You probably already follow Texas Slim and The Beef Initiative project. In his "Harvest of Deception" piece he notes that Bill Gates is now the largest owner of farmland in the US. He doesn't personally farm any of it, but instead has others farm it. It's very similar to the "Lord of the Manor" in the Middle Ages having serfs to farm his land. Farmers in the dire straits you've outlined have sold to him at bargain prices. At 77 I'm a tad old to be farming, but I do remember growing up that most families had a small garden that contributed to their food. It's still common in the UK for residents to have an "allotment" where they can grow food, though the greens in UK have started claiming that these allotments create more greenhouse gases than conventional farms. In the Middle Ages land barons would plant grass to show the world they were so wealthy that they didn't need to grow crops on all of their land. We still do that today in just about every suburb in America, spending vast sums of money to maintain lawns that serve no useful purpose. If every lawn was replaced with a garden we could all eat healthier for less money.
Yes that is so true, too! For those that don't have the lawns because they rent or live in apartments, I am trying to share the importance of getting an acre or two for your family, still, with what's to come.
Yes!!! Yes! Yes!!! It’s of the upmost importance to have a acre or two of land with water … and be self sufficient and grow a garden and not a lawn. And be your own utility company … and grow your vegetables and herbs and fruit trees. And build yourself a handmade house ( think Noah Bradley) and be debt free. I really admire you and all that you have accomplished and I hope other young folks.. and older folks as well … will start paying attention to the fact that things will not be pretty by 2030. All the best to you and Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Do you follow Joel Salatein of Polyface Farm and read his blog The Lunatic Farmer? PS… we are totally self sufficient and we live on a 1/4 acre of land where we grow all of our vegetables and herbs using the Verti-Gro.com method .. it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water due to the fact that water will be a precious commodity. And years ago we use to grow 10 acres of food on one acre of land using the Verti-Gro system…And now we have fruit trees and shade trees in case we need to sleep under the stars …and we have a outdoor bathhouse … and a outdoor kitchen and fire pit .. and fire wood …and we barter and trade our vegetables and herbs… for fresh caught fish and other things from our neighbors.. and beyond our little paradise is a large farming community of farmers and cattle ranchers…bee keepers and herbalist. It will be a must to live amongst like minded people. Good luck 👍 and God Bless you!
It is… it’s the best kept secret in Florida and you would never know that we exist. We’re thankful everyday for our little slice of Heaven. Thank you ☺️
I invested in 23 solar panels, EG4 6k inverter and One 48v battery (also bought two Chargeverters a immediately cross wired one and blew up;) the programming Is Not Easy for Being in the Wild (i am still getting it right 6 mos later) i have the Joolca and another Instant On water heater (plus their shower and changing room tent-portable kitchen ) but the kicker for off grid happiness I have the Joolca Compost Toilet (a farm without composting AND Tain harvesting is an incomplete farm)
So I designed a modified yurt type construction more a Zome structure for $250! And it held over 200lbs i e on the roof and resisted near gale for e winds (60+)
BUT NOT FINDING affordable deals or financing after looking for over 10 years!
that’s laughable. Without billions of dollars, an unimaginable amount of assets tendered away and a private island somewhere to make it all happen, you’re not going to survive the coming climate catastrophe. I don’t care what your little homesteading skills
Bull shit. You don’t know us .. and once upon a time we lived in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and before living in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷.. we lived in the bush of Alaska … and our hunting and fishing talents.. and survival skills are much better than the average Gringo!!!! Like you!!! Who I believe is just jealous because you haven’t a clue how to survive because if you did you would have written a something of substance.
And beyond us .. our funky little barrier island that is still standing… they’re farmers .. and farms and beekeepers.. etc…. that we can barter and trade with.. in fact we already barter and trade ..…. we even barter and traded our accounting work for a 2001 Ford F-150 extended cab truck with low mileage….. and years ago we grew 10 acres of vegetables and herbs on one acre of land using the Verti-Gro.com system.. it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water …. and if the grid goes down we can sleep under our shade trees and we have rain barrels and a well for our water supply… and please pray tell me what are your skills????? Are you prepared Hudson?
I am thankful that God sent me a farmer and together we are the A-Team and for many years we lived off grid … 150 miles above the Arctic Circle… and we use to haul all of our water .. and I use to wash our clothes in a Eskimo Washing Machine during the winter months…. … do you even know what a Eskimo Washing machine is???? And would you even use one or is it beneath you????
I’ll be standing by to hear about your talents … survival skills… … my farmer .. he grew up on a ranch and I grew up in the motel and restaurant business and I know how to cook .. can and clean and hunt and fish…
Hudson .. dear … I’m sorry to say but you’re a typical brainwashed brat. And you’re the one who is laughable and you have been brainwashed and manipulated by the cons like Greta and her silly little lies about climate change.. oh but the rich still fly around on their private jets … and they have organic food and meats delivered to them…
Hudson what are your survival skills besides being so gosh darn condescending and haughty. I grew up with condescending people like you in NC.. and I couldn’t wait to get away from folks like you who haven’t a clue about life. Poor you!!!!!!
In the early seventies, we were all warned that we would freeze to death, nationwide, with no hope of escaping. As a farm kid, I had already observed hot, dry years, with very mild winters, as well as unusually cool summers, along with brutally cold, wet winters. Once the LOONS found meteorologists that could be bribed to prognosticate according to their frivolous forecasts, ‘Climate Change’ was born.
The general population was dumbed down to the point that they faithfully relied upon ‘modern scientists’ like Al Gore, to make educated forecasts about the coming ‘global warming’ catastrophe that would destroy our planet. All because of the evil DJT, and his equally evil MAGA supporters. Due to the $TRILLIONS paid in by the taxpayers, we stand a remote chance of lowering the earth’s temperature, by two tenths (2/10) of one degree, if all goes according to plan, by 2050! The public school educated simpletons hang onto every word from people that are world renowned for telling a pack of lies, every time their lips are moving. None of us enjoys acknowledging that we’ve been bamboozled, but the time is at hand. The truth will set us free to get on with serious matters, and hopefully will imprison those that are guilty of fraudulent acts, along with maximum restitutions.
Except they will not be needing any serfs to till their land. There will be no serfs because they are getting rid of all of them. The farmland will be managed with robotic machinery.
This was all planned in Agenda 21 in the 1990's and they have yet to skip a beat.
Greens in the UK are absolutely supportive of allotments. UK greens are often involved with small scale gardening, permaculture and guerrilla gardening schemes or movements. Not sure where you got that idea from but I can assure you, having recently joined the greens and been around that scene for 30-odd years now that Greens would love *everyone* to have an allotment and be growing food on it. Small scale farming is incredibly important.
Unfortunately Texas Slim and The Beef Initiative are pro Trump and the GOP and believe their administration will halt the wealth transfer of our land. They’ve also completely downplayed the threat of H5N1 saying it’s a ploy to go after cows and the dairy industry. Meanwhile nearly 70% of cows in CA are infected, millions of birds, both wild and domestic are dead and it’s killing cats. Both pets and large wild cats. They’re motives are not what they seem.
The tyranny of HOAs in America and decades old model of green grass lawn for appearance’ sake is the bane of urban existence (plus, it’s achieved only by liberal use of chemicals). I can’t believe, growing up on a dairy farm, that I used to feel that I had ‘arrived’ as a prosperous and sophisticated property owner!
Yeah, what would you rather have a foreign national on it other than at least an American citizen billionaire who’s kind of more on the liberal side than a real dickhead like musk he actually has charities and they’re real. They’re not charlatan things to fuck people over like the Trump‘s.
owning farmland is not exactly some nefarious hidden agenda of an investment. What a dumb fuck you’re really fucking stupid if you think any of us are that stupid
No!!!! Hudson … the dump F is you!!! Why must you be so nasty… trashy.. didn’t your momma raise you … teach you that you get more with honey than you do with vinegar???
I think if you’ll look in the mirror you will see the resemblance of who is being Stupid. And when the SHTF you will be squealing like a stuck Pig 🐖… lol 😝
Such a great article. Our family has been wanting to homestead for some time, my son is actually a farmer, but land has gotten pretty expensive here in Oregon. I haven't heard about CRT's, I love this article because we need young farmers to think differently and start smaller. We have wanted to do something just like this. Thank you for reminding me that anything is possible.
Thank you for sounding the alarm on this! Farmers are the backbone of this country and unfortunately like you said, they have no one to leave their legacy to & corporations are coming and taking it all. Thanks for giving multiple options to buy farmland, I had no clue.
I agree with everything you’re saying here, yet I think a lot of small small farmers back out because they’re sick and tired of the regulations. The USDA are starting to crack down on these guys, making them jump through hoops with the same requirements as a big agro
This is sort of true - New York State protects farmers against new rules / regulations. Depends where you are! But agreed, governmental overreach is a huge problem across the country.
Don't you know that "national security" is a slogan used by the elite that means "our hegemony is threatened"?
What you mean by "national security" isn't the same thing, but watch out, or They will be using it as an excuse for violently taking over the farmland.
same in Europe…. as boomers die their estate taxes—20%—are going to be grabbed by the state… put that in perspective… the govt… taxes 50% of your income… takes another 10% etc in various excises… then… when you die they take another 20%….
A very important issue. Thanks for sounding the alarm. I'll pass it on.
As someone who's been involved in small-scale organic agriculture for 20 years, it's come to be my opinion that the current system of Ag subsidies needs to be completely changed. Big Ag doesn't deserve the breaks, and the funds should go to small-scale ops. Also, because of the stresses and vagaries of the market, all farmers should be guaranteed a minimum income. Almost every time I've seen a farmer make a bad decision (i.e., doing something ecologically harmful), it's because of money pressure. We need to remove this element.
Finally, I believe we ultimately need to move away from private ownership of agricultural land. Instead it should be in the commons and be collectively managed by small groups of people. That last one might be a little far out for you personally, but I do think it's where we need to go eventually.
Sadly, the American people have been conditioned to fear and fight any solution that smacks of "socialism," which is what your excellent suggestion is proposing.
Yeah that really is socialism in everything but name, isn't it?
This suggestion would also give all the regular folks involved a lot more freedom than they have now, which appeals to most people, I assume. So lean into that rather than using "-ism" words. Which is funny, I know.
Have you ever read the book True Believer? I came across it many years ago and it explains why many people are afraid of freedom and actually feel better when they are part of a mass movement.
I would rather have you read it than have to summarize it on Substack.
coops are a great structure for sure, but you're right that it depends on whether people can be respectful of each other. I've certainly seen plenty of disrespect in some otherwise good efforts. :(
Oooooh, yes. This is like seller financing a small business but for farm land. It feels more doable, especially if the equipment is included. I didn't know this was an option.
They are definitely struggling to afford the increase in taxes and competition with overseas ag conglomerates for sure. That's why I post about entrepreneurial ways farmers/gardeners can earn more money! Like agrotourism. We have to pivot with the changes, and we need more business savvy folks to get involved with small scale farming.
There is no overseas competition for a small farm. None. What taxes have increased? Much of the business model you propose is 100% correlated to the location. You are speaking on the topic you of what you have no real world knowledge. If you really want to improve the situation, stop doing that. The best solution to achieving the goal you quite correctly propose is to encourage people to buy local food. Corporate produced CAFO products.
Michael Pollan nailed it when he said "the best insurance to consuming nutrient dance, toxin free delicious food is to grow it yourself. The second best is to know the first name and location of residence of the person who did."
This is awesome information. Thank you so much for your writing and insights. I live in California, up north surrounded by farms, but I'm moving and intend to start a community farm!
I'm 78, so I'm not in the position of being able to buy my own farm, but I can work. I know how to grow and preserve food, how to care for farm animals, how to cook and clean. I am interested in learning how to make wine vinegar and cheese. Also, I was a professional baker.
Have you ever tried to get Schools involved with this? field trips or classes teaching how to farm. You could make a strong case that youth knowing how to make food is a national security issue. I’m very serious about that. If corporations buy up the land and mismanagement the farms destroying soil or they just throw ugly and unneeded buildings on it we will have to import food from other countries. How can you be strong when you depend on others for food? Try to lobby for classes on how to grow food and how the food goes from the ground to your plate. Or from an animal to your plate. If these classes were not even required but suggested by schools many young people would take interest. What sounds better to an 18 year old, a guaranteed job at 18 and a loan to buy your own land, or a 100,000 dollar loan spent on a four year degree eating toxic sludge in a dorm room only to work at McDonalds after graduation? If schools taught this as a viable path I’m sure things would change for the better quickly.
In Austria school children spend a week at a local farm to learn about where their food comes from. I loved that when I was living there. Supermarkets also labeled food add as to which farm it came from so you could visit or inquire further. Would be awesome to see school kids visit farms.
You're thinkin'. I have also thought we need to bring the kids in. They are interested, naturally. It happened quite by accident on my mini hobby type farm..a quarter block really can produce a lot
I’d like to buy about 200 acres but you need a few hundred thousand for it. Cash. I can make payments but cash up front for the whole thing is difficult.
You don't have to buy it upfront. You have to outbid everyone else at the auction. Normally 20% down is plenty if you have the ability to make the monthly payments on a 30 year note. In the Midwest, 200 acres could easily cost you over $3 million.
You probably already follow Texas Slim and The Beef Initiative project. In his "Harvest of Deception" piece he notes that Bill Gates is now the largest owner of farmland in the US. He doesn't personally farm any of it, but instead has others farm it. It's very similar to the "Lord of the Manor" in the Middle Ages having serfs to farm his land. Farmers in the dire straits you've outlined have sold to him at bargain prices. At 77 I'm a tad old to be farming, but I do remember growing up that most families had a small garden that contributed to their food. It's still common in the UK for residents to have an "allotment" where they can grow food, though the greens in UK have started claiming that these allotments create more greenhouse gases than conventional farms. In the Middle Ages land barons would plant grass to show the world they were so wealthy that they didn't need to grow crops on all of their land. We still do that today in just about every suburb in America, spending vast sums of money to maintain lawns that serve no useful purpose. If every lawn was replaced with a garden we could all eat healthier for less money.
Yes that is so true, too! For those that don't have the lawns because they rent or live in apartments, I am trying to share the importance of getting an acre or two for your family, still, with what's to come.
Yes!!! Yes! Yes!!! It’s of the upmost importance to have a acre or two of land with water … and be self sufficient and grow a garden and not a lawn. And be your own utility company … and grow your vegetables and herbs and fruit trees. And build yourself a handmade house ( think Noah Bradley) and be debt free. I really admire you and all that you have accomplished and I hope other young folks.. and older folks as well … will start paying attention to the fact that things will not be pretty by 2030. All the best to you and Happy Thanksgiving 🦃
Do you follow Joel Salatein of Polyface Farm and read his blog The Lunatic Farmer? PS… we are totally self sufficient and we live on a 1/4 acre of land where we grow all of our vegetables and herbs using the Verti-Gro.com method .. it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water due to the fact that water will be a precious commodity. And years ago we use to grow 10 acres of food on one acre of land using the Verti-Gro system…And now we have fruit trees and shade trees in case we need to sleep under the stars …and we have a outdoor bathhouse … and a outdoor kitchen and fire pit .. and fire wood …and we barter and trade our vegetables and herbs… for fresh caught fish and other things from our neighbors.. and beyond our little paradise is a large farming community of farmers and cattle ranchers…bee keepers and herbalist. It will be a must to live amongst like minded people. Good luck 👍 and God Bless you!
That sounds like my slice of heaven!
It is… it’s the best kept secret in Florida and you would never know that we exist. We’re thankful everyday for our little slice of Heaven. Thank you ☺️
I invested in 23 solar panels, EG4 6k inverter and One 48v battery (also bought two Chargeverters a immediately cross wired one and blew up;) the programming Is Not Easy for Being in the Wild (i am still getting it right 6 mos later) i have the Joolca and another Instant On water heater (plus their shower and changing room tent-portable kitchen ) but the kicker for off grid happiness I have the Joolca Compost Toilet (a farm without composting AND Tain harvesting is an incomplete farm)
So I designed a modified yurt type construction more a Zome structure for $250! And it held over 200lbs i e on the roof and resisted near gale for e winds (60+)
BUT NOT FINDING affordable deals or financing after looking for over 10 years!
👏❤️👍
Or we can stop extorting each other for permission to share a planet NONE of us actually own through capitalism specifically real estate.
And encourage a better way.
that’s laughable. Without billions of dollars, an unimaginable amount of assets tendered away and a private island somewhere to make it all happen, you’re not going to survive the coming climate catastrophe. I don’t care what your little homesteading skills
Bull shit. You don’t know us .. and once upon a time we lived in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷 and before living in the jungle of Costa Rica 🇨🇷.. we lived in the bush of Alaska … and our hunting and fishing talents.. and survival skills are much better than the average Gringo!!!! Like you!!! Who I believe is just jealous because you haven’t a clue how to survive because if you did you would have written a something of substance.
And beyond us .. our funky little barrier island that is still standing… they’re farmers .. and farms and beekeepers.. etc…. that we can barter and trade with.. in fact we already barter and trade ..…. we even barter and traded our accounting work for a 2001 Ford F-150 extended cab truck with low mileage….. and years ago we grew 10 acres of vegetables and herbs on one acre of land using the Verti-Gro.com system.. it’s a drip irrigation system that uses 85% less water …. and if the grid goes down we can sleep under our shade trees and we have rain barrels and a well for our water supply… and please pray tell me what are your skills????? Are you prepared Hudson?
I am thankful that God sent me a farmer and together we are the A-Team and for many years we lived off grid … 150 miles above the Arctic Circle… and we use to haul all of our water .. and I use to wash our clothes in a Eskimo Washing Machine during the winter months…. … do you even know what a Eskimo Washing machine is???? And would you even use one or is it beneath you????
I’ll be standing by to hear about your talents … survival skills… … my farmer .. he grew up on a ranch and I grew up in the motel and restaurant business and I know how to cook .. can and clean and hunt and fish…
Hudson .. dear … I’m sorry to say but you’re a typical brainwashed brat. And you’re the one who is laughable and you have been brainwashed and manipulated by the cons like Greta and her silly little lies about climate change.. oh but the rich still fly around on their private jets … and they have organic food and meats delivered to them…
Hudson what are your survival skills besides being so gosh darn condescending and haughty. I grew up with condescending people like you in NC.. and I couldn’t wait to get away from folks like you who haven’t a clue about life. Poor you!!!!!!
SCW, where can I buy your book?
It’s not published yet. Thanks for asking… It’s a very adventurous story.
I’m sure people would love to hear it! The timing can’t be better!!
There is no climate catastrophe.
'Climate change' is the people waking up.
Climate catastrophe 🤣🤣. Your satire is brilliant.
There is NO climate crisis. Just a crisis of stupid sheep, of which you are one.
In the early seventies, we were all warned that we would freeze to death, nationwide, with no hope of escaping. As a farm kid, I had already observed hot, dry years, with very mild winters, as well as unusually cool summers, along with brutally cold, wet winters. Once the LOONS found meteorologists that could be bribed to prognosticate according to their frivolous forecasts, ‘Climate Change’ was born.
The general population was dumbed down to the point that they faithfully relied upon ‘modern scientists’ like Al Gore, to make educated forecasts about the coming ‘global warming’ catastrophe that would destroy our planet. All because of the evil DJT, and his equally evil MAGA supporters. Due to the $TRILLIONS paid in by the taxpayers, we stand a remote chance of lowering the earth’s temperature, by two tenths (2/10) of one degree, if all goes according to plan, by 2050! The public school educated simpletons hang onto every word from people that are world renowned for telling a pack of lies, every time their lips are moving. None of us enjoys acknowledging that we’ve been bamboozled, but the time is at hand. The truth will set us free to get on with serious matters, and hopefully will imprison those that are guilty of fraudulent acts, along with maximum restitutions.
Great article!
We got this!
https://open.substack.com/pub/republia/p/the-difference-between-monarchies?r=4ucf6d&utm_medium=ios
Except they will not be needing any serfs to till their land. There will be no serfs because they are getting rid of all of them. The farmland will be managed with robotic machinery.
This was all planned in Agenda 21 in the 1990's and they have yet to skip a beat.
Greens in the UK are absolutely supportive of allotments. UK greens are often involved with small scale gardening, permaculture and guerrilla gardening schemes or movements. Not sure where you got that idea from but I can assure you, having recently joined the greens and been around that scene for 30-odd years now that Greens would love *everyone* to have an allotment and be growing food on it. Small scale farming is incredibly important.
Unfortunately Texas Slim and The Beef Initiative are pro Trump and the GOP and believe their administration will halt the wealth transfer of our land. They’ve also completely downplayed the threat of H5N1 saying it’s a ploy to go after cows and the dairy industry. Meanwhile nearly 70% of cows in CA are infected, millions of birds, both wild and domestic are dead and it’s killing cats. Both pets and large wild cats. They’re motives are not what they seem.
Not infected. The PCR tests are promoting false positives. Just another way to mess with our food supply.
Land is politics. Food is politics. If you fail to understand this maybe do a little research on our history.
Oh, yes, the "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts" awareness. I see.
The tyranny of HOAs in America and decades old model of green grass lawn for appearance’ sake is the bane of urban existence (plus, it’s achieved only by liberal use of chemicals). I can’t believe, growing up on a dairy farm, that I used to feel that I had ‘arrived’ as a prosperous and sophisticated property owner!
Yeah, what would you rather have a foreign national on it other than at least an American citizen billionaire who’s kind of more on the liberal side than a real dickhead like musk he actually has charities and they’re real. They’re not charlatan things to fuck people over like the Trump‘s.
Grass drinks lots of wayer
Exactly right! Doesn't take much space to grow a good amount of food for the family!
owning farmland is not exactly some nefarious hidden agenda of an investment. What a dumb fuck you’re really fucking stupid if you think any of us are that stupid
You’re such an idiot.
Go back to Reddit and wait on the slaughterhouse ramp with the other cattle until they call your number.
You’re the DF if you believe in a climate catastrophe 🫵🤡😂
👎
No!!!! Hudson … the dump F is you!!! Why must you be so nasty… trashy.. didn’t your momma raise you … teach you that you get more with honey than you do with vinegar???
I think if you’ll look in the mirror you will see the resemblance of who is being Stupid. And when the SHTF you will be squealing like a stuck Pig 🐖… lol 😝
Who are you working for?
👎
Such a great article. Our family has been wanting to homestead for some time, my son is actually a farmer, but land has gotten pretty expensive here in Oregon. I haven't heard about CRT's, I love this article because we need young farmers to think differently and start smaller. We have wanted to do something just like this. Thank you for reminding me that anything is possible.
I am so glad you enjoyed it!!
Thank you for sounding the alarm on this! Farmers are the backbone of this country and unfortunately like you said, they have no one to leave their legacy to & corporations are coming and taking it all. Thanks for giving multiple options to buy farmland, I had no clue.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Thank you so much!!
The typical farmer is poisoning us. Get a grip
It's the food processing companies who are poisoning us. When the food leaves the farm, it is healthy.
Please read the book Salt Sugar Fat.
I agree with everything you’re saying here, yet I think a lot of small small farmers back out because they’re sick and tired of the regulations. The USDA are starting to crack down on these guys, making them jump through hoops with the same requirements as a big agro
This is sort of true - New York State protects farmers against new rules / regulations. Depends where you are! But agreed, governmental overreach is a huge problem across the country.
This is a national security issue.
Don't you know that "national security" is a slogan used by the elite that means "our hegemony is threatened"?
What you mean by "national security" isn't the same thing, but watch out, or They will be using it as an excuse for violently taking over the farmland.
same in Europe…. as boomers die their estate taxes—20%—are going to be grabbed by the state… put that in perspective… the govt… taxes 50% of your income… takes another 10% etc in various excises… then… when you die they take another 20%….
only fucking slaves put up with this…..
Run a cost comparison of their taxes v your medical insurance + co-pay, day care, college and expenses, etc that get covered over there.
A very important issue. Thanks for sounding the alarm. I'll pass it on.
As someone who's been involved in small-scale organic agriculture for 20 years, it's come to be my opinion that the current system of Ag subsidies needs to be completely changed. Big Ag doesn't deserve the breaks, and the funds should go to small-scale ops. Also, because of the stresses and vagaries of the market, all farmers should be guaranteed a minimum income. Almost every time I've seen a farmer make a bad decision (i.e., doing something ecologically harmful), it's because of money pressure. We need to remove this element.
Finally, I believe we ultimately need to move away from private ownership of agricultural land. Instead it should be in the commons and be collectively managed by small groups of people. That last one might be a little far out for you personally, but I do think it's where we need to go eventually.
Anyway, thank again for sounding the alarm!
Sadly, the American people have been conditioned to fear and fight any solution that smacks of "socialism," which is what your excellent suggestion is proposing.
Yeah that really is socialism in everything but name, isn't it?
This suggestion would also give all the regular folks involved a lot more freedom than they have now, which appeals to most people, I assume. So lean into that rather than using "-ism" words. Which is funny, I know.
Have you ever read the book True Believer? I came across it many years ago and it explains why many people are afraid of freedom and actually feel better when they are part of a mass movement.
I would rather have you read it than have to summarize it on Substack.
Oregon is nice for all that
coops are a great structure for sure, but you're right that it depends on whether people can be respectful of each other. I've certainly seen plenty of disrespect in some otherwise good efforts. :(
I lived in communes in the 60s and the idea that people aren't respectful of each other is a weird one to me.
I thought that of course the members of a commune would be respectful, because otherwise why are they even there with each other?
I dunno. Some people's children
Oooooh, yes. This is like seller financing a small business but for farm land. It feels more doable, especially if the equipment is included. I didn't know this was an option.
Land should only be personally held by citizens. No corporations, no foreign interests.
Agreed. It hasn't hone well
According to the WEF, you will own nothing and be happy. It’s their goals. Agenda 2030
This could change the world's health at the root cause. Food sovereignty & education too.
What I'm hearing is a lot of small food producers having a hard time making a profit to sustain their land/business.
Partially, our government is not aligned with farmers/ranchers.
Do you find small farmers /producers are becoming a D2C concept?
They are definitely struggling to afford the increase in taxes and competition with overseas ag conglomerates for sure. That's why I post about entrepreneurial ways farmers/gardeners can earn more money! Like agrotourism. We have to pivot with the changes, and we need more business savvy folks to get involved with small scale farming.
There is no overseas competition for a small farm. None. What taxes have increased? Much of the business model you propose is 100% correlated to the location. You are speaking on the topic you of what you have no real world knowledge. If you really want to improve the situation, stop doing that. The best solution to achieving the goal you quite correctly propose is to encourage people to buy local food. Corporate produced CAFO products.
Michael Pollan nailed it when he said "the best insurance to consuming nutrient dance, toxin free delicious food is to grow it yourself. The second best is to know the first name and location of residence of the person who did."
Property tax is increasing...that’s what. What rock have you bee living under?
👎
Yes, I've thought of landshare also..I don't often see the opportunities though.
This is awesome information. Thank you so much for your writing and insights. I live in California, up north surrounded by farms, but I'm moving and intend to start a community farm!
Can I come and live with you?
I'm 78, so I'm not in the position of being able to buy my own farm, but I can work. I know how to grow and preserve food, how to care for farm animals, how to cook and clean. I am interested in learning how to make wine vinegar and cheese. Also, I was a professional baker.
I am a San Francisco hippy from the 60s.
Have you ever tried to get Schools involved with this? field trips or classes teaching how to farm. You could make a strong case that youth knowing how to make food is a national security issue. I’m very serious about that. If corporations buy up the land and mismanagement the farms destroying soil or they just throw ugly and unneeded buildings on it we will have to import food from other countries. How can you be strong when you depend on others for food? Try to lobby for classes on how to grow food and how the food goes from the ground to your plate. Or from an animal to your plate. If these classes were not even required but suggested by schools many young people would take interest. What sounds better to an 18 year old, a guaranteed job at 18 and a loan to buy your own land, or a 100,000 dollar loan spent on a four year degree eating toxic sludge in a dorm room only to work at McDonalds after graduation? If schools taught this as a viable path I’m sure things would change for the better quickly.
In Austria school children spend a week at a local farm to learn about where their food comes from. I loved that when I was living there. Supermarkets also labeled food add as to which farm it came from so you could visit or inquire further. Would be awesome to see school kids visit farms.
Yessir, they call it the FFA, future farmers of America
You're thinkin'. I have also thought we need to bring the kids in. They are interested, naturally. It happened quite by accident on my mini hobby type farm..a quarter block really can produce a lot
Why don't you do the lobbying or involve schools yourself?
What good are great ideas if you think them up and then load them onto another's shoulders to perform?
Girl, I admire your journey!...Will Take the time for exploring new paths...
Yes!! It is a path worth exploring!!
We don’t know nothing about farming - and this was bloody interesting! Well written, thank you!
I’d like to buy about 200 acres but you need a few hundred thousand for it. Cash. I can make payments but cash up front for the whole thing is difficult.
Renting the land is a option in some cases
You don't have to buy it upfront. You have to outbid everyone else at the auction. Normally 20% down is plenty if you have the ability to make the monthly payments on a 30 year note. In the Midwest, 200 acres could easily cost you over $3 million.
Landshare then buyout agreement as you can aquire more of it?