Dateline: Rural Oregon…"The Grange master, Hank Keogh, is a 26-year-old who, with his multiple piercings and severe sideburns, looks more indie rock star than seed farmer. Mr. Keogh took over the Grange two years ago."He increased membership by signing up dozens of young farmers and others in the region. He had the floorboards refinished, introduced weekly yoga classes and reduced the average age of Grange members to 35 from 65.”
It’s true. All over America young people are abandoning their urban jobs, or their fruitless job searches and reclaiming farming, often with the mentoring help of grandparents.
The demand for good fresh food, that has not been in shipment for 2 weeks, has once again made small farming desirable in the USA.
Here in Allegany County, NY we are well positioned for this trend. We have land. We have grandparent mentors! We have cheap old machinery around. We have agricultural courses at Alfred State College and heavy equipment courses at BOCES. We even have a steady stream of visitors from Rochester and Buffalo who love to come to our county and see what’s going on or stay in their hunting camps and vacation hide outs.
“Garry Stephenson, coordinator of the Small Farms Program at Oregon State University, said he had not seen so much interest among young people in decades. “It’s kind of exciting,” Mr. Stephenson said. “They’re young, they’re energetic and idealist, and they’re willing to make the sacrifices.”
If you come out to Farmers’ Markets in Allegany County this summer you’ll see some of them…or better yet…just. plant. something. Most farmers’ markets have a fee for participating in an individual market. Angelica’s fee was $12/day or $30 for a festival day last year ($150 for the season). Belmont’s market was just $6 last season. How much will you make? Well, we say at the Angelica Market...on a festival weekend Saturday if you don’t make at least $1000, you didn’t come prepared.
Quotes from In “New Food Culture, a Young Generation of Farmers Emerges”
By ISOLDE RAFTERY New York Times, March 5, 2011
I just had the dried leeks you gave me last time I saw you, and they were so sweet and wonderful mixed into a miso soup. When are this year's leeks due out? and can you provide a good soup recipe?
ReplyDeleteSteph