We are hopeful and grateful for this increased interest and support for the local small farmer. Yet there is a serious disconnect between increased consumer demand for local food and the regulatory system that makes this so difficult. FTCLDF wants consumers to understand just how difficult federal, state, and local polices make independent…
Regenerating Soils By Grazing Cattle and Pigs
Grazing multiple species provides many benefits, not the least of which is enterprise stacking that allows each acre to create more than one saleable product in the same growing season. Our topic here is how to make multi-species grazing regenerative in the biological sense. We custom graze replacement heifers in front of our pigs, with 37 heifers and slightly more than 100 finisher pigs moving in a leader…
April’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…
Product with Secondary Inhibitors, Not Shelf Stable
This month we consider a hazard analysis for a product in the Product with Secondary Inhibitors, Not Shelf Stable processing category. What is a Product with Secondary Inhibitors, Not Shelf Stable? If you do not know, you cannot conduct a hazard…
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…
Cottage Food Business Primer
My favorite products at local farm stands and farmers markets (besides the bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables, of course!) are the delicious baked goods and jarred concoctions crafted from the fresh ingredients, and not insignificant labor, of neighboring producers. The sweet and sticky fruit jams and jellies, the delicate and fragrant herb scones, the […]
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…