May 29, 2003
Re: Successful Small-Scale Farming
Hello!
You will be participating in an English 105 class this fall that is also a combined Agricultural
Business and Horticulture Learning Community. Some of the course goals are to draw
connections between fields of study, encourage expression in the specific field of study, develop
critical thinking skills, and improve communication skills. In order to achieve these goals, our
central topics are related to the soil: purpose, use, ethics, practices, etc. The final project will give
you an opportunity to integrate all of these. The general topic is farming and the book that you’re
holding in your hands, Successful Small-Scale Farming, is an integral part of the course.
You already know that farming is a difficult job. The work hours, skills, and knowledge
necessary to be successful is enormous, but the feel of freshly tilled soil in your hands or the sight
of a perfectly spaced field of corn swaying in the wind makes the hard work worthwhile. And yet
this sense of satisfaction comes from more than the work, it also comes from the lifestyle.
Families and farms go hand-in-hand.
The small family farm, however, is having difficulties. Competing with the big guy,
timely marketing, weather, soil erosion, time management, prices, aging equipment, rising costs
of machinery and technology, increasing size of equipment all put strains on the small family
farm.
So next semester, we will be learning about some alternative strategies for the small
family farm. Not only will we read about the options, but we will hear about them straight from
the horse’s mouth. Iowa farmers who have successfully transitioned from conventional to
alternative methods of farming will come and talk with us about their experiences. In addition, I
am currently in the process of arranging a couple of field trips to see the alternatives in action.
And to further our knowledge on the subject, experts in a variety of areas will come to class and
share their knowledge with us.
Throughout the semester, we will be learning as much as we can about the ins and outs of
alterative farming methods, and at the end of the semester you will be required to apply the
information in a practical manner. Thus, you will 1) draw connections between fields of
knowledge, 2) express yourself in your field of study, 3) exhibit your critical thinking skills, and
4) show off your written, visual, and oral communication skills.
Have a relaxing summer!
Jenny Aune
Lecturer, Department of English
339 Ross Hall
515-294-4601
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~jeaune