Comments for Local Food Columbus

Comment on Land Available by karen

karen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:16:33 +0000

I too have land co-owned with my sister in London, Oh. I would like to find a partner interested in developing a separate homestead and organic operation. There is 177 acres with 15 acres of woods along the bike path and partially inside city limits. I don’t want to see the woods or land developed into condos. I will consider all offers. But especially those with farm tourism components. i.e. bed and breakfast, campgrounds, artist retreat. I wish to establish a life estate as a residence over the next 20 years for myself. And hope this can be achieved as a win-win situation for all concerned.

Comment on This week in Columbus by frijolitofarmer

frijolitofarmer — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:10:01 +0000

Great article, Karen. I’d have loved to have heard the panel discussion at North Market. We’ll have to talk about it sometime.

I always feel I have to interject and counterbalance any hype about how “natural” the Amish are. Small, diversified farms are good, I agree. I’d much rather have those than the monocrop wastelands created by Big Ag.

But let’s be clear about something. Amish/Mennonite farmers don’t use horses and other old-fashioned methods because of a “back-to-the-land” ethic of communion with nature. Their customs aren’t a reaction to industrial food’s use of chemicals and combustion engines. They are separatists who see the rest of the modern world as wicked. Their eschewing of modern technology is not about embracing a slow lifestyle so much as it’s about not getting tangled up with outsiders and getting dependent on “the English” (as they call everybody who’s not one of them). The problem with electricity isn’t that it’s modern or fast or powerful. It’s that it comes in on a wire from the electric company and connects them to the same grid as everybody else. Many Amish have gotten around this by using pneumatic power tools run by on-site air compressors. Many Amish use chemicals and some have even embraced genetically modified seed.

Following is a sample of the ethic that drives the Amish/Mennonite way of life:

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Cor 6:14)

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” (John 17:14)

“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15)

My point here is that if you see the word “Amish” on a food product, that doesn’t mean that it’s organic, naturally raised, free-range, grass-fed, or in any other way distinguishable from factory-farmed food. In all likelihood, it is not. You might as well shop for baked goods or cheese sporting the label “Lutheran” or “Catholic-raised.”

Comment on A Day In the Park by kareng

kareng — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:09:56 +0000

It’s been a long day. Lots to say but will go do dinner first. Good morning session with history of gardening in America since the 1800′s. USDA and DC reps very informative about what’s happening on the national level. Importance of census and garden funding was interesting and heated discussion. Hilltop gardeners made big point of the importance of working with kids. Time to eat and maybe a nap. sincerely Karen

Comment on Columbus update for Aug by Steve Bosserman

Steve Bosserman — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:57:50 +0000

Great idea about writing a series of blog postings from the conference–the virtual gardening storyteller! Perhaps you could throw in a few tweets along the way and those of us who are so inclined can follow you on Twitter. Looking forward to reading your account of what’s happening. Most of all, enjoy, learn, and connect!

Comment on ODA New Cottage Rules by Mayda

Mayda — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:49:10 +0000

Gail,
Thank you for the excellent questions on the tea and beverage blends. I don’t know of any examples, yet. I would give a call to the ODA Food Safety division below and ask specifically about what you want to do. I imagine much would depend on the source of your various ingredients and the process of how you make your blends.
Please let me know what you find out. I am curious if such blends are included.

Ohio Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Division
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-3399
Phone: (614) 728-6250
Email: foodsafety@agri.ohio.gov

Mayda
localfoodcolumbus.org

Comment on ODA New Cottage Rules by Gail Stevens Shourds

Gail Stevens Shourds — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:30:03 +0000

Is there any place where descriptions or examples of some of these new categories are presented? For instance, what constitutes a dry tea blend? Is that actual tea leaves or does it include instant tea mix? What is or isn’t included in dry seasoning blends or baking mixes? As an example, could I make and sell my own instant beverage mixes such as instant cappuchino or instant mocha?

Comment on ODA Considers Expanding List of Cottage Foods by Mayda

Mayda — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:27:09 +0000

Yes, the new rules were approved. See our post from June 24th for updated info on the cottage foods.
http://localfoodcolumbus.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/oda-new-cottage-rules/

Comment on ODA Considers Expanding List of Cottage Foods by Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:42:10 +0000

Any updates to this?

Comment on Local Food Cannery & Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen by Schoharie Co-op Cannery

Schoharie Co-op Cannery — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:48:50 +0000

Hello: Thanks for the mention of our website on your blog. A word about Embarcadero Home Canning in California. We were talking with them for several months, only to have them abruptly end the conversation by stating, “No one cans vegetable and fruit; we exist only for the fisheries.” I would like to hear from anyone with a business plan on which we could model ours (without plagiarising, of course!). We’re stuck on not being able to finish the business plan. We do keep getting wonderful press notices, even to the point of being quoted in the New York Times (see ourwebsite). The business plan is one issue for us, and so is uncovering a similarly-scaled canning operation…does anyone know of one? We don’t want to re-invent the wheel. Thanks! Peter Pehrson, Managing Director, Schoharie Co-op Cannery, Schoharie, NY

Comment on ODA Considers Expanding List of Cottage Foods by Cottage food expansion gets support at public hearing « Local Food Columbus

Cottage food expansion gets support at public hearing « Local Food Columbus — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:32:40 +0000

[...] Posted by Mayda under Uncategorized No Comments On Wednesday, May 13th the ODA held the public hearing on expanding the list of “Cottage” foods (see that article). A number of farmer’s market managers and vendors spoke in support of the rule change. No [...]