Farm Aid?

[Narwhalin]

Farm Aid is in St. Louis this year...anyone else going?

Also, I would love to hear what your comments are on this event!

http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5Ih...er_America.htm

[ErinP]

My husband remembers the first time they did Farm Aid. lol
His dad got a check in the mail for $3.45

Wow! Worth the hype.

(Though I think they've since streamlined their purpose a bit)

[Narwhalin]

Funny! I don't know what it even is...how do you qualify to get the "aid?"

I live an hour outside of St. Louis and have a few acres. If anyone wants to go, I can provide a patch of land for you to camp on. Just let me know!

[Emmy D]

I think anything that brings some light to how hard it is to maintain a "Family" farm is a good thing. FarmAid started during the 80's when farmers with small to medium farms all over the midwest were losing their farms left and right. We held on to ours, but many in this area did not. Sad that most of that land was bought up by the big Corporate farms.

[texican]

Nothing will happen to help the "Family Farm" except widespread devastation and famine. Family Farms are like the horse and buggy makers, once the auto showed up. Growing commodities with microscopic profit margins is a losing proposition... and when the input costs are more than the commodity brings in, you're looking at bankruptcy.

Unless the 'family farm' grows something no one else does, or finds a niche market, they're doomed.

Don't get me wrong, I like family farms... raised on a family farm, that's had 7 generations of Texans on it. I also like Unicorns... but we know how many of those have survived...

[Narwhalin]

Originally Posted by texican

Nothing will happen to help the "Family Farm" except widespread devastation and famine.

It's funny...corporate farms and corporate food have left our bodies both devistated with abhorrent additives, chemicals, and preservatives and famished with depleted nutritional value! More and more, people are finding out the "dirty little secrets" about the "food" they are putting in their bodies, and even in tough economic times they are choosing to buy healthy food. The health food market I work at have not seen a decrese in sales, while many other buisnesses are being pushed to the limit right now.

The "Family Farm" is simply a matter of survival, at this point. It is for those who choose to eat foods that are nutritious, clean, and close. I predict a shift towards even more home vegitable gardens, small family farms, and local co-op buying agreements....

[Wisconsin Ann]

Originally Posted by texican

Nothing will happen to help the "Family Farm" except widespread devastation and famine. Family Farms are like the horse and buggy makers, once the auto showed up. Growing commodities with microscopic profit margins is a losing proposition... and when the input costs are more than the commodity brings in, you're looking at bankruptcy.

Unless the 'family farm' grows something no one else does, or finds a niche market, they're doomed.

Don't get me wrong, I like family farms... raised on a family farm, that's had 7 generations of Texans on it. I also like Unicorns... but we know how many of those have survived...

I sure hope you're wrong. I wonder if it's just going to morph into a "small farm initiative" type thing? We have quite a few family farms in this area that are doing fine. BUT we also have a lot of former city people going back to the land. They don't have 200 acres under plow, but grow huge market gardens. And a few chickens. And then get pigs.

we also have seen specialized small farms. Only goats. Only hayfields and chickens (in salatin type tractors). Only beef cattle. etc.

A sort of family farm run like a shoe store instead of a department store. One product, and one product done WELL. Don't know if it will work or not, but the local goat farmer is making a lot of improvements to his farm right now....