Is Coffelt Farm sustainable? | Letter

by Gwen Stamm

In reading a recent front page article in The Sounder regarding Coffelt Farm, I was left with one overwhelming question: is this non-profit financially, environmentally and educationally sustainable?

First, in just a short eight years of operation Coffelt Farm has not been able to generate the money needed to keep this farm operational. Either someone didn’t do their homework before starting this venture or it is in fact not a sustainable financial operation. Now the stewards want taxpayers to bail them out? And over a 100 year period? I don’t know of any financial institution that would agree to such terms. And for how long will Coffelt’s elite clientele be willing and able to continue paying the higher prices for the farm’s products. Again a question of financial sustainability.

Second, animal farming is not environmentally sustainable. According to numerous sources “raising livestock for meat, eggs and milk generates 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is the second highest source of emissions and greater than all transportation combined. It also one of the leading causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.” To think that there is anything environmentally sustainable about any kind of animal farming (small or large) is just not true.

Third, I question the sustainability of the educational opportunities/programs provided by this non-profit. What does this education prepare students for? Small farms across the country are closing faster than they are opening. Where are the jobs for these students? In other words is this a sustainable educational program that prepares young people for future careers? Rather than teaching students how to milk cows and drive tractors maybe we should be educating them about more sustainable food production practices. I read recently that Bill Gates, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos (3 of the richest men in the U.S.) are all investing in animal-free protein technologies. It seems that this might be an indication where the future of food is going.

As a full-time resident of Orcas I have no interest in paying taxes that support an unsustainable non-profit. It seems the only successful animal non-profits these days are rescues and sanctuaries; non-profits that seem to get the support of, well, everyone.