Who Are The Young Farmers Of ‘Generation Organic’?
For decades, as young people have been leaving farms behind, the average age of the American farmer has been rising. The last time the government counted farmers, in 2002, the average farmer was 55-years-old. But there’s a new surge of youthful vigor into American agriculture — at least in the corner of it devoted to organic, local food. […]
Catholic Charities Sponsors Ag Symposium
Food, Faith & Farming Symposium An abundance of our nation’s food comes from the Central Valley yet it is this area that struggles with some of the greatest hunger issues in the country Central Valley farmers, farm workers, Stockton Diocese Roman Catholic Bishop Stephen Blaire, and California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross are gathering to explore […]
California’s Food System. Where Is It Headed?
Roots of Change (ROC) president, Michael Dimock, had the pleasure to interview one of the leading figures in the food movement, Michael Pollan. Pollan is the author of several well-known books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. He has changed the way Americans view […]
80% Of All US’ Antibiotics Given To Farm Animals
Even for someone who follows sustainable agriculture and animal welfare issues, this is pretty astounding: New analysis by the Center for a Livable Future shows that 80% of all antibiotics sold in the United States go to farm animals (Wired). The last time that stat was calculated, a decade ago by the Union of Concerned Scientists, […]
Worm Composting Becomes Big Business
A few weeks ago we caught a behind-the-scenes glimpse at an industrial composting operation. But it’s not just regular composting that’s going mainstream. Vermicomposting, or worm composting—which I tend to think of as the crunchier, DIY end of composting—is also being practiced on some pretty large scales. And these folks seem to be making money […]
Change in Mexican Irrigation Can Be Seen From Space
An area of Mexico recently underwent a change in agricultural practices that has had an impact on the region so great that it can be seen from space. The images taken by the Landsat satellite show how increased use of water from a major reservoir has affected the state of Chihuahua, and has also affected native […]
Compost: Be Careful What you put in your Pile
One [Mother Earth News] Reader Shares Personal Experience With Killer Compost on Her Homestead By: Jennifer Kongs Killer compost has negatively affected farms and gardens across the country. Toxic herbicides containing the chemical aminopyralid have become more common on ranches and lawns. Since aminopyralid is resistant to breaking down, many small-scale organic farmers have suffered […]
Mother Earth News Conducts Nationwide Pest Survey
Nationwide Organic Pest Control Survey: Take the Survey, Plus Read Results If you’re a gardener and you haven’t taken our Pest Control Survey, we’re hoping you can spare about 10 minutes to give us your valuable feedback. We’re working on an exciting project to provide region-specific advice about the most common garden pests and the […]
World Bank: “Investors in farmland are targeting countries with weak laws, buying arable land on the cheap and failing to deliver on promises of jobs and investments.”
Leaked World Bank Report Highlights Extent of Land Grab Problem By: Danielle Nierenberg, Worldwatch Insitute, 8/3/10 Land rights advocates have been eagerly awaiting the World Bank’s report on large scale land acquisitions since December 2009. Delayed three times already, the report is supposed to be the most comprehensive analysis of land acquisitions to date, largely […]
4 reasons why buying local foods saves fuel…
Stop Eating Fossil Fuels, Start Eating Food Treehugger, by Lloyd Alter, 8/3/10 Whenever one discusses the idea that buying local food saves fuel, the naysayers show up. After all, there is the study from New Zealand’s Lincoln University that proved New Zealand lamb transported to the UK to have a carbon footprint of only 688 […]