re: grapefruit

[Guest guest]

We can't grow currants or gooseberries in most of wv because they are host

to white pins blister, and that might hurt the timber industry. I miss my

currants and gooseberries.

Holly

On Mar 29, 2012 12:11 PM, " Carolyn Wilkerson "

wrote:

> I had a big grapefuit tree out back which had really good tasting white

> grapefruit. Tasted more like pink. There was canker around so they took

> out all citrus in Broward County that wasn't in one of the big farms. That

> was to keep their fruit pretty. Evidently the canker is just spots on

> outside of the fruit but had no effect on the fruit itself. Wasn't

> dangerous. Just the commercial grapefruit farms might be harmed. Because I

> am on rented lot if there was any money, it went to the owner of lot even

> though it was on my rental lot. No compensation to me. Was big so may

> have been blessing as it was out before hurricane. But I sure miss the

> grapefruit, but it had more than I could have eaten. The big business is

> protected, especially in FL.

>

>

> Carolyn Wilkerson

>

>

>

>

>

> To: sproutpeople

> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:36 AM

> Subject: Re: Met your farmer

>

>

>

> Kind of reminds me of Salatin's book, " Everything I Want to do Is

> Illegal. "

> Farmers need to be increasingly innovative to even be able to sell food,

> thanks to the government who are in bed with the mega factory farming

> conglomerates like Tyson and Hormel. The consumer is the one that is hurt.

> When the food processors were small operations nobody died of E. coli

> poisoning, now we hear of recalls of millions of tons of hamburger at a

> time.

> Lee

>

>

>

> > Your video brought tears to my eyes, Melody. I was so excited for you!

> >

> > I thought I'd throw this out there....I am a farmer. My husband and I

> started with a few chickens about 4 years ago and then moved on to pastured

> poultry (chickens for meat). We had a nice little side business going and

> it was really rewarding - I went to the local market and sold my eggs and

> the whole chickens. We " harvested " them on our property - which makes it as

> low stress as possible and makes for the best tasting meat. Well....all in

> the name of " sanitation " , the state has new regulations that say we aren't

> allowed to process on farm anymore. We have to go to a FDA facility. Well,

> wouldn't you know it, there is only one in my state and it's about 3 1/2

> hrs. away. I could go to another state - but the gas and charge for the

> processing makes it prohibitive. We had spent thousands of dollars on the

> equipment to process ourselves and sadly, we gave it up. My only option now

> is to have customers come to me and purchase on farm.

> >

> > I know I'm going on and on - but I thought this kind of tied into what

> you were saying. It is so sad to me that this happened and really it

> saddens me for the consumer. They have limited options that are unhealthy

> and inhumane. If I had to guess who was behind all of the regulation, I

> have a good guess.

> >

> > We are now raising pigs also - and have just decided that we will

> produce food for our friends and family - to be as self sustaining as we

> can. We can't control what the government will do - but just like with the

> sprouts....we just keep learning skills to provide the best possible

> nutrition for our family. That's about all we have control of at this point.

> >

> > I hope this wasn't over the top considering the group is about

> sprouting...I'm happy to move back to that topic again. Thanks for sharing

> your experience Melody. Everyone should be able to have access to their

> local farmer and hopefully appreciate the hard work they do. I agree that

> there is really very little income derived from small farming, but there

> sure is a lot of satisfaction knowing you are doing right by the animals

> and in the case of organic gardening - producing the best possible

> vegetables with really superior nutrition.

> >

> > Carol S.

>

>