A group of Illinois small farmers are meeting with members of Congress on Thursday in Washington to discuss their hopes for "transformational investments" in the next farm bill, which governs policy in the agricultural sector. As they see it, the new law could provide significant financial investment and protections that reduce economic inequality and racial injustice; build crop and human resilience to climate change and unpredictable weather; and improve access to nutritious food and sustainable, local systems.
The apps say heavy rain, but apps ain't always right, and farmers more than anyone are used to the whims of the weather gods. Rose and Ruth, the farm's chief growers, decide to keep calm and carry on. When I arrive, their optimism appears to have paid off. The clouds are low and grey, but it's not actually raining. I walk past the Caractacus Potts-style compost loo and along the grassy path between the veg beds where a scarecrow stands guard in a red jumper.