Bread for the World (Part 2)

There is no doubt that there are many "food insecure" people in the world.  And, more than you think in your home town.  So what's to be done about it?

A few jumbled thoughts from this farmer:

1. Encourage more small farms growing foods for local consumption
Farms just like ours are exactly the sort of small business that people with less money could potentially get started.  Granted, we have some advantages - we were able to buy a farmstead  and we both have strong education backgrounds.  The latter training helps us to climb the learning curves a bit faster.  But, small, diverse farms can be labor intensive businesses.  Labor intensive businesses are the sort that employ more people - often people who have limits on their employment options for whatever reason.  And, often people who work on small, food producing farms get the added benefit of fresh produce as part of the compensation package.

And - while we're at it - let's work on removing the stigma that physical labor is somehow unrewarding, unskilled and something to avoid at all costs. 

2. Make land available to farms of this type
Iowa is a good example.  Approximately 5 years ago, land near us sold for approximately $3500 an acre.  I just read an ad where sealed auction bids were to start at $7500 an acre for comparable farmland in the region.  Absentee land ownership is increasing as people seek to make land an investment vehicle.  Granted, some of these folks treat the land well - but many (probably most) do not.  A large percentage of the land is rented out - to farms that grow corn/soybeans with little to no attention given to how the land is farmed.

As long as we continue to see land and commodity crops as investment vehicles, we will see land costs continue to increase.  A huge portion of the land in Iowa is owned by people who are retirement age or older.  There should be incentive for them to sell their farms to someone who WANTS to farm - and do it well.  Instead, we seem intent on locking up a key resource so it can't help to keep our population fed.

3. Level the farming 'playing field'
Before people think that I'm calling for my share of subsidies, etc etc.  Let me first point out that whatever I might get now or in the future from the government for what I do will never compare to what commodity crop growers receive.  It's a function of farm size and farm type.

Now, let me also say that I don't necessarily want any subsidies.  What I want is to have the right to farm the way I farm.  But, it is difficult to do what I do when subsidies regiment how everyone else farms.  I don't want to do anything that deprives my neighbors from doing their farm work.  Yet, I somehow feel that the onus is on me to always show that I'm not infringing on them.  Even when the techniques and seed they use can impact me so easily.

How can we expect new farmers to enter the field when the cost of entering the fray is prohibitive?  All this does is shut people out from yet another way to do what we Americans seem to believe is part of what makes this country great - the ability to pull oneself up by their 'bootstraps.'  

4. Education, stupid!

I still point to the blitz to educate kids about the hazards of cigarette smoking and the success that effort had in changing our culture.  A full effort to educate people about how to grow, store, prepare, present and eat good food can lead to a better fed populace.

Many food insecure people believe that they get more for their money when they buy a bag of potato chips than if they buy a head of broccoli.  Part of the issue is that the skill of preparing foods and making the most of what is in season has been lost by most of our population.  So, I ask you.  Why don't we have a food unit in our schools for every year of education?

5. Every food pantry should have storage capability for fresh food, etc
Our food pantries are on the front lines of the battle.  Let's arm them with the tools to make this successful.  Get them proper storage facilities.  Get them connection to people who can teach food preparation and cooking classes.  Get the connections to people who can teach canning and freezing.  Get them a big pool of recipes.  Connect them with gardening opportunities for those with low income.   While they do not have to do all of this, I still see the food pantry as an entry point to help the food insecure.

6. Extend WIC, FMNP and school food programs to help day care, schools and assisted living facilities buy fresh and local foods.
As farmers' market vendors, we are aware of the coupons issued to give folks who qualify some funds to buy fresh food at the farmers' market.  However, if a parent is already unlikely to go to a farmers' market or use fresh produce, they may not use the coupons.  In the case of seniors, many of them are unable to get to the market.  So - let's get the food to where many of these folks are. 

I'm finding I could type on this for quite a while, but don't have the time to do so.  Feel free to add on this topic!