"Going Against the Grain’: Agri-Cultural Revolution in SoCal’s Heartland" (Spencer Mottley)

   The New York Times article "Going Against the Grain: Agri-Cultural Revolution in SoCal’s Heartland."

by the Learning Network. Discusses a hidden side of Orange County, California, that not many outsiders

ever come to know about or ever experience. A side that lies behind the glamor, hustle, and popular

culture often associated with Coastal Southern California. This side of Orange County is one where the

agrarian way of life remains intact despite the encroaching urban sprawl that has consumed most of the

county. Perhaps the most notable of these remaining farms is the ecology center. A farm that seeks to

preserve an ecosystem for future generations and foster a community "that cultivates not only food 

but also a way of living through its four core pillars — Grow, Eat, Make, Peace (Learning 

Network).” Another notable farm in Orange County is a multigenerational Japanese American   

farm called Tanaka Farms. This farm's goal is to engage in and encourage responsible farming 

practices, educate the public, and cherish family traditions. One way that the farm engages in 

responsible farming practices are through donating surplus harvest to local food banks. The farm 

educates the public by taking guests on wagon ride tours through the farm, and by conducting 

school field trips on their farm, where kids can harvest and taste fresh fruits and vegetables 

grown on the farm. The farm also honors its history through "a wooden memorial honoring 

generations of  Nikkei farmers who helped shape California’s agricultural landscape (Learning 

Network)." After reading this article, I was left with a question and an answer to that question. 

How does supporting small local farms reduce our environmental footprint? My answer to that 

question is, it does so by reducing the distance food has to travel to get to your plate, which 

reduces CO2 emissions from vehicles. It reduces the amount of packaging (like boxes, plastic 

wrapping) that food has to be stored in, which reduces waste and single-use plastics. 

Generally, small farms also tend to use fewer agrichemicals when compared to large

conventional farms, which means less environmental contamination. 

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