Farmers losing hope, suicide up

[speckledhen]

Quote:
We don't have those limits on amts we can pull from our wells in residential settings, could be different than a business, but that doesn't apply to us. Georgia is quite different from Colorado (where I used to live). I own full rights to my property, including water and minerals, however, I understand about rights being sold separately. The place I owned in TN did not have mineral rights included, like many places there. It's not that way here in GA.

The issue about rain barrels should be completely different--that isnt ground water till it hits the ground and no state can own rainclouds. Makes no sense and I guess I would be a water criminal if I still lived in CO.

 

[beak]

In Ga. you can hit water in 5' and there is plenty to go around. Colorado is a high desert and there is much less water. We live on top of a hill and they had to drill 900 ft to hit the correct aquifer. If everyone was allowed to irrigate it would drain the aquifers and we would have to wait for them to refill. We have mineral rights too. Water is a scarce commodity.

Don't quite understand the rain barrel thing.

 

[19hhbelgian]

That whole "farmer boy" thing is still griping my butt (even after all those pages of replies)!!

Farmers know more about true hard work than most people. The "author" of that letter must never have seen the bumper stickers that say "No Farms No Food"!! UGH!

 

[deeredawn]

(BIG SIGH)
I'm not saying anything better than what ya'll have already said. I do believe that when worse comes to worse, and I believe with all my heart that it IS coming, farmers will be the last standing. Yes, we hobbyists are feeding/educating people and its working. Look at the locavore movement with www.slowfood-usa.org. I own a farmers stand on my property and I only raise heirloom varieties, so I have the opportunity to educate other on how to save seed and feed their family again next year. When "suits" have nothing left to eat (after washing down their keyboards with a bit of crow) they will look for us. Its gonna be a long hard row to hoe, but its been done generation thru generation and we've pulled thru. Keep the faith!

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
In Salt Lake County of UT it is illegal to have rain barrels and if you are caught there is a fine. The County says all water is owned by the state of UT and the County. I dont know what other states have that law I know TN doesnt and you can dig a pond without even asking. funny how the government thinks they own what God made.

 

[speckledhen]

Used to live in Utah (twice). You're making me really glad I moved back to the south again.

 

[Turtle]

Quote:
I lived there for years wanting to get out but all my family lives there. I met my BF and his family lives here in TN he showed me pics and thats all it took for me to leave. I am trying to get the rest out here without much luck. My mom and one little bro are up on the idea but with dad not wanting to go and the little bro is disabled so he needs moms help it looks like it gonna take more talking or dad passing to make it happen. I so love it here in TN but sure miss the family. Ya cant have it all but I'm still trying.

 

[bargain]

My husband and I farm full time, on a small farm as you all know from many of my posts.
I do a lot of the picking,some weeding and planting as the back allows.
He is the hard worker and despite so many downturns and surprises, his faith is strong.

The thing you all can do most is to ENcourage the farmer, BUY from the farm, show and tell him/her how much you appreciate the HARD HARD work that they are doing to feed, eat locally grown produce, seek it out, find your local farmers market, or CSA....

It's hard work to farm and we all need to remember that by buying the best for our bodies, not necessarily the cheapest is when we have eaten food grown naturally for us, not importanted thousands of miles away.

I'm sorry to hear of these suicides. I weept for the families and communities as I write this.

May God bless each of you as we all remember to say thank you to each other.