I believe that United Farm Workers (UFW) truly has one of the most powerful, important, and informative social media accounts today. Not only because of its fierce advocacy for the rights, dignity, and humanity of farmworkers (regardless of legal status) but also because of how much I’ve learned from it. Seriously. Keep reading, and you’ll see why.
In one tweet shared by the account, a snake is visibly canoodling with some growing grapes in a central California vineyard. Did you know the snake is supposed to be there? It has a job to do. I didn’t know that, either, but UFW explains:
I’m not gonna lie: it freaked me out, maybe it freaks out Polo as well, and I hope workers are safe during this. Bloomberg last year noted the use of “non-venomous serpents” at one French vineyard, reporting they help control “the population of destructive rodents that eat succulent vine roots and dig underground tunnels that dry out vineyard soil.”
Bloomberg noted the use of other critters in other world regions, including armadillos in Argentina (they like ants) and ducks in South Africa (they like white dune snails). In numerous areas of the world, sheep also help from a vegetarian angle by eating weeds.
Once again, I’m always learning something from UWF. What many of us already know is that we eat because of farmworkers, regardless of legal status. Right now, Congressional Democrats have the chance to permanently protect them (along with young immigrants and temporary status holders) through the budget reconciliation process. So click here because they need to keep hearing from us until that becomes law. And, if you don’t already, follow UFW on Twitter to learn more about how your food gets to you.
In one tweet shared by the account, a snake is visibly canoodling with some growing grapes in a central California vineyard. Did you know the snake is supposed to be there? It has a job to do. I didn’t know that, either, but UFW explains:
I’m not gonna lie: it freaked me out, maybe it freaks out Polo as well, and I hope workers are safe during this. Bloomberg last year noted the use of “non-venomous serpents” at one French vineyard, reporting they help control “the population of destructive rodents that eat succulent vine roots and dig underground tunnels that dry out vineyard soil.”
Bloomberg noted the use of other critters in other world regions, including armadillos in Argentina (they like ants) and ducks in South Africa (they like white dune snails). In numerous areas of the world, sheep also help from a vegetarian angle by eating weeds.
Once again, I’m always learning something from UWF. What many of us already know is that we eat because of farmworkers, regardless of legal status. Right now, Congressional Democrats have the chance to permanently protect them (along with young immigrants and temporary status holders) through the budget reconciliation process. So click here because they need to keep hearing from us until that becomes law. And, if you don’t already, follow UFW on Twitter to learn more about how your food gets to you.