Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Virtual Farming BS
So, I was just reading an article about Zynga and Farmville, and the tremendous amounts of money they are fighting over, and the long hours they have to work. Soon they'll offer an IPO, an a few people will get really really rich. (Yay, more 1%ers. Arrrgh!)
Where did all this money come from? From folks on Facebook, playing a virtual game, buying VIRTUAL carrots with REAL money. (yes, and viewing advertising) Real life is not as charming as the dewy eyed cartoon farmers. Real life farmers are dirty, tired, and love what they do, because they are creating a real product, for real people. They work hours that would put any whiny dot-commer to shame. Oh yeah, and it's outside, in the rain, heat, humidity, hail, snow.... Know how many carrots farmers have to sell at $1.50/lb to stay above the poverty line? (minus seed costs, minus transportation, minus electricity, water, rent, etc. etc.)
Supporting a real farm, keeps a real person in business, preserves your agricultural landscapes, and you get a real carrot in the end! (way better "rewards")
Whew. Sorry. Just consider taking those hours you were going to spend investing in a virtual farm, and invest in a real, local farm.
Where did all this money come from? From folks on Facebook, playing a virtual game, buying VIRTUAL carrots with REAL money. (yes, and viewing advertising) Real life is not as charming as the dewy eyed cartoon farmers. Real life farmers are dirty, tired, and love what they do, because they are creating a real product, for real people. They work hours that would put any whiny dot-commer to shame. Oh yeah, and it's outside, in the rain, heat, humidity, hail, snow.... Know how many carrots farmers have to sell at $1.50/lb to stay above the poverty line? (minus seed costs, minus transportation, minus electricity, water, rent, etc. etc.)
Supporting a real farm, keeps a real person in business, preserves your agricultural landscapes, and you get a real carrot in the end! (way better "rewards")
Whew. Sorry. Just consider taking those hours you were going to spend investing in a virtual farm, and invest in a real, local farm.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Second Chance
Some towns are getting a second chance to preserve a natural resource as people recognize the value in farmland. Yes, it's largely due to real estate tanking so bad that land without houses becomes a better buy... but lets look at the silver lining. Keeping houses from sprouting on good farmland allows this renewable resource to be used by future generations for veggies, or corn, or chickens, or any multitude of farming operations. That McMansion which some might think is a great idea now, will be shabby in a few years, and nobody will give a darn about your nifty faux-tile roof. Oh, let's remodel to keep pace with the latest in house fashion. Barf!
Good soil keeps it's value for generations.
Good soil keeps it's value for generations.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Hot Potatoes
Interesting article on the battle for preserving good quality seed from genetic contamination.
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