Profiles Of Organic Farmers 1972-1975

Although Roger Blobaum had covered farm stories as a reporter and had worked on the bill to ban DDT and other farm and environmental bills as a Congressional staffer, the term “organic farming” was entirely new to him in 1971. At a board meeting of Iowans for Environmental Quality in 1971, a colleague announced that he planned to visit an organic farm after the meeting and wondered if anyone wanted to go along. Roger jumped at the chance and was so moved by the fertile soil and the health of the crops and animals that it changed his life—and many of ours—forever.

He was so impressed that he drove to Pennsylvania and paid the Rodale Press a visit, then signed up with the Press to gather and report information on organic farming in the Midwest. From 1972-1975 Roger visited and interviewed Midwestern organic farmers and wrote profiles that were published in Organic Gardening and Farming magazine. These stories describe the culture of organic farming, the values these farmers shared, their concerns about chemical farming, and the accomplishments that made them so special.

These profiles were written between 1972-1975.