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At the heart of the farm boom are the very same forces that are remaking the rest of the American economy—technological revolution and global integration. When you think of technological revolution, you probably think of geeks in cool coastal spaces like the Google campus, or perhaps of math wizards on Wall Street. But one source of rural prosperity is the adoption of radical new technologies—and a consequent surge in productivity.

“We think that everything we have in this country is inherently fair trade. So we think that buying organic and local is the pinnacle of conscious purchasing… Unless we look at labor, we’re not actually creating a sustainable model for food. That’s always been the thing that everybody’s always kind of wanted to hide. Organic farmers aren’t beholden to any kind of labor standards. Neither are local farms. And yet, organic and local are looked at as the way of the future. While I agree with that to a large degree, it’s by no means a holistic solution.”

Farm Commons is meant to be much bigger than a blog. Soon this dream will be a reality. Farm Commons seeks to strengthen the an emerging food system by increasing the stability and profitability of local farmers who produce, distribute, and enjoy food with their neighbors. Farm Commons will empower noncommodity farmers to manage risk and capitalize on opportunity. Farm Commons emphasizes collaborative leadership and community relationships through the delivery of affordable, specialized legal services.