farmfacts

Before I moved to a farm five years ago, I was naïve about the food I ate. I truly had no idea where the food “came from,” so to speak, or the processes involved in preparing the meats, vegetables, fruits, and grains for human consumption. I have become extremely educated about farming in the past five years and I have learned about things that would make anyone cringe if they knew the truth about what they really eat.

I have also watched the farming industry diminish in the few short years I have been involved. Farmers, the people who raise the foods which keep us alive and healthy every day, make up less than ½ of 1% of the population. Can you believe that so few people are responsible for feeding everyone? Yet, there is 1 lawyer for every 300 people in the United States. And, there are more people in prison than there are farmers.

Furthermore, the average age of farmers is increasing (about 55 currently) and there is a lack of interest from the next generation to begin farming when they finish school. Because of this, farms are growing older and fewer new farms are being introduced. Farm land is also being taken by eminent domain, reducing the number of acres allotted for raising livestock, thereby reducing the number of head raised and reducing the total number of pounds in the grocery store. So what does this mean for the greater population? What effects will this have in the next fifty years? Where will our food production be even in the next twenty years?

These are a few of the questions that I will consider in this blog. I would love more than anything to change the world of farming for the better, but that will be impossible. My goal is to educate people about farming and the food they eat. My husband and I are very passionate about what we do and we choose to live very simply so that we can continue in our occupation. We are proud of our family farm operation, and to know that we are helping the country keeps us going. We welcome all the questions you have; we really enjoy discussing our job with other people. Or, if you want to know about something in particular, we probably have the answer. Feel free to suggest topics and I will provide any details that I can.

Happy Eating!

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