Local Food Columbus » Policy and Regulation
NPR: City Folk Flock To Raise Small Livestock At Home
Urban Chickens are gaining in popularity as more locavores seek alternatives to industrially grown food. Municipalities are seeing more pressure from residents who want to keep backyard chickens, bees or even a mini-goat. “Whether from tighter food budgets or local-eating ideals, more and more people are petitioning their cities to allow small animal husbandry. City dwellers are accustomed to being awakened at night by the occasional siren or the roar of a low-flying jet. But the nocturnal disturbances in a Denver neighborhood have a slightly more agrarian feel.” Read the Full Story on NPR.org … Read entire article »
Filed under: New Farmers, Policy and Regulation, Urban Chickens
ODA Considers Expanding List of Cottage Foods
Cottage foods are those that are allowed to be produced in a home without need of a commercial kitchen it allows food entrepreneurs to sell their goods without significant start-up capital. There will be a public hearing on Wednesday May 13th at 8:30 am at ODA to review a proposal to expand the list of foods covered under Ohio’s cottage food law. Full information on the hearing and rules is linked below. The current rules allow mostly baked goods. The proposed changes will expand that to many other foods. In my opinion, this is one more step toward smaller localized production of food and away from the monopoly large industrial facilities have previously held. It is good for the local economy, good for small farmers and entrepreneurs. I encourage those with an … Read entire article »
Filed under: Local Food Processing, Policy and Regulation
snopes.com: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009
Snopes sheds some light on HR 875 http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/organic.asp … Read entire article »
Filed under: Policy and Regulation
H.R. 875 and the Food Safety Bills
The analysis below clarifies what the bill will and will not do. Mentioned is HR.759 which can cause some issues for small farmers including recordkeeping requirements for farms and safety standards for fresh produce. Link to HR.759 PDF Link to HR.875 PDF Food & Water Watch’ s Statement on H.R. 875 and the Food Safety Bills The dilemma of how to regulate food safety in a way that prevents problems caused by industrialized agriculture but doesn’t wipe out small diversified farms is not new and is not easily solved. And as almost constant food safety problems reveal the dirty truth about the way much of our food is produced, processed and distributed, it’s a dilemma we need to have serious discussion about. Most consumers never thought they had to worry about peanut butter and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Local Food Processing, New Farmers, Policy and Regulation
What is the National Animal Identification System & Why It Should Be Rejected
Web Video of the Week: What is the National Animal Identification System & Why It Should Be Rejected. Part 1: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu9oKmqQpD4&hl=en&fs=1&border=1] Make sure you view Part 2 here … Read entire article »
Filed under: New Farmers, Policy and Regulation, Urban Chickens
The Columbus Dispatch : Ann Fisher commentary: City should welcome urban chickens
There has been alot of activity in Columbus lately regarding the urban chicken movement. At the center of the controversy are Worthington residents Andy and Lael Rozmiarek, who have asked Worthington City Council to change an 1973 ordinance that essentially bans the keeping of chickens in backyards in the city (within 150 feet of any residence, other than their owners). Worthington already has a law that prohibits keeping animals that “create offensive odors, excessive noise or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public.” The Columbus Dispatch : Ann Fisher commentary: City should welcome urban chickens. The above article was blogged about in Mother Earth News’ Happy Homesteader blog with some interesting comments about how ordinances are inappropriate broad-stroke reactions to a few cases of irresponsible … Read entire article »
Filed under: Policy and Regulation, Urban Chickens
Interview with Vilsack, Obama’s pick for Ag Secretary
This entry by Brian Depew on Tue, 12/16/2008 on Blog for Rural America provides some insight on how Vilsack will fare on issues important to sustainable minded small farmers. It is encouraging. Although his enthusiasm for biotech is one of his major negatives, he does address some of those issues in this interview. Vilsack Appointed Ag Secretary, Interview Redux | Center for Rural Affairs. by Mayda … Read entire article »
Filed under: Farmer's Markets, Food Pantries, New Farmers, Policy and Regulation
