Comments on: Dear Mr. President and Secretary Vilsack

By: Lisa Hamilton has it right « SaticoyRoots Weblog

Lisa Hamilton has it right « SaticoyRoots Weblog — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:21:29 +0000

[...] paragraph is lifted from a letter written by Lisa Hamilton to President Obama. (Read the whole letter here.) In it, she perfectly captures what I consider to be the defining challenge of a more sustainable [...]

By: SaticoyRoots

SaticoyRoots — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:50:23 +0000

Your equation of sustainable agriculture = empowered, trusted farmer is the best articulation of a philosophy that I have held for some time. Thank you for stating it so clearly.

By: chilepepper99

chilepepper99 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:28:01 +0000

Wow, I’m actually kind of surprised that you would print this letter that questions the current administration regarding it’s farm and food policies. The popular opinion on most of these websites is that because the Obamas planted a garden on the White House lawn, there will be a dramatic shift the the policies regarding farming and food production. This garden is somehow supposed to bring on a “golden age” for organic and local foods.

Until the entire farm subsidy program is dramatically revamped and changed, there will be NO change in the way things are done and it doesn’t matter who is in the White House. The large bio-tech companies who drive the policies have very deep pockets and they count on things remaining the same. You can bet that these large corporations made sizeable donations (whether directly or indirectly) to the Obama campaign, and they expect a return on that investment.

By: After Seeing Food Inc. Yesterday, I Agree « Elizabeth Nolan Brown

After Seeing Food Inc. Yesterday, I Agree « Elizabeth Nolan Brown — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:57:55 +0000

[...] After Seeing Food Inc. Yesterday, I Agree Sustainable agriculture is founded on the principle of farmer leadership. The first step to creating a sustainable food system is restoring stewardship, that elemental relationship in which a farmer balances food production with ecological health and social well-being. That is possible only when farmers are empowered: trusted to lead, respected financially, and encouraged—indeed, allowed—to be independent and free.—Lisa Hamilton, Civil Eats blog [...]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:53:52 +0000

Pretty good post. I just came across your site and wanted to say
that I’ve really liked reading your posts. Any way
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!

By: Bodhi

Bodhi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:51:03 +0000

Thanks for pointing out the ~~hypocritical~~ bipolarity of the administration’s farm and food policies. Your example of corn seed shows how difficult it is to maintain the present course.