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Sepp Holtzer's Open Letter

 
                    
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Location: Russia/New Zealand
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Permaculture Farming - a Natural Revolution.
by Sepp Holzer - Owner: Permaculture Krameterhof, Austria 
Open Letter to Members of the Political, Economic and Scientific Communities
www.spaceoflovemagazine.com/article_2_2.htm
 
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A plea to return to natural ways is moot if one doesn't confront the root of the problem. The root of the problem are the big three lobbies: Big Pharm, Big Ag, Big Oil. They only see and are only interested in $$. As long as they can make $$, they will lobby for and win laws that rape the land and demean the people. What is needed is to fight $$ with $$ and make natural farming more viable than chemical ag. For example, Fukuoka focused on eliminating unnecessary processes which added to cost of production and sold his crops at competitive prices. Natural farming doesn't need to have a more expensive product. It just needs the best product for the price. Granted the farmer's expenses need to be covered, but the farmer needs to look at what is a real expense and what is an imagined need. I think these needs can be covered and then some without the aid of subsidies.

I do agree with Sepp's letter. It is very important that every effort is made to do things sustainably without the big three.
 
                    
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Yes, jeremiah, I think you are right!
It has been proved by Fukuoka and other scientists from different countries like Edward Faulkner ("Plowmans Folly") in USA and N.Kourdyumov in Russia.
 
jeremiah bailey
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I live in a farming state. There is farm land everywhere. I know many who are in farming. In order for them to make a buck, they need subsidization. In order to qualify, they must grow only certain things a certain way. They have to mortgage their land, make payments on equipment and buy all the chemicals and such. They really don't have that much left over. They're basically indentured servants. The only ones with much money are either the consolidated big ag companies, or old farms that have their land and equipment paid off. It is very much like what Sepp says. But here's the catch. They're all so wound up in chasing their subsidies that they won't, in their words, waste their time with natural techniques. Many of them laugh at the idea.
 
                    
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Those big ag companies and farmers just don't understand that if they use natural preserve self-restorative farming without chemicals and deep plowing aka Fukuoka or Faulkner they will start  earning much more in just a couple of years.
At least they will save a lot on chemicals!
 
jeremiah bailey
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Big Ag grew up on the chemical kick. I sincerely believe that if there was a major shift toward natural farming, i.e. the vast majority of farms, there would be no more Big Ag. I think the two are mutually dependent on each other. The entire foundation of Big Ag is built on the principles of heavy machinery and chemicals. Big Ag would essentially be committing suicide by trying to embrace natural farming. Your everyday farmer oth, would definitely benefit, and they'd take over the gap that Big Ag left. The problem here is that Big Ag knows this, but will lobby to keep its profits at all costs. They are not interested is letting go of their industry. Furthermore, they'll spread fear and doubt about natural farming. It is kind of like Microsoft vs. the rest of the software platforms.
 
                    
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Yes, yes, that's right, the big ags are not interested in letting go of their industry and do everything to keep it as it it is.
That's why it is so important to spread the word worldwide about natural alternatives, about a possibility to walk another healthy and wealthy path in harmony with nuture.
 
jeremiah bailey
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I agree with you there. That seems like the best route. Lead by example and education. Which is exactly what Sepp Holzer is doing.
 
                    
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jeremijah, I got your private message awhile ago about my screen name but cannot reply for some reason, perhaps, not enough posts to be eligible to reply!
 
pollinator
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I'm not sure about BIG AG...but here in our area of Michigan I can see some farmers that have not been doing the monocropping or purchasing the big equipment..they still do things like normal people..they have a few hundered acres..but they plant it with people planting not machines..they allowed "weeds" and fertilize with organics, they pick their produce nightly and sell it daily at farmers markets..or to restaurants, etc.

some sell to canneries and such, but yes, the bigger they get the more money they do tend to put into the machinery and going into debt.

i know i much prefer to buy my food from the first guy, the guy that works hard planting and harvesting daily and not using the chemicals..and even though i can grow some of that food myself..i'll buy from him cause I know i need to keep him in business for the health of our nation
 
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