Farmer's market sequel

Gonna go to the farmer's market again tomorrow! We'll be better prepared with sunscreen, an umbrella, a sun hat, and more documents for folks to read, even handouts! Super official. Then after that I have a meeting with another alderman on her front porch. Local government for the win! I'm still a little amazed that with myself, Erick, and a small group of friends I've met through this blog that we've been able to get this far! I want to thank John for camping out with me last week, and a thank you in advance to Matt for hunkering down with me tomorrow! It should be fun, this farmer's market offers a TON of yummy stuff, especially the cheese man. Erick is straight up addicted. Can't wait!

The meeting

     Just got done meeting with my alderman. It actually went well! He seems like he's not going to the mattresses for it quite yet, but he's interested. He wants to look over everything I gave him and he'll contact me again. I also left him a book to read called "Green Barbarians" it's really informative and interesting, and if he likes "Omnivore's Dilemma" I'm sure he'll like this. 
     I'm glad I did my homework, he asked a ton of questions, and thankfully I had solid answers for most of them. I also floated out the idea that if people are apprehensive about it that I could run a pilot program in my yard, and they can come observe for themselves that these animals are not a hinderance but a beneficial force for our town.  He then said I could be a politician. Imagine, me, with a sporty pantsuit and megaphone? Free puppies for everyone! Friday's are city wide hug days!  Hemp everywhere! I'm pretty sure I'd get run out of town. 

You've destroyed the ring? Good. Now fill out these forms and we can
begin the approval of the approval process. 

    His biggest concern is the resistance people will have to this. They'll say they don't want loud smelly hens in their neighborhoods, but once I think we take the time to explain that five hens are no louder or messier than your average dog (one of which is losing it's shit across the street as I type, how ironic), people will get on board. 
     He also suggested I speak with other aldermen, so I'm going to be contacting the 3rd and 6th ward aldermen, because I need three to bring this to the city council? Then I have to take the one ring to Mount Doom. Then we'll see how that goes and take it from there. 

Monsanto corn not as bugproof as once thought

Widely grown corn plants that Monsanto Co. genetically modified to thwart a voracious bug are falling prey to that very pest in a few Iowa fields, the first time a major Midwest scourge has developed resistance to a genetically modified crop.

The discovery raises concerns that the way some farmers are using biotech crops could spawn superbugs.

Iowa State University entomologist Aaron Gassmann's discovery that western corn rootworms in four northeast Iowa fields have evolved to resist the natural pesticide made by Monsanto's corn plant could encourage some farmers to switch to insect-proof seeds sold by competitors of the St. Louis crop biotechnology giant, and to return to spraying harsher synthetic insecticides on their fields.

"These are isolated cases, and it isn't clear how widespread the problem will become," said Dr. Gassmann in an interview. "But it is an early warning that management practices need to change."

No kidding! But instead of switching away from monoculture their version of change is:

The finding adds fuel to the race among crop biotechnology rivals to locate the next generation of genes that can protect plants from insects. Scientists at Monsanto and Syngenta AG of Basel, Switzerland, are already researching how to use a medical breakthrough called RNA interference to, among other things, make crops deadly for insects to eat. If this works, a bug munching on such a plant could ingest genetic code that turns off one of its essential genes.

....What could go wrong? You can read the entire article here

Also, they've greenlit the sale of genetically modified sweet corn.

Monsanto Co. (MON), the world’s biggest vegetable seed maker, said it will begin selling genetically modified sweet corn in the U.S. this year, the first product it has developed for the consumer market.

The sweet corn seeds are engineered to kill insects living above and below ground and to tolerate applications of the company’s Roundup herbicide, Consuelo Madere, Monsanto vice president for vegetables, told reporters at company headquarters in St. Louis today. They will be introduced to growers serving the U.S. fresh corn market starting in the autumn, she said.

So. Yeah. Shit. 

You can read the full article here

I wish I could knit!

From geekosystem.com/chicken-sweaters/

When the chickens used on commercial farms are past their prime, some farms will simply sell off their birds for slaughter. However, some birds find their way into the hands of groups like theLittle Hen Rescue, who step in and find homes for these birds.

Unfortunately, the hens aren’t always in the best shape when they reach the rescue. Often times, the practice of farming chickens leaves the birds bald, stressed, and sick. To help readjust these birds to life outside the confines of commercial farms, the rescue fits the bald birds with (adorable little) sweaters to keep them warm. That’s where the knitters in our audience come in. Little Hen Rescue has posted a pattern for the jackets and is encouraging anyone willing to help to knit and donate sweaters for a rescued bird.

Read on below for the pattern, or get it directly from the Little Hen Rescue.

From the Little Hen Rescue:

Double knitting yarn (100g makes approximately 3 jumpers)

2 buttons or 10cm Velcro

1 pair of number 8 (4mm) knitting needles

4mm crochet hook

Knitted in stocking stitch with garter stitch borders

Cast on 41 sts,

Work 4 rows K

Increase for tabs;

Cast on 10 sts at beginning of next row, k14, p to last 4 sts, k4.

Cast on 10 sts at beginning of next row, k14, p to last 14sts, k14.

Work buttonholes; (work these 2 rows straight if using Velcro).

(K2, yf k2tog) 3 times, work to end keeping edges in garter st.

Repeat this row for buttonholes on the other tab.

Cast off 10 sts at beginning of next row.

Next row – cast off 10 sts, k4, p2 tog, p to last 6 sts, p2tog, k4.

Dec 1 st at each end on every fol 6th row until 25 sts remain.

Divide for neck;

Work 11 sts, cast off 3, work to end – complete this half first.

1) k4, p to end

2) cast off 2, k to end

3) k4, p to end

4) k2tog, k to end

5) k4, p2tog, p to end

Work 4 rows straight

10) K to last 5 sts, inc in next st, k4.

11) K4, p to last st, inc in next st.

12) Cast on 2 sts, k to end, (11sts)

13) K4, p to end

14) K

Break yarn and rejoin to the other side of neck.

Work to match, reversing shaping’s and ending at winghole edge.

Next row – k, cast on 3, k across sts from other side of neck.

Next row , k4 inc in next st, p to last 5 sts, inc in next st, k4.

Inc 1 st at each end of every fol 6th row until there are 41 sts on the needle.

Work 6 rows straight.

Change to gst and knit 4 rows.

Cast off.

Sew on buttons or Velcro as desired.

Work double crochet around neck.

Once you’ve completed your sweater, you can mail it to the Little Hen Rescue at:

Little Hen Rescue

The Stables

Greenways

Norwich

NR15 1QL

International postage rates will apply.

(Little Hen Rescue via Craft, Thanks, Snoozy!)

Jitters

Tomorrow's the day! I'm meeting with the alderman at 10:30. Despite being well prepared I am very nervous. I wish we still had some of that Minnesota vodka left. Damn.

Aside from the proposal and the petitions, I'm also bringing several articles with to emphasize what I've written, that the hens are quiet, safe, and beneficial.



Here are the links to the articles if anyone is interested:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/salmonella-risk-in-backyard-chicken-eggs/

http://www.sailzora.com/Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm#disease
(to clear up concerns about disease)

http://www.cityofbatavia.net/content/articlefiles/8481-CDD%20Chicken%20Coop-%20May%202011wReg.pdf
(to show a model of how we can carry out our own chicken legislation)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/279937/the_benefits_of_backyard_eggs_eggs.html?cat=5
(the benefits of hens)

Wish me luck! 

Booze!

Best. Vodka. Ever.

Here at holly house, we love booze. I used to bar tend, and Erick is just a connoisseur of vodka. Normally we hit up a local liquor store for the supplies for our two person dance party, but the other day we wandered into the liquor section of my favorite grocery store that shall not be named.


Holy. Shit.


Now, not to bash our local watering hole, but it didn't have shit on this place. There were so many locally made types of booze I got a little giddy. There was regional vodka from Minnesota, there were wines made right here in Illinois, corn whisky from I think Kentucky? (It came in a mason jar!)  We settled on a bottle of May wine from an in state winery and a bottle of Minnesota made vodka. Before we'd gotten some vodka that tasted like lighter fluid and piss, I won't name it because I'm a nice person, but it was awful. This stuff...man oh man. Normally I'm not much for vodka, but I can tell you, that was the best screwdriver I'd ever mixed. My wine was also delish. It was a white wine with woodruff, it had a kind of fruity flavor I couldn't quite place but it reminded me of something I used to eat at a kid.

But now, the dilemma. Do you shop at a local liquor store that mainly has alcohol that's not local, or a chain liquor store that has a huge variety of local and organic booze? 

On a lighter note

All work and no play makes hannah a dull girl! A little while back I posted that while my rabbits have flea meds I decided to let them out into the garden, what ensued was pure adorableness. The girls did squabble at first but they soon settled into their happy little nooks around the garden. With all the chicken madness sweeping my house, it's nice to take a breather and look at cute photos of bunnies!

FINISH HIM!

Facebook

Due to some people on facebook asking, I've made a page on facebook for people to voice their opinions, suggestions, and encouragement. If you're plugged in, feel free to drop by! I'm going to see if I can get an online petition going for people to sign. I'm completely blown away by how supportive everyone has been!  Thank you guys so much! 

Signature gathering at the farmer's market

Wow! What a day. I spent four hours sitting out at the farmer's market and gathered 59 signatures! The response was mainly positive, the organizer of the FM was there and she was incredibly welcoming and supportive. The booth next to ours had two women who were the first to sign! My friend John and I did the first shift, and when John left for work Erick came and hunkered down with me. We met a ton of really nice people, and some rather interesting folks as well. I was thrilled to meet another young couple who are also planning their own mini homestead. It's so encouraging to see you're not the lone weirdo in town!

What I wasn't expecting though, was how rude some people were going to be. I had people laugh in my face, throw sarcasm, and one elderly woman even got in my face in a completely uncalled for tantrum, and I'm ashamed to admit after she bitched me out and stalked off, I broke into tears. It was so uncalled for and unnecessary, I didn't lose my temper but I'm so glad Erick was there, as she stalked off he told her what she did was really uncalled for, and she just harumphed and scuttled faster.  There were people who told me they didn't want to sign my petition (only about four of those who actually came up and spoke with me) and that's fine. Having hens in your yard isn't for everyone. But we as citizens deserve the right to raise our own food, if we do it in a responsible way with a neighborly attitude. All in all, even with the barbs hurled and the snide remarks from cranks, for every rude person who refused to even hear what I had to say, there were ten willing to accept what I had to say and be supportive. To my joy I even saw a few who noticed my sign from other booths and beelined straight to my table to sign.

I think it was a day well spent, tomorrow I'm taking a few petitions to shops around town and asking to hang them. My goal is to reach 100 signatures by tuesday. I think with these in arm, as well as my proposal and articles backing up my proposal, I think I'll be able to get my alderman on board. Hopefully he won't laugh at my awesome new sunburn!

Guess where I forgot to put sunscreen? 

Not a glove. Just an aaawful tan line. 

Official like a ref with a whistle

Pieced together with a little free clipart and a wee bit of photoshop, there's now a logo to go on our petition for the farmer's market Thursday! Is anyone else a little giddy? I really think there's a possibility of actually getting hens in Dekalb! I'm sure it'll take a while and probably more than a few headaches, but I think people could truly benefit from a chance at some food security. Weeee!



And yes, it is meant to be a joke:

Try and look professional.

"I could meet on Tuesday, August 30 at 10:30am at my office in downtown DeKalb.  Does that work for you?"

http://think.faesthetic.com/archives/1281

Omg! It's actually happening! Local government is so cool :) I gotta dust off my professional clothes and go in looking like a grownup. I feel like I'm riding a rainbow. Now I just have to compile all my paperwork and hit the farmer's market this week instead of next. WEEEEE! 

Proposal, a rough draft

Constructive criticism welcome! Anyone who's already had to try and overturn legislation like this, I'd love some advice! And also, yes, now you know what town I live in. The proud beginnings of hybrid corn. *yipee...*

                      

Just a few hens!

     A proposal to amend DeKalb livestock legislation to allow for back yard hens.

There are numerous towns and cities across the country (and the state) that allows their citizens to raise hens on their property for eggs. Large cities like Madison, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Huston, and Miami to name a few, welcome hens into their city limits. In our own state, cities such as Naperville, St. Charles and Batavia, even in our state capitol of Springfield, citizens are keeping hens! In Sycamore, a group of citizens are also gathering information and trying to move forward with chicken friendly amendments to antiquated laws. What does this mean for DeKalb? Currently city law states that no livestock shall be allowed in city limits, and while this is very prudent for large animals such as cattle, it’s time to consider making an exception for a small number of hens, for the purpose of laying eggs.

There are numerous advantages in allowing citizens the right to raise their own eggs. In an age where food recalls are becoming more and more common, giving people more control over what they eat is something to consider. While raising your chickens yourself doesn’t guarantee complete food safety, basic hygiene and handling can ensure safe eggs. There is even a simple way to pasteurize eggs at home with nothing more than boiling water, for those who are concerned with the safety of backyard eggs. Citizens would no longer be at the mercy of food regulators and large companies for safe eggs, with a little common sense people can produce safe, delicious eggs while enjoying a fun and enriching hobby.

People of varying beliefs could raise their own food in the manner they see fit. Someone who isn’t concerned about strictly organic food can purchase feed that can last their hens all year for around 50 dollars, and can enjoy eggs all year long. People concerned with organic food can have the same control over how their food is made without the hefty price tag. Recently at a local supermarket, a dozen pasture raised eggs cost us nearly five dollars! The same quality product can be raised at home for pennies on the dollar. In a time when the economy is anything but certain, giving citizens a way to save money and still enjoy safe, quality food should be considered a step in the right direction. Hens who are given space in a pen to scratch and eat yard pests can also help rid a yard of ticks; at a friend’s small farm she told me she’s also seen her hens eating mosquitoes! They are also known to eat fly larva, thus contributing to the overall health and sanitation of neighborhoods. Letting them into the garden after the plants have matured is a very effective method for pest control as well as devouring weed seeds in spring, ensuring greater harvests for those growing fruits and veggies at home, who enjoy it as a hobby or otherwise could not afford healthy produce.

Amending DeKalb’s livestock law would also would allow people to reduce the amount of waste they produce, saving us space at the dump. Chickens can eat a variety of table scraps, reducing the amount of trash families produce every week. Their waste is also a valuable compost and fertilizer source, many (sometimes expensive) fertilizers are rendered from regular chicken droppings. Garden lovers across the city could enrich their soil with composted manure and add to the beauty and productivity of their homes.

We should also consider the environmental impact of local eggs. The amount of recourses it takes to raise backyard hens is a fraction of what it takes to process, refrigerate, and ship conventional eggs to supermarkets, where they need continued refrigeration until they are purchased. In a time in our country when so much of our future is uncertain, and we need to be guarding what resources we have, food produced in a simple and fun way at home that requires less energy is something we should be encouraging.

Also, another reason this law should be reconsidered would be that this could bring money in for the city. A modest one-time registration fee for each hen, as well as a small building permit fee for a coop could bring a small, but steady income to DeKalb. This also ensures that the coops being built will be safe for the hens and the people using it. Also, those found in violation of the amended law (unregistered birds, unregistered coops, etc) would face stiff fines, bringing even more additional income to the city.

So, allowing hens into DeKalb would: give citizens the option to raise their own safe food, could save citizens money, would save the city space at the dump and enrich the gardens and yards across DeKalb, would save our country’s resources, and would generate money for the city. Just a few hens could do so much for DeKalb!

The Amendment Proposal:

-Number of hens:

If the ban on hens were to be lifted, how should it be rewritten? In towns across the country the amount of hens varies wildly, I’m proposing no more than five mature hens on a property at a time, even a very small yard can provide enough space for five hens. Also I propose that we don't allow mature roosters; since they can be noisy and this could be upsetting to neighbors. Small groups of hens aren’t loud, the last time I visited my friend’s farm and her sixty chickens I was actually quite surprised by how quiet they were. The dogs in my neighborhood are louder than these sixty chickens! Chickens kept alone can suffer; they are very social birds they shouldn’t be kept by themselves. No fewer than three should be kept at a time, that way if one dies suddenly they still can have a companion and could keep up healthy habits.

-Standards of care:

Fresh water and food need to be made available to the hens at regular intervals, spoiled food or dirty water shouldn’t be left out, and this could attract pests. Hens should be given space to comfortably move around and perform their daily activities, such as scratching, foraging, pecking, etc. At night they should be secured in a coop to protect from predators and let out again in the morning. If it is found that the hens are being kept in unsanitary, confining or cruel conditions, the person responsible can face a stiff fine and possibly lose the right to raise hens. Basic care is not difficult and it doesn’t take much time or effort to maintain a clean and healthy environment for the hens.

-Housing:

While people in some large cities can enjoy hens no matter their specified housing, I propose that only home owners or those who rent houses or town homes and condos with a back yard can have hens. This way the hens have a comfortable amount of room and proper sanitation can be maintained. For those renting, those wishing to raise hens would need written permission by the property owner. If the yard isn’t already fenced in and the birds aren’t going to be kept in a mobile coop, a sturdy pen or fence needs to be put in place to keep the hens from going onto other people’s property, again upsetting neighbors. For those kept in a mobile coop, as long as it is well built and will keep the chickens safe, no additional fencing would be required. Both types of housing for hens can be built from scrap wood and fencing for relatively little and provide a healthy and safe environment for the hens, while keeping them securely in your back yard. These coops should be built to protect the hens from the elements and be built sufficiently to keep them comfortable in all seasons. With a little planning and research this is easy and your hens will be safe and warm all year long.

 Again, the ordinances vary greatly from town to town about where the coop should be placed in a yard. Some give no distances; others give distances of seventy-five feet! While most yards in our town aren’t seventy-five feet long or wide, I suggest at least fifteen feet from other residences other than the owner of the hens. This reduces the potential for noise or other things that could bother neighbors. In a coop, Chickens need around 6sq. ft. of floor space per chicken, and at least 10sq.ft per chicken for foraging space outside the coop. These are averages I’ve gathered different articles, and I’m sure everyone has a varying opinion, but these seem to be the standard of what I’ve read and should be used as a rule of thumb. The more space, the better!

With basic care, some common sense and a neighborly attitude, having a few hens in the back yard would benefit everyone in DeKalb! 

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Hannah:  Thanks for your email.  In the Michael Pollan book, "The Omnivores Dilemma", he touches on this issue of sourcing your own food.

Current city law states that no livestock shall be allowed in city limits.  While I like the intent, I think this would be a tough issue to bring forth.

Do your research and see what you find.  I would be open to discussion...but not sure how much traction this issue would gain.

Regards,  *******

IT'S GO TIME!

 Any links or research you guys have that could contribute to my soon to be big-ass binder I'm going to present to him would be very much appreciated. Can I just also throw out a bravo he's read Omnivore's Dilemma? Nice. 

F*CKIN SHIT UP!

You heard right! I'm fucking with the system!
er, sort of.

For some bizarre reason, in my town it is against the law to have back yard chickens. We're surrounded by farms and miles and miles of cornfields, yet I can't have three hens eating the creepy crawlies in my garden. Winning, duh.  Even Chicago allows for hens! I've thought about an operation in the dead of night for smuggling some ladies into my yard, but considering one of our neighbors is a VERY racist old crank, who's freshly retired and I'm guessing our new one man neighborhood watch, and has made it a point to tell us how he called on his "god damn mexican neighbors" for having hens, I'm guessing that wouldn't end well. So, being the rebel that I am, what have I done? I e-mailed my alderman.

Message: Hello Mr.*******!
I've been wanting to contact you for awhile to discuss some possible
legislation change in ******. I was hoping to have the law banning back
yard poultry modified to allow for people to have no more than 5 hens so
they might be able to raise their own eggs. In a time of food inflation and
unsafe food regulation, a few hens could safely produce the needs of a
small family for pennies. I'm gathering information to try and propose this
sometime this winter, and any advice or support you could give me would be
greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
-Hannah *****


We'll see how this goes. I'm starting a binder with related information: neighboring towns that allow hens and their bylaws, the increase in egg price over the past decade vs. the cost of feeding a chicken, the studies that show the health benefits of pastured eggs, simple coop designs, etc. SHIT'S GETTIN REAL! 

Summer photos, part two

Sage, now drying in the pantry

Morning glory growing up the lamp post
in our front yard, also, tastefully painted rakes. 

Jalapeno! 

Cedarcide

So, in an earlier post I said I'd ordered cedarcide to try and rid my house of fleas. It also claimed to protect against mosquitos. After accidentally putting my parent's address down for shipping, and the ensuing hijinks, I finally got my spritzers. I do smell like a hope chest! My yard is especially mosquito ridden lately, because I haven't been weeding my garden like I should. Anyway I wanted to take the buns out (now that they're covered for a month's worth of flea control I figure what the hell? Let them live a little) and once they were out playing I sprayed myself thoroughly. I don't know about fleas, but at first the mosquitos DID avoid me. But I'm sad to report I did continue to have to swat them away through the evening. Once I started a small bonfire and left the buns to their own devices in the garden (oddly, they don't eat the lettuce, they eat the weeds!) I wasn't as swamped, but for the price I paid for this stuff I expected to be able to have a goddamn force field around my ass. *Le sigh* Maybe I just have too many fucking bugs for any product to keep me from being bitten. LAME.

*UPDATE*

After using it again today, I had a little more success. We also sprayed the cats when they were outside, and to my knowledge they are still flea free! They were NOT happy about being spritzed with this stuff though. 

Those little iridescent bastards! Part deux.

I'VE HAD IT!

I ordered Bonide's japanese beetle spray. Bonide is a green company and gives the ingredients to their spray. Everything looks legit, but we'll see how well it works once it gets here. I'm so done with these shiny assholes! 

the PITS

I'll admit it, I can be a sweaty person. Not "break into a sweat peeling an orange" sweaty, but I'm just built for cold weather. I've had troubles finding a good deodorant even before I was vegan, and sadly I sometimes had to use commercial stuff, because no one likes a smelly hippy when you're working at an elementary school! I've been using Lush deo powder, but it recently expired and I haven't ordered a new thing of it yet, plus it didn't wow me. It smelled wonderful, but it didn't always keep me smelling great. I'm on Depo and one of the side effects is being a little ripe. So, what's a girl to do?

Baking soda?

Yup! This article makes it so simple, I feel like an idiot for not stumbling across this earlier. I tried some straight baking soda (I'm hardcore like that) out of the shower this morning and already I feel cleaner, and normally I'd have to powder a few times a day (and smell like a folk music festival, sooo much patchouli in that deo powder!) but by now I'd already have a tinge of funk to compliment the smell of patchouli. So far, so good!

There are other recipes left by commenters I also want to include as well:

"Basic Deodorant Powder

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
few drops tea tree oil
2 whole bay leaves"

"I did kind of have double protection, as I used another homemade concoction first (a spray of purified mineral water, witch hazel, patchouli, lavender and tea tree oil), then sprinkled the mixture of corn starch, baking soda"

"The most interesting thing I have found lately is that coconut oil seems to be antibacterial or have some anti-smell properties, because I noticed it in a natural deodorant that I thought worked very well. I now have been mixing coconut oil (it’s actually an organic food grade one) with baking soda and cornstarch and it’s really amazing! I heat it gently on the stove, then pour it into a glass container. It has to be sort of scooped out like a butter and rubbed in, but it’s not slimy or greasy. I have also heated it up, let it cool a little bit, then poured it into recycled, clean, stick deodorant containers, then refrigerated the whole thing and it turns into a perfect stick deo."  


One comment though, did stick out from the rest:
"I’d be really careful using any tea tree oil. As a breast cancer survivor with an estrogen positive tumor under her arm, I would never use tea tree oil on my body. It, along with lavender, is a “xenoestrogen” which means it acts like estrogen in the body and excess estrogen is what fuels breast cancer cell division. In a trial, little boys using lavender and tea tree oil soaps actually grew breasts, which diminished once these products were stopped. (Google it.) Foodforbreastcancer.com does not recommend either of these products if you are trying to reduce your risk of breast cancer."

Interesting... I've also read about something called soapwalla, we shall see....

Hungary destroys GMO crops

I stumbled across this link this morning, this took place in July. I'm amazed the entire country hasn't been sued to high heaven, but if I could personally high five every farmer and policy maker who took part in this I would!

"In an effort to rid the country of Monsanto’s GMO products, Hungary has stepped up the pace. This looks like its going to be another slap in the face for Monsanto. A new regulation was introduced this March which stipulates that seeds are supposed to be checked for GMO before they are introduced to the market. Unfortunately, some GMO seeds made it to the farmers without them knowing it.

Almost 1000 acres of maize found to have been grown with genetically modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said. The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added.

Unlike several EU members, GMO seeds are banned in Hungary. The checks will continue despite the fact that seed traders are obliged to make sure that their products are GMO free, Bognar said.

During their investigation, controllers have found Pioneer and Monsanto products among the seeds planted.

The free movement of goods within the EU means that authorities will not investigate how the seeds arrived in Hungary but they will check where the goods can be found, Bognar said. Regional public radio reported that the two biggest international seed producing companies are affected in the matter and GMO seeds could have been sown on up to thousands of hectares in the country.

Most of the local farmers have complained since they just discovered they were using GMO seeds. With season already under way, it is too late to sow new seeds, so this years harvest has been lost.

And to make things even worse for the farmers, the company that distributed the seeds in Baranya county is under liquidation. Therefore, if any compensation is paid by the international seed producers, the money will be paid primarily to that company’s creditors, rather than the farmers."

Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/12TaC)

It's a shame the farmer's lost their year's crops, but in the long run their yields and health will be a greater reward. I'm still so thrilled by this article. 

Butt nugs

Atticus, while adorable, has the hygiene of an average teenage boy. Which means he normally develops what we lovingly call "butt nugs" they're the small mini mats that usually appear on older cats who can't clean themselves. Addy is more than capable, he's just lazy. So we had to shave his ass. since then they've both developed a weird obsession with the razor. On or off, it's something oddly fascinating. I have a longer video still trapped inside Erick's phone that shows my cat's wacky hyjinks. Enjoy. 

Pat Quinn signs cottage food legislation. Who else is in the mood for homemade jam?

Office of Governor Pat Quinn                              NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:    
Grant Klinzman   (o. 312-814-3158; c. 217-299-2448)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011                                                   
Annie Thompson (o. 217-782-7355; c. 217-720-1853)

Governor Signs Legislation to Support Farmers and Home Producers on State Fair Agriculture Day

New Laws Promote Agriculture Tourism, Expand Homemade Food Sales and Ensure Consistent Regulation at Farmers’ Markets

CHICAGO – August 16, 2011. In honor of Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, Governor Pat Quinn today signed three pieces of legislation to support Illinois’ agriculture industry and increase access to farmers’ markets for the growing cottage food industry. Senate Bill 840 allows certain homemade foods to be sold at Illinois farmers’ markets, and Senate Bill 1852 creates a task force to recommend statewide farmers’ market regulations. The Governor also signed House Bill 3244 requiring the state to develop a plan for increasing agriculture-related tourism opportunities in Illinois.

“The best way to celebrate Illinois’ agricultural strength is by making it easier for Illinois residents to buy fresh foods and support farmers and local economies,” Governor Quinn said. “Farmers’ markets allow us to buy fresh, healthy produce and other homemade goods directly from the people who make them, and this legislation will enable those business owners to sell directly to consumers while making sure safety standards are consistent for all markets throughout the state.”  

The popularity of farmers’ markets has surged in recent years, and a lack of consistent regulation at the increasing number of markets has created confusion about how products may be sold. Senate Bill 1852, sponsored by Sen. David Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), creates a task force to review the rules and laws defining what products can be sold at farmers’ markets, as well as sanitation and food preparation requirements. The 24-member task force will then assist the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in developing and implementing administrative rules ensuring consistent statewide farmers’ market regulations.

Senate Bill 840, sponsored by Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) and Rep. Lisa M. Dugan (D-Kankakee), allows homemade foods like jams, cookies and cakes to be sold at farmers’ markets. Cottage food vendors must meet the following conditions for their products to be sold at Illinois’ farmers’ markets:

·         Foods, such as baked goods, preserves, dry herbs or teas, must be safe for consumption;

·         Food is sold only at a farmers’ market;

·         Seller does no more than $25,000 a year in sales;

·         Follows specific labeling requirements;

·         The cottage food operation is registered with the local health department;

·         The person preparing and selling the food has a valid Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate; and

·         A placard that states, “This product was produced in a home kitchen not subject to public health inspection that may also process common food allergens” is located where the food is sold.

Under House Bill 3244, sponsored by Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) and Sen. Kirk W. Dillard (R-Westmont), the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will develop and implement a statewide strategic plan to increase agricultural tourism. This builds upon existing efforts by the Quinn administration to strengthen Illinois’ agri-tourism industry.

DCEO and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have a long-standing partnership with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association (IGGVA) to promote the Illinois wine industry. Through the state’s tourism site, www.EnjoyIllinois.com, visitors can learn more about the dozens of wineries and other natural and agriculture-related attractions nestled throughout the state. DCEO also assists in marketing agri-tourism tours that have been created among its industry partners, both domestically and internationally, and promotes the use of locally grown foods in its marketing efforts.

Senate Bill 1852 and House Bill 3244 go into effect immediately and Senate Bill 840 takes effect Jan. 1.