Previously Featured Ding Darling Editorial Cartoons

"As Land Goes So Goes Man ." Ding Darling Editorial Cartoon. This cartoon and its heading are, in effect, a summary of Ding's lifelong campaign for conservation. He included this drawing in a volume of his favorite cartoons. The book, Ding's Half Century, was published in 1962. Ongoing efforts by both local watershed groups and government agencies are slowly changing the way that we manage our land. These watershed stewardship efforts are changing the way that we think about land and ecosystems, and developing a more holistic approach to watershed management that has long-term sustainability as an ultimate goal. With a little planning and effort we can break the dangerous cycle that Ding depicts in this cartoon. Our goal should be to develop a heritage of stewardship for our children that leaves the land healthier than we found it. . Copyright J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation, 1999-2003. Used by permission.

"Tillable Soil vs. World Hunger ." Ding Darling Editorial Cartoon. This cartoon reflects the crux of the problem facing farmers and environmentalists alike. The world needs to be fed, but we can't keep feeding everyone if we deplete our soil and water resources. Conventional wisdom stemming from the "Green Revolution" suggests that intensive row cropping with high levels of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs combined with maximizing the use of biotechnology is the answer. Indeed, such practices have vastly increased the total yield that our soils can produce. However, this increased yield has come at a cost. Erosion, loss of soil fertility, polluted waters, unknown ecological risks, and reduced nutritional content of crops are taking their toll on the fruits of the "Green Revolution". Alternative farming practices focusing on sustainability as well as high yield are needed. Ongoing efforts by local watershed groups, independent producers, and government agencies are slowly changing the way that we manage our land. The ideals of sustainability are being actively heralded by both the organic agriculture movement, and promising new federal legislation like the Conservation Security Program. If CSP is ever fully implemented, it will promote many of the same stewardship practices that help small organic producers maintain profitability without overfarming the land. Although these practices might lead to some increase in food costs here in America, the silver lining is that these higher prices would allow third world producers to sell their crops for a fair price, thereby creating the wealth that they desperately need to lift their families and communities out of poverty. Click this link to view a larger image.Copyright J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation, 1999-2003. Used by permission.

"U.S. Mine of Natural Resources ."
This historic cartoon created by Ding Darling seems as pertinent today as when it was first published in 1938. With the all out frontal assault on the environment in recent years, we are turning the corner with our environmental policies to look back at a time when rivers burned and lakes were dead. This sorry state of affairs was, as we would all do well to remember, the result of years of unregulated dumping of wastes into the water and air of our nation. Although environmental regulation during the 1980's and 90's went a long ways towards solving many of the problems that led to such terrible abuse of our natural resources, these safeguards have been steadily eroded under the pretext of the need for immediate economic expansion. Whether or not unfettered pollution and unrestrained access for miners, loggers and developers to the last unspoiled places will lead to the promised economic growth, Ding's question remains “How rich will we be when we have converted all our forests, all our soils, all our water resources and our minerals into cash?” Click this link to view a larger image.Copyright J.N. "Ding" Darling Foundation, 1999-2003. Used by permission.