more sustainably. Outside of Pun Pun, Jon is a leader in bringing the
natural building movement to Thailand, appearing as a spokesperson on
dozens of publications and TV programs for the past 10 years. He
continually strives to find easier ways for people to fulfill their
basic needs. For more information visit http://www.punpunthailand.org
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Eden
See what's happening just around the corner in Eden:
http://wnylc.org/land-protection/current-projects/eden-farmland-protection-program/
http://wnylc.org/land-protection/current-projects/eden-farmland-protection-program/
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Response to Azaelia Banks' Hatred toward Farmers
Today it was reported that
hip-hop performer Azealia Banks made a comment about "conservatives who
live on their farms." (I omit the “racist,”“white,” and “fat,”
labels to make a simple point about the ill-informed use of “farms”.) Clearly,
she was trying to paint mid-America with a broad brush. Fine: fight
stereotypes with more stereotypes, but don't fight ignorance with ignorance. Ms. Banks is obviously an intelligent and fearless
woman who stands up to bigotry, albeit with language that is a bit offensive to
the Midwestern mindset that she so flippantly calls “fat.” If I am right about her intelligence, then
she should appreciate a little edification on the farm-front.
First, farmers span the entire United States and cannot, despite urban sprawl, be so effortlessly shoved to the category of the “fat” of the “middle” of America. Farmers are a vital part of America’s food system and the more we push them to the middle, the more our food will cost and the less healthy it will be.
Second, farmers are people too: just people. Farmers cannot be painted into a corner of one political stripe or another. If you were choosing paint samples, you’d be better off sticking to the red/blue map of party affiliation. Geography has more to do with political beliefs than profession and (see the first point) farmers are everywhere (including rooftops in New York City).
Third, Banks is entirely correct that farmers LIVE on their farms, though the insinuation seemed less than complimentary. Certainly, sitting casually is the last thing they do before going to bed at night, if you don’t count the hours sitting on a tractor or the proverbial milking stool. Farmers are up before dawn, eat lunch in the field, and often take dinner after dark. What we may not know is that they grab a few Z’s before evening chores so that they can stay awake to chop corn in the headlights of the combine long after dinner. I can assure you that there is nothing in between the alarm going off and the alarm being set that is not LIVING. Farmers experience life and death at regular intervals and have hours surrounded by the glory of nature to reflect on it. If anyone knows how to appreciate every hour he or she is given to live, it’s a farmer.
Finally, Azaelia Banks might take note of this post. Perhaps we should all take note of her other points: as a nation, we carry a weight per person that is disproportionate to our individual contributions; personal inflexible views about other people hinder the exchange of ideas for the greater good; and extremism crowds out all compassion.
First, farmers span the entire United States and cannot, despite urban sprawl, be so effortlessly shoved to the category of the “fat” of the “middle” of America. Farmers are a vital part of America’s food system and the more we push them to the middle, the more our food will cost and the less healthy it will be.
Second, farmers are people too: just people. Farmers cannot be painted into a corner of one political stripe or another. If you were choosing paint samples, you’d be better off sticking to the red/blue map of party affiliation. Geography has more to do with political beliefs than profession and (see the first point) farmers are everywhere (including rooftops in New York City).
Third, Banks is entirely correct that farmers LIVE on their farms, though the insinuation seemed less than complimentary. Certainly, sitting casually is the last thing they do before going to bed at night, if you don’t count the hours sitting on a tractor or the proverbial milking stool. Farmers are up before dawn, eat lunch in the field, and often take dinner after dark. What we may not know is that they grab a few Z’s before evening chores so that they can stay awake to chop corn in the headlights of the combine long after dinner. I can assure you that there is nothing in between the alarm going off and the alarm being set that is not LIVING. Farmers experience life and death at regular intervals and have hours surrounded by the glory of nature to reflect on it. If anyone knows how to appreciate every hour he or she is given to live, it’s a farmer.
Finally, Azaelia Banks might take note of this post. Perhaps we should all take note of her other points: as a nation, we carry a weight per person that is disproportionate to our individual contributions; personal inflexible views about other people hinder the exchange of ideas for the greater good; and extremism crowds out all compassion.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
More from NPR: farming is a labor of love
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/05/07/310399100/for-many-farming-is-a-labor-of-love-not-a-living
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
An Excerpt from the Winkelman Farm Baseline Report:
"Forest occurs on approx. 29.5 ac, or 26% of the Winkelman Farm. The forest type consists of Mixed Northern Hardwoods, including the species of Sugar Maple, Black Cherry, Beech, Ash, Birch, and Hemlock. The forested areas of the Winkelman Farm contribute to several conservation values. This forest lies within the 18 Mile Creek watershed and helps to regulated hydrologic output through dispersion and filtration of surface water and precipitation and the forest cover keeps stream water temperatures low which is beneficial to aquatic life. Wildlife habitat is created by the presence of the forest. Animals seek shelter in the forest and forage or hunt for food that occurs there. Beech nuts produced in the forest provide fat and protein rich mast and the Black Cherry trees produce fruit that is consumed by many species of wildlife. The hemlock trees provide shelter from cold and wind during the winter months, and are a roosting site for many species of birds. As the forest grows it is acting as a carbon sink accumulating carbon in the tissues of the trees through the process of photosynthesis, producing wood fiber that can be converted to valuable wood products. Periodic tending and thinning of forest stands generates the forest products which can then be turned into veneer, lumber, furniture, paper, and other commodities used by society. The forest also contributes to the scenic beauty of the area, provides recreational opportunity, and open, undeveloped space." Dec. 2011
Support FFA
I was an FFA member and a huge Paul Harvey fan so I want to share this ad again with you because with every viewing and "badge sharing" Dodge promises a donation to Future Farmers of America.
http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/keepplowing/
http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/keepplowing/
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