PAGE 20 / 56

Unit 1: Conceptual Framework and Historical Foundations of Sustainable Agriculture

SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY ASPECTS

Diana Endicott helped establish the Good Natured Family Farms Coop. (Bob Cunningham)

How is agriculture perceived and valued by the general public and society at large?  There's probably no short answer to that question. The continuing decline in the number of farmers and ranchers in this country and the trend toward an increasingly urban and suburban society has created a significant divide between farming and the concerns and interests of town and city dwellers. Despite the fact that everyone eats, the general public may not fully understand the benefits that profitable and environmentally sustainable farms and ranches bring to society at large. Click the image at right to read how Diana and Garry Endicott connected with other farmers and their local community by establishing a meat processing and marketing coop.