Give small scale farms a chance

The front page Gazette article about the Salt Fork Farm near Solon details challenges and opportunities in a growing form of agriculture ('Size matters,” Oct. 23).

I recently visited an urban farm in Little Rock, Ark., and was amazed at how much food it produced in the midst of a suburban neighborhood.

Small scale farms give newcomers to agriculture an opportunity to make a living on a small piece of land while producing local, fresh, delicious food that doesn't need to be shipped thousands of miles.

As the article pointed out small farms face a variety of zoning issues and I encourage elected officials to alter ordinances to encourage this efficient and progressive form of employment and food production.

Rich Patterson

Cedar Rapids