The Other Borden’s Recent Comments

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  It's kinda funny actually, I guess the death hit me a little more since I go to the university where he teaches.

  I think Borlaug knew more than anyone that what he did really didn't solve the issue of hunger.  That's why he still taught at A&M up until the day he died, that's why the vice-president of the Borlaug Institute has 7 tons of compost in his backyard (he's also a big advocate of sustainable agriculture, though not necessarily organic if that's what you're thinking, just sustainable for now), and that's also why students like my friend Brad were sent to study abroad in nations like South Africa, where he planted a 400 square foot vegetable garden at an orphanage.

  Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't believe in Borlaug's methods either.  I believe in organic sustainable agriculture adapted to nature and the local land, as opposed to western industrial agriculture.  Yet I can't help but feel that as this giant passes on he is secretly hoping that his decades of teaching actually pay off.

  On Thoughts on the legacy of Norman Borlaug posted 2 months, 1 week ago 14 Responses

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  Heh, so your typical university student doesn't need a car?

  Well, you're probably right there, not every university student works at a CSA farm 18 miles out of town.  No one in their right mind would probably haul around cotton burr compost in their Corolla either.

  I was thinking that I might someday trade in the Corolla for a small truck on account of my "special needs", but now that I'm a little more aware I might just lean a little more towards a more gentle convertable.  I should probaby quit my compost-hauling habits though.

  On Ask Umbra on buying a convertible posted 4 months, 1 week ago 6 Responses

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  The man may have to rely on grants and such to keep his operation afloat, but it's important to recognize that what he's created here is more than just a farm.

  Instead, I like to think of it as the prototype for what will inevitable rise as the replacement of industrial agriculture and the solution to the many problems associated with the state of the industry.

  It's not just a farm, it's the battle cry future urban farmers will rely on as they start their own operations in cities all across the land.

  On Must-read: urban farmer Will Allen in the NYT Magazine posted 4 months, 3 weeks ago 2 Responses

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  She is the chief technological advisor, not the chief agricultural advisor.  I imagine her opinion may be worth noting if you are related to the biotech industry, but she certainly isn't qualified to be telling our nation's farmers, let alone the farmers of the world, what system of agriculture is or isn't the most efficient.  Conventional agriculture, and especially agriculture reliant on genetically modified organisms, is a complete failure whenever farmers in the United States have to take on second jobs to pay for their expensive GE seeds and chemicals, while farmers in the Global South simply kill themselves because of all the debt.  Is it really efficient for the farmer to spend so much money on their crops that they need a second job?  Meanwhile, organic growers are churning out quality goods with less operating costs (no chemcials) for prices that consumers are willing to pay for, or they are at least growing goods capable of providing surplus and sustenence in the case of farmers in less fortunate nation

  By the way, if you're looking for a good laugh, I know exactly who Norman Borlaug is.  I'm a student at Texas A&M, and the Borlaug Institute just so happens to be on the west campus where I work, which so happens to be an organic holistic teaching garden.  On the south side of one of the Borlaugh Institute's building walls is a row of citrus trees and bananas.

  They are all organically grown and perform splendidly.  I may even send picture

  On Memo to Hillary's science czar: organic ag isn't a 'myth' posted 5 months ago 10 Responses

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  Bad as it sounds, let's remember that with every crisis comes an opportunity.

  I can tell you all about a group of Texas organic cotton farmers who, after losing money growing conventional for so long, had finally decided to go organic and learn some sewing skills so that they could get rid of those money hungry middlemen and sell their own products, generate their own profit.

  How does this translate to dairy farms?  Maybe family farmers can cut costs by cutting out expensive farm chemicals, feeding their cattle on the grass that grows free on their property, and by keeping their cattle healthy to avoid costly vet bills.

  Additionally, us common folks don't have to turn to the government to keep these men and women afloat.  Maybe it's about time we take this opportunity to seriously get to know the people who produce food in our local community.  Now that you have gotten our attention turned to this impending crisis, none of us no longer have an excuse to not only get to know these people, but to also get our friends and family to know these people.  Now is the time to rebuild our communities.

  It's easy, trust me.  I think I've gotten 6 or 7 of my friends to come down to the farmer's market to see what all the fuss is about.  Now they're regular visitors, and I don't even have to drag them with me.

  No need for government internvention, we just have to get to know some people.

  On Stand up for rural America while you still can posted 5 months ago 4 Responses