Food Freedom

Nezzeta gave us a great shirt that has the words "Support your local farmer" with a woodcut image on the front. I love that shirt because it helps remind me that with agriculture we've been able to move so far beyond that state in society. Food makes the world go round, and it keeps us moving.

Jed and I recently were introduced to the local Grange, through a purchase of some of our latest sheep. We've attended two meetings and it reminded me of another society that we're in. Most of the members are in their 80's and we're considered the "young crowd" by most of their standards. There were more people last night than at the open house night, but that was mostly because the state president of the CA Grange was attending to discuss writing up a proposal for the food freedom act.

What is this Food Freedom you ask? Well, some towns in Maine have passed propositions to allow for what they are Food Freedoms. This means that you can buy your produce from any local farmer. If I would like to purchase raw milk from a local dairy I would be able to go to a local farmer and just purchase it without them having to go through all the regulations and building code enforcements in order to provide me with that milk. Likewise if I would like to go to one of my neighbors and purchase corn from them, I would be able to go over and just purchase the produce from him. This all sounds like common sense, but it is against the law, locally, state wide, and federally. Because there could be a possibility of contamination or disease we as gardeners would not be able to provide or gift people with our produce. It makes sense in a big picture sort of way, but it also looks ridiculous if you start thinking that we're unable to give friends or family any eggs, fruit, vegetables, or meat because then we would be in violation of our laws.

What can be done? The local Granges are currently recruiting and looking for people who are interested in promoting gardening, farming, and ranching, or even if you're just food sympathetic. We would like to get the word out that we should have control of where we get our food. That we can even *gasp* grow our own food and be able to share with those we love and would like to share our bounty with. As an added plus, if you join the Grange in April then it is a free yearly membership (normally $30) so that you can have a free year to see if you like the organization.

Even if you don't want to join, help out your local farmers, learn how you can start your own garden, raise your own chickens, supplement your produce with things that you helped grow, or just help those that are working towards those goals. Learn about where your food comes from and how it effects your health.

Just do me a favor and for one day look at the food you are eating and think about where it came from, what it took to get it to your plate, and how that is affecting your world.