Suburban life pitting farmers vs. neighbors

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | Jan. 02, 2003 | Kaitlin Gurney

[alpowolf]

I've heard about such things going on in unions...but we should consider that this article doesn't really give us enough info to know one way or the other. For instance, the guy could have a hired hand or two. Or perhaps he has his young'uns do some of the work (my father always said that was the only reason he had me).

[alpowolf]

City folk invading the country have no clue to the value of agriculture

What always staggers me is that many of them know absolutely nothing about how food is grown, or indeed about the food chain at all. They think the food just magically appears in the trendy little cafes they patronise.

[2banana]

I agree, that is why I said I found it interesting. I would love to more how this guy makes it all work. I hope it is by hard, hard work.

And I would rather have a farmer as a neighbor than a yuppie. I bet if these yuppies had walked over and nicely asked for the manure pile to be moved, they wouldn't have had any problems...

[dtel]

Well actually, I have.
There are lazy scumbags in any profession, union or nonunion, white collar or blue collar.
I didn't see it mentioned that this chap was a lazy scumbag, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe I just don't tar with as wide a brush as you do.

[alpowolf]

I've been commuting to work in DC for about six years, and I've observed that most of the accidents that occur are caused by the kind of impatience you describe. It's hard to imagine such people even wanting to live in the country or in a small town, where being in a rush is utterly futile.

[banjo joe]

Stone Mountain, Ga. for one. There's been a constant effort to close Peachtree-DeKalb (also Ga). Go to aopa.org and check out the info on the 'Airport support network' button. Or better yet, call the toll-free nbr and speak with someone on the front line.

[alpowolf]

I bet if these yuppies had walked over and nicely asked for the manure pile to be moved, they wouldn't have had any problems...

Without a doubt. But on the occasions when I have the misfortune to deal with such people, I note that such a thing would never even occur to them. It kind of reminds me of the attitudes described in Thomas Sowell's Vision of the Anointed; they think that their mission in life is to "civilize" us unwashed yokels. Some "civilization" huh.

[2banana]

There are lazy scumbags in any profession, union or nonunion, white collar or blue collar

Yep, you are right about that. Unfortunately, unions tend to fiercely defend their lazy scumbags while most other professions tend to try to get rid of theirs...

[stevio]

Lancasting Farming (the regional farming newspaper) has had issues with this also.

[MineralMan]

"I've been commuting to work in DC for about six years, and I've observed that most of the accidents that occur are caused by the kind of impatience you describe. It's hard to imagine such people even wanting to live in the country or in a small town, where being in a rush is utterly futile. "

Impatience, yes. But there's something else at work here, I think. Some folks think that they are the most important people on the planet and that anyone or anything that interferes with their activities in any way should be gone. The guy changing lanes unsafely in a vain attempt to bypass a traffic slowdown is an example. So are those people who somehow feel they should go to the front of the line, ahead of those already there. Another is the guy with the new car who parks to take up two or more parking spots, in a vain attempt to keep people from scratching his precious paint job. Or the non-handicapped person who parks in the handicapped space. All feel that they are somehow _more_ important than anyone else on the planet. Feh!

This kind of impatience is a real problem these days, and I have no idea what to do about it.

[Ol' Sox]

Oh boy, are you talking about a sore spot! I live in Faifield County, CT, ostensibly the most self-important location on the planet. Lived here all my life and I remember when this was a hayseed location - more farms than commuters. Nowadays, I refuse to even go through the town of Westport (long Martha Stewart's hometown) because people there will pull right out in front of you while you are driving on the Post Road. Evidently, their need to get to their destination trumps the safety of you and your family. Rudest bastadges I ever saw. I've often commented to my wife that we must not have decloaked when we pulled out of our driveway. When I deem it appropriate, I call people on their rude behavior...loudly and with great relish.

[End Times Sentinel]

What always staggers me is that many of them know absolutely nothing about how food is grown, or indeed about the food chain at all. They think the food just magically appears in the trendy little cafes they patronise.

 

True story:  Several years ago, I worked on an organic farm that was part of a University experiment.  When the experiment was over, we were left with far more produce than we could ever hope to harvest, let alone consume ourselves, so we had an "Open House" where we encouraged neighbors (it was in a suburban neighborhood) to come and take all they wanted.

A woman approached me and asked if we had any lettuce and I pointed her to a fairly large patch of it.  Shortly she returned and told me "I don't see it."

This time, I escorted the woman to the bed and showed it to her.  For a moment, she looked dumfounded then turned to me and said "IT'S ON THE GROUND???!!!"

 

 

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[End Times Sentinel]

I agree, that is why I said I found it interesting. I would love to more how this guy makes it all work. I hope it is by hard, hard work.

 

Based on my own experience, he likely uses the union job to pay the bills and the farm itself is likely a side business. 

I worked on a farm similar to this in Chester County (PA) several years ago, and the income generated by the farm was hardly enough to support the operation.  The farmer there would work 3 or so days a week as a union roofer and then spend the rest of his time on farm related activities.

Generally, large amounts of time are required during planting and harvesting times with less in between (if you're set up correctly).  If this farmer is anything like the one I worked for, he relies heavily on volunteers from the local High School, University, and volunteers to get him through the peak times and works his union job the rest of the time.

Also, I think we may be getting thrown off by the 142 acres figure.  It's implied but I've never seen or heard of a 142 acre organic farm where all 142 acres are under cultivation.  Likely a lot of it is pasture for the cattle and of the remaining, I wouldn't be surprised to find out 75-80% is left fallow, in woodlands, or ponds/marsh.  Generally, organic agriculture relies on creating habitats for beneficial insects and balancing cultivation with land left to nature.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[dsutah]

How true, about the fight being with the real-estate agent I mean. I would go even further. I would say, if these people wanted peace and quiet, no noise or smell, no fly droppings; why not check out the surroundings? Why not ask the real-estate people who live close-by? Why not use our eyes, and ears, switch on the thinking caps, and check out who the neighbors are, and decide for themselves what kind of area they want to move into.

If it's in the country, it goes without saying that there will be a farm or ranch or two close-by! They can't just move into 'the country', figuring that if they don't like the surroundings, they'll just make other people in the surroundings move to satisfy them!

I'll never understand why these people crab, when it is noisy or stinky when they move close to a farm or ranch. Personally, I find that the 'suburbs' can have as many problems, in different ways, as a farm or ranch. First it's noisy with construction of a 'subdivision', then with traffic, noisy neighbors, loud vehicles, barking dogs, crowding, etc.

While it's true that real-estate agents need to be more honest with their clients as to what they are getting into when they buy;(a little 'caveat emptor', or buyers beware here) it's their own fault for not doing a little of their own research of the area. They don't want neighbors close-by, they don't want farms close-by; then where do they want to live? Out into the wilderness? Then the extremist environmentalists will find out and howl about it!(LOL)

[dsutah]

In the first paragraph, it's: "ask real estate people about the people who live close-by. I didn't check that sentance again!

[dsutah]

Well, they asked for 'country', they got it! They should be thanking you profusely! (laugh)

[jimt]

Or the non-handicapped person who parks in the handicapped space.

You don't understand. They're morally handicapped.

[MineralMan]

"Or the non-handicapped person who parks in the handicapped space.

You don't understand. They're morally handicapped."

Bingo!

[Fiddlstix]

Bump