But amateur food production is easy. You just need a few square yards of back yard garden space, or a few containers on your apartment's patio.
In the absence of scientific data, here is my gut feeling. Most Americans know less about growing food than they know about recycling their used food packaging. (Helpful hint: not even a Chinese Grade D pulp mill wants your greasy Little Caesar's boxes.)
My father worked on a farm in his youth, maybe around 1925. I remember being astonished when I saw the old black and white photo, but farm work was common in that era. It wasn't exotic. Today, to work on a farm, you should understand the operation and maintenance of heavy machinery, plus hazardous materials handling. Also, if you're wise, you'll know how to type, so you can be an office temp in the winter and generate some positive cash flow.
But amateur food production is easy. You just need a few square yards of back yard garden space, or a few containers on your apartment's patio.
See them pole beans? Two dollars at the garden center, one square yard of ground, and one hour's time invested.
A home-grown green bean tastes like the essence of life itself. Harvesting food you grow yourself makes you understand Self Reliance better than any essay.
And watching an attractive person harvesting pole beans isn't too shabby, either.
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