Barnyards and Birkenstocks

Why Farmers and Environmentalists Need Each Other

By: Don Stuart

Narrated by: Adrian Newcastle

In his new book, Barnyards and Birkenstocks: Why Farmers and Environmentalists Need Each Other, Don Stuart stresses collaboration. An attorney who has held director positions with American Farmland Trust, a commercial fisheries trade association, and the Washington Association of Conservation Districts, he argues that combining efforts could advance the economic needs of one group while furthering conservation activities of the other, and points out costs of continued political impasse.

To promote empathy between farmers and environmentalists, the author presents opposing perspectives on a range of topics such as incentives, regulations, government spending, environmental markets, growth management, climate change, public lands grazing, and the federal farm bill. Stuart explores agriculture's environmental risks to water and air quality, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and human health, as well as private and public interests related to farmland loss, explaining why intervention is so necessary. Then, drawing from multiple case studies and a lifetime spent resolving conflicts, he identifies characteristics of successful community programs and suggests a model for a prosperous, healthy future. He includes a variety of tools such as sensible zoning, purchasing development rights, and creating environmental markets, and discusses situations that warrant their use.

"The author is uniquely qualified to comment on the conflicts and common interests of farmers and environmentalists from long experience on both sides." (Dennis Canty, American Farmland Trust)

"A valuable resource for farmers, environmentalists, academics, policymakers, students, and regulators." (Peter Goldmark, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands)

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