We come at small scale farming from a different angle. If the USA comes unravelled, I think that the 2 legged varmints will be the biggest challenge and we will head into the deep north if we can get there. As far as subsistance farming, most gave this up (along with the common nutritional diseases that accompanied it) with the advent of good transprtation. On our farm, we specialize in what we can grow most efficiently with high quality and use that new fangled stuff we get in exchange (money)to purchace what others grow more efficiently than we can. However, I am all for the buy local fad as we can sell more at higher prices at the farmers markets. Don't get me wrong, we buy lots of local food when the quality is higher and the price is competitive, but we don't think of it as a spiritual thing or some moral choice. Its just good ole common sense (which, by the way, doesn't seem to be as common as used to). Growing supplimentary food for the family can be a lot of fun, but its just a hobby unless you can't get a job.
