OT - What's going to happen as we start running out of cheap gas to guzzle?

[Guest guest]

A fascinating article I'm sure many list members would appreciate.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032505I.shtml

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I did see this article, and the subject may be more political in nature than off

topic. I think the piece Eisenstein wrote for WAPF is pretty fitting as

fuel prices increase. Food production and shipping costs will rise as well

(which I think IS on topic for this group). He wrote on eating locally produced

foods, which imo is a good recommendation.

Deanna

http://www.westonaprice.org/farming/localism.html (excerpt follows)

The skeptic might object, " What does it matter where your food is grown? As

long as it is certified organic, as long as it has ingredient X and not

ingredient Y, what's the difference if it is grown locally or in California? "

Such a view fails to recognize two essential truths:

1. That there is a deep-seated conflict between health and a commodity-based

food system, and

2. That physical health can never last long in isolation, but reflects and is

reflected by healthy communities, healthy land and healthy relationships.

Whatever the ingredients or processing methods, and whether or not it is

organic, food from distant, anonymous producers is really nothing more than a

commodity, in that the only relationship between the producer and the consumer

is a monetary one. Because commodity trade is governed by strict market

mechanisms, cheaper producers will inevitably dominate those bearing higher

costs. This fact creates an inexorable pressure on producers to drive down costs

and cut corners, as long as the products meet the letter of the law. For

example, regulations stipulate a minimum cage area per hen for organic eggs, so

a producer motivated strictly by cost minimization will pack them in to that

limit, regardless of whether that is sufficient for the hens' health and

well-being.

Contrast this situation with that of a small producer selling to local customers

whom he or she knows personally. Because the relationship is not based on money

alone, cost is not the only factor determining the treatment of the hens.

Producer and consumer might, for one, have shared understandings about how hens

ought to be kept; secondly, they will typically develop a mutual trust over

time. The consumer grows to trust the producer's integrity, and the producer

trusts that consumer will remain loyal, even when distant, mass-produced eggs

might be a few cents cheaper.

[Guest guest]

>Contrast this situation with that of a small producer selling to local

customers whom he or she knows personally. Because the relationship is not based

on money alone, cost is not the only factor determining the treatment of the

hens. Producer and consumer might, for one, have shared understandings about how

hens ought to be kept; secondly, they will typically develop a mutual trust over

time. The consumer grows to trust the producer's integrity, and the producer

trusts that consumer will remain loyal, even when distant, mass-produced eggs

might be a few cents cheaper.

And keep in mind that until, oh, 50-100 years ago, petrol wasn't used to grow

food

at all. I can do a decent job growing a LOT of food with my own two hands

(tho a tractor sure is nice to CLEAR the land in the first place). It's amazing

how much food one person can grow. There was one guy who wrote a book ...

he only has one acre, but he grows $30,000 worth of produce on it, selling

to specialty markets. The average city lot can grow enough cabbage, collards,

fruit, etc. for one family.

Heidi Jean

[Guest guest]

" " There was one guy who wrote a book ...

he only has one acre, but he grows $30,000 worth of produce on it, selling

to specialty markets. " "

Hi Heidi!

Would you happen to remember the name of that book or how I could find it? I've

been researching this peak oil thing now for a little while....quite

sobering....

I think that most Americans just don't want to think about this situation, and

they don't think that it could ever happen to poor little them.....

Do you happen to get " BackHome " magazine? The Mar/Apr issue has an article

called " Forecast for an Oil Crisis " .... it is about the same article just worded

differently. I would believe that the author of the BH article was summarizing

the " Long Experiment " story or something....just kinda weird that they are just

about exactly the same, but written a little bit differently. These things

definitely inspire me to get very, very busy....

--

Steve ( I just found a website last night.... www.pathtofreedom.com , lot's to

learn.)

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