I have the utmost respect for the individuals and families who take on the task of farming to provide their own, as well as a portion of our nation’s food supply because of the incredible amount of energy, time, and passion such endeavors require. Jack Hedin is a Minnesota farmer who operates a fair-trade, 100-acre organic farm. His Op-ed piece in Sunday’s New York Times resonated with me, not only because the integrity of his beliefs regarding farming, climate, and his own complicity in contributing a large amount of carbon emissions, but simply for his willingness to share his ideas and experiences and address the issue of climate change from his own individual perspective.
In The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Dillard asked us to “see”: “The pearl of seeing is, then, the pearl of great price” (Ch 2). Lopez, in Crossing Open Ground, reminded us about awe, mystery, and connection: “By broadening our sense of the intrinsic worth of life and by cultivating respect for other ways of moving towards perfection, we may find a sense of resolution we have been looking for, I think, for centuries” (204). Leopold and Carson asked us to consider ethical responses to our use of the land and of our behavior in natural environments and the creatures in them. Friedman provided detailed analysis and offered multiple potentially workable solutions to environmental problems. Suzuki reminded us that there is a basis and connection to nature that we should not ignore, that science is able to operate in context with human needs and desires to help us better connect, or reconnect, with the intrinsic and extrinsic elements that are the essence of life. Stephen Mather’s energy brought business people and congress members into acceptance and appreciation of natural, sacred spaces that belong to everyone in the country.
A writer or any individual, who from the base of her or his own uniquely qualified perspective makes the effort to add to and broaden the discussion of environmental issues and climate change, does important work. More of this work needs to be done. The positions of environmental writers, the findings of climate scientists and biologists, the experiences of citizens who add their voice to the conversation on environment and climate, as well as those who educate and comment on these issues need to continue to find a way to become a part of mainstream dialogue as long as people continue to believe that these are issues that are important. It is the energy of individuals who are aware of the consequences of their privilege and who respond through writing, speech, or action that will ultimately make the difference. The stories need to keep coming.
i agree that these stories need to keep coming...and from people like this farmer in publications like the NY times. it is a good mix of reaching an large audience by employing an expert with hands on experience.
ReplyDeletemy favorite part of the artuicle is where Hedin admits responsibity: "I accept responsibility for my complicity in this, but I also stand ready to accept the challenge of the future, to make serious changes in how I conduct business to produce less carbon." i think that this concession builds some strong ethos.
also, at the end of the article it reads "Jack Hedin is a farmer" plain and simple. Hedin's agenda is not fame and fortune in the eco-media biz; but rather a deep love and dependence on his land.