In the days of Old MacDonald, farmers raised pigs and chickens, oats and beans. Industrialized agriculture has steadily eroded the family farm that flourishes with a bit-of-everything. In the coffee-growing region of Colombia, there are now smart, small-land holders who are practicing varied agriculture, interspersing the rows with orange and banana trees. They also raise a variety of other fruits, vegetables and flowers and take great care of their livestock. Also pictured is a bio-gas bladder that takes advantage of the pig-poop and shaded ponds for tilapia farming. The women produce delicious "panela", an unprocessed sweetener from sugarcane. Overnight visits are welcomed and free-range eggs are served for breakfast.
Farmers can sell their produce directly to customers of the outskirts of the cities, receiving 100% of the profit. The in-city marketeers are resisting direct sales as it threatens their profit margins, but even this may change before long.
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