The Real Dirt On Farmer John

2005-11-15

If there’s one thing we all take for granted it’s the production of the food that goes on our table.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand going to the supermarket. The mere thought of doing so is one of the most unappealing things I can imagine. I will always resort to going to a restaurant when my wife is out of town and the fridge is woefully bare.

But on those rare occasions when I do enter the hell that is my local Pavilion’s grocery store, like most of us, I don’t take a second to consider just how did all that stuff get there? Where was it grown? Who labored over the production of the milk, eggs, fruits, and vegetables?

I got some rare insight into the plight of the U.S. farmer last night while visiting an urban renewal project in downtown Los Angeles called Not A Cornfield www.notacornfield.info where I saw a screening of a most unusual and interesting documentary.

First, I think I should explain what Not A Cornfield is. A number of years ago, the State of California purchased a block of 32 acres of land in downtown L.A. that was formerly a Southern Pacific Railroad site.

The land was a brown field of non-arable soil, but through the work a group of environmentalists funded by the Annenberg Foundation who cleared the land, had more than 1,500 truckloads of good soil placed on top creating a two foot layer, and planted more than 1 million corns seeds, the ground was transformed into a lush inner city farm.

The corn grown will be turned into biomass for fuel. The land will then be replanted with an assortment of fruits and vegetables which will not be picked but rather plowed back into the soil as nutrients. The next phase for the site is unknown.

The purpose of the project was to not only bring some country to a concrete landscape, but to remind the public that green space is important, and that sustainable agriculture is vital for our future.

Those in charge of the project have cut a maze through the maize that was fun to walk through – especially at night – and they also offer free entertainment on Sunday evenings where they either show a film or host a talk from a guest lecturer.

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing a documentary called The Real Dirt On Farmer John, a northern Illinois third generation farmer named John Peterson who inherited a 400+ acre farm only to see it go bust in the ’80s when farming troubles hit this nation.

Peterson, following in his father’s footsteps took over the farm just as he was entering college in the late ’60s. Unaware of what was going on in the rest of the world, college opened his eyes to artistic expression and self exploration and forever altered his outlook on life.

Farmer John would go through a series of ups and downs that eventually saw the selling off of most of the acreage his grandfather worked so hard to buy, and his loss of all passion to farm the land.

Through a series of spiritual trips to Mexico, Peterson eventually realized that farming was in his blood and that he needed to return to his home and get back on his tractor, but rid his life of pesticides and unnatural fertilizers and switch to a truly organic method.

The story is gripping and Peterson is one of the most unusual characters I’ve seen profiled in some time. He’s charismatic, charming, funny, and extremely offbeat, especially considering his roots and profession.

I highly recommend this 90 minute film which you can find more information about at the following Web site: www.therealdirt.net