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After 380-plus years, New Hampshire family sells farm

unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
edited November 2013 in A Moving Train
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/05/af ... ells-farm/


The New York Times columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote a piece in 2010 when the farm went out of business. She points out that the farm was founded when there were, maybe, 10,000 colonists in America.

"It is too simple to say, as the Tuttles have, that the recession killed a farm that had survived for nearly 400 years. What killed it was the economic structure of food production. Each year it has become harder for family farms to compete with industrial scale agriculture — heavily subsidized by the government — underselling them at every turn," Klinkenborg wrote. "In a system committed to the health of farms and their integration with local communities, the result would have been different. In 1632, and for many years after, the Tuttle farm was a necessity. In 2010, it is suddenly superfluous, or so we like to pretend."
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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    unsung wrote:
    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/05/after-380-plus-years-new-hampshire-family-sells-farm/


    The New York Times columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote a piece in 2010 when the farm went out of business. She points out that the farm was founded when there were, maybe, 10,000 colonists in America.

    "It is too simple to say, as the Tuttles have, that the recession killed a farm that had survived for nearly 400 years. What killed it was the economic structure of food production. Each year it has become harder for family farms to compete with industrial scale agriculture — heavily subsidized by the government — underselling them at every turn," Klinkenborg wrote. "In a system committed to the health of farms and their integration with local communities, the result would have been different. In 1632, and for many years after, the Tuttle farm was a necessity. In 2010, it is suddenly superfluous, or so we like to pretend."

    I'm guessing you've supported/donated to Farm Aid?
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    I have, in the past, but admittedly I've nearly forgotten about it. I'll renew my efforts. Thank you.

    I've been focused on buying direct from the farm when possible, in fact this weekend I'm picking up 30dz eggs from a farm. I try to support them through actions that I control. Unfortunately not many can afford to get the organic label. It's truly a shame that there's mountains of paperwork to be organic. You'd think those that dump pesticides and grow GMO would have mountains of paperwork.
  • polaris_xpolaris_x Posts: 13,559
    we are so disconnected ... :cry:
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,051
    If you have one, support your local farmer's market- it's a good way to support independent growers and often the best way to buy affordable organics.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    Who can compete with this!!!

    Who Owns Nature? The seed industry

    http://gmwatch.org/gm-firms/10558-the-w ... wns-nature

    Report from ETC Group (extracts only)

    In the first half of the 20th century, seeds were overwhelmingly in the hands of farmers and public-sector plant breeders. In the decades since then, Gene Giants have used intellectual property laws to commodify the world seed supply – a strategy that aims to control plant germplasm and maximize profits by eliminating Farmers' Rights.
    Today, the proprietary seed market accounts for a staggering share of the world's commercial seed supply. In less than three decades, a handful of multinational corporations have engineered a fast and furious corporate enclosure of the first link in the food chain.

    According to Context Network, the proprietary seed market (that is, brand-name seed that is subject to exclusive monopoly – i.e., intellectual property), now accounts for 82% of the commercial seed market worldwide. In 2007, the global proprietary seed market was US$22,000 million. (The total commercial seed market was valued at $26,700 million in 2007.) The commercial seed market, of course, does not include farmer-saved seed.

    The World's Top 10 Seed Companies
    Company – 2007 Seed sales (US$ millions) % of global proprietary seed market
    Monsanto (US) $4,964m 23%
    DuPont (US) $3,300m 15%
    Syngenta (Switzerland) $2,018m 9%
    Groupe Limagrain (France) $1,226m 6%
    Land O' Lakes (US) $917m 4%
    KWS AG (Germany) $702m 3%
    Bayer Crop Science (Germany) $524m 2%
    Sakata (Japan) $396m <2%
    DLF-Trifolium (Denmark) $391m <2%
    Takii (Japan) $347m <2%
    Top 10 Total $14,785m 67% [of global proprietary seed market]

    Source: ETC Group

    The top 10 seed companies account for $14,785 million – or two-thirds (67%) of the global proprietary seed market.
    The world's largest seed company, Monsanto, accounts for almost one-quarter (23%) of the global proprietary seed market.

    The top 3 companies (Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta) together account for $10,282 million, or 47% of the worldwide proprietary seed market.

    ETC Group conservatively estimates that the top 3 seed companies control 65% of the proprietary maize seed market worldwide, and over half of the proprietary soybean seed market.

    Based on industry statistics, ETC Group estimates that Monsanto's biotech seeds and traits (including those licensed to other companies) accounted for 87% of the total world area devoted to genetically engineered seeds in 2007.

    The company claims that it licenses its biotech traits to an additional 250 companies. In 2007, almost half (48%) of DuPont's seed revenue came from products that carried a biotech trait. UK consultancy firm, Cropnosis, puts the global value of GM crops in 2007 at $6.9 billion.
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    brianlux wrote:
    If you have one, support your local farmer's market- it's a good way to support independent growers and often the best way to buy affordable organics.


    It's tough in the Midwest, everything is corn, corn, and more corn. I avoid it like I'd avoid a dark alley at 2am.

    We vacationed in Idaho in July and hit up a FM and we spent two hours+ at it. It was the best I've been to. Our local one takes ten minutes to get through because half of it is people selling herbalife/shacklee/beach body garbage.
  • F5AgainstOneF5AgainstOne Posts: 1,462
    unsung wrote:
    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/05/after-380-plus-years-new-hampshire-family-sells-farm/


    The New York Times columnist Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote a piece in 2010 when the farm went out of business. She points out that the farm was founded when there were, maybe, 10,000 colonists in America.

    "It is too simple to say, as the Tuttles have, that the recession killed a farm that had survived for nearly 400 years. What killed it was the economic structure of food production. Each year it has become harder for family farms to compete with industrial scale agriculture — heavily subsidized by the government — underselling them at every turn," Klinkenborg wrote. "In a system committed to the health of farms and their integration with local communities, the result would have been different. In 1632, and for many years after, the Tuttle farm was a necessity. In 2010, it is suddenly superfluous, or so we like to pretend."
    Tuttles! Just a few miles from me. Bummer. Their farm store was great...bakery, butcher, etc...
    EV Solo Boston 6/16/11
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    Amsterdam 6/26/12
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    Wrigley Field 7/19-20/13
    Worcester, MA 10/15/13
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    Seattle, WA 12/06/13
    Denver, CO 10/22/14
    Fenway 2016 #1
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    Fenway 2018 #1
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  • puremagicpuremagic Posts: 1,907
    Couldn’t they have the State declare their site as a historical site. They could then maintain their property and run their farm and receive tons of farm credit under the Farm Bill. They should check it out before losing any part of the property.
    SIN EATERS--We take the moral excrement we find in this equation and we bury it down deep inside of us so that the rest of our case can stay pure. That is the job. We are morally indefensible and absolutely necessary.
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