Hens in the Hood

[Kay]

Too bad they won't let us be a bit more self-sufficient for those of us who choose not to eat the chemical laced Frankenfood in the supermarkets put there by your friendly neighbor big industrialized agriculture. Yeah, I guess we can go to Whole Foods & pay up the ass for an organic tomato like its some kind of elitist treat, but shouldn't they all be organic??

Cubans can grow their own food on their land (or abandoned land lots they've commandeered), anywhere (doesn't have to be a farm). Can be right in the city. Yeah, they have to give a lot of it to the Gov for distribution so others can eat (it is a communist country after all), but still. The option here would be nice & we could learn a thing or two from them.


It takes about 9 minutes to clean a chicken...from the yard to the oven in 14minutes with herbs and potatoes..mmm good....

It doesn't seem like our governments wants its people to be too far from their teet & wants us all to be reliant on their system for everything we do. There have been a lot of swat team raids lately on people's farms who are selling raw milk, cheeses & other items. I don't know the exact circumstances surrounding them, but they're def doing it.

So in the end, I think they may give us a chicken or two to shut some people up, but they'll never allow people to be 100% self-sustaining like they should. Watch the documentary Food Inc if you haven't already for an eye opener as to why.

Have you tried Grassroots in Riverside?  They've got organic, including meat without drugs.

[Garden guy]

I have...great resource and nice people.

[peestandingup]

Yes I have, Kay. Thank you. And I do like them a lot. I was mostly just using Whole Foods as the example because they're the prominent organic market that most people can relate to. But Grassroots are indeed expensive too. Not because they want to be, but because they have to be. Therein lies the problem.

I guess my point was that those places really shouldn't have to exist at all & that organic (natural foods free from pesticides, hormones, & God knows what else) should just be "the way". So not only is it not "the way", it costs an arm & a leg to actually eat REAL food these days. And to top it off, they won't let most people grow it themselves or have animals, so thats pretty f'ed up.

Giant corporations & big government really does run our lives. Its sad.

[Garden guy]

You are right about that...mom and pop grocers left us many years ago. My grand parents ran a small river grocery in the 30's and 40's and they were supplied by local growers...those days are long gone and probably will not every come back unless we start valuing things differently. A local small grower can't make any money selling fresh veg when the large corps have the price soo low...how does that change?

[uptowngirl]

Speaking of growing and raising your own organic food in the backyard is not the same as even buying organic food at the local health food store. I shop there for certain items...but getting closer to your food and being ultimately more self sunstainable has nothing to do with the local health food store- good plug though :-)

Try raising and growing your own food- everyone should understand where it comes from and how it is done. It is educational, and cool :-)

[avs]

how does that change?

The corps have government subsidies, the prices people pay for "organic" food are higher because small farmers don't get these subsidies.  What you pay for food in small groceries like Grassroots is the REAL cost to produce that food, unsubsidized.  Not to mention the cost associated with hauling organic tomatoes from California over here so people can eat organic tomatoes year round.

People have to put their money where their mouth is.  If we want to eat organic then we have to pay the REAL cost associated with producing the food and/or pressure Washington to subsidize the smaller farmers.  An alternative to all of this of course, is to grow our own (zoning laws amended - again, government has to be pressured to act in our interest) and/or purchase food from local farmers at farmer's markets.  And when you buy from a farmer's market make sure you are buying from the farmer, not another middle man.  There are several middle men still at some of the farmer's markets around town.  Ask before you buy.  If you buy directly from the farmer you will get a better quality, lower price, and you will be contributing to the local economy and your overall health.  Also, open your pallet and eat seasonally.  You will get better nutrition and your menu will change with the seasons opening  up more creative menues.

[Garden guy]

I have'nt bought a veg from a store in several years...i can grow just about anything i want but it does upset me so to see these small farms just shutting down because they can't make money...subsidized farming is forcing farmers to grow nothing but corn and fuel crops...it's rediculous...the small guys are the ones that need the help...is'nt subsidizing corn growers like giving tax breaks for a mulitbillion dollar oil comany?....i guess it's the same thing as asking why do we give uneven tax breaks for only the most wealthy...just doesnt make sense...they say it's to help keep things stable but it does'nt and never has...i've got a bit of an attitude about growers who have gave in and take the cash help instead of doing the right thing and actually growing something we can eat.

BTW...i have a serama roo that needs a new home...he's about 3 months old and millefleur....any takers just let me know..

[Dog Walker]

BTW...i have a serama roo

I guess if you have to ask you wouldn't be interested.

[avs]

is'nt subsidizing corn growers like giving tax breaks for a mulitbillion dollar oil comany?

ain't that the truth

[peestandingup]

There's also another big problem with the system we have in place, and this is something not many people talk about. What if our economy got much worse, spiraled outta control & we fell into a deep dark depression where hyperinflation became so bad that a loaf of bread ended up costing like $10?? And don't say that could never happen. Its happened to all kinds of countries, even big ones. And if we keep going on our path of massive debt & unsustainability, it'll eventually happen to us too. Its just taking longer because we're such a big country & our currency is sorta the global standard.

Anyways, my point is that we'd be total f*cked because no one knows how to grow anything or do anything for themselves. At least during the Great Depression people knew how to take care of themselves, many MANY more things were local, etc. We sure don't have anything like that now.

[urbanlibertarian]

I say we just get rid of the USDA and the FDA and let consumers buy what they want from whomever they want.

[Dog Walker]

I say we just get rid of the USDA and the FDA and let consumers buy what they want from whomever they want.

And let Darwinism have its way?

[Garden guy]

There's also another big problem with the system we have in place, and this is something not many people talk about. What if our economy got much worse, spiraled outta control & we fell into a deep dark depression where hyperinflation became so bad that a loaf of bread ended up costing like $10?? And don't say that could never happen. Its happened to all kinds of countries, even big ones. And if we keep going on our path of massive debt & unsustainability, it'll eventually happen to us too. Its just taking longer because we're such a big country & our currency is sorta the global standard.

Anyways, my point is that we'd be total f*cked because no one knows how to grow anything or do anything for themselves. At least during the Great Depression people knew how to take care of themselves, many MANY more things were local, etc. We sure don't have anything like that now.

You are right..we have a population who does'nt even what to touch dirt much less grow something. We have gone from 40% of our workforce having something or other to do with agriculture in the 30's and 40's to about 4% today. Large corporations have taken our food source and ruined it.  Our cities have defunded public education so ag is'nt even taught in any schools...much less shop class. Yes...our population is completely unprepared to help itself as far as growing its own food.  And oh..btw... Anyone with true Araucana out there?

[avs]

Anyone with true Araucana out there

I have 3 Americanas, part Araucana.  The interesting thing about those birds is that they won't lay in factory-like conditions.  They HAVE to be outside in sunshine to lay.  That is why blue/green eggs have never been commercialized - they can't be.  But that is also how you know you are getting a truly free-ranged egg

[uptowngirl]

I have an Araucana....she lays beautiful Blue eggs and quite tasty too. She is one of the prettiest birds we have.