Re: Only positive feedback

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jane, that was very well said.

it's so easy to throw stones, and yet so many farmers that I know are on a

continuum of

changing the paradigm and all they need is support, not criticism and

negativity. They quite

ofen know where they want to end up but just need the help and support to get

there.

Much of the new blood being pumped into farming these days is coming from

CONSUMERS.

Once the clear call goes out for a product, be it raw milk, 100% grass-fed meat

or organic,

the market will rise to meet the need. This is the most exciting thing in

farming these days.

America has more people in prison than we have farmers. The average age of the

American

farmer has risen to 58 and it's going up. We need to keep the support up for NEW

farmers,

the new paradigm and the new willingness to financially support this new breed

of farmer.

Will

[Guest guest]

If the farmer you mentioned, who's had trouble with the dept of

agriculture, is the one I think he is- a personal friend of mine, in

fact- he has never been mentioned by name on this site, so I don't

think this site has been a source of trouble for him.

Emilie

>

> In light of what happened in regard to Sweetland Farm, lots of

feelings emerge in situations like that because people know each

other, do business with each other and develop relationships. I

don't want to beat a dead horse but I don't think this is a dead

horse. It HAS happened before but when it happened, it was about

farmers most of you do not know so there was no emotional response,

except for me. When it was suggested that one of our farmers was

using Round Up and that she should not have been invited to the swap,

I became very emotional because I knew she did not use Round Up and

although I was not the one who invited her to the swap, I felt she

had every right to come. I worried that somebody would make her feel

unwelcomed or make her feel bad in some way. I also worried that she

probably would not sell much after that (and in her opinion, she

didn't). Another farmer also was criticized on this site for not

having his cows 100% grass fed. This farmer was told by the

Department of Agriculture to stop selling raw milk but he told me he

was going to continue anyway because too many people were telling him

that they were getting well with his milk.

> It may be a good idea for us to agree not to talk about any

negative ideas, practices, or what may have happened with farmers on

this site. It should be up to the individual consumer to ask the

farmer what he/she feeds the animals or any other questions they may

have. If problems arise, perhaps the best way to resolve it is

directly with the farmer, not in a group of over 500 people. Or,

perhaps an individual may want to send a personal e-mail to somebody

and ask questions. That way, over 500 people will not get the wrong

impression. I know you are probably all tired of hearing about this,

but we will not resolve a problem by denying it exists or by saying

it has never happened before. This is a great group and nobody wants

to hurt anybody. It just happens when you deal with other human

beings. We have all at some time or another, complained because we

felt in some way we were not treated the way we thought we should

have been. That's why I think we should be careful not to say

anything at all about farmers other then to say what they sell. Jane

>

>