Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food

If you really want local agriculture to thrive, then get out of the way! I don't want to be regulated out of business, I don't want any government subsidies. I can only speak for myself as a local farmer, but I think that the majority of small farmers feel the same way. Change the laws to make it easy for local agriculture to thrive.

I think minimizing regulations would help encourage local sustainable agriculture. It not just fruits and vegetables that we can get from farmers markets and local farms; we can also get eggs, milk, milk products and meats but there are a lot of needless regulations that limit opportunity.

If a business/farm is local it is easy for the consumer to visit and see for himself the quality and care that goes into the food produced.

If Obama's wife say's we can't have potatoes acording to the dinner plate she will not be helping Idaho farmers.

My God-Geez how the hell is the Monsanto Vilsack now Secretary of Agriculture/GOV? Geez I thought it was just this state/GOV! thereafter coming on youtube I guess I was right of Obama he needs to quit the terror crap and to knock off patting bad on the back as he did this states crooked Gov. Hey OBAMA I STILL WANT MY OVER 65000. IN LOSSES YOUR PREDITOR GOVERNMENT FRIENDS CAUSED!!!!!!!

Yes, I do know my farmer because I belong to a CSA. It's been an interesting experience - I eat more 'seasonally' now (I live in NY State) so no tomatoes when it isn't tomato season. Many seem to think that CSA is a luxe indulgence. Actually mine is reasonably priced and low income shares are offered. Many CSAs take food stamps. Everyone deserves fresh food; the less your food travels, the fresher and much better tasting it is. It's not rocket science.

Shame on Senators Roberts, McCain, and Chambliss for opposing this program.

Some ideas are:

- Resources or local communities that help teach people how to grow an urban organic garden on their balcony, indoors, or in their backyards.

- Educational material on growing seasonal vegetables and other specific topics.

- An online community or forum to link people together that are all advocating healthy, nutritious, organic and local food systems, and those that are trying to live that lifestyle.

It would help if people didn't have the right to hold patents on seeds. This ruins the little farmers...no one should be allowed to produce self-terminating seeds or sue others for seed use.

Can you please direct me to your resources? I would like to learn more about this.