Why Save the Farm: A focus on Cultural

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Why Save the Farm A focus on Cultural
Ecological ValuesRachel Gore

• Economics
• Supplies the nation ( world) with food!
• Cultural values
• Ecological importance

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Economics

• 1 trillion to national economy
• 23.6 billion to Asia, annually
• Employs 17 of the workforce
• Other countries paving farmland
• Supports local communities
• Tourism

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Food Supply

• American Agricultural productivity
• Domestic demand for more diverse diet
• 42 US population growth in 50 years
• Rapidly changing global demand

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Diverse Food(Biotechnology and hybridization
wonders)
Broccoflower
Grape Tomatoes
Seedless Watermelon
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CulturalValues

• Open space
• Local farmers
• Unique heritage of a community
• Sense of Place
• Scenic Beauty

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Losing Most Arable Land to Urban Sprawl
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Just pulling into this place and looking at the
beauty of it gives me a thrill

• -Elizabeth Murray, on Fairview
• Gardens in Goleta, CA

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Ecological Importance

• Control flooding
• Provide groundwater recharge
• Fertile top soil
• Maintain air quality
• Crucial wildlife habitat
• Climate control

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96 degrees of greed July '03- I read with total
dismay, anger and sadness last week's information
that we had reached an all-time-high of 96
degrees for the overnight temperature. As a
52-year-old native of Phoenix, I still remember
when, no matter how hot it got during the day, as
soon as the sun began to set, the temperature
immediately started to drop and we enjoyed
temperatures down to the 70s and even lower every
night. I thank all the filthy-rich, greedy
developers who have plowed under every orchard,
field and vineyard in the entire Valley to make
room for another asphalt parking lot or apartment
complex to hold in more of the day's blistering
heat. And I especially would like to thank all
of the "in-their-pocket" politicians who stood
back and allowed this rape of our once-beautiful
city to occur. - Antonio Morales Jr. Glendale,
Arizona
http//www.goldcanyon.com/us/localsprawl.html
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A hayfield

• flood control structure,
• scenic vista, and
• an area for
• groundwater recharge.

• food factory,
• wildlife habitat,
• a solar energy converter,

http//members.cox.net/cheshirepzc/PDF/Agriculture
New.pdf
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The Other Side of the Story

• Its only the emotionalism of the ranchers we
  cant handle
• Paul Cunningham, general manager, Texas Municipal
  Power Agency (TMPA)

The reply
They just dont realize how deep our roots
are. - Mabel Howard, a country woman
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The Heart of the Matter

• We want the land.
• Were tied to the land.
• I can grow something to eat on the land.
• I cant grow anything on the dollar
• - Jim Perry, Texas farmer

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Percentage of Californians who agree or strongly
agree that agricultural land is an essential part
of Californias identity and we must fight to
preserve it

• 90

Poll conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin
Associates for the Nature Conservancy and the
Conservation Fund (July 1999)
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Variety of Reasons for Agricultural Preservation
Groundwater Recharge
Clean Air
Arable Land
Sense of Place
of workforce
Global Demand
Heritage
Stop Urban S p r a w l
Beauty of Open Space
Right to rural lifestyle
Reliable Food Supply