The South Koreans make much with little space. The County could learn a lot. Potato fields no longer feed spuds like they used to. In the last 40 years the acreage has declined. This is not bad. It is a sign that we are maturing as a farming area.
Korea, devastated by war and still operating under an armistice, holds many lessons for farms all over the world. Climatologically, it has an environment close to The County’s; not as much snow and cold, but still enough to keep the underwear salesman busy. What is different is the attitude that Korea should feed its people as varied a diet as possible. Thus one will see acres of half pipe constructions, some heated, some just protecting from the elements These tools allow the Koreans to maximize their growing seasons and provide an ever-increasing variety of products.
Companies like Pineland are beginning to demonstrate that there is demand for a larger variety of local products in the regional marketplace. At some point in the future it should be possible to see an entire catered meal with all local products, from a cheese appetizer to a locally grown steak and fresh fruits from a variety of trees. Looking at a contemporary seed catalog, it is easy to see that there are many things that will grow in local soil.
Leading this charge is the pressure to eat and buy locally. The County is lucky. Out of all 16 counties, we send more of our young people to higher education than any other county in the state. Consistently, our students outperform and exceed at quality in a way that more affluent places can only dream about. Astronauts, engineers, farmers, truckers, investors, teachers, doctors, and nurses populate positions of responsibility and development. We really do grow more.
Korea has shown how a small plot of land can produce far beyond its size. It’s time The County started collecting on its potential. Then we too can reap a bountiful harvest.
Pity that local radio does not showcase some of the talent from the area. There are storytellers, musicians of all varieties, and playwrights around, yet no celebration of these talents. It is time that this County step up and honor those who have taken the lessons of hard work and working with little and made their reputations. One cannot find any local radio program dedicated solely to showcasing these talents. WAGM does an occasional series of live in the studio pieces of local groups but it is at best intermittent and not known for previewing what is out there. Buck T. Edwards and his K-tel spoofs should be appreciated.
Local talent does exist, and Wednesday, the 13th of December at 6 p.m., at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, some County writers will read from their works. The thematic curtain is pulled away on how each one of us finds inspiration for the holidays, from here in the County that sends the most students to post-secondary programs of any county in the state. We really do grow more.
Take a few minutes to come by and share a laugh, a tear and a beverage or two as we celebrate the holiday season on a cool winter’s night.
Orpheus Allison is a photojournalist living in The County who graduated from UMPI and earned a master of liberal arts degree from the University of North Carolina. He began his journalism career at WAGM television later working in many different areas of the US. After 20 years of television he changed careers and taught in China and Korea.
