Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

ORGANIC Farming and Gardening are  now getting the attention of the public , aftter the Obamas announced their first White House Organic Vegetable garden . As farmers, let us not revel at the opportunity but rather let us build something tangible and rewarding instead by initiating  an EARTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN especially now as  the time is  ripe to do so with EARTH DAY on the horizon.

Let us go back to history and remember the first American Farmers .

The first thing that comes to our memory is the plantation farming in the south and all the slavery issues that it had created.On the bright side we remeber George Washington and Jefferson and their brilliant acheivements as founding fathers.May be we need to start educating our kids from KinderGARDEN level to Backyards and school yards levels about those FOUNDING FATHERS/farmers who helped in the rise of our nation.Farming is not a low job even though those who are hired to do it  are  overworked and underpaid ..think sweatshops for example.

I have noticed, personally, that people look down at farmers  especially here in the south .They regard gardeners and farmers as low level human beings who work with the DIRT.Educating those people by a hands on class in gardening at their backyards is the best way to get them fid the merits of touching the soil with their own hands and turning it into food that is safe to eat!That is even as good as gold in days of safety and food challenges

FIRST in FIRST: Change the ATTITUDE , by raising the bar and educating the public about the merits of ORGANIC GARDENING and FARMING.

Raise the pay scale as well and start asking for some education for those who want to do the job.Create a level of respect by honoring and rewarding those who keep the EARTH  green and productive .To fight global warming start locally ,simply set up a backyard vegetable garden to start with  .Support the small farmers and gardeners market their produce in GREEN market that are venues for merchants to make GREEN bucks  selling greens imported from other countries.Create subsidies for start up farmers and help through grants those who use thier experience in local organic farming to educate the local community through FREE workshops, for instance.

When Rodale started writing books about ORGANIC FARMING back in the sixties and senventies people ignored him.We lend our ears and eyes to the main stream media that will tell-sell us their propaganda and fabricated stories  in relevance to the  ads and donations revenues received  from the special interest industrial groups.

Generally speaking:We have no specialized Organic gardeners and farmers who grow their own  organic vegetables hired to write articles on vegetable gardening at the local Newspapers .It is always about ornamentals ,shrubs and lawns with pesitcides and chemical fertilizers suggestions.Let us ask for a change ,if not possible to reach out through the  main stream media, then let us have our own blogs and networking to send the message.Wishful thinking is not going to bring in miracles , it is our actions that will effect a change in the attitude towards organinc farming.It is our efforts to elect farmers to the legislatures and local government and up, that will bring in change .

Words turned into actions and  motivations doing miracles  are possible  with our EDUCATIONAL reach out efforts that accompany our FARMING.

Hand in hand we can do it , one article  and one earth digging.. a day.