Thanks, Jason!

In the current economy, it's a struggle for most everyone who isn't high middle to high income, Paul.

You say "hipster farm" like it's a bad thing. Even long-time farmers are asking these younger growers about their practices. If the experienced, long-time farmers are seeing something--then it must have some merit. Will they stick with it? Maybe, maybe not. It's certainly less likely if we do stuff like say, make it extra hard for them to get loans because their land has been stuck in an urban reserve.

Is it a sustainable business model? I don't know. Is it worth finding out? Yes.

Can we feed the world this way? I doubt it. But since corporate farming is doing a marginal job of managing it, this could have a good impact.

How about we find ways to support these people rather than seeking out ways to tear them down?

Paul, "Hipster farming" is not the only model. There are plenty of young folk in Oregon who are taking over the family farm. Others are finding ways to develop agritourism. There are many young people in Oregon's winery and vineyard industry. Some will find success, others will not. But the bigger picture, protecting Oregon's farmland from urbanization, is crucial to ANY kind of farming.... corporate, industrial, hipster, sustainable or other.

Hmm, long hours, low pay, high debt and no health insurance. Sounds like most of the small business owners I know, none of whom are farming. That ain't a farming thing, it's more a small independant business thing. That's why the vast majority of people work for someone else rather than themselves, the pay's better, you get state mandated benefits like worker's comp and unemployment insurance, wage protections for minimum and over time wages, etc.

And - did you see the $5/lb tomatoes at the farmers market? While high, that would be a bout a buck a pound cheaper than the organic heirloom tomatoes from Mexico that I've seen at Safeway and Fred Meyer for the past several years.

There are many, many ways to buy fresh foods from local farms and pay the same or even a bit less than you would at your local grocery store. I run a 45 member CSA on my farm in Mulino. My members get 30%-50% more produce in their shares than they would be able to buy at the grocery store at the store's regualr prices. While some CSAs require payment up front for their season, I run on a pay as you go basis, and I'm not the only CSA program to operate like that.

Many small farms that raise livestock for slaughter will sell by the half or whole and you can have the carcass cut as you like by whomever you like, hell you can even do it yourself if you're so inclined, and the meat will cost you way, way less than what you'll pay per pound of cut at the store. When was the last time you paid $3.69/pound for filet mignon or a pork loin? Want your chop to be 1 1/2" or 2"? You can do that when you buy a quarter, half or whole.

And as for upper middle class consumers being the base for most small farm businesses, I know a lot of people who shop at farmers markets that are NOT upper middle class, and a lot of CSA members are also NOT upper middle class. I know that none of mine are.

You can see my farm's listing at www.localharvest.org, look for The Little Homestead, and while you're there you might also check out the other CSA farms in the Portland Metro area. While being small by most agricultural standards, they are by no means expensive or elitist. There's one over on Sauvie Island, I think they have a 400 member CSA program, and also sell produce through distributors. I know I've bought their winter squash at the produce stand here in Mulino, and I've bought their winter squash at either Fred Meyers or Safeway.