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Call Congress TODAY To Ensure that New Food Safety Regulations Do Not Punish Small Farmers or Home Gardners

George Washington's picture




 

Washington’s Blog

The Senate will likely vote tonight to limit debate on substitute amendments to the new food safety bill - S510.

While everyone is for food safety, it is important to remember that one size does not fit all.

Specifically, that most food safety problems are caused by the giant, industrial-size food producers, such as huge confined animal feeding operations and giant egg producers,

Any
version of S510 which penalizes small farms and ranches with onerous
regulations targeted to the food giants will stifle competition, and
drive many small independent food producers out of business.

Democrats Jon Tester of Montana and Kay Hagan
of North Carolina have proposed an amendment which would exempt from
the new regulation small farmers and food facilities with less than
$500,000 in annual sales that directly market to consumers in a
275-mile area.

Call your senator and support the Tester-Hagan amendment to S510.

Many
websites have also warned that S510 could - intentionally or
unintentionally - interfere with people's ability to grow food in their
own gardens. While I have seen no evidence of that (admittedly, I
haven't spent any time looking at the issue), people should also demand
that the language of S510 be clarified to explicitly exempt home
gardens.

 

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Tue, 11/30/2010 - 00:10 | 763641 blindman
blindman's picture

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/hope_in_the_21st_century_20101128/

Chris Hedges' Columns Real Hope Is About Doing Something

 

... "And every act that imparts hope is a victory in itself.

Also from Auden:

Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame."

.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 23:39 | 763558 HungrySeagull
HungrySeagull's picture

Our Garden was ok, some lessons learned and already being applied to next year.

Washington DC is a hell of a far away place that has no knowledge of gardening.

We are starting taters, onions and Beets early towards end of winter then tomatoes and carrots and so on.

 

At the moment I got about.. oh 30 pounds of green tomatoes saved from first frost and the first freeze a few days ago ripening. Some neighbors are fixing to get a few pounds here and there as we cannot eat em all.

 

The taters are going to be interesting. Grow one big one, chop it into 6 peices and replant these 6 and find yourself with a bunch by the end of year.

 

If our poor little good for nothing butts ever see some cash, we can sink it into a proper sunroom large enough to drive a pick up truck through and sunny enough to grow year round on that there south side.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 22:35 | 763436 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

We did our part.  Thanks for keeping everyone up to date on this important topic. 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 21:49 | 763336 Milestones
Milestones's picture

Well I am not well aquainted with all this control stuff but anyone with a 2500 sq. ft plot can probably grow nuff food to feed a family of 4, not counting sweet corn and taters. At that size you could probably get by with a decent hose and sprinkler. Produce is best giving it enough water to think it got a drink about 2 times a week. Fairly shallow root system for the most part.  Over watering is as bad as not enough. The shade of green will tell ya when the plants need water. Dark green is a water signal or sometimes when leaves curl. Plant is trying to protect itself from too much sun usually. Look on the underside of leafs for aphid eggs. Small garden, spray plants from underneath with soapy water--melts the eggs.

If there is any interest I'll write a little news letter witha few do's an don'ts.  Milestones

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 21:33 | 763309 titatu
titatu's picture

As a non american, i do not understand, why all of you do not know, what the secretary of state of agriculture had as a former function, being ceo of monsanto.

So what do you expect?

You all vote again and again for this shit and complain on websites!

But the facto, you ae the guys who are responsible, so better start doing something, instead of just working on a computer to get some more money out of the shares of monsanto, bp, exxon etc

Sorry to be rude, thx

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 20:46 | 763205 Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Organic is king!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 20:36 | 763177 MountainMan
MountainMan's picture

My American brothers and sisters...please wake up and demand justice!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 20:05 | 763094 blindman
blindman's picture

http://ampedstatus.com/revolution-roundup-2-as-mass-rebellion-spreads-throughout-europe-americans-dance-with-the-stars

Revolution Roundup #2: As Mass Rebellion Spreads Throughout Europe, Americans Dance With The Stars
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:48 | 763045 blindman
blindman's picture

money system in decline, debt based, seeks satisfaction by

extraction, exploitation, in every nook and cranny.    same old,

just exponential in end game till the plug is pulled on the sick

machine of slavery via ponzi con game.  - private fiat currency.

just end it.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:30 | 762992 Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now's picture

One of the most interesting things I have learned recently is that chemtrails related to geo-engineering (using climate change as an excuse) have tested high levels of aluminum, barium, and strontium as residue on the ground.  This compound changes the acidity of soil and makes it poor for growing natural produce.

BUT, Monsanto has a new product out - seeds that are designed to be resistant to aluminum. 

A rumored Kissinger quote: "Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world. "

Combo HAARP and aluminum spraying could effect crop yields around the world - and therefore control the world.

If one can not grow heirloom seeds in their own back yard, that country would not be considered a free country.

Do not let them steal your privacy, identity, food, or shelter.  Megalomaniacs want all of that and more.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 18:46 | 762832 moofph
moofph's picture

...i'm beginning to wonder why we even need a federal government...or, is that what they want me to think?...either way, can we define our national parks as massive unregulated earth farms, since they do provide food and shelter for many living creatures and it would seem that living creatures surviving in their own habitat are enemies of the state and must be destroyed along with the destitute population brainwashed into submission by perverted tactics once thought of as tyrannical?

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:01 | 762883 Dr. Sandi
Dr. Sandi's picture

Figure out a way to make the withholding tax go away and the fed falls under its own weight.

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 18:15 | 762746 chopper read
chopper read's picture

THIS IS ALL ABOUT CONTROL.

the ruling elite do not wish for anyone to go 'off the grid' and engage in barter.  they do not wish country folk to grow their own crops and trade with neighbors, perhaps using gold and silver and intermediate stores of value. 

...disgusting.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:31 | 762997 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

the Law can only control 'commercial transactions',
they will not be able to control 'social interactions'.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 18:35 | 762794 puckles
puckles's picture

And they also want to make sure we are poisoned by GMO products, Roundup, etc.

I buy primarily organic to avoid this crap (as well as pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, etc.).  My primary source is Whole Foods.  If this bill passes, my guess is that Whole Foods either goes out of business, or begins lying to its customers.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 18:07 | 762721 LeBalance
LeBalance's picture

When this is implemented it will be done on a "Save Little Sally" basis.  Whatever the scenario you will be cursed and vilified and betrayed by people in your neighborhood and possibly your significant other for daring to "grow food" and "put little Sally in Danger."

LOL!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:47 | 762662 Whatta
Whatta's picture

underground economy anybody?

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:45 | 762634 LeBalance
LeBalance's picture

GW, On 12/31/2009 Codex Alimentarus (CA) went into affect for the United States.  That was at the Treaty level under the WTO.  These US bills in the CONgress are merely the symptoms of CA. Since treaties are above sovereign law, CA is the law of the US.  It is the US's responsibility now to implement and comply with CA under WTO because if the US has a trade issue with another country to be heard by the WTO, each country's compliance with CA will be compared.  The country more compliant wins the issue, without looking at the issue.

SB.510 and the House version are merely local infections of an issue that has already been decided.  As in it is over already.

Here is a four part video on CA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spoucYXa3-A

:) LB

edit: Looks like we have some trolls: so here's some troll repellant:

"In case you have not read it, Pages 184 to 188 of this S.510 Food Safety bill pdf http://help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/WHI10337.pdf  is very disconcerting to many many American People.

Section 305 (c) (5) of the Food Safety bill raises many questions.  "Section 305. Building Capacity of Foreign Governments with Respect to Food Safety ... (c) The plan developed under subsection (a) shall include, as appropriate, the following:

... (5) Recommendations on whether and how to harmonize requirements under the Codex Alimentarius."

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:38 | 762628 Milestones
Milestones's picture

I would suggest that anyone interested in gardening start thinking about buying non hybrid seed from your source soon . I have previously farmed up to twenty acres of produce (20,000 tomato plants etc.) and the seed prices are going up incredibly.

If there are some who would like a little help let me know. It's been awhile but some of the knowledge has stuck around. Trust me, it's a little more involved than sticking a seed in the ground and sprinkling a little water on it once in awhile.    Milestones

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:46 | 762657 malusDiaz
malusDiaz's picture

I'm working a garden but, woefully unexperienced

 

roscoecasita at gmail dot com.

 

-I've got my 25 fruit trees, some planted, some about to be. 

 

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 23:46 | 763506 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

and take a hard look at perennial vegetables and those that self seed easily. Take a look at the amazing wide variey of edible plants. Check the PFAF link I posted above. For proteins, Quinoa is an amazing source of amino acids and incredibly easy to grow. So are a wide variety of greens. Asian greens include some very winter hardy stuff. Also rec trying to grow four seasons. take a look at techniques by Elliot Coleman. ALso like the "Bountiful Gardens" site for a wide variety of heirlooms and other good stuff

This is an interesting new org helping anyone who wants to garden

http://www.dinnergarden.org/

Tue, 11/30/2010 - 11:58 | 764464 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

speaking of winter gardening, found this interactive instruction of the 'hugelkultur' technique.   quite easy to do and will keep the soil warm.

http://student.vfs.com/~dd07simon/flash_t2/preloader.html

also this:

http://www.krameterhof.at/en/index.php?id=videos

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 18:07 | 762718 flattrader
flattrader's picture

Try this site--

http://www.survivalistseeds.com/Home_Page.php

The site has excellent general gardening info.

And GW, some of us have been fighting SB 510 for weeks and weeks.

 

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:22 | 762558 Yardfarmer
Yardfarmer's picture

nice try GW but corporate lobbyists and campaign financiers pull all the strings in D.C. Probably all we can do at this point is join like-minded people in the underground economy they're trying to eliminate and try to evade the various mass arenas sprouting rapidly proliferating chokepoints intended to funnel the cattle onto the killing floor. on some level it's either organized resistance or death.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:50 | 762678 LeBalance
LeBalance's picture

"corporate lobbyists and campaign financiers pull all the strings in D.C."

You might want to upgrade your DC machine function to something more like:

**They do nothing in D.C. except conduct a big show and circle jerk.  All the laws are written for them and even their daily itinerary and their speeches are as well.  What Barney Frank does with his fwee time is pretty normal for the group as they were picked for their tendencies.**

The "work" of running the kabuki is done by the CFR, the TLC, and the various think tanks and foundations.

Or maybe I am missing something in my diet.

Tue, 11/30/2010 - 00:13 | 763648 chopper read
chopper read's picture

THE UNITED STATES: the most Un-American place on the globe.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:11 | 762517 Not Sure
Not Sure's picture

Did any of you actually read the bill before commenting?

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:21 | 762556 Millivanilli
Millivanilli's picture

Yes, and it clearly imposes codex alimentarius which spells the end of heirloom seed banks, and all farming practices that favor organic food production.   

 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 22:28 | 763423 RockyRacoon
RockyRacoon's picture

They'll have to pry my heirloom seeds from my dirt encrusted fingernails!

Tue, 11/30/2010 - 00:09 | 763636 chopper read
chopper read's picture

oligarchial fascists OWN our lawbooks.  i'm in a perpetual state of boiling anger.  this is the most Un-American place on the globe!!!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:18 | 762540 RockyRacoon
RockyRacoon's picture

Hell no!  We just grab the pitchforks and torches and follow the mob.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:59 | 762475 Millivanilli
Millivanilli's picture

FUCK THE GOVERNMENT.   Most of those WANKERS have hands shoved so far up their asses walking must terribly uncomfortable.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:56 | 762462 Fernley Girl
Fernley Girl's picture

The Victory Garden

The Survival Garden

The Resistance Garden

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 22:49 | 763461 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

I call mine "the defeat" garden 

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:45 | 763036 TheSettler
Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:55 | 762455 QQQBall
QQQBall's picture

We're d00med. Corporate Kleptocracy -

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:48 | 762398 DosZap
DosZap's picture

Done BOTH Senators, and while your at it, those of you that are employed, might want to call, and DEMAND the Senate not take away the exeption for your employee health benefits tax.

Austerity #1 goal( you GOTTA be kiddin me!).

Alan Simpson is a fag, that SOB is a member of the I GOT MINE CLUB,they are not content that a 25% increase just got passed to nearly all employees because of Ostupids Health Scam costs.

Now their STARTING the cuts (again) with the few left employed.

Bastards.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:34 | 762299 greenewave
greenewave's picture

To find out more about the Imminent Collapse of American Capitalism, watch this video " WIKILEAKS,  QE GAZILLION,  OBAMA'S FAT LIP,  AMERICA DEAD !! at (http://youtu.be/N0fRlwL2pnQ).

by Anonymous

Most likely this is so they can justify censoring the internet.

Your right about the banks, they should have? failed, now they are taking over everything with our money.

Anyway, America has had at least 3 major depressions.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:32 | 762281 cossack55
cossack55's picture

George, George, George,

Surely (please don't call me Shirley...tribute to Leslie) you know by now that nothing, and I mean f*ckin NOTHING that comes out of DC is good, except maybe lethal levels of radiation.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:16 | 762186 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

This may do us all a great favor. It may create a huge local food market. The FEDS cannot be everywhere. Tough for people in the city, it will eliminate good sources of food for urban dwellers. 

How do you like that totalitarianism now folks? Had enough of repression? Trust your "representatives" to look out for your interests? 

There is a solution: Black Markets, silver coinage and no taxes paid.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:29 | 762262 cossack55
cossack55's picture

Maybe you meant:

"The FEDS cannot be everywhere safely."

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:40 | 762358 Sean7k
Sean7k's picture

That's the dream!

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:27 | 762244 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

little did the greenturds realize how true this meme: 'green is the new black.'

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:22 | 762180 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

love the use of maritime law in this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBjRUQLE5Uo

Blogger Steve Green interprets the S 510 smuggling language to mean:
"It would allow the government, under Maritime Law, to define the introduction of any food into commerce (even direct sales between individuals) as smuggling into "the United States." Since under that law, the US is a corporate entity and not a location, "entry of food into the US" covers food produced anywhere within the land mass of this country and "entering into" it by virtue of being produced."

(this intrepretation is questionable, if the US is a corporate entity, then it would seem that you only enter it through "commerce".   'gifts' would thus technically not enter USA Inc.)

your tax dollars at work, raw milk edition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uxb8Ma3OgQ

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 23:58 | 763614 chopper read
chopper read's picture


JACK-BOOTED FEDS AT WAR AGAINST FREE PEOPLE!: Raiding local farmers markets?!!! With GUNS DRAWN?!!! ...assaulting liberty in order to serve the ponzi pyramid of the oligarchial fascists. What have we become?

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:15 | 762163 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

Fine.  If all growing is going to be outlawed, I'll just switch from Better Boy and Early Girl to "Earth Friendly Hemp" and watch the ROI Fing skyrocket.

Or we can skip the maters and start eating Long Pork.  As I've said many times before, the desk pilots are marbled the finest, almost like veal.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 16:10 | 762135 Whatta
Whatta's picture

they'll pry my 'mater seeds from one cold dead hand and from the other an emptied 9mm.

and, my TX senators voted against the Idiotic Bill, though I contacted them again.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 17:15 | 762531 RockyRacoon
RockyRacoon's picture

I swap veggies amongst some friends.  We grow different items so we get a variety.

I'll be hornswaggled if I let the goons meddle in my garden.

They can kiss my heirloom ass.

The real folks who will be hurt will be the locals who sell at our assorted farmer's markets, and we have enough trade at those venues to be concerned about.

Mon, 11/29/2010 - 19:39 | 763017 tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

"I swap veggies amongst some friends.  We grow different items so we get a variety."

that's one way to do an end around, go straight up communism on their ass.  imagine what the libs will think when they discover tea party veggie swaps?

classic.

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