Parker Produce is committed to making a positive change when it comes to reducing the amount of carbon, and other global
climate change pollution, in the atmosphere.
Human actions are having a profound impact on the health of our planet, the people, plants and animals on it. This
is especially true of conventional agriculture and the food system. While the majority of the problem is coming from
wealthy, industrialized nations like the United States, it is the poorest people and the least developed countries who are
bearing the heaviest burden. At Parker Produce, we know this is unconscionable and unacceptable. That's why,
in 2009 we will be undertaking an ambitious offset program* to reduce our farm's carbon footprint to zero.
Parker Produce will be calculating the carbon footprint for our farm using the Cplan Carbon Emission's
calculator developed by Drew and Jan Coulter, farmers in Central Scotland. Beginning at the end of the 2008 growing
season, we will calculate our footprint for the previous summer's operations. Then we'll use that number and
our previous data and extrapolate our footprint for the next season. Once we have the totals we'll calculate how
many trees we would need to plant to offset** the carbon we've released. According to Trees, Water & People
a non-profit working to offset carbon emissions through reforestation, every 5 trees planted offsets a ton of carbon
emissions. At Parker Produce, we will plant (from seed) 7 trees per ton of carbon emitted and we also add
10% to our total calculated emissions, because underestimating when it comes to this problem, will literally
spell our doom.
*The Parker Produce Offset Program is not following the proposed cap and trade model that is being floated as a solution.
A system in which multi-billion dollar, global industries (i.e. the problem) is allowed to purchase the ability to continue
polluting will do nothing to decrease the amount of toxins that are spewed into the air, water and soil. These companies
are so rich that they can afford to buy as many credits as they wish and it won't even make a dent in their bottom line.
So were is the incentive to stop polluting by investments in technology and conservation?
** Why is planting trees better than an investment market scheme system for offsetting carbon emissions?
The first thing to remember is that offsetting carbon is not enough. It is vital that we stop emitting so much toxic
material into our atmosphere to begin with. That's why Parker Produce strives to be more environmentally friendly
from the outset. We burn used vegetable oil in our tractors instead of diesel whenever supplies permit. Vegetable
oil burns cleaner and more efficiently than diesel. We also use wind and solar power on the farm. The wind power
is generated by the Burgess Farm Wind Turbine which sits atop a 100 foot tower. This turbine can generate up to 70kw
hours of electricity in one day. The entire farm uses, at most, approximately 25 kw hours per day. The solar
power is captured by our greenhouse and low A-frame tunnels which are heated only by the sun, even in the coldest part of
the winter. We do not burn fuel of any sort to heat our greenhouses. The sun's energy is also captured
by the pasture fed dairy cows that John boards throughout the summer. These cows eat the grass and provide natural,
on-farm fertilizer for our compost and fields. In turn, the grass grows back quickly and healthy. Grassland is
also a major player in the capture of carbon emissions. Everything is cyclical.
But ultimately, forests and the oceans are the lungs of the earth. Our global forests are being slashed
and burned at an overwhelming rate. For this reason, Parker Produce understands that reforestation is a huge part of
changing our course. Reforestation will help cool the planet by shading the soil (which is dark and absorbs heat from
the sun), preventing erosion, capturing carbon directly and in turn, rebuilding the soil structure.
At Parker Produce, we're trying to do our part to be a part of the change that's needed. You can be a part
of that change by purchasing a share in a local CSA program like Parker Produce. We would love to have you on board.
