I'm referring to sophisticated technology that requires electricity and oil. Which requires large factories to manufacture.
Electricity can be sourced from many things like solar, hydro and wind.
Oil isn't the only answer, it was just the low hanging fruit.
Why is that small farms have collapsed because they can't compete in a modern economy. In order to compete with factory farms you need to be as sophisticated as they are plus they have economies of scale. Self-sufficiency is the only sustainable model.
Small farms are doing better than ever in my area. They use modern technology to establish community support and awareness.
I personally live within ten miles of more than a dozen small farms that produce everything from meat, milk and eggs to fruits and vegetables to wool, wood and maple sugar.
I never have to eat anything that comes from outside my own small state... even if I want to dine out at a restaurant there are options that are local produce driven.
Small farms die from lack of local support and trying to play the commodities game. If you want to save local farms, join and encourage CSA's.
If I want exotic things like citrus fruit and coffee Technology has granted me several sustainable options like fair trade, shade or forest grown coffee and closed system aquaculture.
wa:do
