January Thaw?
This morning the mercury stands at 17 F. Four or five warm days in a row and it feels like Spring. Likely just a January thaw but with the rattle of orchard ladders in the apples next door and the voices of workers, the orchards are reawakening after an all-too-brief rest. I’m restless to get back outside myself after two days indoors at the annual convention of the Western Colorado Horticultural Society in Grand Junction while the snows melted.
The highlight of the WCHS conference was three impassioned addresses by Dr John Ikerd on the “New American Agriculture” and the “New American Farmer” both of which could be summarized by the term “sustainable agriculture.” The kick-off was a showing of the new film “Broken Limbs” (which Max and I have ordered for the Farm library; www.brokenlimbs.org); the story of a farm family who are struggling to keep farming despite devastating competition from China and South America as they raise apples in Washington’s fertile Columbia River Valley. With the smoke from the decimation of their neighbors’ razed orchards as the back drop, the film depicts how these folks apply Dr Ikerd’s message in their effort to continue in the way of life they love.
In person, Dr Ikerd told us that the days of industrial agriculture, including industrial organic, are over. That the New American Agriculture produces food ethically, for local communities, that is nutritious, delicious, and healthy. In order to be “sustainable” the New American Farmer stewards the land and preserves and improves the soil; (s)he treats workers and the community alike with respect, kindness, and equitably; and, equally important, finds ways to produce reasonable profits.
This is not a new message to our friends who have been following this blog and web site and who have been purchasing our fruit. You know that we are working on improving our soils and stewarding our farm ecology. We acknowledge that we have room for improvement in paying our workers a living wage — a priority for us. So much of what we can put back into the farm and our workers depends on securing an adequate income. It is a process of continual improvement. We have declared this to be the year that we will see if we, and the farm, together can realize the promise of the New American Farm economy.
It was on this last point that we heard Dr Ikerd’s message most powerfully. And this is where you, the “eater” of food comes in. He works with sustainable ag groups all over the country and he sees that people want to know where there food comes from; want to know and trust their farmers; and want to know that their food dollar is going to support farmers who care about the land, the quality of the food they produce, and the ethics they live while growing it. They understand that by supporting local farmers they are supporting rural communities and the health of the society to which they belong. Through this wholistic understanding, they are willing to pay more for food grown in this way because they know where those dollars are going and that they are supporting values that they respect.
We came away not only reinvigorated in our commitment to making this happen but with references and resources to help turn the vision into food on your table. So, if you’re in our “food-shed” and want to be part of this movement, don’t hesitate to email (wink@mesawindsfarm.com). If you’re already part of our network, you’ll be hearing from us directly. If you’re in another local food region, look for farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, and u-picks. Make friends with a farmer who cares about you, your family, and your community.