Farmer Blog
The Farmer Blog features outstanding writing by some of our favorite EcoFarmers. Through sharing these entertaining and informative essays, we hope to promote important voices to a wider audience, create a platform for interactive dialogues on important issues and increase communication among diverse groups. The farmer blog focuses on successful examples of sustainable agriculture and food systems initiatives, creates opportunities for farmers to promote their farms and their work. If you are a farmer writing on food and farming issues, and interested in contributing, please email us for more information.
I work on Farms; I am a Criminal
Posted on July 21, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
I am a professor at Sonoma State University. I am also apparently a criminal, and perhaps involved in a conspiracy to violate the law. I work without pay on small, local organic farms in northern California - because I love to do it - and in the eyes of the law - specifically California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement - the farms that are benefiting from my unpaid labor are operating illegally.
Nature’s “Break Through” Discovery
Posted on July 20, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
Not a regular reader of the powerhouse scientific journal, Nature, from which a rare article on organic pest control was torn and sent along by a CSA member in last week’s mail, I gave it a go. One glance left a quick impression that submissions to Nature are purposely written in languages unintelligible to all but parochial tribes of scientists.
The Bovine
Posted on July 19, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
Those docile black and white Holstein “milk machines” on today’s industrial dairies hardly evoke an image of their wild progenitor, the enormous auroch, Bos primigenius, that commandeered Eurasian forests some 8,000 years ago, on the cusp of its impending domestication.
Water Is Life
Posted on June 22, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
Ethics and economics compete for fair distribution of water among people, industry & ecosystems as rural New Mexico communities and Central Valley California farmers face serious challenges.
Stone Fruit Jubilee: Making Exceptional Fruits Available to Community
Posted on June 16, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
The raison d’etre of our Jubilee continues to be raising the profiles of accomplished organic orchardists in our community and addressing the dearth of local retail access to their fruit.
Strawberry Fields Forever?
Posted on June 3, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
Organic strawberries protect the ozone layer as industrial agriculture trades one toxic chemical for another.
“The Food Safety Enhancement Act” H.R. 2749
Posted on April 27, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
Several bills purporting to improve our food system’s performance on food safety have been grinding their way through the congressional sausage-maker. “The Food Safety Enhancement Act” H.R. 2749 was passed by the House last July and its companion Senate legislation S. 510 is likely to be voted on soon.
Lady Bug Letter
Posted on April 2, 2010 in the Farmer Blog
During a Passover Seder feast a blessing is recited over two kinds of bitter herbs, Maror and Chazeret.
