WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
The effect of conventional agriculture––the erosion, the pollution, the long-term soil wounds inflicted by factory farms––is hardly contained by the old fence rows and barbed-wire standing between small and large farmers. It spills over and burrows under our land and into the water supply. It is in our air, and in our bodies - this is the true cost of cheap food.The latest casualty was the farm of our friend Jeff Poppen, now forced to leave his home of forty years due to the pollution caused by nearby commercial chicken houses (C.A.F.O.'s)Below is a picture of Jeff's farm taken by Alan Messer, followed by Jeff's statement. Our heart goes out to Jeff, his community, and all small farmers facing giants. Jeff has been an invaluable source of advice and inspiration for Hannah and me, and Long Hungry Creek is just down the road from us in Red Boiling Springs. This could just have easily been us, and one day it just might.- Jesse.
“As I can no longer guarantee organic quality standards here, my business at 2307 Long Hungry Creek Road has been terminated. A few workers, hundreds of customers, thousands of visitors and hundreds of thousands of our broader audience will be affected.One picture is worth a thousand words.The decision was made by Cobb (owned by Tyson’s Chicken) to violate their respectable restrictions on the location of their houses. Macon County’s legislature also violated their honorable laws regulating the location of confined animal houses. In both instances, a 1500 feet minimum from a business, public area, or residence respects the rights of neighbors. For some reason, I am an exception.On a 300 acre farm with ample level land elsewhere, why did they build within 300 feet of my only water source, and 450 feet from my home, my gardens and cave? I made it clear to both Cobb and our commissioner this would be unacceptable and force the closure of my business.The outpouring of support from the local community for my position humbles and encourages me. No one, or should I say very few people, want me to close down and leave. I not only feel accepted and liked by our community, I feel loved. I cannot thank you all enough.After our community group’s research, Tyson/Cobb’s behavior did not surprise us. But the special interests of a few of our elected officials are in direct conflict with the sentiments of the vast majority of Macon County citizens who do not want the chicken industry here, and their secrecy and disregard concern many of us. This makes me reluctant to rebuild and start anew on my Heady Ridge property.The economy, environment and social life of rural America have been seriously damaged by the removal of small independent farms, strengthening many people’s conviction that agribusiness seriously threatens democracy and its tenants of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A giant corporation simply won’t care about what happens in a local community like a small farmer will. In the picture, the juxtaposition of two types of food production could not be more clear. Although we both produce a similar amount of food, the affects on the local community of the chicken industry and a small farm could hardly be more different. These differences include; where our money comes from and where it goes, the environmental effects, the kind of food we each produce, aesthetic qualities in the landscape, community dynamics and neighborhood interaction.Friends, neighbors and visitors come here on a daily basis to get food, admire the gardens, learn techniques and enjoy a beautiful local log cabin (circa 1871) and homestead. They love the spring water, the cave which cools and stores our vegetables and the pristine Long Hungry Creek. I’m proud to say this farm is in the hearts of many people in middle Tennessee and elsewhere. But because of how close they built it, there will be no more gardens here, no more T.V. shows filmed here, no more church and school tours here, and my family and I are moving. Other families in the neighborhood have moved or intend to. For the first time in the 40 years I’ve lived here, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Agribusiness has been destroying agriculture in many places for many years and I am not alone in this predicament. Actually, we are all in it together. I look forward to continue working for a just and sane agriculture, where people matter. I’ll probably move back after they’re gone.”- Jeff Poppen