Comments on: The Farm of the Future http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/ Where we learn how to take back our power Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:19:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: W http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/#comment-71 W Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:48:25 +0000 http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-71 I truly hope this farm of the future takes hold. I am very tired of the sameness and inequities of the big corporate groceries. During our recent trip to the island (2-12 Sep) we noticed very few groceries other than those in the larger towns of Charlottetown and Summerside. I would love to see the small grocers take hold to support some of the smaller communities. With all that gorgeous farm land it's a shame so much table food comes from off island. I for one will be very interested in the 6 acre farm proposal mentioned above. I truly hope this farm of the future takes hold. I am very tired of the sameness and inequities of the big corporate groceries. During our recent trip to the island (2-12 Sep) we noticed very few groceries other than those in the larger towns of Charlottetown and Summerside. I would love to see the small grocers take hold to support some of the smaller communities. With all that gorgeous farm land it’s a shame so much table food comes from off island. I for one will be very interested in the 6 acre farm proposal mentioned above.

]]> By: mattbg http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/#comment-34 mattbg Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:58:27 +0000 http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-34 Rob, the first part of the idea was pretty well fleshed-out in Gene Logsdon's "The Contrary Farmer", written back in 1995 -- the idea of farming profitably in small quantities with as little machinery as possible, and selling directly to customers to get prices that you could never get from the commodity market. I am getting food from a local farm with a CSA this year, but one thought that I keep returning to is that this should be available through the supermarket, which is the ideal distribution mechanism and I think we should be working toward that. Some CSA farms ask you to drive to their farm to pick up your food -- very wasteful and inefficient distribution, even if it's only 10km away and people don't notice the cost of gas. As for the 6-acre package deal, it sounds like a good idea. If it could be used in conjunction with a government program to get people on their feet, it might help (I imagine there is some upfront risk that might make it difficult for some who are interested to actually jump in). Or, maybe it could work in conjunction with a partnership with a local university or college that had agricultural programs. Rob, the first part of the idea was pretty well fleshed-out in Gene Logsdon’s “The Contrary Farmer”, written back in 1995 — the idea of farming profitably in small quantities with as little machinery as possible, and selling directly to customers to get prices that you could never get from the commodity market.

I am getting food from a local farm with a CSA this year, but one thought that I keep returning to is that this should be available through the supermarket, which is the ideal distribution mechanism and I think we should be working toward that. Some CSA farms ask you to drive to their farm to pick up your food — very wasteful and inefficient distribution, even if it’s only 10km away and people don’t notice the cost of gas.

As for the 6-acre package deal, it sounds like a good idea. If it could be used in conjunction with a government program to get people on their feet, it might help (I imagine there is some upfront risk that might make it difficult for some who are interested to actually jump in). Or, maybe it could work in conjunction with a partnership with a local university or college that had agricultural programs.

]]> By: Earl Mardle http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/#comment-33 Earl Mardle Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:10:17 +0000 http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-33 Thanks for the links and yes, you have exactly the idea; we can only do this with intelligent design, REAL intelligence and real design or we will have human dieoff. While you are at it, check out Anna Edey at http://www.solviva.com/ and spend a few bucks to buy her book, if only for the photos of the 4 year old tomato plant and the Chard that had to be cut down with a chainsaw when it finally went to seed after 3 years. But mostly for the zero energy systems she has developed. Thanks for the links and yes, you have exactly the idea; we can only do this with intelligent design, REAL intelligence and real design or we will have human dieoff.

While you are at it, check out Anna Edey at http://www.solviva.com/ and spend a few bucks to buy her book, if only for the photos of the 4 year old tomato plant and the Chard that had to be cut down with a chainsaw when it finally went to seed after 3 years.

But mostly for the zero energy systems she has developed.

]]> By: robpatrob http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/#comment-32 robpatrob Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:09:06 +0000 http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-32 I agree - when the money is right so is the system I agree – when the money is right so is the system

]]> By: Paula Thornton http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/the-farm-of-the-future/#comment-31 Paula Thornton Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:01:24 +0000 http://islandenergy.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-31 It's always about the economics. Design optimization is driven by the principles of economics. :) It’s always about the economics. Design optimization is driven by the principles of economics. :)

]]>