Almost any chat room, forum, web board or other means of communication becomes miscommunication when ag comes up. The accusations of “big ag” are tossed out without any frame of reference of who the person is – leading one to believe “big ag” is anyone who doesn’t think like me!”

Organic is a defined label – it cannot be used without government certification. The same government we’re to mistrust for their support of “big ag” and corporations. The accusation is also hurled at anyone who has no use for certified organic – which doesn’t always mean what people think it means!

Several point to cull rates of dairy cows. The fact is if an organic dairy cow gets sick – which could be as simple as  an infection after calving – and is treated with antibiotic her milk must be dumped for a year and she may never be used for organic meat. This means she is culled – removed from the herd. This brought hostile attacks of she isn’t culled she’s sold to a non-organic farm – she’s still removed from the herd. Cull doesn’t mean kill – people may cull excess males, animals that don’t fit their program anymore or whatever reason.

This is the reason I won’t apply for certified organic. That cow good enough to be raised for production deserves treatment and retaining her job! A few weeks – as recommended – so the antibiotics clear the system and she’s back on the line. Regulation keeps us from selling dairy – but the milk will be used on the farm.

Organic seed has been purchased as well as heirloom varieties that can be used for seed saving. There are  many options for the garden, produce and animals. The lack of interest in government programs and certifications does not mean that there’s 24/7 chemicals running or, as one producer said, food is dipped in poison before sending it out. That is insulting, slanderous and inflammatory.

Our goal is simple – raising and selling the same food we eat. Using heritage/heirloom breeds that were developed for a small farm “habitat”. The hype and politics of food generates fear. We aren’t about fear. Look at the program, ask questions. But consider this – what do you believe more, the certification from some government agency that sees the farm once in a while or your own eyes, watching on webcam and photo documentation? Which truly offers transparency the most – the word of someone else or seeing it yourself?

We hope people will sincerely look at the program, communicate with reason instead of hype and fear and choose with the confidence that experience and solid values as presented mean something. There are millions of people in the USA and all eat. We can’t feed millions or even thousands. If you’re one of 30 seriously interested contact is welcome! If you’re outside the area and believe in our goals and ideas please consider sponsoring a bag or box to give a hand up to a family or individual that is struggling. That same food we eat and our customers eat can be made available through these sponsored boxes. For many cheap food is all they can afford – but when someone is hungry enough the source is less important. This is a hands on direct opportunity to help out one person or family at a time.

SlowMoneyFarm welcomes discussion. We’re accessible on Twitter and Facebook to make this easier as well as directly through links on the website or slowmoneyfarm@yahoo.com