Food Safety Matters

For my farming and foodie friends south of the 49th… And really, shouldn’t we all be foodies?

smallpondfarmva's avatarSmall Pond Farm

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We try not to be too politically charged, or preachy about what we believe when it comes to farming practices or life in general.  Everyone should be able to choose for themselves what they consider right.  However, the government is taking one of its most significant moves since 1938 in changing regulations about food safety.  Many measures are welcome, but anytime the government tries to make one thing better, its impact is felt in many ways beyond the intended target.  If you are shopping at farmers markets, local food hubs, or CSA’s on a regular basis, we’re guessing you care about these issues, too.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed into law in January of this year.  This new law is the culmination of congressional efforts to give FDA greater authority and guidelines to improve food safety for consumers in the US.  It has many measures that seem…

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Testing Brio

There’s nothing like the rumble, roar, thump, clunk and bang of a backhoe working in the next ring over to test the mental state of a young horse just getting started under saddle. Thank goodness Conbrio is much quieter than her mother or her rider might well have been launched into orbit today! As it was, she was curious and alert, watchful and a tad distracted but not really worried. That laid back attitude is what makes her such a great pony and what will also make her excellent as a driving pony. Now, all we have to do is find a few extra hours in the day to get back to our carriage restoration project!

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Same View

… From the hay loft, but this time there is actually a view and not a fog bank!

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Nourish – Nov ’13 Real Dirt

Everything you ever wanted to know about apples…. And then some! Great article, but grab a cup of tea first!

wmiller98444's avatarHelping People Grow

Contents

Food of the Month – Apples
A Children’s Garden, a Gift For All Ages

Food of the Month – Apples

Michele Worden

Latin Name: Malus domestica (wild apple is Malus sieversii)

Botanical Family: Rosaceae (the rose family, which contains garden roses, and other fruits such as apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, and strawberries, almonds)

Description: The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apples grow on small, deciduous trees. The apple forms a tree that is 10 to 40 ft tall, with a broad, often densely twiggy crown. The leaves are alternately-arranged simple 1-3 inches broad on a 1- 2 inch petiole with a serrated margin and a slightly downy underside. Blossoms are produced in spring simultaneously with the budding of the leaves. The flowers have five petals…

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Wimpy’s Big Day

Wimpy (so named because of an unfortunate incident in which he was picked on by bantam chickens one tenth his size) is my gorgeous, mild-mannered Black Orpington rooster. His gentle nature might not do much good in the barnyard, but it makes him the perfect bird for public appearances.

Cover Down to Earth

Today, in honour of National School Library Day, Prospect Lake Elementary School invited me to give a couple of farming-themed talks relating to my most recent book, Down to earth: How Kids Help Feed the World.

Wimpy the Black Orpington rooster steals the show...

Wimpy the Black Orpington rooster steals the show…

I may have had a few things to say, but the star of the show was definitely Wimpy, who happily snacked away on his grain for the entire presentation and never crowed once (though he did, occasionally, mutter something to himself).

Many thanks to the staff, students, and parents at Prospect Lake School for inviting me to come and speak and a huge shout out to the wonderful teacher-librarian, Pat Miller who did such a fabulous job of organizing today’s activities, which included an amazing session of ‘Drop Everything and Read’ during which students, parents, teachers, and administrators all stopped what they were doing and grabbed a book to read and share. What better way to celebrate School Library Day?