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Soil Not Oil: Why We Need to Kick Petroleum Out of Our Farms
Thu 18 Dec 2008 7:14pm
By Vandana Shiva, South End Press, December 3, 2008 http://www.alternet.org/story/109576/
Industrial agriculture is dependent on chemical fertilizers. Chemically fertilized soils are low in organic matter. Organic matter helps conserve the soil and soil moisture, providing insurance against drought. Soils lacking organic matter are more vulnerable to drought and to climate change. Industrial agriculture is also more dependent on intensive irrigation. Since climate change is leading to the melting of glaciers that feed rivers, and in many regions of the world to the decline in precipitation and increased intensity of drought, the vulnerability of industrial agriculture will only increase. Finally, since the globalized food system is based on long-distance supply chains, it is vulnerable to breakdown in the context of extreme events of flooding, cyclones, and hurricanes. While aggravating climate change, fossil fuel-dependent industrialized, globalized agriculture is least able to adapt to the change.
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Stearns Farm CSA Community Supported Agriculture Kathy Huckins, Farm Manager Preserving the historic Stearns farm as a sustainable garden while providing locally and naturally grown food in partnership between the land, the farmer, and the community. |
Revision 1. Last edited Thu 18 Dec 2008 7:14pm by TomYelton |
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