Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 What State? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 I'm in Alaska Rhea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 >Geese - can anyone tell me how they go about plucking their geese? I'm not a food producer and I've never plucked a domestic goose, so I hesitated to answer. But I've plucked lots of birds ... my first chicken took about 3 hours, the second took 1, and the third took about 20 minutes. A lot of it was experience. Plucking immediately seemed to help, but I got some ducks that had been in the back of someone's truck all day and they plucked rather easily. So there might be something to letting them " age " . Most producers would probably tell you that they should be processed IMMEDIATELY though (for health reasons) but I know that they did in fact used to hang for a few days " for tenderness " . The folks that hunt ducks a lot don't bother with the wings ... I think the wing feathers are the worst. I used pliers because I wanted to save the feathers, then I pulled one at a time. The pinfeathers are awful too, I think singeing (as you did) is the way to go. Or maybe one of those epilady hair pullers ;-) There is an outfit near me that will process chickens for $1 each -- they have a machine. I've been tempted, but I don't know if they do geese. Also they want a large batch at once. >Selling - can anyone tell me, or point me towards, information on the >legalities of selling raw kraut, raw milk, and raw yogurt? I did write one >woman who had posted about selling her raw yoghurt and kraut, but she didn't >write back. Depends on your state. I don't think kraut is much of a problem, there are some raw kraut producers, but in general selling ANYTHING to eat involves health inspections etc. Raw milk is a hot topic as you've no doubt seen on this list! In my state it is legal but involves a lot of rules. >We want to go from providing food for our family to providing food for >others. Are there any organizations that support small farms, that are >interested in seeing agriculure land remain agriculture? We recently viewed >a homestead farm that has come up for sale and it is typical of what is >going on here. It is 160 acres with old farm house and falling down barn >and pasture that hasn't been used as a pasture in years - and the children >who have inheritted it are asking $355,000. It will, as usual, be bought by >a developer who will divide it up int 1.5 acres parcels (some will be as >large as 5 acres! <choke>) and they will be sold with CCRs that keep one >from raising so much as a chicken! I wonder how much it would cost to hire a farmer, at least for the summer? Farming is a full time job, but our local guy does a huge lot all by himself, with some help for weeding and picking. If a group went together and hired someone to do the tilling, planting etc. then divided and sold the produce, it could be a good deal. He sells his to upscale restaurants and at farmers markets. I'd think there might be a market in fermented vegies too. There are government agencies that can give you the info for your state. Also granges. And the local 4H is a good bet. Starting out with raw milk though is a BIG step, I'd start with something less controversial (our local guy sells a lot of lettuce! We go down the hill, get a bag washed, picked that day, for $2.50 which is lunch. Soooo yummy. We buy shares in advance so anyone can go down and fetch lunch without needing pocket change. -- Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 Rhea, This link is from a Michigan Org, but they may lead you somewhere... http://www.moffa.org/weblinks.htm Re: FOOD PRODUCERS > I'm in Alaska > > Rhea > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 >> We want to go from providing food for our family to providing food for >> others. Are there any organizations that support small farms, that >> are >> interested in seeing agriculure land remain agriculture? Look into Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). One good site: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/ Type the term into google and you will be rewarded with dozens of links. Another very interesting site (though run by vegetarians--don't hold it against them, these folks are really super): http://www.path-to-freedom.com/ Lynn S. ----- Lynn Siprelle * Writer, Mother, Programmer, Fiber Artisan The New Homemaker: http://www.newhomemaker.com/ Siprelle & Associates: http://www.siprelle.com/ People-Powered ! http://www.deanforamerica.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 26, 2003 Report Share Posted September 26, 2003 You may already know this but if you don't....I buy my chickens from a family farm that has 7 kids (1 teen and the rest younger)They take orders for the chickens 4 times during the summer. They kill and clean all the chickens as a family in one day and use something that looks like an old fashioned wringer washing machine without the wringers that takes the feathers off! Cleanest chickens I have ever seen! ~Del > I know I have seen posts on here from people who are producing food and > selling it, but maybe they don't read the posts all the time, thus my nice, > large, to the point subject header. : ) > > Geese - can anyone tell me how they go about plucking their geese? > > Selling - can anyone tell me, or point me towards, information on the > legalities of selling raw kraut, raw milk, and raw yogurt? I did write one > woman who had posted about selling her raw yoghurt and kraut, but she didn't > write back. > > I have read Salatin's book on chickens, I understand that he is selling live > birds and throwing in the cleaning as a gift. I've also learned that as a > small farm we can sell our chicken eggs. But what about milk, cream, > yoghurts, kraut, and cheeses? (I know, cheese is very regulated, but we've > a friend here talking dreamily of a woman he knew in the lower 48 who made > goat milk cheese all year long and then sold it all at craft fairs. It > sounds great - but risky! How does one supply the homefarm raw cheeses, and > protect oneself legally?) > > We want to go from providing food for our family to providing food for > others. Are there any organizations that support small farms, that are > interested in seeing agriculure land remain agriculture? We recently viewed > a homestead farm that has come up for sale and it is typical of what is > going on here. It is 160 acres with old farm house and falling down barn > and pasture that hasn't been used as a pasture in years - and the children > who have inheritted it are asking $355,000. It will, as usual, be bought by > a developer who will divide it up int 1.5 acres parcels (some will be as > large as 5 acres! <choke>) and they will be sold with CCRs that keep one > from raising so much as a chicken! > > The 160 acre farm across from the house we rent, has been subdivided into > 1 - 1.5 acres lots, has CCRs out the wazoo to protect the city folk that are > buying the lots, and has caused our lease to be changed because the owner of > that development doesn't want people looking out and seeing our chickens and > geese! (Sorry for the rant!) > > So we are looking and looking for land of our own, and finding it so > discouraging. > > Where do I go to find the information I need on selling raw and selling > grass fed meat? > > Thanks SO much, > Rhea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 > Look into Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). One good site: > > http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/ Another great resource for CSAs is: http://www.localharvest.org/ Local Harvest is also a great resource for farmer's markets, healthy restaurants, and all sorts of natural online goodies. I've found most of my local producers through this site, including my CSA share this year. CSA programs are great - I cannot recommend them highly enough! Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 27, 2003 Report Share Posted September 27, 2003 Hi Del, Just curious where you get your chickens from. Sounds very much like my brother's family and their setup. (Jehovah-Jirah Farm close to Dickerson, MD -- www.jehovahjirehfarm.com) Fern Re: FOOD PRODUCERS > You may already know this but if you don't....I buy my chickens from > a family farm that has 7 kids (1 teen and the rest younger)They take > orders for the chickens 4 times during the summer. They kill and > clean all the chickens as a family in one day and use something that > looks like an old fashioned wringer washing machine without the > wringers that takes the feathers off! Cleanest chickens I have ever > seen! > > ~Del Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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