Women Farmers are Earth’s Most Devoted Protectors

Much like women’s key roles in significant historic events have often been ignored and invisible, a semester in P1tLab engaging with women farm tourism microentrepreneurs has taught me that women farmers are a largely invisible army in our society’s fight for a sustainable future. I was delighted to learn that women farmers are moved by the beauty of nature and the liberating feeling of being surrounded by it. Indeed, I found that many women are turning to farming as a way to take their livelihoods into their own hands so that they can make a difference to their families, communities and our planet Earth. Moreover, their respect for nature and love for their land seem to grow when their micro-agribusinesses thrive - they strive to build a livelihood that nurtures and does no harm. This finding is particularly encouraging to me because throughout my time studying environmental science at NC State I learned about the shockingly harmful practices prevalent in large-scale farms.

It is common in large scale farming practices to grow an abundance of one crop in rows upon rows across multi acre fields. This allows for easy spread of disease and other afflictions harmful to the crops. Insecticides are used regularly because planting the same crop in abundance leaves the entire crop yield in danger of certain insects. The same crops are often planted in the same fields growing season after growing season. Chemical fertilizers are added to the soil to force crop growth year after year, with the plants receiving little nutrients to grow nutrient rich crops.

Produce is not the only product being farmed extensively and unnaturally. Factory farms produce high yields of meat products by minimizing grazing area, feeding inexpensive and nutrient deficient grain feed high in calories, and using regular antibiotic treatments on the livestock. This allows companies to produce the most meat with minimal cost at the expense of the quality of the meat. The antibiotics are given to prevent spread of disease in the tightly packed and poorly fed populations of animals. These inhumane conditions are not only causing nutrient deficiencies, but a plethora of newly resistant bacteria.

            These practices are proving to have major negative effects on human health and the environment. Countries with plentiful food to feed their nation are largely nutrient deficient yet overweight. Livestock alone is responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions due to its emission of methane, a gas even more detrimental to the ozone layer than carbon dioxide. Waste from meat production and chemical runoff from farm lands leads to algae blooms or chemically polluted drinking bodies of water. The practices developed to mass produce and feed the booming population are not providing safe living conditions on the planet, much less nutritious food.

I am just getting started with my research; but it is evident to me that many women farmers are changing the dynamics of local food production and they are very interested in offering experiences to visitors because they need to diversify their agribusiness models and also because they want to showcase with full transparency the merits of their Earth-friendly practices. As I wrap-up the exploratory phase of my research and get ready to conduct fieldwork, I wanted to share a few stories and insights:

 Farmer Tenita Solanto of Green Panda Farms in Silver City, NC optimizes space in her 1800 square foot warehouse by farming microgreens through hydroponic farming methods. Tenita is a military veteran with training in information technology and no formal background in farming; however when she discovered her calling, she sought information on the internet  growing microgreens and took training courses on sustainable agriculture and got started with her farm. Through trial and error she has found her green thumb and turned it into Green Panda Farms, which distributes fresh microgreens weekly to families and restaurants throughout Chatham County. She designed and built her own hydroponics system to maximize space and reduce water and energy consumption. In addition, Tenita is also experimenting with aquaponics, pumping water from a tank with koi fish into pipes in which she is growing microgreens. The fish produce waste and absorb oxygen from the water, bacteria from the fish turn the waste into nutrients absorbable by the plants. The plants then clean and reoxidize the water for the fish.  This system is beautifully sustainable and efficient in the eyes of an environmental science geek like myself.

Another woman farmer going above and beyond to produce high quality, organic foods for her local community is Jennifer Sanford. Farmer Jen prides herself on the nutritional value of her food and the appreciation those in her community have for the fruit(s and vegetables) of her labor. Her three-fold plan to gauge her own success is environmental sustainability, community support, and nutrient richness of her food. She not only uses organic methods to raise her crops, but has many sustainable practices in place to ensure that the land she garners her livelihood from, can continue to do so for generations to come. While many farmers may be quick to turn to chemical insecticides or herbicides, Farmer Jen uses healthier alternatives. To keep weeds at bay when she has a section of land that is unplanted, she lays tarps over the ground to prevent any growth. She also practices crop rotation to ensure her land is resting and revitalizing itself. Nutrient rich soil is key to growing nutrient rich crops.

            With factory farmed animal products being one of the most horrifying aspects of the macro agribusiness industry, farmer Kim of Minka Farms truly impressed me with her compassion and farming methods. Minka Farms is home to over 100 acres of land on which about 100 grass fed grazing cows reside. Farmer Kim also raises sheep, ducks, goats, and recently pigs. She is a licensed veterinarian that dreamt of raising her own cattle with highly humane methods. She allows her cattle to roam rotating fields of her 100 acre sanctuary. They live naturally, antibiotic free, stress free, and by all accounts happily. This not only produces healthier and more nutritious animal products, it offsets many of the negative impacts of livestock farming. Rotating fields is a natural way to reduce parasite infections as well as allow for the land to rest and reset between grazing times. The large amount of land compared to the number of animals also allows the land to absorb most of the waste, minimizing run off and methane concentrations. Though her methods of raising the livestock are commendable, what struck me most was her love and compassion for the land and animals under her care. When asked what has been the most fulfilling part of her lifestyle, farmer Kim said, “I realized just how much I love being outside … This is one heck of a beautiful planet we are on. It's just so awesome to be a part of it.” She then looks down at the lamb in her arms that she bottle fed once its mother would no longer feed it and said, “and to help take care of it.” That was a beautiful moment for me. Our Earth needs more farmers like her, who care deeply about what and how they are doing. From farmer Kim I have learned the importance of genuinely loving one's work, because nothing about these sustainable practices is inherently easy. She has gone above and beyond to provide the best life for her animals and in turn the best product for her customers, regardless of the excess work that may require.

            Lastly I want to share what I have learned from my preliminary research into sustainable farming micro tourism. Having examined secondary data from P1tLab, and scholarly literature about women farmers involved in tourism microentrepreneurship, I was not surprised to observe that these three women farmers had a shared desire to receive small groups of visitors - to inculcate a commitment to sustainability among the public. They offer tours of their grounds to showcase their sustainable practices and to encourage the public to take up their own sustainable methods or to shop sustainably. These three farmers also benefit from these tours as it is a chance to transparently show their production methods and gain revenue from the tours. Visitors can see first hand why these products are better for the environment and for themselves. These relationships with visitors can lead to repeat customers and more visibility with the public, factors that are critical to the success of their agribusinesses. 

In sum, women farmers are Earth’s most devoted protectors. When interacting with them please be mindful of the value of their time. Be sure to generate positive benefits for them. Visit them; buy products from them if you can; ask them for details about the way they farm and why they farm; ask for their products at local restaurants to make restaurateurs feel the need to source from these women rather than from industrial farms and multinational food supply companies. Be an ally in their efforts to develop more sustainable and humane local food systems in our communities.

 

By: Kailee Spake, Environmental Science Senior, NC State University