I started milling and selling flours at farmers markets in Northeast Illinois this year. My supply comes from an organic family farm a few hours away. The farme

I started milling and selling flours at farmers markets in Northeast Illinois this year. My supply comes from an organic family farm a few hours away. The farmer, whose family has been farming for several generations, switched to organic methods because of the impacts of the chemicals used in conventional farming on his health, and the health of his children. Uncertainty around what chemicals my neighbors would be using prevented me from buying my own farm. I have a feeling that the premise of the article is correct, i.e. that not all farming can be organic, but we likely need to factor in the health and safety of farmers when considering how sustainable farming is. Developing a working relationship with a local farmer is incredibly interesting. Especially on an organic farm, the operations are all interconnected. The goats eat weeds, fertilize fields; the chickens eat pests. They produce milk and eggs for baking. Everything is symbiotic. Everything feels harmonious on a small farm.