I'm happy to report that some flower farmers are bringing that crop back to the US. By coincidence I have a long feature in this month's Scientific American on just that subject,
So glad you gave statistics re: the dire state of farmers in our country now that Putin/Musk/Trump has taken over. Not many in our country understand what US Aid does. These facts I hope will help. We are in a deep mess like you point out especially if we deport immigrants our friends who feed us & the world. 🙏 Thank you.
Ruth, thank you for shining a light on how very broken our food system is. As a regenerative farmer in NJ, our farm knows that it is critically important to educate the citizens of our country about how their food is grown, and to consider ways of how to truly change the food system to make it more accessible and equitable for the farmers, the animals, all people, and the Earth. We are all interconnected, and if we continue down this road without regeneration using an extractive model instead of a reciprocal one, our children and planet will be faced with dire circumstances in less than 50 years. Food is medicine, and farming can restore the soil, and even reverse climate change instead of turning it into dirt. Every person should watch your documentary. www.maranatha.farm
Speaking with a Sonoma farmer recently, she said they grow more flowers now than ever because "people will pay more for something pretty than what they put in their bodies." You win some, you lose some.
Farming is risky in the best of times - weather, markets, transportation, employee's, etc. Currently all commodities are down and all costs are up. Farmers can't determine their own markets for the most part - we have to take what is offered us. It is a sad state of affairs when our family farms cannot make a living without outside help; for example the farm wife working in town. It's a sad state of affairs and boycotting of other counties makes the stictions much worse.
Then it is a very sad state of affairs indeed; the farm wife is not the only one working in town. Currently only 7% of American farmers earn a living on the land; most must take other jobs to make ends meet.
Loved this and agree totally re Beaujolais Nouveau , bought a case this year out of nostalgia , wasn’t keen , gave 5 bottles away and opened a bottle of 10 year-old Moulin-A-Vent to remind myself just how bloody good Beaujolais can be
I'm happy to report that some flower farmers are bringing that crop back to the US. By coincidence I have a long feature in this month's Scientific American on just that subject,
"The Imperfect Bloom": https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/look-for-slow-flower-bouquets-plants-grown-without-health-harming-chemicals/
Thank you so much for that thoughtful article. Really worth reading.
what a great article exposing yet another failure of the global economy!
So glad you gave statistics re: the dire state of farmers in our country now that Putin/Musk/Trump has taken over. Not many in our country understand what US Aid does. These facts I hope will help. We are in a deep mess like you point out especially if we deport immigrants our friends who feed us & the world. 🙏 Thank you.
Ironic if you consider that 60-70% of farmers voted Republican. I wonder if they are feeling regret.
Ruth, thank you for shining a light on how very broken our food system is. As a regenerative farmer in NJ, our farm knows that it is critically important to educate the citizens of our country about how their food is grown, and to consider ways of how to truly change the food system to make it more accessible and equitable for the farmers, the animals, all people, and the Earth. We are all interconnected, and if we continue down this road without regeneration using an extractive model instead of a reciprocal one, our children and planet will be faced with dire circumstances in less than 50 years. Food is medicine, and farming can restore the soil, and even reverse climate change instead of turning it into dirt. Every person should watch your documentary. www.maranatha.farm
blessings!
Fate of the Farmers should be required reading before making any more senseless cuts!
Speaking with a Sonoma farmer recently, she said they grow more flowers now than ever because "people will pay more for something pretty than what they put in their bodies." You win some, you lose some.
Farming is risky in the best of times - weather, markets, transportation, employee's, etc. Currently all commodities are down and all costs are up. Farmers can't determine their own markets for the most part - we have to take what is offered us. It is a sad state of affairs when our family farms cannot make a living without outside help; for example the farm wife working in town. It's a sad state of affairs and boycotting of other counties makes the stictions much worse.
Then it is a very sad state of affairs indeed; the farm wife is not the only one working in town. Currently only 7% of American farmers earn a living on the land; most must take other jobs to make ends meet.
I appreciate your depth and passion. Thank you for sharing your genius with the world. I devour every delicious word!
https://youtu.be/sgAX3vyk7xk?feature=shared
Another link to A Beautiful Pursuit- a series of three videos about flower farming - well worth watching
Flower farming is hard, but this new film tells a great story about some determined U.S. (and a few elsewhere) who persevere, even in war zones.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG29xvXvmpo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The world "markets" will take care of farmers. It has been doing so for decades.
I am pretty sure most of those flower farms have been converted to marijuana grows. Maybe gift bouquets need to change to what grows locally.
I can't wait to read your new book about Paris. I've read everything else you've written.
best
John
Loved this and agree totally re Beaujolais Nouveau , bought a case this year out of nostalgia , wasn’t keen , gave 5 bottles away and opened a bottle of 10 year-old Moulin-A-Vent to remind myself just how bloody good Beaujolais can be