Another update

Over the past month, I've been busy at school, working hard in all subjects. In addition, I've done some work on an organic farm in Connecticut. There, I've learned goat milking, and done other tasks, such as planting garlic, spreading mulch, and weeding. The work I've done there has already been a valuable experience, and I hope to continue doing work there. I am still aiming and aspiring to go into agriculture as a career, and I hope to gain more skills and knowledge. Next summer, I'll most likely be doing an agricultural apprenticeship. In the meantime, I'm looking for more experience that I can gain. I have a long vacation in December-January, five weeks, and I think it would be helpful for me to gain some farming experience during that period. Working during that time would be a valuable and productive use of my time. It will most likely be challenging to find work on a farm, at least in the US, over break, because it will be the winter, which is usually the time when there is the least amount of activity, and thus the least amount of need for apprentices.

Update after two months.

It's been over two months. I'm now a first year in university, and it's going quite well.
I have been trying to find opportunities on local farms, in the Berkshires.
Last week, I learned how to milk a goat. This was quite a rewarding experience.
Learning how to milk a goat, and then doing academic work made me ponder education.
There are two parts of education.
There is the theoretical part, which consists of reading classic books.
This is in addition to the practical component of education, which teaches students how to fulfill necessary practical tasks.
If all the students with the highest SAT scores were put on a dairy farm, they would, most likely, not know how to be useful.
I'll continue finding work on local farms.
Eventually, I hope to be at a school where agriculture is a component of the curriculum.

Irked

I'm still feeling irked by the results of the trip. I had a fantastic time, and learned a lot. The other attendees complained about the level of work, and are now asking for a certificate of community service for the 2 hours that they worked. 
I planned this trip to be a learning and volunteering experience. 
It seems like the participants would find a piece of paper to be more fulfilling than the work itself. 
I'm feeling unappreciated for all my efforts. Even if I do get them certificates, I feel that I still won't be appreciated. So, what's the point? 

Work

I just took a trip to neighboring farm with my camp.
I organized the entire trip.
I personally thought that the trip went well.
We helped with weeding, and learned about composting.
It was my idea of a perfect afternoon.
However, I found out that some participants felt that they worked too much, and werent prepared for this quantity of work.
I had specifically told them that I was planning a trip to a farm, where we would be doing work.
Also, I am being asked to arrange for certificates of community service to be give out to all participants.
For me, doing farm work is so rewarding, that I don't need any recognition or certificates.
This is irksome.

Return to the blog.

So, I am at camp this summer, which is why I haven't written. I am still planning and thinking about agriculture and my goals. 
I'm currently helping plan a workshop and lecture about agriculture for next week. 
The goal of the workshop is to increase awareness among my generation about the problems with our food system. 
I might get a farming internship for next summer, because it's important for me to start gaining experience.  
I've been reading agricultural blogs, and spending time thinking about these issues which I care greatly about.
I'll try to write soon.

Two Years.

I'll be attending college, starting in the fall.
I'll attend this college for two years.
After two years, I will either switch colleges, or start farming/apprenticing.
I feel that getting straight to work on my farm, or apprenticing, would be a better use of my time. It would allow me to get straight to work, without being so fiscally burdensome.
However, if I do stay in college, I would transfer to a school with a program in agriculture that offered internship opportunities.
I feel that there's a lot of societal pressure to attend college for 4 years, even though it might not be completely beneficial.

Still thinking.

I am still weighing my options for the future.
In my previous post, I wasn't trying to minimize the value of a college education.
I realize that a college degree is needed to be accepted as part of the "norm" of urban, elitist society.
I am simply saying that if I will attend college, I would rather go to a school that has relevance to me.
Going to a school without my intended area of focus would be counter-productive if not a waste of time.

Wanting to get started

I feel like there are many years and obstacles ahead of me, before I can get started with farming.
I would much rather just start, and do apprenticeships for a few years.
Doing this would be useful and helpful, and would prepare me for my career.
I will be entering college next year, but there isn't an agricultural component at the school.
Therefore, I am questioning what to do.
I feel that I could get a lot of experience by apprenticing for a few years on different farms.
I am weighing all my options.

Maine Farmers

I spent my evening watching the videos on http://www.meetyourfarmer.org/
They have a collection of short films about farmers in Maine, and their accomplishments and struggles.
I was surprised to learn of the decline in the number of farms in Maine, but after watching these videos, I feel even more motivated to begin farming.
I will be a part of a movement that will help increase the number of farms throughout America.
I just wish I didn't have to wait so long before I start farming.

I would suggest that everyone watch these videos, for it will give people a new perspective on agriculture.

Enough

I'm tired of being surrounded by tests, grades, and expectations. I'm ready to be surrounded by cows, sheep and chickens.
Being around animals on my farm will be less stressful than the daily grind of life in a metropolis.
I look forward to being able to produce my own, clean, healthy food, and not having to rely on supermarkets and multinational corporations for my sustenance.
I received a comment a while ago, saying that my decision to enter agriculture would be a sacrifice of my intellect. This comment reflects such ignorance, and is also incredibly elitist.
In the meantime, I am reading Joel Salatin's books, and watching agricultural videos on YouTube.

Background

My family is an urban one.
My family members are lawyers, artists, and executives.
They all live in urban areas.
Therefore, I think that they're all surprised by my choice.
Certainly my grandfather was surprised, if not dismayed by my decision.
I just want to get past the planning and talking about it, and just start building my farm, and raising animals and crops.

Almost done

I'm almost done with High School.

Soon, I'll be at college in a rural area.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be contacting farms in the Berkshires, to see about doing some work/interning on the weekends.
I am hoping to spend many weekends doing farm work. Getting an internship will be great preparation for me, and will allow me to be more experienced when I establish Drouault Farm.

I've gotten a lot of good advice from Joel Salatin's book "You Can Farm."
He gives good suggestions for beginning farmers.

Now, I need to start taking steps to move Drouault Farm into reality and existence.
I am going to study Agriculture eventually.
Once I get my college degree in Sustainable Agriculture, I'll be even more prepared to farm.

It's true that I won't be living a life of luxury and excess in an urban area, but I'll be happy.
Farming is a way of life that isn't for everyone.
That being said, it's an ideal path for me. I will be outside, and will get to interact with animals.


On another note,
I really don't understand my detractors. I don't understand why these people think that it's their place to criticize my career choice. I will actually be helping the world. If these people don't want to become farmers, that's fine. I respect their choices. I don't criticize them for shopping at supermarkets and buying imported food. So,can't the respect be mutual?

Put me on a farm.

I want to get my hands dirty. I want to feel like I'm doing worthwhile work. I want to be on a farm.
I want to milk cows, and spend my days with livestock. I want the products of my work to be fresh, healthy food.
So many of the modern "good" careers don't seem meaningful.
The only end result is earning money, which allows you to buy food, to which you have no connection.
If you grow your own food, you will naturally have a strong connection to the results.
I flat-out refuse to hold a desk job, because I want to do something meaningful.
For me, raising my own food will be a rewarding career path.
I realize that some might think I'm crazy for choosing this path, but that's life. There will always be naysayers. I honestly don't care if some people look down upon my choice.

I'm ready to leave this system.

I'm fed up with this system. I'm fed up with living a rushed life, and eating food produced in unethical ways.
That's why I am leaving this system. I will be producing my own food. I will be living a life that is not so rushed. Here, everyone is moving too fast. It's exhausting,
Once I leave this system, I'll be self sufficient. I'll be providing myself with food that was raised ethically. I won't rely on multinational corporations for daily survival. Hopefully, more of my generation will join me in becoming farmers and producing food. If the youth don't get involved, there is no hope for the future of small-scale agriculture.
The future would be quite bleak, in fact.

I'm still here.

I've been exceptionally busy lately, hence the lack of posts.
I am still reading Joel Salatin's books, and planning on becoming a farmer.
I am trying to make the best out of the next few months, and that includes continuing to write this blog.
I haven't run out of steam for this blog.
I've been preoccupied and distracted, but I am back for good.
I am still an outsider at my current school.
This is partially because of my aspirations.
I don't want to have a soulless desk job. I want to be a farmer.
Some may think it's weird, but I don't care.

Two Months left.

I only have two more months to endure. After June, I am done with High School.
This comes as a great relief for me, because i find this year to be especially tedious.
Once I am out of High School, I will be able to pursue my passions, and study Agriculture.
At Simon's Rock, where I will be attending, there's not an agricultural program.
Therefore, I will find small, local farms to work with while I am attending.
I still intend to major in Sustainable Agriculture, because it is a subject which interests me.

I just got back from Spring Break in New York City, and am not anticipating my return to school tomorrow.
Oh well, C'est La Vie.

Farmers Markets

Before I return to LA, I'll try and visit the Union Square Farmer's Market.
I am interested to see if Farmer's Markets are different on the East and West Coasts.
I am still reading You Can Farm, and I find it interesting.
Joel Salatin tries to steer beginning and future farmers, like myself, in the right direction, and tells readers about his farm in Virginia. When I get back to California, I'll begin reading Everything I Want to do is Illegal.
This book will educate me on some of the burdens imposed on farmers by the government.

Grandparents

I was visiting with my grandparents last night, and discussing my choice to become a farmer. Even though my grandfather didn't make any direct comment, his disapproval was obvious. My grandfather was a lawyer for his whole life, so that probably influenced his comments. When I asked him what he thought, he responded that it's not his place to judge the lives of other people. These remarks were about as subtle as getting slapped in the face. I guess criticism comes with the territory, because I am not choosing an extremely lucrative, elitist career. If I had chosen a desk-job within corporate America, my grandfather would have been supportive. However, because I am choosing a fulfilling occupation, my choice becomes an object of criticism.
I am off to New York tomorrow. I am hoping that I can get a chance to visit some local farms. I will also be going to the Farmer's Markets in Manhattan.
I'm currently reading You Can Farm, by Joel Salatin, and it's a great book. It gives a lot of useful advice to the beginning farmer. As I read this book, I'll continue on my farm plan.

My detractors.

When I speak to people in my local area about my plan to become a farmer, I sometimes get responses that frustrate me. One of the more frustrating responses is "you're young, and your aspirations might change."
That response is tremendously condescending. Saying that my aspirations might change is insinuating (and not very subtly) that I have chosen a career path that the person finds disagreeable.
I am not trying to convert anyone to an agricultural lifestyle. I am simply choosing to become a farmer, which has no impact on these critics.
I am not here to convince others about the validity of my choices, but I am content with them.

The books have been ordered

I ordered You Can Farm,and Everything I Want to do is Illegal, both by Joel Salatin.
These books will be the beginning of my agricultural course of study.
I plan on completing a course of study before studying agriculture in college.
My course of study will include reading farming books, and interning on different types of farms.
After these two years, I will enter a program where I can formally learn more about farming, and then start Drouault Farm.

Animals on Drouault Farm

After much thought, I've created a rough plan for Drouault Farm.
I intend for the farm to start out with laying hens, meat birds, and a dairy operation, with cows and goats. As I continue, I may expand. I want this farm to be grass based, similar to Joel Salatin's Polyface Farm.

I want my farm to be within 3 hours of New York City. That way, I can have access to the many farmer's markets.

I am not following in the urban footsteps of my family.
I am blazing a new trail, through pastures.

Four year plan

I have created a four year plan.
Within four years, I intend to have a degree in Sustainable Agriculture, and will begin farming within 5.
For the next two years, I will study at Simon's Rock, where I was recently accepted.
While I am at Simon's Rock,I will find a way to be involved with local farms.
Following this, it is my intention to switch to a program where I can get my bachelors in Sustainable Agriculture.
Throughout the next four years, I'll be updating this blog.
This blog will undergo a change.
It started out as the musings of a frustrated teen in the city.
It will eventually turn into a true farm blog, in which daily happenings on my farm will be reported.
I will be changing the title of my blog, to the name of my future farm.

The web address will remain the same, but this blog will be renamed Drouault Farm.
The pronunciation is dru-oh.

My Rationale.

So, why do I want to be a farmer?

This is a question I've asked myself on many occasions.
Clearly it's not a common career choice among members of my generation.
I am not choosing this career path because I have visions of wealth.
I am becoming a farmer because I want to interact with the earth, and with the animals, and I want to produce food.

End of the blog.

I have decided that I don't want to be a farmer anymore.
I want to be someone with an office job in a large metropolitan area.
I want to have a job that isn't affected by weather conditions. I want to have a job where I won't have to do manual labor. I have decided that I shouldn't aspire to do physical work, but instead, I should just rest on my laurels.

Happy April Fools!

Moving forward.

So, I haven't been writing as much as I'd like to, but now I am back, after a hiatus.
I am back to being motivated, and wanting to be a farmer. I had a momentary slump in motivation, but my passion and energy has returned.
I decided not to intern this summer on a farm, because I want to be with friends at a camp. I will find an internship opportunity for next summer.
I will probably be at school in Great Barrington MA next year, and while there isn't a farming program at the college, I will find programs to get involved in. I will find small, local farms to work on. I will find opportunities to learn more about farming, and to gain experience.
It's good to be back, and motivated.

Motivation

I went through a few day slump, when I didn't get into one college to which I applied. I am back with motivation, because I just got accepted to a college in Massachusetts.
They don't have a sustainable agriculture program, so I will have to find ways to incorporate this extracurricular interest into my program of study.
I'll be in New England, which has a lot of small farms, so I'll probably be able to work with one of the farms in the surrounding area.
I just wrote to a farm in Maine about the possibility of working there over spring break, so we will see.

It will be my responsibility to set my own path, if I want to continue my focus on agriculture.

Continuing

I was feeling a bit sad about not getting to one of the colleges. Now, I've decided to stop feeling sad, and get back to writing for the cause that I care about.
What I need to do is find opportunities to work in agriculture, while I am in high school. I should just find a place, and get started on working.

Rejected.

I didn't get into the college in Vermont that I applied to.
I guess I will have to find some farming opportunities here in LA.
Some of my friends have sent me info about possibilities in this area. I am now looking into them, and familiarizing myself with LA public transportation.
Rejection letters can be crushing.

Dinner and the carbon footprint.

Last night, I had a very international dinner. This wasn't due to the flavors, but due to the source of the ingredients. The risotto we ate was Italian. The salmon was Norwegian. The tomatoes in the salad were from Holland. All of these products were from Trader Joe's. I wish supermarkets would make a more concerted effort to only sell domestic products, and emphasize local products. The problem is that consumers don't realize that there are seasons, and that they (should) affect the availability of certain foods. If we can't grow items locally, then don't stock them. It seems fairly simple to me.

The only thing produced locally last night was my sarcasm.

Feeling Stuck

I am waiting to hear from colleges, and I feel frustrated.
I have many possibilities for the summer and beyond, but I currently feel stuck. Urban life is taking its toll on me. I am tired of the rushing. City life feels so pressured. I am getting tired of being in an educational setting which I don't find fulfilling. I would much rather be in an environment where I can pursue my interests. Here, in LA, I feel that farming opportunities are few, and far between. I think that a majority of the small-scale farming opportunities are on the East coast. Having agricultural aspirations while living in Los Angeles is a test of my patience.
Only a few more months left.

Post on Greenhorns

I have had a piece published on the Greenhorns Blog.
http://thegreenhorns.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/a-high-schooler-chooses-agriculture/

This is quite exciting for me, because it will hopefully put me in touch with some farmers. I am greatly looking forward to the summer, because I will hopefully be doing an internship. An internship would provide me with hands on experience in farming, which is important for my education.
Not only will I get experience with production of food, but I will hopefully get experience with selling the products at farmers markets.

Farmers Markets

Here, farmers markets are status symbols, and nothing more. I see the shoppers leaving the market, and they've only bought one item or two. In my mind, the purpose of a farmers market is to procure high quality, local groceries. These people buy one or two items just to make themselves feel better, and feel as if they are doing something good. If someone is committed to buying local, they would buy all of their groceries at the farmers markets.
At our local farmers market, here in LA, I was shocked to see a cheese company based in Petauma, California. Petaluma is four hundred miles from here, so I found this to be hypocrisy. The purpose of a farmers market is to provide a setting for consumers to discover local producers.

Raison D'etre/Manifesto

We have a problem in America. It's not a genocide, or an epidemic. However, it is quite serious. This problem is our food system. We are eating food that is bad for us.
A few multinational corporations control a majority of our food system. They focus on producing food faster and cheaper. As a result of this, the quality of the food, and the quality of life for the animal is low. The chickens never see the light of day. The cows are standing waist deep in their own waste. All of these animals are living in crowded conditions.
I am going to become a farmer, so that I can provide good, high quality food to people. I plan on studying sustainable agriculture. After completing my course of study, I will purchase a farm. I have already started to plan my farm. I intend to have a small-scale dairy operation.
I also intend to raise chickens for meat, and laying hens for eggs. I plan on raising 20 or so pigs for meat. A problem that we have in our society is that agriculture is looked down upon as a career choice. If a high-achieving student decides that they want to be a farmer, they would likely receive a less-than-positive reaction. Because farming isn't considered an intellectual job by the elitists, farming isn't encouraged as a career choice.
If a student does decide to become a farmer, it is difficult for High School students to get farming internships, because they can't stay for the entire growing season. I am looking for a farming internship, but I can only stay for two months.


I am not choosing to go into a career that will include sitting behind a desk. My cubicle will be measured in terms of acres. I am firm in my belief that I am going to become a farmer. I am going to be part of an agricultural revolution. There's a whole movement of youth and young adults who are becoming farmers.
This is a positive step, because the age of the average farmer was 57, in 2007, and this figure is rising steadily.

If more youth don't get involved in farming,
we will have a severe shortage of small-scale farms. We will only be able to buy mass-produced food from multinational corporations in the grocery stores.
I don't want to continue to live in a society where I eat poorly treated livestock, and call it dinner.

Barnheart

I read a wonderful piece on the Cold Antler Farm Blog.
I actually read it in the fall, when I was starting to consider a career in farming.
Here's the piece.

"There’s a condition that inflicts some of us and I can only describe as Barnheart. Barnheart is a sharp, targeted, depression that inflicts certain people (myself being one of them) as harsh and ugly as a steak knife being shoved into an uncooked turkey. It’s not recognized by professionals or psychoanalysts (yet), but it’s only a matter of time before it’s a household diagnose. Hear me out. It goes like this:

Barnheart is that sudden overcast feeling that hits you while at work or in the middle of the grocery store checkout line. It’s unequivocally knowing you want to be a farmer—and for whatever personal circumstances—cannot be one just yet. So there you are, heartsick and confused in the passing lane, wondering why you cannot stop thinking about heritage livestock and electric fences. Do not be afraid. You have what I have. You are not alone.

You are suffering from Barnheart.

It’s a dreamer’s disease: a mix of hope, determination, and grit. Specifically targeted at those of us who wish to god we were outside with our flocks, feed bags, or harnesses and instead are sitting in front of a computer screens. When a severe attack hits, it’s all you can do to sit still. The room gets smaller, your mind wanders, and you are overcome with the desire to be tagging cattle ears or feeding pigs instead of taking conference calls. People at the water cooler will stare if you say these things aloud. If this happens, just segue into sports and you’ll be fine.

The symptoms are mild at first. You start glancing around the internet at homesteading forums and cheese making supply shops on your lunch break. You go home after work and instead of turning on the television—you bake a pie and read about chicken coop plans. Then some how, somewhere, along the way – you realize you are happiest when in your garden or collecting eggs. When this happens, man oh man, it’s all down hill from there. When you accept the only way to a fulfilling life requires tractor attachments and a septic system, it’s too late. You’ve already been infected. If you even suspect this, you may have early-onset Barnheart.

But do not panic, my dear friends. Our rural ennui has a cure! It’s a self-medication that that can only be administered by direct, tangible, and intentional actions. If you find yourself overcome with the longings of Barnheart, simply step outside; get some fresh air, and breathe. Go back to your desk and finish your tasks knowing that tonight you’ll take notes on spring garden plans and start perusing those seed catalogs. Usually, simple, small actions in direction of your own farm can be the remedy. In worst-case scenarios you might find yourself resorting to extreme measures. These situations call for things like a day called in sick to do nothing but garden, muck out chicken coops, collect fresh eggs and bake fresh bread. While that may seem drastic, understand this is a disease of inaction, darling. It hits us the hardest when we are farthest from our dreams. So to fight it we must simply have faith that some day 3:47 PM will mean grabbing a saddle instead of a spreadsheet. Believing this is even possible is halfway to healthy. I am a high-functioning sufferer of Barnheart. I can keep a day job, long as I know my night job involves livestock.

Barnheart is a condition that needs smells and touch and crisp air to heal. If you find yourself suffering from such things, make plans to visit an orchard, dairy farm, or pick up that beat guitar. Busy hands will get you on the mend. Small measures, strong convictions, good coffee, and kind dogs will see you through. I am certain of these things.

So when you find yourself sitting in your office, school, or café chair and your mind wanders to a life of personal freedom, know that feeling is our collective disease. If you can almost taste the bitter smells of manure and hay in the air and feel the sun on your bare arms, even on the subway, you are one of us and have hope for recovery. Like us, you try and straighten up in your ergonomic desk chair but really you want to be reclining in the bed of a pickup truck. We get that.

And hey, do not lose the faith or fret about the current circumstances. Everything changes. And if you need to stand in the light of an old barn to lift your spirits, perhaps some day you will. Every day. For some, surely this is the only cure.

We’ll get there. In the meantime, let us just take comfort in knowing we’re not alone. And maybe take turns standing up and admitting we have a problem.

Hello. My name is Jenna. And I have Barnheart."

I also have this serious affliction. I want to be a farmer.

Here's a link to the post, and the blog.
http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2010/01/barnheart.html

Valentines Day

Tomorrow is Valentines Day.
Many people will be giving gifts to the people who they are romantically involved with. Unfortunately, many of these gifts will have travelled great distances.
The chocolates that will be given have a large Carbon Footprint. The beans were picked, and then shipped to a roasting facility, and then shipped again. The traditional Valentines Day roses also travel a great distance.
Rather than give a gift that will hurt the earth, give a gift that will be beneficial. Gift a CSA membership to a local farm. This way, the recipient can receive good, clean food.
And besides, the imported roses will wilt in a few days.

Where are the opportunities?

I have noticed an obstacle in my quest to find farming internships. Being in high school poses a problem, because my summer vacation doesn't incldue the entire growing season. This creates a problem, because many farms are reluctant to hire for only two months.
Another problem is age. WWOOF has an 18+ requirement. I will only be 16, so that creates another set of problems.
If anyone knows of any farms that would take a sixteen year old as an intern for two months, please let me know.

The Greenhorns

Last weekend, I found out about a documentary called "The Greenhorns." This film explores the lives of young farmers in America.
The filmmaker hopes that this film will help convince more people to choose a career in agriculture. They focus on young farmers, because the average age of a farmer is 57.
I look forward to seeing this film, because I am going to be starting my own farm eventually. For now, I can just find resources such as this one, and connect with the organizers.
I feel that the apathy that is present among members of my generation will be harmful later in life. Unless there's a agricultural revolution among the members of my generation, the problems will continue to get worse.
My main concern is that the age of the average farmer will continue to rise, until we reach a point when we have no local, small farms.
The people won't have taken enough interest in food production, and therefore, the multinational corporations will become even more powerful.
That's my main concern. Luckily, we have movements like The Greenhorns, and as it says on The Greenhorns Website, "It is the filmmaker's hope that by broadcasting the stories and voices of these young farmers, we can build the case for those considering a career in agriculture - to embolden them, to entice them, and to recruit them into farming."

I hope that more and more youth choose a career in farming.

Tediousness of daily life.

I am feeling frustrated. The frustration is coming from the tediousness of daily life. I have my goals set out, but I feel stuck, in high school. I know I want to farm, but I feel stuck in this area where we eat without thinking, and try to move faster and faster. I intend to get out of urban life, but I feel that I can't leave soon enough. I am seriously tired of urban life.
I feel different from everyone here. The reason that I am different is that I care about food, and its sources. My peers are so unaware of these issues, which matter to me. Interacting with them is a frustrating experience because they think I'm crazy for caring. The only agriculture that interests them is the growing of cannabis.
I am passionate about these issue, so I am alone. There's an entry on The Cold Antler Farm Blog that sums up the response that I get when talking about agriculture in my current surroundings, "People at the water cooler will stare if you say these things aloud." For now, I just sit here, waiting to be surrounded by like minded people.

Plans

The Farm.
It has been a while since I've written.
I have been busy with my mundane and monotonous existence. I am starting to think about a plan for my sustainable, organic farm. I am not sure where I want to settle, but I am thinking about Northern Vermont, or Upstate New York. I am thinking about what I want to produce. I am thinking that I'll have 100 laying hens. 20 chickens for meat (at a time), 20 dairy cows, 15 goats for milk, and 5 pigs for meat. This would be in addition to large vegetable garden. I would run a farm stand operation, where I would sell my products I would also run a CSA. If I were close enough to a city, I could sell my goods at farmers markets. I plan on also running educational programs, so that I can teach the future generations about the importance of good, clean, and fair food. For this summer, I am going to apply for Sterling College's summer program, and I am also going to look for farming internships. If anyone knows of any good farming internships, please let me know.

Decline of farmers

I just saw a video on YouTube that I found to be somewhat discouraging, yet motivating at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-8jIn1UZ0

This video is from San Juan Island in Washington. The average farmer is 57 as of 2007, and the number is rising steadily. The problem is that fewer members of my generation are interested in Agriculture. The youth don't care enough about food, and the future of it. If agriculture was encouraged, instead of stigmatized, we might have more potential farmers.
It's time for the youth to care about farming, and about where food comes from. Too many people are uninformed about the control that multinational corporations have on our plates. People need to make conscious choices about their meals.

I just read a very well written essay on Sterling College's Blog, The Common Voice. It's all about the political and philosophical aspects of food.

http://voice.sterlingcollege.edu/post/2610332671/nutrition-essay-my-food-philosophy

Happy New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed the excessive holidays.
Lately, I've been feeling agitated and out of place. I feel like I don't belong here, in this soulless environment. I don't belong here. I belong on a piece of rural land somewhere. I belong in an environment where people care about agriculture, and don't view it as a second class profession. I just want to be in a place where people share my views on life. Is this so much to ask for? I just feel like daily life is grinding on my nerves. The same monotonous routine endlessly repeats, while I just go with it. While my body is here, in a large metropolis, my heart, mind and soul are on a dairy farm somewhere beautiful. I would be ecstatic to hear the sounds of mooing cows. I wouldn't mind shovelling manure at all. I would be so happy to get my hands dirty, and just help produce good, clean food.
Food production should be small-scale, not industrial. The reason that people are so distanced from their food is that they have no experience. They most likely don't know a local farmer, because a majority of the food eaten is produced and packaged thousands of miles away in a smelly, cramped, and inhumane environment.