Ironically, its that same argument that our milk lobby used to kill the raw milk bill here. They thought that an illness caused by a tiny producer would reflect badly on aisles of pasteurized milk in the grocery store. Yeah right, when they have the political clout to squash an entire legislative bill, that was passed, by the way, but the governor vetoed at the very last minute. SIGH.

Hedge, indeed, it’s a great beach especially at this time of year when it’s eminently swimmable. Surprisingly my blog hit numbers haven’t jumped; they’ve remained fairly stable…despite my post-once-a-week summer. It’s a grand mystery, really it is.

David, Wales was fun…in my mind! There is definitely something to that, in the law-enforcement idea. It’s just that it seems kind of silly to require people to have commercial kitchens if they expect to make less than $15K a year…and that’s what it boiled down to. That, and our chronically high unemployment rate, I am sure.

Diane, hi! And thank you. Well surely many things predate taxation. In many instances, bartering is really quite fair, especially when one is especially light in the pocketbook. I wouldn’t say it’s the way to go to, say, pay the light bill by eggs, but one can do worse than trading a few goods with like-minded others.

Everett, I have to latch on “from people we trust” in your comment because that I believe is the heart of food production in our future. Looking someone in the eye goes much further than the black-box ingredients list on a package as far as I am concerned…plus knowing you’re supporting something you can believe in, that’s my future food utopia. A lot of work ahead of us though…but yes, Michigan has done a great thing.

Amy, perhaps things are changing. Michigan is a huge farming state but it’s very diversified (California is the only state that grows more different products) and its legislature is really Republican. I am thinking if things can change here they can change anywhere. Maybe you can suss out if there’s anything like this afoot in Washington. Give your representative a nudge to do so. It was my own right-wing Republican congressman who co-wrote the thing so…

Clinder, hello! Well most of “women’s work” is unpaid and not exactly supported by anyone or anything, and so too goes farm labor. I don’t know what to say with that. Indeed one of my own dearest relative’s rants every time she comes here is “but it is SO MUCH WORK!” and I just stare at her dumbfounded every time she says that. Like, so? Don’t you see that I am happy and healthy? What would you rather I do, sit on the couch all evening after working a 60-hour a week desk job?

Thanks, Wendy. I am a fan of Grist and I read that when it came out. Mine is a very informal network. I doubt anyone would be able to raid our place because I keep no records of whom I sell my stuff to. But indeed it’s so stupid.

Maybe someday, indeed, Paula. I do know of subsidies and all that; I have in fact helped a few friends go down that path. It holds no interest for me, mainly because I already have what I need, infrastructure-wise. But indeed, the “maybe someday” is sooner than we think. Just got to wean people off highly processed food, which is a tall order. But if more people could eat cheeses like ours…

CC, enlightened! Wow. Well yeah, it does sound like that. And: no thanks on the zucchini.

Hi Nada! And you must be thinking about rhubarb very soon, eh? Indeed, it is possible to grow more than you need. Finding willing homes for the food is sometimes the tougher challenge, which frankly is why I think it’s hard for “real” small farmers. Me, not so much, a fact for which I am very grateful.

MC, definitely, this law is aimed at those looking to actually make earnings, but indeed it helps out supremely small-timers like me. And that’s the rub. It’s why the honey- and maple-syrup bills come next. SMALL stuff, but you might as well try to break even.

David, yes, that’s exactly what this law is aimed at. And I find it funny frankly that most states put up barriers to doing such a thing: regulation for regulation’s sake…I would think the specter of “wrongful death lawsuit” also puts fear in the hearts of the few who do produce on a small scale. It’s all a gamble. As a sole-proprietorship, I would need to put my house up as collateral in my architecture practice (or most business practices frankly) and sometimes that’s a huge risk. So yeah, it’s why I ONLY give my food to people I know, too.

Stef, I have seen the bucketloads of produce you grow out back so indeed I can see a CSA as part of your grander life scheme! But then when the kids are all bigger they too can help a lot more, right?

Jackie, don’t let me stop you from selling those eggs by making you think my chickens are malingering feed-consumers. I just think it takes time to make them pay off. And I am a softie and have lots of egg-every-third-day girls on the payroll mainly because I can’t see the farmayrd without them.

Brett it sure does (bakery lobby in WI) and you can ask C about that. Sad, true. But anyway I would hardly say I am a free-and-clear legal person. I do try! And it’s fun to share and bake good food.

Liz, clean nails can be overrated. I think with a little more sweat and less bad food we’d be a lot healthier too. But goodness that would indeed mean a lot of work for us, wouldn’t it, or a life with lots less stuff?

WF there is a WORLD of difference between New Jersey and Michigan, and cost per acre is a biiiiggg part of it, I think. You pay the taxes and get the good schools. Me not so much. Sigh. But keep at it!!! You and the Mrs are lots happier this way

Sara I can’t help but laugh at the idea of an “unscrupulous canner” mainly because I am right down the road from Kellogg and “scrupulous” would be one of the near-last words used to describe THEIR practices. But I understand what you are saying. Somewhere in there is the tipping point where the work you put in somehow begins to pay off. My point was in acquiring a milk goat. I in no way wish to have 8 milk goats but one is quite a benefit.

Backyardfeast, hello! “Ongoing muddle” is a very apt description to use when cataloging my own efforts here~ and that is frankly okay. I would say my chickens do add a bit of payoff with the compost heap but they are nothing compared to what the goat has contributed in just half a year. So yeah, it’s an interesting puzzle.

Esperanza, yeah, it does help (this law). But really I do question enforcement-for-enforcement’s sake, don’t you? I say go small and keep it under the radar (not, obviously, advice I am following by dint of this blog but still).

Peter, but a Gug would only support me for a year or so… therefore I would be stuck swallowing my tail and rolling down the hill of grant pursuance. Ick. I’ve got enough work to do!

Pamela, darn them! But yes, isn’t it fun finding people to barter with? The woman with the horse-riding daughters is an absolute gem, and I wouldn’t have found her if I didn’t avail myself of Craigslist. Hurrah, internets!

That’ll fix your wagon.

Law enforcement busting people for selling their home grown agricultural goods. Unbelievable. This cottage industry farm bill would address that. Go Michigan!

I’ll link to your post in my ongoing muddle, and would love to hear more. I’m interested to hear that your egg chickens don’t pay for themselves–are you including the cost/benefit of manure for your garden in that equation too?

Anyway, I’ve found that the only way to get rid of eggs consistently is to charge for them, people aren’t as invested for some reason if they are free (or are afraid to ask). And I find the time it takes coordinating the sales is more work than the $ is worth. It’s all interesting, as to provide enough for yourself often ends up with just enough extra that puts you in-between commercial sales and donation.

There should be provisions for cottage industries and homesteads. It is frustating to see how difficult it is to live off of the land. If (lets say by some miracle) we can survive off of the land…there is the tax man.

Btw, you so can and should charge $5/ doz for those eggs : ).

Hope all is well.

wf.

Since we began, we’ve seen lots of other home bakers, picklers, canners showing up at local markets. It has changed the Twin Cities farmers’ market seen in noticeable ways. The earnings limit is very low here ($5000 gross per year), but then, no enforcement provisions were part of the bill….

I think Wisconsin just okayed a similar bill for canned goods, but they still don’t allow baked goods from unlicensed kitchens to be sold. I guess the bakery lobby has some oompph in Cheesehead Country.

Anyway, El, I’m glad that the powers that be in Michigan have finally made a legal woman of you!

Brett

When/if we buy our dream piece of land in the country, I might be heading down your road…hopefully.

Thanks for sharing on this!

And when the crabby neighbor dies or moves, I’m going to try meat birds. You are doing really well with your stuff if everyone’s paying for themselves. Only the bees are close to breaking even for me.