(from www.cubaagriculture.com/agriculture-today.htm)
Despite the news links provided on the left, I must admit I check CNN and other mainstream sources regularly. I find it interesting and often frustrating to see how the news that most people read is presented. However, I do think it is important to look at all points of view, and I often find interesting things on mainstream sites.
Did you all happen to see this video on CNN about urban farming in Cuba (CNN Video)? I was not aware of how extensive this practice was in Cuba. Apparently these farms now account for half the vegetables grown in Cuba.
I don’t want to get into the pros & cons of the Cuban system (though I do have opinions). What really impressed me about this story, was the ability of the people to adapt to the loss of resources after the dismantling of the USSR. This included a strong emphasis on local, sustainable organic farming due to the loss of chemical & gasoline imports.
Often, I feel that what keeps us (in the US) trapped in our system of consumerism is the fear that without this system we would all starve to death & going around killing each other with our massive gun supply. However, stories like these really provide hope for me. I don’t believe there is anything inherently superior about the Cuban people & I believe despite our differences in this country, there is a strong thread of mutual aid that cannot be extinguished by manufactured greed. Everywhere I look in this country I continue to see increased efforts to create sustainable agriculture.
I feel we need to stop living in fear of chaos and feeling trapped in a consumer mindset that relies solely on the corporate model to meet our daily living needs. The fact that a small economically isolated island can come together to overcome food shortages, should inspire us to abandon our perceived dependence on large scale corporate agriculture. So, I feel inspired to further increase my use of local foods and my support of farmer’s markets and sustainable organic farming.
Thanks Cuba, for demonstrating workable, local scale alternatives to corporate agriculture. And thanks to CNN for taking a break from fear mongering for a moment!
Excellent post! I totally agree. In fact, I’m trying to remember some article or book I read in school that talked about this. I’ll have to look when I get home see if I can find it but yes, it was all about the restructuring of the economy they were forced to do after the fall of the USSR. Was very interesting.
Anyway, this reminds me that man, I’ve sooo got to do something to get back into growing my own food. Moving to the big city has totally thrown me off. At least we have farmer’s markets, organic and local so that saves me from starving to death but I’d really like to grow at least some of my own. I feel totally vulnerable if I don’t. Problem up here is lead and contamination in urban soils. I guess you can get it tested. And there are community gardens but there’re waiting lists. And I don’t know where I’ll be living next year. But eventually I’ll get it worked out. I miss gardening!
good site lmbwke