I just posted this over on Facebook but I figured it should get posted here too.

I can’t believe, well actually I can, that people are saying that a garden at the White House is snobby. Gardens are the #1 way to self reliance. And we need all the self reliance we can get.

I don’t care about your political affiliation. I really could care less. Just feed yourself. If that means getting your food from a farmer, then do it. If that means grow your own, then do it.

But doesn’t all food originally come from a farmer? Yes, but so many foods are processed crap these days. Your body isn’t designed to process the “process”…..so what does your body do with this processed foods? It stores it as fat.

Enter our obesity problem in America. That’s one of the things I feel the White House is trying to address here. We have the capability as a country to feed ourselves with real food but our “NO FEAR” mentality is going to get in the way because “Real Food” has become snobby? Hmmmmm where’s the common sense here? Oh that’s right it got run over by MARKETING. Mmmmmm yes I know that marketing is how the word is put out there, but it is what it is. We’re creatures very susceptible to the power of suggestion.

Now I know we all live fast paced lives. I wouldn’t expect our country to change it’s habits over night. But start small. Eat a salad. If that scares you by itself because it’s not “NO FEAR” enough for you then stick steak on top of it. Stop. Take a breath. Now think clearly about what you eat. Then think about it for 1 day. Then comment on this note……..

Oh, I can go on for days.

Please investigate what real food is and can be. Stop eating high fructose cardboard for food. And please give the folks at the White House a chance. Even if you don’t like the Obamas realize they’re just growing some vegetables. I mean seriously: It’s food. The root of life. Hello? Are you reading this and comprehending this? It’s nourishment for your body. If that’s not hardcore I don’t know what is…….

That’s my rant for today. Thanks.

We were one of those interviewed.

If you’d like to check out the story it’s here

Really nice article, aimed at OSU extension supporters that read the magazine. It’s good to let people know there’s a few of us (farmers) left. And Lynn Ketchum takes some amazing photos. He and Tiffany were really fun folks to talk with too.

The only downside to the story is the fact that the farming couples are profiled with the implication being the man of the team running the show. Or so it is presented. That’s somewhat frustrating to me. Our farm wouldn’t be what it is without Melanie or I. But time and time again (not just this article, but throughout the ag movement) it’s assumed that the man is running the show. This has been true more often in the past, but I really feel this has changed in the last 20 years or so. At least it has within the organic farming movement. Couples work together as a farming team. You almost have to. When a farm grows 50 or more different veggies there’s just too much to be tackled for one person. And I feel that men and women have a very different eye for certain aspects too. Whether it’s noticing a bug infestation, or a bunch of carrots that were bunched too big, it works really well to have multiple perspectives. So I just want to put it out there that we and many other farms owe great respect to our respective partners and how equal of a part they play in the madness we call farming.

After thinking about this for a few and rereading the article, maybe it’s not that it’s implied that the man’s running the show so much as the fact that the “team effort” side of things is a really important angle to be addressed and paired with this upcoming/future generation of farmers. That’s maybe a clearer picture of what would have made me more content with the article.