Letter: Reflections on America and the once thriving rural family farm economy
I have a small farm of 24 acres. Although only a fraction is cultivated, the rest is open grazing, and it keeps me plenty busy. I grow squash, rabbits, plum, hackberry, rose hips, mint, sage, potatoes, firewood, furniture wood, and hay, using horse and rabbit manure (and wood ash) for fertilizer.
Each year finds me working to surpass the productivity of the prior year. Each day finds me occupied in scores of chores. I feel fit and capable (knock on wood) although I'm in my 70's. And I've time to reflect on the problems of the day which find their way, somehow, into the media as well as those problems which seem obvious to me that don't ever get mentioned.
I notice the nationwide birth rate has dropped to significantly below "replacement," with about 40% ...