We love the farming and food production photos on our homepage which are the work documentary photographer Jason Houston, who writes:
For over a decade I photographed farms and farmers in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts where I lived from 2000-2012. I started this project because I believed that food and where it comes from and how it is made is one the most urgent, universally important issues our world faces today. And the more time I’ve spent on this work, the more I have come to understand…
…that we really are also in serious trouble: Issues of personal health and global hunger, the instability and injustice of an oil-dependent economy, terrorism and increasing agricultural trade surpluses, the lack of knowledge around genetic engineering, the loss of traditional knowledge and regional varieties in our crops, the ethical treatment of animals and the impact on our environment… all are part of the dynamic we participate in each and every day, every time we eat.
Proponents of industrial agriculture will insist we are too far-gone and must buy into technological solutions. But a growing number of communities around the world are challenging this assumption, and farmers on small, independently owned, and community focused farms are helping local economies grow and sustainable agriculture take hold in legitimate and effective ways. Such farmers represent real alternatives and I photograph them to help open up the critical conversations we need to be having about where our food comes from and the sustainability and vitality of that system.
We’re grateful to Jason for sharing his work. Check out his site to see the breadth of his work (and maybe purchase something!).