Eric Luoma
Fountain, MN
We have had many customers ask why we named our business “Karst,” to which we answer by explaining the geological term. But it’s more than a term… it’s the land upon which we live and our best hope for a vibrant, sustainable future. The well-attended, passionate and civil engagement in Mabel of those concerned about our Karst topography, environment and rural life is encouraging. While we share the concern of many regarding the environmental risks presented by 5,000 hogs producing a manure output equivalent to a city of 20,000 in the land of 10,000 sinkholes, we have an equal fear regarding the long-term economic risk this project poses for our area.
Families have been leaving this wonderful rural landscape for years, and most of those which remain are led by parents who commute out every day to make ends meet. We need a new business model for a vibrant, rural, and family-friendly economy in Fillmore and Houston Counties, and it’s all around us in the form of karst. That model is one that values a local, sustainable, karst-friendly business. Karst, the predominate topology of the driftless area, is what sets Southeast Minnesota apart from the rest of Minnesota and, arguably, the rest of the United States as well. By acting upon values that embrace, protect, and relish our karst topography rather than those that ignore or attempt to engineer it away, we will lead ourselves into a more sustainable economy that will bring families back to the rural landscape. The proposed Catalpa project is an escalation in a decades-long economic assault that has been driving out the family farm and other rural families along with it. If and where these projects do acknowledge karst, it’s often only to engineer it away. While we love human engineering solutions in many situations, Nature is a dangerous place to try. Nature has been “engineering” for millions of years and we must learn to yield to the environment in which we live by embracing and working with it rather than against. While many family farms may have felt forced to expand in the past to survive, that model has proven to only delay their demise by one generation, maybe two.
Therefore, the solution to bringing several generations of families back to our rural economy is to diversify away from the corporate, commodity driven model upon which the Catalpa project is based. While these models won’t and cannot be eliminated entirely, we must raise our environmental expectations and say no to these projects that threaten our water, our landscape and — very clearly — one of the best prospects we have for rural family vibrancy: our karst. How do we do this? First, by recognizing why people come here… or step outside anywhere for that matter. People come to our business, and to Lanesboro, and Preston, and Harmony, and Spring Grove to trout fish, canoe, bike, explore caves… then to shop, dine, and buy stuff. They do not come to smell manure and swat flies of which 5,000 hogs will produce and distribute far beyond their confines. We have family farms trying to create value in new ways — diversifying away from only row crops to include hops and vegetables and vineyards and orchards. We have families making a go of pasture-raised heritage beef and pork as well. Heck, Amish families make furniture from the land — the best furniture you can buy raised on sustainable family farms! But it’s not about furniture or beer or apples — it’s just that the time is ripe for a vibrant grow/create/consume/buy local economy that embraces and protects our karst landscape. Continuing with ever increasing confinement operations will kill these sustainable and economically viable alternatives just as it has done to so many family farms.
We love this landscape, its people who have embraced it for generations, and the respectful, albeit passionate civic engagement on display in the wonderful area of karst to which we have returned. May others return — and all of us continue — to engage with passion, to love and care for this land and its people as well. That’s why we named our business “Karst.”
Craig David says
The problem here is too much of a good thing. 5000 hogs in one place are too many. Farmers and land owners should be the first working to keep water clean and animals raised in humane conditions.. On our property (Wabasha Co) water gathers in one place (a swale) and begins to run. 5o ft. later it is gone into the ground. Pot hole country is no place for million gallon holding ponds. Actually no place is a place for this operation.
Legally run operations do not mean ethically run operations. This proposed operation is primarily about the money… lots of hogs…. equals lots of money.
A gradual move away from eating meat 2 or 3 times a day to a diet where we are sustained by less meat, and more plants, fruits and vegetables would be a future most could embrace. A future, where animals and land are viewed as sacred, will sustain humanity long on this planet. As most agriculture exists today, animals and soil are a commodity. Their value is weighted too heavily for the money our animals and soil can produce. We need to change our vision for the future. Destroying soil, piling on the chemicals, keeping animals in inhumane ways, polluting our waters are not right, not honest. Look into your hearts, Be honest about your analysis of the environment and the system of corporations we have become indebted to.
There are a myriad of possibilities out there for farm country. The Land Stewardship program is one that has been working for and supporting these creative and positive ways of working with our land for years. Their farmer practices are amazing. Why not embrace and support the positive and sustainable ways folks have about farming and country living? A most positive and enlightening book is ‘The Unsettling of America’ by the farmer author Wendell Berry. The people who are proposing this 5000 hog operation should be required to read it. I think it might help to change their minds.
Change can be painful, but I believe it will eventually come. ..it eventually must come … it’ll be worth it for the future generations..
Eric Luoma says
I have heard of the Land Stewardship program, but not the book — I will look into it. Thanks for the info.
Janine Holter says
Thanks for the support!
Ross Kramer says
I am no doubt wasting my time responding to Mr. Luoma’s commentary, as nothing I say can delay or correct what is happening in the farming world. Mr. Luoma pointed out a demise in family farms. Could it be because most “farm kids” are/were either smart enough or had no other choice than to head off to college and then pursue the almighty dollar in the “big city”? And now some of those “kids” have decided they don’t like to live in the big city so they move back out here with their big bank accounts hoping to add to it.
Mr. Luoma, you charge how much for a beer? How much do you pay for a gallon of milk? A pound of butter? A dozen eggs? A pound of hamburger? A package of pork chops? America has had extremely cheap food for forever. But lets not worry about where it comes from, right? Just so it isn’t in our backyard.
We can fill our small towns back up with businesses like yours and then generations of families too?? Are you sure? When that happens, I hope you will volunteer to take over the lions share of property taxes for schools and such.
And one more comment before I head back out to my menial, underpaid occupation, I never realized that cattle and hogs out on pasture don’t smell and don’t have flies and don;t pollute. How did I think it was the other way around?
Ross Kramer says
I just saw on the news that the City of Northfield dumped over a million gallons of human sewage into the Cannon River. Is anyone over there protesting this and is anyone protesting how big cities keep getting bigger and bigger with more and more sewage and waste?
Thomas E.H. says
//I just saw on the news that the City of Northfield dumped over a million gallons of human sewage into the Cannon River. Is anyone over there protesting this//
Probably not. Because, as you just mentioned, it was just on the news.
// and is anyone protesting how big cities keep getting bigger and bigger with more and more sewage and waste?/
Do you believe such a protest would prove effective? Most people wouldn’t, so most people won’t.
Ross Kramer says
I tend to be sarcastic,, Thomas. I’m guessing that no one will protest cities dumping sewage into rivers. However I will ask a serious question on that issue. What kind of ENGINEERING puts cities sewage plants in close enough proximity to rivers that they are capable of dumping said sewage into those rivers? It seems to happen fairly often due to flooding or whatever reasons they have.
I totally agree with you that diversity is essential. We need all sorts of businesses in this area and more kids in the schools. But Mr. Luoma’s commentary felt , to this farmer, like a slap in the face. I don’t like “farm smells” either. But those smells have been here for a long time.. I don’t like going fishing to relax on Minnesota lakes and seeing nothing but docks and boat lifts and cabins, houses and what I would call mansions. I don’t like seeing urban sprawl eating up nature and scenery. Are either of those things wrong or going to go away?
I worry that as more and more “city” people move “out here”, whatever is left of farmers will be told to hit the road. Most people don’t seem to care where their food comes from or about how hard people work to raise it. And most of the time, for too many farmers, for too little money.
And for the record, I am neither for or against Catalpa. It is not for me to decide if it should be where they are proposing to put it.
Thomas E.H. says
//I tend to be sarcastic,,//
Ah. A sarcasm sign may be needed since much is lost when we just use the written word.
//What kind of ENGINEERING puts cities sewage plants in close enough proximity to rivers that they are capable of dumping said sewage into those rivers? It seems to happen fairly often due to flooding or whatever reasons they have.//
Most populations settled near rivers. Depending on when the facility was built, the regulations may have been more relaxed, not to mention weather patterns have introduced far greater volumes of water in shorter periods of time in the last couple decades.
//I totally agree with you that diversity is essential. We need all sorts of businesses in this area and more kids in the schools. But Mr. Luoma’s commentary felt , to this farmer, like a slap in the face. I don’t like “farm smells” either. But those smells have been here for a long time.//
Understandable. I would suggest writing in a way that is less sarcastic and more true of what you feel in order for your targeted reader to more fully understand where you’re coming from. Perhaps the author could have worded some things differently.
// I don’t like going fishing to relax on Minnesota lakes and seeing nothing but docks and boat lifts and cabins, houses and what I would call mansions. I don’t like seeing urban sprawl eating up nature and scenery. Are either of those things wrong or going to go away? //
That would be an excellent Letter to the Editor.
//I worry that as more and more “city” people move “out here”, whatever is left of farmers will be told to hit the road. Most people don’t seem to care where their food comes from or about how hard people work to raise it. And most of the time, for too many farmers, for too little money.//
Another great letter to the editor idea.
//I’d for the record, I am neither for or against Catalpa. It is not for me to decide if it should be where they are proposing to put it.//
Okay.
Eric Luoma says
Ross and Thomas,
I appreciate reading your comments. Interesting dialog from which I will learn.
Ross,
I apologize for the “slap in the face” impact I had on you and at least one other farmer who provided feedback of being offended.. I grew up on a farm, baled hay, milked cows, and have family that still farms of whom I have no intention of dishonoring. But, as you know, those “credentials” are beside the point. The thesis of my commentary is the point.
I suppose you’re right that the fly and smell comment was bit gratuitous. The rhetorical quip was to make a point similar to your point (well taken, and agreed, I’ll add) about lakeshore development, of which is annoying when you go fishing to get away. Would I strike the comment if I were to do it over? Maybe, and maybe not . . . maybe reword. Not sure. However, please understand that what is already there and what may or may not occur changes the dialog. Catalpa has not happened yet. Complaining about a lakeshore house that is already there and pointing out how someone proposing to pave the boundary waters will really impact your experience are two different things. That’s my point that could perhaps be worded better.
The intended thesis of my commentary is that we ( by we, I mean me too, as well as city people and farmers, and you — everyone) must always assess, question and re-quesion our impact on our environment, our neighbors, our family and our fellow human beings. It’s daunting. Feeding a world in which our population is growing exponentially will. provide more and more dilemmas, as will — you correctly point out — housing them in cities. Not to mention protecting the legacy and humanity of individuals in a continuous struggle for improvement. I have no doubt you work hard and struggle to improve. I know I do. We both, I fully expect, want to do what is right AND have a quality life and legacy for our families. Everything in moderation is a good virtue — whether it’s drinking (I’m in the beer business, and at times that presents a challenge), development of lakeshore or any other environment and also farming must be done in moderation. With the case of Catalpa — especially in karst country — I see that as an excess far beyond moderation. I do understand where our food comes from, but I also understand where our water comes from and I also see and have experienced the commoditization of our work force. Almost everything is at risk of driving toward the “menial and underpaid”. Everything I have done included.
Ultimately — and this is a point I tried to make too — whether the Catalpa project is good or bad really is up to you and to me. We all have a say in what impacts our environment. We should have high expectations with regard to our environment to include thorough impact studies and a the ability to review the data, whether it is Catalpa in karst country, development near lakeshore or waste water treatment plants that could flood and spill into our rivers.
Thomas E.H. says
//America has had extremely cheap food for forever. But lets not worry about where it comes from, right? Just so it isn’t in our backyard.//
America hasn’t had extremely cheap food for forever. Yes. Let’s worry where it comes from, especially if it’s in our backyard and the location isn’t conducive for such a facility.
//We can fill our small towns back up with businesses like yours and then generations of families too??//
Diversity is essential. There is no one thing, even farming that makes a community thrive.
//And one more comment before I head back out to my menial, underpaid occupation, I never realized that cattle and hogs out on pasture don’t smell and don’t have flies and don;t pollute.//
Pollution is the key word. You can drink water and be safe. You can drink too much water and it becomes a pollutant. It’s a matter of quantity and quality in a given space.
Ann Lyons says
I just made an offer on a house in Harmony to get away from a big city and enjoy the beauty you have to offer and am reading your fine publication for the first time. And the first time I’m hearing about my 5,000 pigs neighbors. YIKES! That is not good. It is wonderful to hear all the objection to this plan. Keep up the good work.
B. Johnson says
Well said! I agree 100%.