18 thoughts on ““We have all become such suckers for a bargain that we take the low prices of our foodstuffs for granted and are somehow unable to connect these bargain-basement prices to our children’s inability to find meaningful work at a decently paid job.””
Never thought I'd be inclined to read a book about sheep farming/ranching, but that guy's work sounds pretty interesting. The Amazon.com reviewers are pretty enthusiastic.
This is like people bitching about jerbs going to China upon realizing how much stuff we buy is made there, then saying "I'm not buying anything made in China!", then realizing after about a day that's pretty much impossible for them.
There's no question that farming is difficult and not exactly a road to riches, and the local news frequently has hand-wringing stories about how young people are not taking over their parents' farms. But, I have to say that the farmers of France, mostly stuck in the old ways of doing things with smaller farms and less mass production, are still better off than than the US. Food here is typically very local, typically very good, and not that much more expensive than what you'd pay for the same thing in the US (sometimes it's even less because there are fewer associated processing/transportation costs). At the same time, though, because mechanization means farmers can do more with less manpower, the little towns around farms are dying off, and that's a sad fact too.
Science isn't exactly a road to riches, but it's treated me well. Also, sticking your kid with "running the family farm" is a pretty lame concept in this day and age, if you ask me. Don't expect the next generation to take your occupation.
If you wanna be rich, stressed and boring, there's always day trading.
I can attest to the quality of their tomatoes, at least.
Malcolm Muggeridge remarked, after driving through the midwest in the 1950's, that he saw signs everywhere 'Gas', 'Drugs', 'Food', 'Beauty', and realized that a surfeit of all these items was a problem for the USA.
Between the cheese, the cream and the good butter, I should be about 30 pounds heavier. But thanks to the French paradox, I actually weigh a bit less than when I was stateside. I don't know how it works, but I'll take it!
Yep, the first billboard for that was just outside Chicago, in Joliet. And they were continuous all the way down 66. After you passed it, there'd be more saying, "Wait, go back!"
Lived there practically. Specifically, spent high school residing btween Lookout Mtn (mom) and Trenton GA nearby (dad). Both parents got Chattanooga family ties. In my later high school summers I worked at Rock City Restaurant same as my mom had.
The sit-down restaurant was razed and now it's a walk-up concession stand. But they built a Starbucks into the adjacent gift shoppe, so everybody's happy!
Never thought I'd be inclined to read a book about sheep farming/ranching, but that guy's work sounds pretty interesting. The Amazon.com reviewers are pretty enthusiastic.
This is like people bitching about jerbs going to China upon realizing how much stuff we buy is made there, then saying "I'm not buying anything made in China!", then realizing after about a day that's pretty much impossible for them.
There's no question that farming is difficult and not exactly a road to riches, and the local news frequently has hand-wringing stories about how young people are not taking over their parents' farms. But, I have to say that the farmers of France, mostly stuck in the old ways of doing things with smaller farms and less mass production, are still better off than than the US. Food here is typically very local, typically very good, and not that much more expensive than what you'd pay for the same thing in the US (sometimes it's even less because there are fewer associated processing/transportation costs). At the same time, though, because mechanization means farmers can do more with less manpower, the little towns around farms are dying off, and that's a sad fact too.
One of the glories of la bella Italia is that there's low or no tax on domestic wines, so bottles that cost $100 here are €28 there.
Slightly off-topic I realize, but I'm more interested in a nation's viniculture than its mutton production methods.
Science isn't exactly a road to riches, but it's treated me well. Also, sticking your kid with "running the family farm" is a pretty lame concept in this day and age, if you ask me. Don't expect the next generation to take your occupation.
If you wanna be rich, stressed and boring, there's always day trading.
↑It should be pointed out that this is the opinion of someone who grew up in New Jersey.↑
Come on, man – it's the Garden State!
<img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/cb/a8/16/cba81677c43549e75a087991dfded98c.jpg"/>
When I was growing up there, lo 40 years ago, 2/3 of NJ was either forest or farmland, but hey, I only lived there, don't take my word for it!
Jersey tomatoes and corn? The Cadillacs of vegetables! I think for a while there NJ had more cranberry bogs than Mass.
I can attest to the quality of their tomatoes, at least.
Malcolm Muggeridge remarked, after driving through the midwest in the 1950's, that he saw signs everywhere 'Gas', 'Drugs', 'Food', 'Beauty', and realized that a surfeit of all these items was a problem for the USA.
And Burma-Shave too, no doubt.
<img src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/6e/61/d66e612c3d3dcf2bfb43acac10e31f68.jpg">
He used a match
To check his tank
And now they call him
"Skinless Frank."
Burma Shave
What fun those were for us as kids driving through Wisconsin on our way to Minnesota in the summers.
Between the cheese, the cream and the good butter, I should be about 30 pounds heavier. But thanks to the French paradox, I actually weigh a bit less than when I was stateside. I don't know how it works, but I'll take it!
Gravity is weaker there.
Blame it on the dolomites
Did you ever actually see Rock City? <img src="http://www.seerockcity.com/images/uploads/documents/barn2.jpg">
Yep, the first billboard for that was just outside Chicago, in Joliet. And they were continuous all the way down 66. After you passed it, there'd be more saying, "Wait, go back!"
Lived there practically. Specifically, spent high school residing btween Lookout Mtn (mom) and Trenton GA nearby (dad). Both parents got Chattanooga family ties. In my later high school summers I worked at Rock City Restaurant same as my mom had.
The sit-down restaurant was razed and now it's a walk-up concession stand. But they built a Starbucks into the adjacent gift shoppe, so everybody's happy!