Its the same reason I don't support the troops...
(here's a hint, I do, but I think the notion of "support" is a feelgood excuse to abandon the need for action)
The number 2 suggestion in change.org for ag. policy is to support small farms. I think thats great, but exactly how do we do that when small farms just cant compete on terms that the average American can accept. The second we begin to pull subsidies on mega agriculture, their puppets in the media will cry out that the ones who will be hurt the most are small farmers and poor people who cant afford food anymore. And people will buy it.
Here is why I think a victory garden in the front lawn of the whitehouse is the superior choice. President elect Obama no matter what you think of his political persuasion has demonstrated one irrefutable fact. The man can inspire. A victory garden in the whitehouse lawn will put more gardens across America, it will get people thinking more about how they can personally be a part of a changing food economy, and it will get them thinking about local food sources, i.e. small farms. To truly cause a resurgence in small farms there has to be demand, supply side economics (cheap abundance, incentivized monoculture, industrial reliance) is what brought us to the point of giant agriculture domination. Demand side will force the discussion back on to preferable terms. Having the truest definition of mainstream (the president) tout the virtues of raising food first at home, shifts the discussion from the fringes into terms that get everyone interested. I can talk till I'm blue in the face about why its better to raise and buy locally, but I'm one of "those people." I am a walking definition of the stereotypical bleeding heart yuppie granola. The president is not.
The perception of the messenger is often just as important as the validity of the message.
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While I don't think I can ever bring myself to say that I don't think we should support small farms, I absolutely concur with your arguments on the paucity of demand for Real Food.
I can't sell my produce in my county because so few can see the difference in an heirloom potato v. an Idaho russet. Growing food in your own backyard can help raise that awareness.
But so could media campaigns - General Mills has a slightly larger marketing budget than the Organic Growers Association or Slow Food. PSA's on the persuasive and mounting evidence of the drastically better nutrition of heirlooms grown in Real Soil would help as well. Funding to help small farmers start-up, support for a equipment manufactures that cater to small holders would be huge too. I have to import almost everything from Europe right now since I can't fit a John Deer combine on my .25 acres of corn, and assistance for local market places would all help immensely .
Like everything -there is no silver bullet. Lots of little steps -and we could use some Big Ones too!- to accomplish Real Change. I'd love to see Barack weeding a row of onions while the Sercret Service holds the water cans - t'would be a powerful image!
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