interesting find

I found this on Wikipedia while looking for a book on urban weeds, re Prof Lewontin of Harvard University:

Lewontin has also written on the economics of agribusiness. He has contended that hybrid corn was developed and propagated not because of its superior quality, but because it allowed agribusiness corporations to force farmers to buy new seed each year rather than plant seed produced by their previous crop of corn. Lewontin testified in an unsuccessful suit in California challenging the state's financing of research to develop automatic tomato pickers, favoring the profits of agribusiness over the employment of farm workers.

So I went to Indianpolis this week and hung out with standard agronomists and kids from standard high-input agriculture. It was fascinating to observe. The same companies that took the profit out of farming from farmers, and that continue to profit from farmers' hard work, actually have them all convinced that they are working for their sake--and the greatest good. The enemy is the city-based environmentalist, with silly demands about things they don't understand. There is a huge, misplaced gap that needs to filled.

After WWII, farmers were told they had to mechanize. Animals, which provided work and manure, were replaced with machines that required fuel (fuel was previously farmer-grown pasture) and inorganic fertilizers. It was brilliant--farmers were told it was for their own good, to maximize their yields. Control was taken out of their hands and into the hands of companies selling them their products. Yield *is* better, but only because it is so high-input. Calorie-for-calorie, it is not more efficient (like corn ethanol fuel--looks more efficient only when full costs of growing it are not included).

Then the plant breeding programs started. Many programs explicitly had the goal *not* of improving yield, but of making a patentable seed that could be sold to farmers. Farmers never had to buy seed before, but with the breeding programs, they now felt they had to buy the seed. Hybrids were invented for this reason, *not* for yield improvements. Genetic engineering is just an extension of this. The technology and motive is not much different (the fact that city environmentalists think it is very different, decreases their credibility and pits them against farmers who feel helped by this).

Interesting things have also happened with commodity markets and other different forms of ownership. The point is, self-sufficiency was taken away from farmers, and made to feel it was in their self interest. The gap is SO huge--there are literally farmers who say glyphosate (Round-up) is so safe, you can drink it. Because it's for killing plants, you see, and so it's safe for humans. BUT it is true that it is much safer than some other herbicides out there--paraquat for instance, is far worse. BUT it is also true that Round-up has increased monoculture, which is horrible for many reasons (environmentally and for food security). So, these issues are complex. But I am listening to the other side, not pushing my point of view, just listening. My mind is slightly more clear from meditation, and I am so glad I can listen without judging much. I can't pretend to have all the answers.
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Side note: no recycling, and I made it as a vegetarian by eating huge amounts of fresh corn and melon--certainly there was no Boca or mushroom burger. So it was a different world, one full of strip malls. Very interesting.

Indianapolis makes me happy to be living in Ithaca... the beauty, existence of basic amenities (like sidewalks and recycling), people aware and striving to improve things. It'll be good to be back on Friday night.

Tomorrow I leave for Indianapolis for my weed contest. Busy, busy.

I drank coffee yesterday and it had some of the interesting effect as before, but mostly not. Mostly it did nothing. That's what drugs usually do for me, they usually work really well or too well the first few times, and then do nothing.

Still studying weeds, going to the farmer's market... simple things. I love it here, so pretty.
I don't like meditation at all right now. I'm only doing it because it is a commitment. Commitments are keeping your word, to yourself, and I do believe in that.

Happy Friday!

So Silk Soymilk (owned by Dean Foods) is no longer certified organic. But they put the word "natural" on there, which people like. It's pretty ridiculous and shows the danger of organics going mainstream. It would be a good thing if it wasn't owned by companies accountable to their shareholders (thus putting profit first). But the way it is going, they are doing everything they can to oppose organics, as long as it gets in the way of their profits (Whole Foods and their anti-organic lobbying is a great example of this).
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Meditation is getting more interesting. I have taken greater pains to rest afterward and let everything I dug up during the session dissolve. I always *should* have done this, but didn't have the patience. Now I am, because I feel the difference (I have more inner silence--just a bit). And in doing so, I feel more clear in my daily life. It is all self-reinforcing. I have more frequent glimpses of the "witness" state--every few days, for sure. They are integrating more with my daily life.

I am reading more and it seems that at some point, you can get to where thoughts are not very intrusive and meditation is blissful. It varies from person to person, all our circumstances are different. A few times now I have felt not bliss, but a mild endorphin rush similar to what I feel after a good workout. I have experienced greater bliss from workouts; this was very mild. But it was nice to get a glimpse of quiet. I do know better than to expect to expect anything from meditation.

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Next week I go to Indiana for a weeds contest. I am cramming my brain with names of weeds and pesticides (yes, pesticides. Know thy enemy, I say ;)) and modes of actions and scientific names. Tons and tons of info! But I will retain most of it for the weeds themselves, and it will be good to be informed about pesticides. There are better and worse pesticides, no doubt. I love weeds. Many have edible or herbal uses, and the way they fit into ecological niches is fascinating. I had no idea of this when I started... but they are my favorite type of plants now, after trees.

Things I need to remember for my meditation (personal list, not general recommendations):
-let mantra fade out completely before picking it up again
-rest afterwards to let all the junk fully fade away/transform or whatever it does
-no thought is justified. Always favor the mantra. The whole point is that no thought is justified, in a sense.
-let it go on its own it's all there, I'm just along for the ride.