When “Grow Your Own Food” Is a Tool of Oppression

“If You Know So Much About Farming, Grow Your Own”

If you’ve ever said true facts about agriculture in public, you’ve probably come up against some version of this argument”

Of course, the boiled down version of this “argument” is captured in one of my favorite memes.

But I want to take some time to really dig into the “grow your own food” challenge, because it’s not just high and mighty farmers, who are unwilling to participate in productive public discussion, that love this line. In fact, *a lot* of people who focus on environmental outcomes and social justice also lean heavily on self-sufficiency arguments.

First, let’s consider Alan. When a farmer, who likely owns millions in agricultural-related assets and who’s received at least $200k in direct, taxpayer-funded payments in the last decade, suggests that consumers “do it themselves,” that is a transparent invitation to fail, but one that we are conditioned to accept.