I was asked how Chuck and I decided or ended up organic farming and creating healthy food. We kind of got here by accident. I have tried to eat better for a long time, with varying degrees of success. Chuck has walked some of the same trail. It becomes simply trying to eat better on a regular basis. Oddly, much of what we know comes from parents, grandparents and others who have lived sustainable lives for generations. My grandmother knew what was good food. My parents know that too. They eat balanced diets. Having grown up on a farm we had access to homegrown food. We had access to natural eggs and fresh meats on a pretty regular basis.
What changed when we grew up? We discovered fast food, processed foods, and more. We began to eat stuff that we didn't even know. Chemicals added, preservatives added, pesticides used in processing. I don't think we even knew the half of it. I am not sure we truly even know the half of it now. It is getting worse, much worse. We import foods from countries like China that send food that is tainted before it leaves there and only gets worse as it travels. Additionally, we have large companies like Monsanto that have made it there goal to control food production. Seeds that don't even seed. Huh?
From that basis, Chuck and I started eating in a more simple method. We already knew how to get it. Luckily we live in a place that has farms very close to us. We have farms that grow simply and organically. It was just a matter of finding them and dealing with them. We travelled to Kutztown, Lancaster and points in between.
Starting this some 4-5 years ago, it seems to have blossomed. We bought and used. Some of our neighbors liked what we were doing and asked if they could share. We shared produce with our neighbors, literally selling it off our porch. From there we got a little more systematic and bought, knowing we were going to sell to others. We bought in larger quantities.
Last year we looked at he fact my parents own a 45 acre farm that is not used. We figured out that we needed to use the land for some use other than just leaving it there to be taxed. We started setting up a small produce stand and sell produce there too. We made a pact to only sell locally grown, pesticide free and in season. That isn't too hard to do, actually (except in February). We added the market of selling at some local flea markets. The niche market of natural food was pretty easy. We never said we were the cheapest. We do say we are the best.
Then we decided that we could use some of the produce and create products that have the same niche as the produce has. Still natural. We created breads, orgainic eggs, canned goods and spices. We used the best of the best. The dilema here was how to get it to market without coming into legal hassles. At a show in Berks County we found our solution. We learned that the licensing laws in PA only apply to PUBLIC sale. As long as the sale of an item was a PRIVATE sale, we were on good footing. BINGO ! That was it. It is the same laws that allow private clubs to sell alcohol to members without having a liquor license.
Thus, came FARE, Farm Alliance for Responsible Ecology. By joining FARE you can PRIVATELY purchase whatever you like and need. That is as easy as it gets.
I hope you enjoy this... East FARE and Well
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
TEN REASONS FOR GOING ORGANIC WITH FARE
Organic Foods are becoming more mainstream and our mission here at FARE (Farm Alliance for Responsible Ecology) is to help promote the distribution of organic food locally and timely There are dozens of reasons to buy items that are organic (Note: When FARE uses the word "organic" we use it in the broader natural definition, not necessarily the USDA definition and not confusing the "Certified Organic" which has legal definitions.)
1. Reduces Health Risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us. In addition, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as powerful antioxidants.
2. Benefits Wildlife and the Environment Overall, organic and sustainable farming supports more farmland wildlife than non-organic farming. It causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide - the main global warming gas - and less dangerous wastes.
3. Reliance on Drugs Removed Antibiotic additives routinely added to animal food to speed animal growth are linked with bacterial resistance in humans to the same or closely related antibiotics. Soil Association standards ban the routine use of antibiotics. Being in a third generation (in the US, much longer in Europe) farm family we recognize that grandparents and their grandparents didn't use chemicals to produce. FARE reaches back to their wisdom for growing and sustaining.
4. Tastes Great Many people buy organic food because they believe it tastes better than non-organic. This could be because organic fruit and vegetables tend to grow more slowly and have a lower water content, which may contribute to the fuller flavor some people experience. A poll in 2005 showed that quality and taste of food are important to more people than low prices. In addition, its also common sense - well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals. We are "foodies" and we like food. If it doesn't taste good, we don't sell it.
5. Organic Products meet Stringent Standards.
Organic food comes from trusted sources. Unless otherwise stated FARE products are chemical and pesticide free, locally grown or produced and in season. We state clearly we don't grow 100% of our products, but we buy from trusted sources, doing the leg work for you.
6. Organic Practices Lead to a Healthy Ecosystem The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources. Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The primary focus of organic farming is to use practices that build healthy soils. Organic agricultural respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands, and other natural areas.
7. Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
USDA reported that in 1997, half of U.S. farm production came from only 2% of farms. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms because it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair prices for crops. FARE believes that this niche market is only growing exponentially.
8. Organic abundance - Foods and non-foods alike!
Now every food category has an organic alternative. And non-food agricultural products are being grown organically - even cotton, which most experts felt could not be grown this way. FARE attempts at every turn to use only natural, organic and sustainable items.
9. Care for AnimalsNo system of farming has higher levels of animal welfare standards than organic farms working to Soil Association standards. Compassion in World Farming believes that the Soil Association's welfare standards are leaders in the field. (Joyce d'Silva, Director, Compassion in World Farming.)
10. GM-free Genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed under organic standards. Over a million tons of GM crops are to feed non organic livestock that produce much, if not most, of the non organic pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products in our supermarkets.
11. Organic Producers Strive to Preserve Diversity
The loss of a large variety of species (biodiversity) is one of the most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been collecting and preserving seeds, and growing unusual varieties for decades.
1. Reduces Health Risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Organic agriculture is one way to prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us. In addition, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as powerful antioxidants.
2. Benefits Wildlife and the Environment Overall, organic and sustainable farming supports more farmland wildlife than non-organic farming. It causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide - the main global warming gas - and less dangerous wastes.
3. Reliance on Drugs Removed Antibiotic additives routinely added to animal food to speed animal growth are linked with bacterial resistance in humans to the same or closely related antibiotics. Soil Association standards ban the routine use of antibiotics. Being in a third generation (in the US, much longer in Europe) farm family we recognize that grandparents and their grandparents didn't use chemicals to produce. FARE reaches back to their wisdom for growing and sustaining.
4. Tastes Great Many people buy organic food because they believe it tastes better than non-organic. This could be because organic fruit and vegetables tend to grow more slowly and have a lower water content, which may contribute to the fuller flavor some people experience. A poll in 2005 showed that quality and taste of food are important to more people than low prices. In addition, its also common sense - well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals. We are "foodies" and we like food. If it doesn't taste good, we don't sell it.
5. Organic Products meet Stringent Standards.
Organic food comes from trusted sources. Unless otherwise stated FARE products are chemical and pesticide free, locally grown or produced and in season. We state clearly we don't grow 100% of our products, but we buy from trusted sources, doing the leg work for you.
6. Organic Practices Lead to a Healthy Ecosystem The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, done in combination with soil building, protects and conserves water resources. Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The primary focus of organic farming is to use practices that build healthy soils. Organic agricultural respects the balance demanded of a healthy ecosystem: wildlife is encouraged by including forage crops in rotation and by retaining fence rows, wetlands, and other natural areas.
7. Organic farming helps keep rural communities healthy
USDA reported that in 1997, half of U.S. farm production came from only 2% of farms. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms because it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair prices for crops. FARE believes that this niche market is only growing exponentially.
8. Organic abundance - Foods and non-foods alike!
Now every food category has an organic alternative. And non-food agricultural products are being grown organically - even cotton, which most experts felt could not be grown this way. FARE attempts at every turn to use only natural, organic and sustainable items.
9. Care for AnimalsNo system of farming has higher levels of animal welfare standards than organic farms working to Soil Association standards. Compassion in World Farming believes that the Soil Association's welfare standards are leaders in the field. (Joyce d'Silva, Director, Compassion in World Farming.)
10. GM-free Genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed under organic standards. Over a million tons of GM crops are to feed non organic livestock that produce much, if not most, of the non organic pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products in our supermarkets.
11. Organic Producers Strive to Preserve Diversity
The loss of a large variety of species (biodiversity) is one of the most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been collecting and preserving seeds, and growing unusual varieties for decades.
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