Emily Schoenfelder writes: I became a supporter of community-based agriculture during my two-year Peace Corps service in South Africa, where residents of rural communities had no access to fresh produce, save local gardens



Western corporate agriculture was of no benefit in these cases, nor is it in most developing countries around the world. It is true that the current agricultural production could feed every person on the planet. However, our culture has chosen, instead, to fatten our livestock with this food and turn nutritious resources into chemicals that are pumped into snack cakes and diet soft drinks.

Emily Schoenfelder writes: I became a supporter of community-based agriculture during my two-year Peace Corps service in South Africa, where residents of rural communities had no access to fresh produce, save local gardens

Farm keeps dollars in Manatee

Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.

I read the June 7 letter criticizing Geraldson Community Farm with dismay. I became a supporter of community-based agriculture during my two-year Peace Corps service in South Africa, where residents of rural communities had no access to fresh produce, save local gardens, just as the previous letter writer found to be the case in Haiti.

Western corporate agriculture was of no benefit in these cases, nor is it in most developing countries around the world. It is true that the current agricultural production could feed every person on the planet. However, our culture has chosen, instead, to fatten our livestock with this food and turn nutritious resources into chemicals that are pumped into snack cakes and diet soft drinks.

Furthermore, I was appalled at the underestimation of benefits that the Geraldson farm brings to our community. Not only was this beautiful land spared from real estate developments, but it gave the community an opportunity to protect its agricultural heritage.

This nonprofit also provides other farmers an outlet to sell locally and humanely produced eggs, meats and cheeses. It diminishes the environmental cost of shipping food thousands of miles to reach grocery stores. It gives students a chance to develop life skills while earning community-service hours, and it donates hundreds of pounds of produce to the Manatee County Food Bank. And all of this keeps every dollar in Manatee County.

I am thrilled that our tax dollars have gone to support a project so valuable!

Emily Schoenfelder

Bradenton

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: June, 2009; Peace Corps South Africa; Directory of South Africa RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for South Africa RPCVs; Agriculture; Florida

When this story was posted in June 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Read how RPCV's rallied and and marched to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age.

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May 30, 2009: Peace Corps' Roadmap Peace Corps' Roadmap for the Future 26 May Who are the Candidates for Peace Corps Director? 24 May Have French Atomic Tests put PCVs at Risk? 1 May Obama asks Congress for 10% increase in PC Budget 7 May Guy Consolmagno debunks "Angels & Demons" 22 May Obama praises Dodd at credit card signing 22 May John Garamendi front runner in California primary 22 May Al Kamen writes: New management structure at PC HQ? 22 May Damian Wampler's play Twin Towers opens in NYC 21 May Michael Volpe learns that DC is networking capital 21 May Dr. Mike Metke returns to Costa Rica 10 May Jesse Fleisher Lives well on less 14 May Al Kamen writes: PCVs peak at 11,000 under Obama Budget 11 May James W. Kostenblatt is making a difference in Mozambique 10 May Karen and Warren Master host Kyrgyzstan teen 9 May Alberto Ibargüen writes: The Future of Newspapers 9 May PC Monitor 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Mexico 1 May Paul Theroux writes: Obama and the Peace Corps 1 May Johnnie Carson to head State Department African Affairs 29 Apr Michael O'Hanlon writes: Grading Obama's First 100 Days 29 Apr Amy Potthast writes: The Peace Corps Lottery 23 Apr Read more stories from April and May 2009.

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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