Today I went to my first PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) conference, and it was eye opening! I had no idea that there were so many people in the area that had the same crazy notions about food and farming as I do. The atmosphere was unlike any conference I have been to (and I have been to a lot over the years), flannel was the predominant fabric and patchouli drifted about the hallways; people smiled and were genuinely interested in meeting you, as knowledge flowed freely in an open exchange of ideas. I went to workshops on farm planning, business models, and rotational grazing. Some things I learned:
Find your niche; what sets your farms products apart from conventional products or other farms products?
Industrial agriculture does not pay for the damage it does to our planet and people. Sustainable ag repairs our environment, a service that benefits everyone, but we currently do not get adequately compensated for our efforts. Hopefully someday we will.
If you love what you do, it's okay that you may never get rich doing it.
It was a great day, with so much information and inspiration. But I think I'll have to properly digest it all later because right now, my brain is full.
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