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
THE POISON IVY BLUES.
Last year, while still working as an intern, I had my first experience with poison ivy. What started as a few small bumps on my arm grew quickly to giant rashes, covering my arms, my belly, my legs. Different people react to the plant in different ways, and it became apparent that I was one of those people who "got it bad."Poison ivy is a plant that produces urushiol - a clear liquid that is found in the sap of the plant. Urushiol is what causes the itching and burning, and it is the most common allergy in the country - affecting over half the population. Even if you think you aren't allergic, reaction to poison ivy can begin at any time. Continued exposure to the plant builds up over time and can suddenly cause a rash. Oh and ALSO - urushiol is pretty powerful stuff. It lingers - staying on your skin or clothes or dog or cat or whatever - unless you completely remove the oil. This is why it is so easy to get one tiny spot that grows into more and more and more. Urushiol can even remain active on a completely dead poison ivy plant - for ONE TO FIVE YEARS. Fun!So basically, I hate poison ivy. I detest it. It has truly become an actual problem for me - because our farm has a lot of poison ivy. Especially poison ivy VINES, which are even more potent. With all of the clearing and cutting and digging around we are doing in the old barns around the cabin site, it seems that every time we go to Bugtussle, no matter how careful I am, I get some. And that some grows to lots. The last round lasted almost a month from miserable start to finish, bubbling into blisters and leaving some hideous scars on my wrist. My current round hasn't even reached the blistering peak yet - I have it in between my fingers on both hands, covering my entire left arm, and in some other terribly unmentionable places. It consumes my every waking moment, taking all my concentration not to scratch it, not to rub it, not to run outside screaming from the insanity of it. And just when I seem to find myself in a zen state of tranquility, accepting the pain and pushing it from my mind, I find a BRAND NEW PATCH popping up on some bizarre part of my body and I become enraged. Last night, I was lying in bed crying while I hysterically told Jesse that maybe I'm just not supposed to be farmer. A tad dramatic, perhaps, but seriously. IT IS THE WORST AND I WANT TO DIE.I have tried several different cures and remedies over the past year. We always wash with TECNU first, to remove any remaining oil and stop potential spreading. While helpful, it doesn't provide any real relief from the pain or speed up the healing process. Plus, with my current round of poison ivy, the Tecnu has seemed to further irritate and spread everything around. I have used both Calagel and Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Cream. I have tried apple cider vinegar. I have used the homeopathic remedy - actually ingesting a microscopic amount of rhus toxicodendron (which is poison ivy). All of these sorta kinda work, and I have found that the homeopathic remedy speeds up the healing process...but nothing really helps relieve the soul-crushing itch.ALL OF THIS TO SAY - most likely due to my delirious outburst last night, Jesse decided that was enough of that, and we needed to find a solution. He ran out to the store and came back with a few products that, at least so far, have been a GODSEND. Calendula salve (a plant we grew earler this year!) and Burt's Bees Poison Ivy soap. HALLELUJAH the soap has saved my life. It contains jewelweed, which is a natural remedy for poison ivy, and I only had to wash with the soap once to have almost 8 hours of no itching, and the calendula is so soothing. You JUST have no idea how wonderful that is.
Sorry for the long, complain-y post, but I am hoping to perhaps share some of these tips with others who might suffer as I do. I feel like the jewelweed and calendula are the ticket. I am not a huge fan of Burt's Bees as a company (Clorox owned, imports all beeswax from Ethiopia, etc), so I am going to stock up on this homemade jewelweed, olive oil, and calendula soap and hopefully try to plant some jewelweed of my own when we are back on the farm!What about you? What products and remedies have worked for you?- Hannah.
DIGGING OUT THE SPRING.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwGfmrYuXnAWe are back from our week at Bugtussle! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving - we had a delicious lunch with the Smith's before they left for Pennsylvania, and we spent the week doing various projects at the cabin, cutting firewood, and learning how to cook our meals on a wood cook stove! One of our projects was digging out the little natural spring we have on our property. I cannot describe the moment when we discovered it - the magic of pulling out some clumps of leaves and mud and watching a stream of water suddenly pour out from the rocks. We cleared away all the debris and fallen leaves and salamanders and then covered it up with tin as a temporary roof. I don't yet know how we will utilize the spring - it sits at the lowest point of elevation on the farm - but we are thrilled to have it. These days, having a reliable source of water is a treasure, and having one that beautifully bubbles up mysteriously from the ground seems like a miracle.- Hannah.
THANKS.
Hannah and I have much to be thankful for.We're heading up to our farm this weekend, which we're deeply thankful to the Smith's for offering us. We've had a crazy year and we're thankful to our friends and family for helping us hobble through the bad times, and celebrate the good. We're thankful for all of the supporters we met during our campaign and we're thankful the new community it helped us create with you.And of course, we're thankful for this guy, who through all the moving and chaos has still for some reason put up with us, so long as we set aside time each day to play his favorite game: chase. Thank you, goof.
photo by Klara Ferrero
So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We'll be back next week with a full farm and cabin report. Have a great weekend, be safe, and no matter what you're eating, don't forget to thank your farmer!- Jesse.