Episode 106
The future of humanity may very well rest on the success of the small, sustainable farm.
If that sounds like a severe exaggeration to you, you might find today’s interview with author Elvira Di’Brigit quite illuminating.
Consider the following information provided by sustainabletable.org.
- Industrial agriculture uses a large amount of toxins that end up in what we eat, drink and breathe.
- Unsanitary conditions in factory farms and slaughterhouses often contaminates food.
- Industrial agriculture undermines genetic diversity.
- Animal waste at factory farms often contaminates nearby soil and water with toxins that can sicken neighboring residents.
- Industrial farming often results in dead soil due to extensive plowing, constant planting and reliance on toxic chemicals.
- The antibiotics fed to industrially raised animals contributes to the creation of antibiotic resistant bacteria – an increasing threat to human health.
- Hormones routinely fed to factory farm livestock have been linked to illness in animals and humans.
- Plowing fields, transporting foods over long distances, and producing fertilizers on industrial farms requires large amounts of fossil fuel.
- Factory farmed animals are subjected to cruel and unsanitary conditions that cause widespread disease and aggressive behavior.
Elvira DiBrigit
The Small, Sustainable Farm
It’s clear that damage done to humans, animals and Mother Earth by industrial farming is massive and if left unchecked, could spell disaster for all three.
But small, sustainable farmers are changing this paradigm.
In her book “Why We Farm: Stories of Farmers from the Capay Valley” Elvira shares accounts of small farmers drawn to a Northern California community to grow food as serious “stewards of the land.”
In this episode of the podcast, Elvira and I discuss how these amazing farmers have found success using sustainable growing techniques and non-traditional business models that connect them directly to consumers.
Farming is hard work and small farmers face many obstacles not shared by their industrial counterparts. But these folks revel in it and enjoy their lives in the Capay Valley.
It makes me wonder why. Is it the joy of using their ingenuity to solve problems in novel ways? Is it the satisfaction of knowing their work is helping to heal people and the planet? Or is it just the peaceful life in the Capay Valley? Perhaps all three.
If you’d like to learn more about these fascinating farmers, you can pre-order Elvira’s book here.
You can follow Elvira’s work and connect with her online at the following sites:
If you enjoyed this podcast, you may wish to check out the following past episodes:
http://184.154.247.208/~sustajo7/suburban-farming/
http://184.154.247.208/~sustajo7/agritrue-alternative-usda-organic/
