A Food Community, A Global Community

In light of the climate talks that just ended in Copenhagen, their “bare minimum” agreements, and this, I think it’s important that we all get on the same page here as far as the many ways small farmers are going to save the world.

Wendell Berry said, “The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.”

I've mentioned in the past that I believe that knowing where our food comes from and participating in its growth gives us a greater connection to place. And I have yet to understand why it is that some time ago it became all the rage to forget this connection and that we too are creatures of the Earth. And this is all despite the fact that we eat, we sleep, and we obey the same calls of nature that all other living beings on the planet do and succumb to them just the same.

And perhaps the consequences don’t have to be so severe, perhaps this struggle can turn into something worth living through; the preservation of a big, crumbling edifice that we will all smear our small patches into so that its cornerstones can remain for future generations to wonder over and tell stories about.

I think it is important to take note of Vandana Shiva’s quote, “You are not Atlas carrying the world on your shoulder. It is good to remember that the planet is carrying you." And to make decisions accordingly.

Given the inconclusiveness of the past couple of weeks in Copenhagen, and the lack of overall action that has lead us to this point, it’s apparent that not everyone else agrees. I think you can point fingers all day regarding this subject because not one of us entirely removed from it. Instead, I’ll recommend that you check out Bill Mckibbens’ website where you can read a more hopeful description of what we should take out of these climate talks.

“…The one undeniable thing about this conference,” he writes, “ Is that it reflected the growing power of a people's movement around the world. You were heard. We're not strong enough yet to dominate the talks--that's still the fossil fuel industry. But we're strong enough to make it harder for the great powers simply to impose their will behind the scenes.”

Given that I’m a natural optimist, I like his thinking. And there’s nothing worse for movement and change than a loss of momentum that comes from feeling quieted and overwhelmed. So even if we don’t all go out and get ourselves a piece of land and go completely carbon free (although if you feel called, much love to you), as consumers we can encourage the momentum of market trends that encourage sustainable practices. This means buy, eat, act, and love local right now.

And that’s why we should all support the small farmers I write about here. As you hopefully read in the link above, they do a lot for us! They give our earth a little TLC that is much needed right now.

In her speech in Copenhagen, Vandana Shiva (I really love her) stated that through her work with small farmers in India she has discovered some amazing truths. "Forty percent of the solution to climate change lies in organic, ecological farming in the hands of small farmers," she says. "This is also a one hundred percent solution to hunger and poverty."

Not to get too preachy or political, we’re all welcome to our own opinions, and this blog is truly for the stories of small farmers. I’m taking a little advantage but hey, there are always a ton of reasons behind why we do what we do.

In peace and food community on this solstice.