Posted on Jul 20, 2022
Oregonians once feared their state would be wrecked by out-of-control sprawling development
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"I’m standing on what feels like a sea of dirt in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
A half-century ago, this newly plowed field was pretty much the epicenter of the battle over the future of Oregon’s vast landscapes.
Oregon’s population was booming and developers had their eyes on this verdant valley — which also happened to be the home of two-thirds of the state’s population.
I’m here to talk to Mike Bondi. He ran Oregon State University’s 160-acre North Willamette Research and Extension Center, although he retired just before publication of this story. I want to understand what makes the valley so special — and why so many Oregonians fought to save it.
“I always say we can grow everything in the Willamette Valley,” says Bondi, “from asparagus to zucchini.”
Commercial farmers grow more than 200 different crops in the valley. That’s a wider variety than in any state except for California, he adds".
A half-century ago, this newly plowed field was pretty much the epicenter of the battle over the future of Oregon’s vast landscapes.
Oregon’s population was booming and developers had their eyes on this verdant valley — which also happened to be the home of two-thirds of the state’s population.
I’m here to talk to Mike Bondi. He ran Oregon State University’s 160-acre North Willamette Research and Extension Center, although he retired just before publication of this story. I want to understand what makes the valley so special — and why so many Oregonians fought to save it.
“I always say we can grow everything in the Willamette Valley,” says Bondi, “from asparagus to zucchini.”
Commercial farmers grow more than 200 different crops in the valley. That’s a wider variety than in any state except for California, he adds".
Oregonians once feared their state would be wrecked by out-of-control sprawling development
Posted from opb.org
Farming
Agriculture
Posted >1 y ago
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Urban Sprawl is the NUMBER ONE DANGER to the environment and America's food security. Come to Dallas, Houston and Austin Texas. Urban sprawl, driven primarily by the invasion of illegal aliens, the proliferation of fake refugees (still a "temporary" refugee from a hurricane in Central America in the 1990s?!?!?!?!?!), and UN population resettlement human trafficking is the main driver of urban sprawl. Long hurting the Houston region, Dallas and Austin are its latest victims. From South Dallas County to North of McKinney/ Azle to Royse City (West to East), you will now find yourself lost in a never ending megalopolis. North Dallas County/Southern Collin County was once a sparsely dotted horizon. Now, it is a maze of new tollways, blocks and blocks of mega apartment complexes, box stores, car lots and restaurants. Gone are the native prairie lands. No more farms, ranches or grazing land. Right now in Northcentral East Texas, there is a mass shortage of hay to feed cattle. This is due to little rainfall and rapidly diminishing land for grazing and hay production. My own Mother, a Rancher since 1986, has to finally sell off her herd in her Golden Years. Many others are facing the same prospects. What few Farms we have left in the region, are going broke over extreme fuel, seed, and fertilizer prices. I live on a rural county road in this region. There was only a total of 4 houses on this half mile stretch of road. Now, there is a new home, another pasture with a building, and a retirement commune that has been built.
In terms of National Security, this great loss in food sovereignty severely weakens America, making us DEPENDENT on foreign nations for sustenance. We could have not won World War Two, had we not been able to feed ourselves or the British.
In terms of National Security, this great loss in food sovereignty severely weakens America, making us DEPENDENT on foreign nations for sustenance. We could have not won World War Two, had we not been able to feed ourselves or the British.
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