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'If there's no water, what's the point?' Female farmers in Arizona a photo essay
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/19/arizona-desert-women-farm-ranchers?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=257290&subid=21625840&CMP=GT_US_collectionIn Arizona, 45% of principal and secondary farm operators are women. Nationally, that same statistic is 30% – a total of 1 million women operating farms or ranches on more than 62m acres and generating $12.9bn in annual agricultural sales.
<snip>
In the past few years since George died, Jo and Anastasia have cultivated a close friendship necessitated by living on the range alone as women. They look out for one another. They butcher turkeys and hogs together. When Anastasia had to attend a wedding in New York, Jo hemmed the bottom of a $9 thrift-store evening gown. It was gold and gorgeous, Jo says, clasping a hand to her chest. “Ana looked so beautiful.”
Agricultural apprenticeships are regarded as one of the most important and effective ways to transfer knowledge, skills and land to new generations of farmers. Because it is estimated that 70% of farmland will change hands in the next two decades, it has become more urgent than ever to connect young farmers with retiring farmers in order to keep land in agricultural production.
<snip>
As the years have ticked by, Anastasia has begun unofficially apprenticing with Jo, desperate to soak up her immense bank of slaughtering and butchering knowledge.
As their friendship has grown, they’ve begun talking about partnership opportunities or creative financing so that Anastasia can reopen George’s.
But just before we visit, on the same day that Jo celebrated her 39th anniversary on the property, her well failed for the first time in its history.
<snip>
In the past few years since George died, Jo and Anastasia have cultivated a close friendship necessitated by living on the range alone as women. They look out for one another. They butcher turkeys and hogs together. When Anastasia had to attend a wedding in New York, Jo hemmed the bottom of a $9 thrift-store evening gown. It was gold and gorgeous, Jo says, clasping a hand to her chest. “Ana looked so beautiful.”
Agricultural apprenticeships are regarded as one of the most important and effective ways to transfer knowledge, skills and land to new generations of farmers. Because it is estimated that 70% of farmland will change hands in the next two decades, it has become more urgent than ever to connect young farmers with retiring farmers in order to keep land in agricultural production.
<snip>
As the years have ticked by, Anastasia has begun unofficially apprenticing with Jo, desperate to soak up her immense bank of slaughtering and butchering knowledge.
As their friendship has grown, they’ve begun talking about partnership opportunities or creative financing so that Anastasia can reopen George’s.
But just before we visit, on the same day that Jo celebrated her 39th anniversary on the property, her well failed for the first time in its history.
go to the link!
this is in my county, all the land and old farms are being converted to nut trees and all the product is going to China, water tables are sinking faster than in history. locals are losing their properties because they can't afford to deepen their own wells.
1 replies
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