Joe Wexler

Thanks, I'll check out the intentional community. And paul, I sent you a message. I'm also open to advice about other areas of Oregon or even Northern California.

Thanks everyone for the advice so far - much appreciated. As for where in Southern Oregon, i'm not sure yet. Probably somewhere within 30-40 min of Medford

Hi Permies,
I keep hearing statistics about how most farmers are over the age of 55, young people aren't interested in farming, most farmers don't have a plan for who to pass on their farm to, etc. As a young person wanting to buy land and start an organic farm (in Southern Oregon), is it possible to make use of the fact that there is a high future need for farmers without much supply? Are there any grants that are available to new farmers? Are retiring farmers every willing to sell their farm at a better price to someone who will farm and take care of the land? Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks,
J

I'm new to permaculture and just started Bill Mollison's manual. In chapter 2.7, he says" if the frog eats 10 kg of grasshoppers to make one kilo of frog, it doesn't keep the 10 kg in a bag, but excretes 9kg or more back to earth as manure"
He also says "so now, the carp (at 80 years old and 10kg weight) has eaten 100x10kg = 1000kg of frogs and insects, and has returned 990kg of digested material per year back to the pond, to grow more herbage"

But don't these statements ignore resparation, which results in a large amount of carbon entering the atmosphere as C02? Plus lots of energy was expended. In other words, after an animal stops growing isn't it a drag on the system? Yes it may increase plant fertility but he doesn't mention that, simply claiming that the fully grown animals are simply recyclers of nutrients. But aren't they doing the exact opposite of our goal as farmers, which is to harvest energy from the sun and carbon from the atmosphere?