The most important action we can take to care for the environment is to support small scale, local farming.
Small-scale farms make up 94% of the farms in the United States. They contribute significantly to the nation’s food supply and to local economies. They strengthen rural communities and contribute to a diverse and pleasing rural landscape.
In the United States, small farms tend to raise a wider variety of crops. They improve the health of the land by providing biological diversity. This diversity of crops also improves the quality of the soil, as different plants use and replace different soil nutrients. Small farms also help protect the diversity of livestock.
Small scale farms are typically family owned. The farm is their home and often has been for multiple generations. This strong connection to the land induces a strong sense of stewardship. They are motivated to care for their land in the most sustainable way, preserving it for future generations.
However, as more agricultural production moves towards the large-scale corporate production, we are at risk of losing our small and mid-sized farmers. A third of U.S. farms fall into the mid-sized category and 10% are disappearing every 5 years.
Since I’ve always been a supporter of local foods, I am happy to buy my wool from local Michigan farms. Let’s keep our agricultural heritage alive by supporting our farmers close to home.
