By Kristi Atherton

     

     In 1943 a man named Abraham Maslow developed Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It put in order of importance human’s needs.   In order to survive, the first thing needed is to have our physiological needs met, our basic needs. The list includes air, water, food, clothing and shelter.  There are four other levels that Maslow explains, but physiological is first, and others have challenged him over the years, but none have argued that the first is physiological.  

     Why is this important if you thought you were going to be reading about farmers and open spaces? Production of food, clothing, and shelter all need open space, water, and air for farmers to produce the items humans need to meet their most basic needs.  

• Food: meat, fish, grains, fruits, and vegetables. 
• Clothing: cotton, hemp, flax (linen), jute, and animal-based fibers: wool cashmere, mohair, alpaca, silk.  Animal-based: leather.  
• Shelter (wood products from the forest industry.) Boards, some insulation, fiber board, plywood, cabinets, doors, flooring.

     

     According to a 2022 United States Census eighty percent of our population live in urban areas, which is defined as densely developed residential, commercial, and other nonresidential areas (United States Census Bureau). Not ideal places for farming.  That leaves twenty percent of our population in rural areas, but of that twenty percent, Farm and Ranch families, not including forestry, comprise less than two percent (American Farm Bureau Federation). It’s no wonder farmers are tired, and that’s a lot of responsibility for less than two percent of the population.

     Math has never been my strong suit, but my math tells me that ninety eight percent of us need to be doing everything we can to support Farmers and Ranchers because one hundred percent of the population has a responsibility to contribute to helping humanity meet its basic needs regardless of whether you live in a suburban or rural area.  

     What can we do to take responsibility?  I’ve listed a few ideas below, but I’d like to leave you with this thought.  Before I go grocery shopping, which is usually every week, I clean out the refrigerator to prepare for the new incoming food.  Last week, I threw away an eggplant. I’d had good intentions of putting it on a pizza, but never did.  A bowl of brown rice, about 2 servings, I never finished.  A partially finished bag of spinach and kale that was just starting to get slimy.  One beautifully marinated chicken breast.  American’s throw away about twenty five percent of the food they purchase for at home consumption (American Farm Bureau Federation).  I know what is on my list. 

     As we fill our days with the busyness of living:  work, kids, sports, hobbies, appointments, social media, and volunteer work, don’t forget Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In order to survive, the first thing needed is to have our physiological needs met, our basic needs.  Supporting Farmers, farms, and open spaces is one thing we can do to help secure our basic needs. 

 

Things we can do to support Farmers and open spaces

•  Reduce the amount of food wasted in your home.

 

• We have a lot of food preferences in our country:  Vegetarians, vegans, carnivores, organic foods, commercially raised foods, Kosher, Halal and many more.  We have 342.4 million people in the United States that need to eat.  If everyone is going to eat, be tolerant of others’ preferences.

 

• If local legislation is going to restrict your local farms’ practices, get involved to support the farmer.  

 

• If you see something you don’t understand while visiting a farm, ask the farmer not AI. They would be happy to explain farming practices, and if you’re interested, possibly learn a great deal about the farm’s history, how great grandparents started the farm and how it’s moved through the generations. The ties run deep.  

 

• Support zoning exceptions for farmers, and agricultural ordinances.  For example, a farmer may need to be baling hay until 10:00 p.m. at night in the summer to finish before thunderstorms come.  They may need an exception to the noise ordinance.  

 

• Farms may smell on occasion, especially if the farmer is spreading manure, but it’s organic, and it’s a temporary inconvenience to us. 

 

• Make sure the organizations you support, help farmers not hinder them.

 

 

Bibliography

American Farm Bureau Federation. Fun Facts About Agriculture and Food. 5 April 2026. 5 April 2026. Web.

Saul McLeod, Phd. Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs. 6 February 2026. web. 5 April 2026.

United States Census Bureau. Nations Urban and Rural Population Shifts. 29 December 2022. 5 April 2026 Web.

United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. 2022 Census on Agriculture Data. 13 February 2024. 5April 2026 Web.