Again, it's been a while...

Alright, so maybe nothing much has been happening. And maybe that's a good thing. I hate a message machine that's full.

But perhaps I should take a trip somewhere. Though my NorCal town is abundant for its size, and surrounded by jaw dropping views, I am getting tired of it. My boss thinks I'm a closet case. Every Monday he asks me what I did over the weekend (I do very little). Apparently, you're supposed to GO PLACES and DO THINGS on your days off. Weird.

To get him to shut up I'm planning to do something before the summer is over. Maybe Yosemite or Humboldt. No Beaches.

I submitted a good handful of proposals over the past two months. Along with some preliminary applications for some long term opportunities. Also, my organization got it's anticipated core grant, which means we continue to survive.

I am also personally researching the relationships that exist between sustainable agriculture and information and communications technology. These are California's two pillars of strength and yet they are not working together. "Well there's no money in small farms and beginning farmers" is the general answer. Congress agrees.

The amount of small-scale and beginning farmers in California are less than ten thousand (I think). And that is understandable, because who would ever want to be a farmer or rancher? You get up before dawn. You work beyond 5pm. Comparatively little money. The day you retire is the day you collapse off the tractor at age 93. And every year you have fill out not only a Federal 1040 tax return, but also a Schedule F (Farm Income) form AND, if you plan on selling what you grow directly to consumers, a Schedule C (Business Proprietorship) form. And do not forget the audits...

But, you do get to work outside. And you will not become industrially obese. Ruggedly unhealthy, maybe. But not grotesque.

I'm trying to help California's next generation of farmers and ranchers and build entrepreneurial economies that secure local food systems to prevent poverty among both growers and eaters. And still every week some hippie douche asks me whether or not I'm involved in "Farms not Arms", or some pseudo political thing.

I am NOT an activist. Please understand this. I actually detest self-described activists. I think activists undermine the concern for public life just as much as the consumers. I will talk with leaders, organizers, organizations registered with the IRS and public officials. But when someone immediately tells me that they're an activist they are telling me one thing: "I'm better than you." And no offense, but they're usually girls in their 50's.

Right now I am composing an essay, on "change". Hopefully I'll finish it in time before that word becomes a memory. I'll post it on the blog, since I have sketchy relationships with the New Yorker and The Weekly Standard (I do read both, the "Standard" a bit less).