Self-Reliance, Marketing and Markets

Draft Self-Reliance, Marketing and Markets Draft


Pushing into the twenty-first century most everyone can identify with a cause. Some individuals are seeking to lessen their impact on the environment or even to heal it, while others are propagating a healthy eating agenda and some strive for self-sufficiency. Local governments are also working for a number of causes to sustain their own coffers at the same time providing for the community, consumer and business. Three articles were examined and summarized that show how individuals or entities are working in different ways, sometimes against one another, for the same cause.

In her article “My Introduction to Self-Reliance” from Mother Earth News (Aug/Sep 2009) Treska Lydia Stein, a home-schooled thirteen year old from New Mexico, proclaims that, “I’m learning to live off the land and create my first business”. Treska’s passion for farming kindled in the summer of 2008 when she worked for a local market farmer who patiently taught her and took her to visit other local farms; with inspiration and knowledge she started her own garden with great success and plans to start marketing seedlings in the spring of 2010. The purpose of Treska’s article is to emphasize her willingness to learn, discover and put into action what she believes in. At thirteen years old, Treska is not only inspiring other youth that have a desire to tend the land but her enthusiasm also tugs at anyone who has ever thought of expanding their own gardening into a market.

Tie in paragraph

In her article “Everything He Wants to do is Illegal!” from Mother Earth News (Aug/Sep 2009) Megan Phelps interviews farmer/author Joel Salatin who explains that his farming techniques produce livestock superior to government standards but his marketing is still held back by ignorance and regulations. Interviewing Salatin, Phelps, questions the farmer on issues such as, when, why, how and the challenges he faces with farming today. Phelps uses the interview to expose some of the barriers that farmers’ like Salatin face as well as provide the knowledge that just because a farmer, company or manufacturer follows a set of government guidelines the consumer is not necessarily getting the safest, healthiest or best quality product for their money. Phelps, through the words of Salatin, is seeking to reach out to those interested in personal freedoms, readers who are looking for a different approach to raising livestock and to those who are not satisfied with the idea that the government, on any level, knows what’s best for the consumer.

Tie in paragraph

In her article “Support the Farm Stand to Feed “Locavores” and the Economy” from Public Management (March 2009) Nadejda Mishkovsky discusses that local farmers’ markets are good for local business as well as for the consumer. She touches on the topics of market planning, site selection, market examples and the value a farmers’ market adds to the community. Mishkovsky uses examples of active farmers’ markets around the country to relay the idea that a market is good for the consumer, fresh produce is not always available and governments are working with markets to allow those using assistance to purchase goods, and is good for local businesses, the market brings consumer traffic into the area. Mishkovsky is using the article to inform those in, or interested in, public management about the basics and value of a local community farmers’ market.

Summarize body and support thesis paragraph

Not a Final Draft