New Shoes
by Elizabeth Sawin
— September 2, 2002 —
Kindergarten is starting next week, and the worn-out old sneakers from last spring are pinching my daughter’s toes. There are no sneakers that fit at our favorite used-clothing store, and no neighbors have just the right pair of outgrown sneakers to offer this season. There is no avoiding it. One morning, as early as [...]
Hoping For a Big Change in Agriculture
by Hal Hamilton
— May 7, 2002 —
Why do people consistently believe what isn’t true? I’m reading a stream of news about the farm bill just passed by Congress: one more attempt to export and subsidize the farm economy to prosperity after decades of evidence that these dollars flow right on through farmers’ pockets.
I’m also reading data from a survey of [...]
How Long Can We Fool Ourselves?
by Hal Hamilton
— May 1, 2002 —
Why do people consistently believe what isn’t true? I’m reading a stream of news about the farm bill just passed by Congress: one more attempt to export and subsidize the farm economy to prosperity after decades of evidence that these dollars flow right on through farmers’ pockets.
I’m also reading data from a survey of [...]
If We Want Farmers, We’ll Have to Pay
by Hal Hamilton
— April 1, 2002 —
We all know that farming is both important and endangered. It doesn’t have to be endangered.
From our farm in Hartland, VT we sell vegetables, “Ascutney Mountain Cheese” from the milk of our small herd of Jerseys, and maple syrup. The vegetable operation employs 3-4 people full time in the summer; the dairy and cheese [...]
A Truly Sophisticated Economy Would Pursue More Than One Goal
by Elizabeth Sawin
— March 1, 2002 —
I have a young friend who, I think, will never eat another banana without knowing a great deal about its history.
On a trip to Belize, Hannah and other homeschooled teenagers saw monkeys, the rainforest, and Mayan villages. But the memory that seems to stand out the most vividly is of a banana plantation.
The workers [...]
