Always happy when one of your new posts pops up in my Substack feed just because it's always an interesting story from someone who lives a completely different life than me (suburban carpenter).
Hi Adam, I enjoy your writing and appreciate the call to unity among farmers. I’m all for any initiatives to reduce waste in all its forms, and it sounds like the company you work for is doing good in cutting back runoff, improving soil health, and returns for farmers.
After reading this article I was wondering what you learned from Gerald about using compost and building raised beds. You called him misinformed. About what?
Our small farm processes literal tons of waste each year. We work with our chickens to turn it into compost that provides all the fertility to grow enough food for my family, a 46 member CSA, and greens to a couple restaurants on less than 1.5 acres. In line with your company, we focus on feeding the life in the soil, and we don’t use any chemical fertilizers or biocides.
I would bet that only a tiny fraction of our compost consists of industrial agricultural residues, if any. Most of it is horse manure, hay, wood chips, leaves, grass, and food scraps. I know many people both here in Europe and in the USA that garden entirely from composting their yard waste, or build raised beds for potatoes out of cut hay. That don’t buy in compost. And for people that do, is it really the norm that it would be composted corn husks?
I’m aware of just how dependent your average person is on the fruits of industrial farming to survive. Some people aren’t though, and work very hard to close loops and cycle back organic materials. And maybe that’s Gerald, or the people he helps build raised beds for?
Hey Brett, appreciate the thoughtful note. Totally hear you, and for the record, I love raised beds. I wasn’t knocking that at all.
The “misinformed” part wasn’t about compost or anybody’s methods. It was about the assumption that anyone wearing a logo like mine must be poisoning the Earth on purpose. Gerald didn’t know me, didn’t know the product, but had already written me off as part of the problem.
That’s what I meant.
He turned out to be a great guy. We had a real conversation. And it gave me hope that maybe we can bridge some of those gaps if we stick around long enough to talk instead of dismiss.
Respect what you’re doing, man. And I’m glad you took the time to engage.
Well played. I have that chat every day with guests on our farm. Nice and easy is the way to go, but not sure how well it would go with tequila at 10! Glad you are back.
One at a time.
Always happy when one of your new posts pops up in my Substack feed just because it's always an interesting story from someone who lives a completely different life than me (suburban carpenter).
A real conversation. Connecting. It’s the hard work.
All we can really do is open people’s minds ,one at a time. Good job.
Good job!
I love this for so many reasons. Wtg babe ♥️
Hi Adam, I enjoy your writing and appreciate the call to unity among farmers. I’m all for any initiatives to reduce waste in all its forms, and it sounds like the company you work for is doing good in cutting back runoff, improving soil health, and returns for farmers.
After reading this article I was wondering what you learned from Gerald about using compost and building raised beds. You called him misinformed. About what?
Our small farm processes literal tons of waste each year. We work with our chickens to turn it into compost that provides all the fertility to grow enough food for my family, a 46 member CSA, and greens to a couple restaurants on less than 1.5 acres. In line with your company, we focus on feeding the life in the soil, and we don’t use any chemical fertilizers or biocides.
I would bet that only a tiny fraction of our compost consists of industrial agricultural residues, if any. Most of it is horse manure, hay, wood chips, leaves, grass, and food scraps. I know many people both here in Europe and in the USA that garden entirely from composting their yard waste, or build raised beds for potatoes out of cut hay. That don’t buy in compost. And for people that do, is it really the norm that it would be composted corn husks?
I’m aware of just how dependent your average person is on the fruits of industrial farming to survive. Some people aren’t though, and work very hard to close loops and cycle back organic materials. And maybe that’s Gerald, or the people he helps build raised beds for?
Hey Brett, appreciate the thoughtful note. Totally hear you, and for the record, I love raised beds. I wasn’t knocking that at all.
The “misinformed” part wasn’t about compost or anybody’s methods. It was about the assumption that anyone wearing a logo like mine must be poisoning the Earth on purpose. Gerald didn’t know me, didn’t know the product, but had already written me off as part of the problem.
That’s what I meant.
He turned out to be a great guy. We had a real conversation. And it gave me hope that maybe we can bridge some of those gaps if we stick around long enough to talk instead of dismiss.
Respect what you’re doing, man. And I’m glad you took the time to engage.
Well played. I have that chat every day with guests on our farm. Nice and easy is the way to go, but not sure how well it would go with tequila at 10! Glad you are back.
We've become so far removed from rural life and farming, few know the deep facts about it anymore. Folks who take the time to learn about it are rare.