Louisville professor offers farm to Syrian family

[bemildred]

He was a vegetable farmer in Syria before the civil war forced the family of seven to flee.

She is a University of Louisville professor who lives on an unused 16-acre farm.

So when sociologist Patricia Gagne read in The Courier-Journal about Ahmed Al Tybawi, his wife and five children, she decided to offer them free use of her Taylorsville farm.

"I would love to see the land be put to use. Making it available to a refugee family would be even better," said Gagne, who

http://www.wlwt.com/news/Louisville-professor-offers-farm-to-Syrian-family/38716752

[randome]

1. The last place an immigrant family would want to be in America should be...

...on an isolated farm land. Besides, integration is important and should be encouraged.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[FarPoint]

2. Really?

I thought it was a kind gesture.

[Lucky Luciano]

5. Ok - who peed in your corn flakes this morning? nt

[jayschool]

9. Because farming

is done all by oneself?

no need to purchase materials and equipment from in town?

No need to market and sell your produce?

no need to hire seasonal help to harvest?

[sarge43]

12. A productive life should be encouraged.

He's not going to let his crops rot. He'll be taking them into town to sell. People will be coming to his farm to buy them.

Farms aren't isolated. Haven't been since the Model T came on line. Further, he and family will be going into town for supplies and equipment, entertainment, social events. His children will be attending school. Why would they be isolated anymore than any other farming family?

Finally, free farm land is one of the principle reasons a fair share of immigrant families (most of mine) came to the New World. For them it was a blessing and opportunity beyond measure.

[blackspade]

14. So they should live in an urban center where their job prospects are low and live in poverty?

Can they not integrate into a rural community?

[randome]

15. No, I mean racists would have an easier time with them.

I'd be afraid to not be in public if I was an immigrant in America. But then, not being an immigrant, that's just my take on it.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You have to play the game to find out why you're playing the game. -Existenz[/center][/font][hr]

[sarge43]

16. He and his family would be safer in a city?

Last edited Sun Mar 27, 2016, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Crime stats don't support that.

[blackspade]

21. There are way more worrying racists in cities than the country.....

Just from sheer density.

[closeupready]

3. K&R - very sweet.

[bemildred]

4. Free organic vegetables ...

Yum.

[closeupready]

7. From before the war, I presume - a Damascus veggie market:

[bemildred]

8. YEAH.

Last edited Sun Mar 27, 2016, 02:00 PM - Edit history (1)

How soon we forget what good food looks like.

[Wounded Bear]

13. Funny, it looks like a lot of the same things we eat...

Not trying to be snarky, but the things that make people the same are far greater that those that drive us apart, if we let them.

I don't see how anybody could deride this move. Perfect, IMNSHO.

[Betty Karlson]

6. Awesome gesture. Bless her kind heart. eom

[ejbr]

10. +1 n/t

[Thespian2]

11. K & R !!!

Good on Patricia Cagne...

[JDPriestly]

17. 16 acres? With a family of 5 to feed, what kind of living can they make on 16 acres?

It is very kind, but what do you grow on 15 acres in the Kentucky that provides enough income to feed a family of five?

Vegetables in the summer months?

Fruit?

Does this make sense?

Can any farmers please tell me?

[sarge43]

18. Maybe this gives some answers

http://www.farmlandlp.com/2012/01/one-acre-feeds-a-person.

One acre for the house and outbuildings with 14 to work. If he gets chickens and turkeys, excellent protein source, plus useful insect control if they free range. If that article is correct, he'll have enough land for profit food.

Farming is chancy, but he'll certainly be able to feed his family.

[SoCalDem]

19. and infinitely better than hand-out food from some humanitarian aid outfit

Last edited Sun Mar 27, 2016, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

while they huddle in a tent at night..

[sarge43]

20. Can all that goodness and fine dining all winter n/t

[jwirr]

23. Chickens provide eggs, fertilizer and meat when they get old.

[Sunlei]

22. Very nice, "use the land" Why not gift a couple acres permanently.?

The family may not have time to work, 'use' farmland by hand or money to buy supplies & hire help.