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Farm Labor: A Study In Contrasts
Dec. 3rd, 2009 01:36 pmIn a few years, I expect, the cheap fuel will start becoming more and more scarce, necessitating a move from agri-industry to more local, small-scale food production. To do the work once done almost ubiquitously by fuel-thirsty machines, more and more people must dedicate more and more time to produce fewer and fewer of the calories we consume each day. What options do we have?
On one hand, we have sustainable non-industrial food production that emphasizes habitat maintenance. It can be personally rewarding but proves labor intensive.
Pay attention to what Joe has to say
about people that try his "pickers."
On the other hand, there are tens of millions of people who farm part-time -- for fun! There must be an enormous latent interest in agriculture out there! All we need to do is pique the interest of these part-timers and encourage them to ramp up food production! We may not be doomed!
Oh, wait . . . those 63.8 million potential farmers are only growing virtual crops. When the hoe and the plow proves heavier than the mouse, I suspect interest in actual farming will wane.
We are soooooo screwed.
On one hand, we have sustainable non-industrial food production that emphasizes habitat maintenance. It can be personally rewarding but proves labor intensive.
Pay attention to what Joe has to say
about people that try his "pickers."
On the other hand, there are tens of millions of people who farm part-time -- for fun! There must be an enormous latent interest in agriculture out there! All we need to do is pique the interest of these part-timers and encourage them to ramp up food production! We may not be doomed!
Oh, wait . . . those 63.8 million potential farmers are only growing virtual crops. When the hoe and the plow proves heavier than the mouse, I suspect interest in actual farming will wane.
We are soooooo screwed.