The widespread drought conditions of 2012 adversely affected yields and revealed a deeper message: a people who can no longer feed themselves lose the capacity to choose their destiny. This was the sentiment held by Mark Keating, an organic farming advocate and consultant after inspecting 39 organic farms across the Great Plains, Midwest and South.
Along the way he noted the decline of once beautiful downtowns and landscapes as family farms were abandoned for industrialized agriculture, commercial sprawl, chains and fast food joints. Has the reported 50% increase in exports over the last 4 years come at the expense of the American heartland and its people? Yet Keating was bolstered by the promise of redemption these organic practitioners might bring. He was impressed by their character, intellect, ingenuity and perseverance and humbled by the depth and breadth of their knowledge and skills.
Keating compared the organic local food movement to the Occupy movement with organic farmers representing the 1%. Those committed to organic, local food systems are those who recognize that where and how our food is produced will be the defining issue of the 21st century. These irreplaceable stewards of human, social and ecological capital are small in number but bound to grow as more (re)awaken to the sacred relationship with the origin and integrity of their food.
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