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10 3 . Long term solutions for working farms and for farmlands . The SOCF report addresses farming and farmlands at multiple points throughout the report , and we would like to highlight the importance of County efforts that can keep prime farmland in production in the County , as a means to accomplish numerous long term environmental aims at once , including protection of habitat . There is only so much prime farmland ; once this is lost to residential development , it is unlikely to revert to agricultural uses . Traditional farms tend to be large and to focus on both commodities crops and meat and dairy production . They are under pressure to fold and sell out less by local regulations and tax rates ( although many farmers may delight in railing against these ) than from economic issues such as marketing and financing options . There is also the very real problem of farmers aging out of farming without children willing to take over the cultivation of the land . The County , in partnerships , should try to promote the transition of willing farms to " alternative " farming with an emphasis on producing goods for local consumption . Often these farms need to cultivate less land , permitting , at least in principle , one traditional farm to become two or more alternative farms . While some traditional farmers will adapt to current market and social conditions , many more will need to sell out of economic necessity . There needs to be a mechanism for these farms to remain as working farms , such as financial , marketing , and logistical assistance to new people trying to start up in farming . We need to make the transition to new ownership work . 4 . Improvement of environmental education , both in schools and in the community People will be much more motivated to protect their surroundings , their environment , if they have some profound sense of where they live , and if they know the context of their place on the earth . What can we do in a highly mobile and technology - dependant society to greater foster a sense of place and of belonging on the land ? The SOCF report gives only brief attention to the importance of educating the County ' s population about the environment . The report makes an excellent suggestion in Section IV , Part 1 , Goal 2 , Recommendation 4 , regarding educating citizens on the use of native or non - invasive exotic plant species in plantings . But we feel that the County could go much beyond this , and make it part of its long - term goal to see that Orange County resident know , in a deep sense , where they live , and what the impacts of their own actions are on the local environment . The County might accomplish this through providing materials to schools , scout groups , and many community formal and informal educational settings for adults as well as children . The County also indirectly helps to foster knowledge of the local environment when they require protection of natural areas ( and not just buffer strips ) in subdivisions . Giving children and other residents a place to interact with Nature on a daily basis will shape their own respect for the land and for other species .