Jezebel: farms

Bird By Bird

Anna — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:10:00 EST

[San Francisco, November 16. Image via Getty]

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 16: Heidi Kooy holds one of her chickens as she walks through her yard which she calls the 'Itty Bitty Farm in the City' November 16, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Heidi Kooy is one of many Americans that have started to raise chickens in their urban yards to try and save money on food costs during the economic downturn and to find a safer alternative to factory farmed food. Chickens provide eggs and natural fertilizer for gardens while eating the bugs that could harm the crops. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

On The Fence

Anna — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:10:00 EDT

[Cambria, Wisconsin; August 27. Image via Getty]

CAMBRIA, WI - AUGUST 27: Ariel Phillips, 14, and niece of Rebecca Sauer, looks on as prospective buyers inspect the cattle at the Sauer's auction August 27, 2009 in Cambria Wisconsin. Farm owners Gene Sauer and Rebecca Sauer are forced to sell off their lot of equipment and cattle to pay the bills and stay out of debt. The Sauer farm is another small farm operation that has been hit by the recession. Gene drives a semi truck and Rebecca recently lost her job after 7 years. (Photo by Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

Oprah Investigates "Animal Factories"

Tracie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Today's Oprah focused on California's Prop. 2, which would mandate more humane living conditions for farm animals bred for food. People supporting Prop. 2 are looking out for animals' best interests, in hopes that pigs, cows, chickens, etc. can spend at least a portion of their lives with some mobility. (Most animals are confined in small cages or pens, leaving them only enough room to lay down or stand up... never turn around.) Those opposed argue that putting mandates on farms will be prohibitively expensive, causing some farmers to go out of business, while others will just ship in eggs and meat from Mexico instead of producing it themselves. In the clip above, Lisa Ling visits a pig farm in which sows live immobile in gestation stalls for three years until they can no longer get pregnant, and are then slaughtered. It's heartbreaking because pigs are so adorable and smart...and bacon is so delicious.

Hog Heaven

Maria — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:20:00 EDT

Doris Probst just became the first woman to win the Annual Hog Calling Contest at the Illinois State Fair with her amazing hollerin'. Hog calling is the act of yelping, squealing, and singing to get hoggies to move into a specific place. Although the Illinois State Fair competition doesn't really involve herding any hogs, Probst does have to impress the audience and judges with her humorous and authentic way of grunting which, for a woman, usually involves doing away with any idea of being perceived as feminine (snorting isn't very ladylike, apparently). But who cares about being seen as sexy if you can make them laugh. Congrats Doris! [Shakesville]

Afghanistan is known for its heroin production,...

Maria — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Afghanistan is known for its heroin production, and the weak post-Taliban government does little to stop the growing, illegal industry. However, a group of foreign and Afghan businessmen are hoping to influence poppy farmers to grow flowers for perfume instead of drugs. The men are met with resistance, both from the poppy farmers and the corrupt Afghan government, which asks for bribes and stalls production during peak harvesting times. The lack of enthusiasm from the farmers could reflect the difficulties of dealing with a legal business in a weak government, especially when they can grow illegal poppy flowers with more ease. Sure, the beauty industry isn't so great, but is it so wrong to want to have a legal business, and make people smell good in the process? [NPR]