Well, since we are at it, you want a clear cogent message. When I speak to reporters, I write down my messages and keep them in front of me and make sure I say my important messages at least twice. This is an advantage for me as if the reporter sees it, I don't appear like a professional, but I am organized and my words are cogent so it works. Now. So for this topic, the message is maybe something like: The intent of the bill is a noble one: to protect our food supply. But the text of the bill, as worded, is unnecessarily burdensome to family farmers. Especially in these economic times. So the important points above: intent is noble protect food supply text needs revision Family farmers will be burdened So much so we don't want to risk any more jobs These 5 bullets show that you get it and are concerned about the consequences, but support the intent. Family Farmers is a powerful metaphor. You want action in this case. Education is for another time. Lawmakers get it. Tell them you want some revisions so Family Farmers are protected. Note also how the OCA text I linked to above is written. And how I differed the style of my sentences in this comment and above. Short sentences for the message. But, you can also use commas for when you explain a topic, so that the tone changes. Commas change voice tone. Short sentences convey a message, something you want to keep in mind, just in case you get an audience. Dan

This bill has NOTHING to do with socialism and EVERYTHING to do with capitalism. The profits of big agriculture are written all over this bill. I've spent weeks 'dissecting' every word in the bill and researching the co sponsors and the wretched politicians that wrote it , you should do the same. It does in fact impact farmers markets or any vegetable that is sold or meant for human consumption. It makes all growers comply with industry regulations ie insect control/pest nematodes,bacterial disease control and on and on. It hardly impacts the current agriculture monopolies and impacts the small farmers that don't have the resources to comply with regulations. Tom Vilsak (one of the bills authors) is heavily in favor of large industrial farms and genetically modified crops. Political spin confuses people, it is not about socialism per say , if we want to be intellectually honest HR 875 was born out of corporate monopolies infiltrating Washington with their money and influence. This bill is capitalism out of control,paradoxically the profit motive of corporate monopolies is behind this bill. They see the threat of small farmers and back yard growers and they want to stop it. This is all about $ business $....thats capitalism for you.

I share your frustration. I hate seeing California avocadoes or citrus this time of year in Publix. Another option that we've been using is an organic coop/delivery service. We have one in the Miami area that doesn't sell exclusively Florida-grown or raised items, but tries hard to get them and is careful to note in big letters everything that is local. It's basically an online grocery store with delivery service. deliciousorganics.com They also sell some non-certified organic products from farmers that are transitioning to organic, or are following organic principles but can't afford the lengthy and costly certification process. We get great produce and meat/poultry/fish from them and I'm always watching for something I wouldn't buy normally that they've bought locally. I've gotten several interesting squashes that way, things like delicatta that I don't even see in Publix. Also, I got a locally grown organic cantelope last year, planted the seeds, and got two more cantelopes before my boyfriend pulled it up thinking that all vines are weeds (he and I are at war over an alamanda too.) I've been trying more and more of the seeds from local organically grown veggies, figuring if an organic grower nearby can produce them, they're probably well-suited to the conditions here and maybe they'll also work with my haphazard, low-water, very little fertilizer method of gardening. It's a practically free way of lowering the fuel costs of my food a second time, after supporting local growers the first time. It surprised me when I did this with the cantelope that I couldn't get cantelopes locally later in the season. I mean, if I can grow them, seems like local professionals would have had them too. But I don't claim to understand the economics of trying to make a go of a farm in Florida. I do feel better supporting them whenever I can, and growing my own whenever I can. Susannah

The tractor thing is kind of a joke! It was a beast and had no PTO...had become a cost benefit/depreciating asset problem once construction of roads and building were done. Something in the 30HP range with a loader and PTO would be nice. Back to the chicken or the egg... I gave 50 beautiful watermelons away my first year, didn't sell one. Lots of eggplant tomatoes, peppers etc. too! This year I sold on consignment, to restaurants, word of mouth, and did 3 different FM venues. I don't have enough stuff to sell. While I do like/agree with Shakespeare's view that "borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry",I am not sure borrowing should necessarily be taboo for incipient market grower phenoms... After it has been proven that; *One can successfully and legally grow/make lots of awesome foods,flowers, jams,baked goods etc. *Prove an excess of local demand for what they have. *Make pertinent relationships and see blatant potential for more. Cautious/thoughtful borrowing could make sense for some. "It takes money to make money" probably applies to some degree, unless a workable farm falls into your lap. When I sell my tractor or use other income to buy supplies, I am borrowing from my household in a sense, but spending more than I am making from farming is crucial to creating a viable and profitable job of farming in a reasonable time. If we didn't have the resources, I would borrow, modestly, within reason, to do that. For a small market grower this really doesn't appear to represent much money or downside risk vs. the likely cash flow benefits of getting things rolling. My two cents. Russell