Re: Met your farmer

[Guest guest]

Do they allow you to process and sell the chickens if people come to you to buy

it there but only require FDA processing plant when you sell to stores?   If

that is the case, then just have to let people know you have  chickens. 

Free-range I hope?  There are people who look for farmers with eggs and also

for free range chickens.  Can  you put up a web site and do things organic and

say so on there?  Or have kids or grandkids who can do a web site.  You could

do a youtube about the eggs and chickens all free range  You can sell it

probably cheaper than the stores so people will look you up if they know you are

there and what you are selling.  Good luck to you.

Carolyn Wilkerson

 

To: sproutpeople

Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:34 PM

Subject: Met your farmer

 

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.

[Guest guest]

If the state has those regulations they probably would run some risks with

a website unless they are allowed to process if ths person comes to them.

[Guest guest]

That is what I said based on what she indicated.  If they are going to sell to

people who come to the farm and that is not legal, then it is a different story

and  it would have to be very low key and still taking a chance.  However,

if  it is okay so long as people come to them and it is not okay only when they

take their product to a store to sell, then they probably need to see if they

can advertise and what they can do.  I wish them well.

Carolyn Wilkerson

 

To: sproutpeople

Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 11:50 PM

Subject: Re: Met your farmer

 

If the state has those regulations they probably would run some risks with

a website unless they are allowed to process if ths person comes to them.

[Guest guest]

Good for you! Keep up the good work. I hate the FDA personally. They do more

harm than good, sadly.

Jeanmarie

>

> 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.

>

[Guest guest]

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.

[Guest guest]

Carol:

You taught me quite a bit as I read your posting. I can only send hugs your way

and hope that you continue to grow your food and your customers continue to

appreciate what you do.

Sproutingly yours (lol)

Melody

[Guest guest]

Carol:

Here's a thought. Since you need to have customers come to your farm, can you

create a website that can show potential customers exactly what you do, how the

animals are kept, etc. etc.

If people are interested, they will absolutely come. But get the word out. Hey,

you have to do SOMETHING to attract people and keep them healthy.!! Hand our

flyers (or is that illegal too?) What the h is this world coming to when farmers

are limited in what they can do.

This is SO not funny!!!

Melody

>

> 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.

>

[Guest guest]

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.

[Guest guest]

Have a sign up for newsletters on your site and then you can send out recipes

and sales and healthy ideas or whatever you can do.  Maybe through the

Extension Office you can get information to write up a newsletter to report it

out. 

 

Do you have veggies you can take to a farmer's market or eggs?  Is that

regulated?  And there you can have everything you have with  your website

listed onit.  You might check out free-range chicken and cow sites and get

acquainted with people to see where they find their informtion.  If you do a

search on yahoo or google and put in free-range chickens or organic meats, would

your website come up?  Might find a way to get it to do that. 

 

Good luck to  you.  Do you have a sign out front about organic eggs?  Or

Farm-fresh eggs?  Do you can things you grow on the farm like any jellies? 

Might be able to do that and sell at a road side stand by your drive, along with

eggs (refrigerated or in a cooler) or fresh bread or some signature recipe you

have.  Bit thing is to get news to people who would be interested in your

product.  Do you have anything where  you have a farm whee  you could invite

school kids out to see a real farm?  have a tour and explain things and kids

might like that.  You can give brochures to the parents and teachers or even to

the kids.   Think I'll google or yahoo at organic chicken and see what I see

or free range chicken.  Good luck again.

 

Carolyn Wilkerson

 

To: sproutpeople

Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 6:51 AM

Subject: Met your farmer

 

From Carolyn's comments:

Do they allow you to process and sell the chickens if people come to you to buy

it there but only require FDA processing plant when you sell to stores?

Yes, this is true - but we don't want to steal the customers from the market.

There are other farmers who will continue selling to that market. They are

willing to travel a few hours away, process, and sell to the market. It's just

not the route we want to go.

Free-range I hope? Yep

Can you put up a web site and do things organic and say so on there?

I have a website - but having a website and turning that into customers in my

area is another thing, unfortunately.

You can sell it probably cheaper than the stores so people will look you up if

they know you are there and what you are selling.

Nothing I do is ever cheaper than the store. There is just no comparison of my

eggs to any egg sold in the store. They have labels that say " free range " - but

they don't mean the same thing as what I do. Anyway - just as an example, my

eggs are $5-6/dozen. But, you get what you pay for, as they say.

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. Just thinking about what Melody

went to yesterday has given me a few ideas.

Carol S.