Enchanted Gardener,
Enjoyed your blog on Local, Family Farming. As I look out my window while reading your post, I'm enlivened by the orange trees and the fruit that is maturing moment by moment. I'm reminded of the joy and delight I feel when I eat food that I've grown. It's taught me great respect for the patient work of the farmers, especially the ones who have gone to great pains and sacrifice to do it in a conscious manner, organically. I feel better when I know where my food came from and I feel a great respect for creation when I'm involved in this process. Right now, with transportation and political issues as they are, I'm compelled to support local farmers. I need them. I don't know what's happened to the grape from Chile, the orange from Honduras (see
http://www.bspp.org.uk/ndr/july2006/2006-45.asp
regarding "Occurrence and distribution of citrus leprosis virus in Honduras").
And, on principal, I believe in the family and the family-owned business. What a wonderful way of building family, to work together to grow and sell food. Count me as one of the passionate supporters of the farmer's market. I love seeing the kids there, knowing that the knowledge of farming is being passed on to them. Let's hope we have a future of fresh, wholesome, affordable food, because I certainly can't grow all that I need. Amen to you, let's support and get to know our local, family farmers.