01-02-2007, 03:10 PM
We had similar experiences to those suggested by John's article on our family farm in Connecticut. In the '50s and '60's the federal government was in high gear to convince the small farmers to specialize (monoculture) and turn their pastures into field. Buy big expensive machinery with borrowed money. No till planting with lots of herbicides.
Our farm was the only one to not travel that route - too stubborn to listen to the "pros".
As the '60s turned into the '70s and '80s all our neighbors went bankrupt one by one and the land around us was largely bought up by insurance companies (they sat on the land and waiting for development demand).
At the end my elderly uncle was the last man standing and his farm was bought and preserved (land bank) because of the organic quality of his land. (What's "organic" he asked).
Anyway - our own family fable.
Our farm was the only one to not travel that route - too stubborn to listen to the "pros".
As the '60s turned into the '70s and '80s all our neighbors went bankrupt one by one and the land around us was largely bought up by insurance companies (they sat on the land and waiting for development demand).
At the end my elderly uncle was the last man standing and his farm was bought and preserved (land bank) because of the organic quality of his land. (What's "organic" he asked).
Anyway - our own family fable.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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