The Greenhorns movement: a step in the right direction
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As a chicken rearing greenhorn, I feed my chickens scratch in our backyard.
Corinna Borden | Contributor
The best example I have run across lately of such action is a documentary outlining the burgeoning “greenhorn” farmers around the USA. The Greenhorns network is more than a documentary. It is a resource and a rallying call to change the way we think of producing and consuming food in this country.
I have to warn you, watching their trailer gives me goosebumps, so you are about to get a patent endorsement of what they are advocating. I have been devouring their blog, website, and associated links ever since I learned about them.
Greenhorn means an “inexperienced, gullible person.” Perhaps I am both as I idealistically pour over the Greenhorn “Guide for Beginning Farmers” in front of the fire. However, there are Friday evenings in the winter when I do a tour of my larder, bare from the Farmers Market, my sprouts not yet full size, and all options rely on canned tomatoes or canned applesauce. While I am a big fan of pasta, bean soup, or grilled cheese with applesauce for dinner - I miss the variety of summer. I wish we had more local food options around for fresh produce.
As I continue to mull over the problem, I think of Shannon Brines deciding to give it a whirl and building his greenhouse. He can’t be alone to feed all of us fresh lettuce. He needs company.
Perhaps the trailer will give you goosebumps and you too may become classified as a greenhorn.
Drop me a line! Check out my website! Post a comment and start the conversation rolling!
Comments
GabrielleT
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 7:35 p.m.
The financial and economic crisis contributes in its own way to turn away the brainiest, perhaps even philosophy majors, from Wall Street, and if a few go to the land in one way or another, I can only feel this is a very good thing. The earth's health and well-being cries out for conscientious stewards of the land, committed to organic farming and healthy animal husbandry.
KarenH
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 4:21 p.m.
@Tom, it has to start somewhere. I have no issue with yuppies or millionaires or anyone else taking responsibility and making this kind of effort to find ways to stop harming our earth. You don't have to go completely out and become a full-time dirt farmer to make a difference.
Tom Wilkinson
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 : 10:41 a.m.
Farming and gardening are a nice hobby. However, the yuppies in the video look like they all have $100K college educations (financed by somebody else since farming doesn't pay that well). Slow food and organic farming can only exist because industrialized economies have huge paid-for infrastructures that effectively subsidize spoiled philosophy majors who move 'back to the land'. Currently there are still a couple of billion impoverished peasants in China and elsewhere who desparately want to afford electricity, clean water, and educations for their children. Try telling them about the dignity and fulfillment of living close to nature.