Like any other business, farm survival is best achieved by those who remain nimble and can adjust their business plans to accommodate the needs and desires of their customer base while generating more income for themselves. Agritourism is an excellent option to reach those goals and, fortunately, there are laws across the country that support…
March’s Member Photo Monday!
Every Monday is Member Photo Monday where we feature a member photo on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is proud of our members, and we take great pleasure in highlighting their operations and the awesome work they are conducting in sustainable farming, animal husbandry, artisanal…
Upcoming Members-Only Webinar: Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Agriculture
The second live members-only webinar of the year is on Thursday, April 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific, 12 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Eastern. The topic is “Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Agriculture” and features FTCLDF homesteader member Aja Yasir, who lives outside of Chicago. Her City of Gary, Indiana accused Aja of local ordinance violations regarding her regenerative agriculture…
A Raw Not Ground/Raw Ground Hazard Analysis
Last month we considered a slaughter hazard analysis. This month we will go a step further and consider a raw not ground and raw ground hazard analysis and flowchart. We start with the 9 CFR 417.2(a)(2) flow chart describing the process steps…
How We Regenerate Soils with Pigs
We consistently hear how pigs can’t be regenerative. We would edit that to say this: While pigs don’t fit into the regenerative equation as smoothly as ruminants, we can look for strategies to improve land, even with pigs. When it comes to regenerative grazing, it is useful to look at how pigs compare and contrast to beef…
A Cottage Food Business Primer
As a potential cottage food entrepreneur, you must do your homework and understand your state and local rules before proceeding; however, there are some general principles you can expect to confront as you prepare recipes, product lists, and business plans. We aim to cover the basics here to help prepare you for what to expect…
February’s Member Photo Monday!
Every Monday is Member Photo Monday where we feature a member photo on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is proud of our members, and we take great pleasure in highlighting their operations and the awesome work they are conducting in sustainable farming, animal husbandry, artisanal…
Introduction to the Updated Red Meat Map & Chart
In 1967 Congress passed the Wholesome Meat Act, Public Law 90-201, amending the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The act expanded the federal government’s authority over meat slaughter and processing to intrastate commerce but did create exemptions from the requirement that an inspector be present when slaughtering is taking place. The Wholesome Meat Act allowed the “uninspected” slaughter of meat animals at a custom facility as long as the owner…
A Slaughter Hazard Analysis
Over the last four months, we discussed Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) terms, hazard analysis requirements, flowchart, and food safety hazards. Let’s put those discussions to work and conduct a 9 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 417.2(a) hazard analysis for livestock and poultry slaughter…
How We’ve Used Pigs to Restore the Land
I distinctly remember my college ecology teacher telling us that it takes a thousand years to build an inch of topsoil. A thousand years! The statement succeeded in its intended goal, which was to instill in us freshmen a tremendous sense of respect toward caring…