THE GOAT FARM

It seems like every year there are more and more small scale farms popping up, but this is far from the truth. Today, small farms make up around 88% of the farms left in the country, but unfortunately that number is decreasing. That is why it is more important than ever to support your local farms, but why are small scale farms so important?

Local farmers are able to connect directly with their consumers. Consumers love being able to meet who produced their food, ask questions and learn more about what we do. The popularity of farmer’s markets has risen greatly since the 1990’s. Farmer’s markets help build a sense of community and it helps the local economy.

In addition to helping the economy and helping to build a sense of community, small farms are hugely educational. Most farmers are more than happy to answer questions and to teach the public more about agriculture. All of this goes back into the community, as small farms can help inspire and teach the next generation. Without farms small or big and farmers, our food system would disintegrate. Inspiring the next generation to continue on farming is probably one of the most important things a small farm can do.

Because small farms don’t have hundreds upon hundreds of acres to farms, they typically are more diversified. Being diversified in what your farming actually contributes to the resilience of ecosystems. Biodiversity is so important in keeping the land you farm healthy. Farmers are stewards of the land before anything else!

As a small scale farmer myself, I can not compete with large farms that produce most of the food that the US consumes. I don’t have the resources for that, so why farm? I am so incredibly passionate about these small farms and inspiring the younger generation to keep raising livestock, to keep tending to the fields and providing the community with local healthy food. In the last 5 years, farming itself has started to become more popular through social media and farmer’s markets and more people than ever are turning towards a more locally grown or raised product. Consumers want to know where their food comes from, they want to meet the farmers who produced what you’re eating. Small scale farms make that possible.