At the wine-tasting, I was asking the question "What would you like to convey to the international food community about our local food system?" Some of the discussions that happened through this question were:
- The need to "Support more farmers. If they can sustain themselves we can have constant produce." What would it look like for a career as a farmer be as highly regarded as a doctor or lawyer?
- Permaculture principles (below description is taken from wikipedia)
- Permaculture is a branch of ecological design and ecological engineering which develops sustainable human settlements and self-maintained agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.[1][2]
- The core tenets of permaculture are:[3][4]
- Take Care of the Earth: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply. This is the first principle, because without a healthy earth, humans cannot flourish.
- Take Care of the People: Provision for people to access those resources necessary for their existence.
- Share the Surplus: Healthy natural systems use outputs from each element to nourish others. We humans can do the same. By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles.
- Eating factory farmed meat uses up too much energy and natural resources. Should this be allowed? Is there another way to feed the world?
I'm interested in hearing from more people during my journey, and I welcome anyone who is reading this to give me your insights. Thanks to everyone who I met this weekend and please keep in touch.
