BY REBECCA FRENCH SMITH
On Sunday mornings, it’s quiet on my back porch. Last weekend, coffee in hand, I sat and watched my tomatoes grow. My cell phone is a constant companion, and I snapped a shot to post on Instagram. Sometimes the drone of “voices,” the electronic clamoring for my attention, can get overwhelming, so I put the phone down. It was uncomfortable in the quiet, at first. But as I looked at my tomatoes, I smiled, hopeful that they will do well this season.

Last year, the heat and drought affected my tomato crop. Honestly, those factors weren’t the only ones that contributed to my poor first attempt at container gardening. So, over the winter, I researched my quandary. Soil amending, container placement, proper containers, blossom-end rot and the benefits of netting populated my Google search on many occasions. Granted, you have to be careful where you get your information and vet carefully your sources. Not all voices on the web, or in other media, are informed, or at least informed about your particular needs. The Internet, and some local farmers’ advice, has had a positive impact on my current tomato crop —so far.

Whether we farm or not, we all have great interest in food. Consumers research foods and farming methods on the Internet using “buzz words.” Topics like “genetically modified organisms,” “organics” and “antibiotics” are dense and complicated. Opinions from multiple sides can be found everywhere. Some people are very passionate about food, while others simply know they’re hungry when they’re hungry. To trust those who grow our food is a desire I think we all share, but being trusting is easier said than done when you don’t have a direct connection with the farm to understand the choices farmers who grow your food make.

There is a famous quote — at least on the Internet — by Dwight D. Eisenhower: “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” This thought is particularly significant in today’s information age. It’s easy to second guess and pass judgment on farmers or farming methods from the comfort of your armchair or back porch.

Consumers have a myriad of food choices because not all farmers farm the same crops or farm the same way. Let’s appreciate and be open-minded to the experience and information farmers bring to the table. There are many voices to listen to and many opinions on how food should be grown, but I encourage you to “put the phone down” and discover the expertise of Missouri’s family farmers.

If you have a question, find and ask a farmer who has experience with your specific topic. Vet your sources carefully and listen to what they have to say.

Rebecca French Smith, of Columbia, Mo., is a multimedia specialist for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.