My college professors were always imploring me to “compare and contrast”
between various social models, stratifications of class, and distributions of
wealth. Seeming mundane at the time, this academic exercise is a very useful
tool to analyze any social issue we may encounter. Allow me to apply this
of the modern industrial monoculture paradigm.
At the moment, I hear content feeding purrs from my seventy or so heritage
turkeys as they gorge themselves on Japanese beetles sluggishly clinging to the
dew laden raspberry leaves. My lawn chair and laptop are the only
infrastructure involved. Chase, the border collie, lies by my feet keeping the
flock within his sight and running off the wild turkey hen and her brood that
insist on crashing our party. As this crop of birds grows, they will join the
hogs in forage our abundant mast. First the black cherry, then hickories and the
white oak, followed by the red oak and beech. This high energy mega fatty micro
mineral rich crop far surpasses the commercial feedstock in producing an
artisanal meat product that was patented thousands of years ago.
I need not demoralize us by taking us to a modern day turkey factory,
but I do beg this question … who possesses more wealth: A sustainable free
grazer who will put seventy or so very special birds on the holiday table, or
the corporate farmer with several million dollars of private and government
monies tied up in growing and shipping semi trailer loads of genetic mutants to
the mega grocery chains?
The factory farm creates wealth for the doctors, lawyers, government
regulators, and bankers … isn’t it ironic that these same professionals will
choose a Beechnut Turkey or an Oaknut Ham from Big Horn Ranch for their family
gathering?
I truly look forward to meeting you at the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR where
I will chat about the genetics and logistics involved in weaning our farms and
livestock off the USDA sanctioned Soy/Corn grid. Visit my website
and drop me a line. Graze on!
Michael Wright will present a workshop at the Seven Springs, Pa. MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR.
Please visit the FAIR website for more information about the Seven Springs, Pa., FAIR Sept. 24-25. Tickets are on sale now.
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