by Laurel Queen

Created on: April 30, 2008   Last Updated: May 07, 2008

The current business model for farms, charmingly dubbed "Get Big or Get Out", guts the heart of the farming industry-for both the individual trying to crave out a small living to those who dream of the behemoths that are so debated today. Buzz words like sustainability, eco-friendly and organic are being bandied around like so many party favors at a fiesta for a reason. Megalith farms simply are not sustainable in the long run; pollution, toxic levels of chemicals and waste matter removal haunt those around today. Diverse farms (lands that are small, but grow a variety of crops and animals) are often self-sustaining and create minimal impact on the environment.

"Get Big or Get Out" possesses one compelling argument: the farms of America feed the world. While farms do provide enough excess food to technically feed a sizable portion of the world, anyone who has worked in a restaurant, fast food joint or a grocery store can tell you most of nature's bounty ends up in the trash. But hey, at least it's biodegradable! No current system in place today can handle the vast amount of transport needed to 'feed the world'. Instead farms are overproducing, driving prices down (which means less of a profit for the grower), and then most of the produce ends up getting dumped for pushing past its prime because no one bought it. Another side of that is that a large portion of certain crops (like corn) simply get shipped to feed animals like pigs or cows and were never destined to serve humans.

As America has become more knowledgeable about certain practices in farming-excessive pesticide use or dumping of animal waste into natural streams or rivers-the general public has clamored for organically produced crops and animals. Though it means diversifying (and rotating) crops and no more behemoth ranches full to overflowing of animals, organic produce gives other advantages. Because organic produce specializes in completely natural products, with no chemical pesticides used, consumers are willing to pay more per pound, translating into a higher profit for the producer. Organic farmers will often sell at farmer's markets (also growing in popularity) where the farmer can develop a personal relationship with those who they sell to-rather than just a faceless name on a list. In today's increasingly isolationist world, dialog between growers and buyers can prove invaluable. Those who normally shop at megamarts often have no clue as to the reason for food shortages or price fluctuations. Education can result in 'city folk' understanding how and why food doesn't grow in bins at the grocery.

Small, diversified, organic farms prove fruitful for both the farmer and the consumer. With more healthful options available, consumers are both happier and healthier, and the grower can reduce his effect on the environment around him to almost nil. As the global warming crisis heats up around us, literally, any reduction in pollution-from pesticides to waste-is welcome.

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