Farmers and food
If you're a farmer or large rural landowner, you
are in a special position to protect watersheds and
streams. Because millions of acres of wild and
semi-wild land are put to agriculture, farmers are
among our most important land managers.
Agricultural practices, including ditching,
drainage, plowing steep slopes, and overgrazing
have destroyed many streams. But some farmers, by
trying new techniques and monitoring the effects of
their farming, have actually improved the condition
of degraded streams.
If you're not a farmer, you still influence
farming practices with your dietary choices and
your food purchases. Again, connect the food that
you eat with the true production costs to the
watershed. Support local farmers, organically grown
food, and small-scale agriculture whenever
possible. You and your family will not only be
eating healthier, but you'll be supporting
healthier habitats in which to live.
For more general information, go online to the
Land Stewardship Project's home page at www.landstewardshipproject.org.
