Farming for Us All: Practical Agriculture and the Cultivation of Sustainability

This book is sociological study that explores the nature, relationships, political dynamics, environmental impact, and social problems faced by small farmers who continue their work in the face of big agriculture. Offering the perspectives of many, from the farmers themselves to consumers, this book is based on 60 interviews conducted with 60 farming families in Iowa. The book is divided into three parts. The first is dedicated to exploring the landscape of the agricultural industry—from the practicality of the market, technology, the financial side, technology. The second part explores the dark side where Iowa farmers are forced to continue destructive practices and the pressures faced by farmers and the crises they face. The third part looks at the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), a sustainable agriculture group that is dedicated to create change and create new ways of working in agriculture that addresses a lot of the problematic practices outlined in the first two parts.