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HOMEGROWN Holiday Swap
OK, let's get organized in here! I've got pints of apple butter and dilly beans - who wants to swap what they've got? I'd love some dill pickles, or some kind of fruit preserves - cherry jam! Whatcha got?
**11/13 Update** Aliza and I have come up with an idea: Whomever would like to join in a swap for the holidays should comment here. In a few weeks, on, let's say, December 7th people will be randomly assigned a swapping "partner". You will then exchange addresses privately and send each other a box of preserved goodies.
So far, we have the following swappers:
Aliza
Torry
Megan
Cornelia
Jessica White
Rachel Fowler
Adriana
Magpie Ima
John C. Scott
Emily Soulliere
Janice Kubo
Janis Freeman
Maria Jett
Blue Sandefur
Steve Racz
Cyndi
Mo
Cindy Whittaker Putnam
Chef Edmund Patrick/aka Hobokeneddie
Ellen C
Sharon
Charles Hudson
Kim Bennett
Carolyn
I'll update this list as people leave their comment. Fun!
**11/13 Update** Aliza and I have come up with an idea: Whomever would like to join in a swap for the holidays should comment here. In a few weeks, on, let's say, December 7th people will be randomly assigned a swapping "partner". You will then exchange addresses privately and send each other a box of preserved goodies.
So far, we have the following swappers:
Aliza
Torry
Megan
Cornelia
Jessica White
Rachel Fowler
Adriana
Magpie Ima
John C. Scott
Emily Soulliere
Janice Kubo
Janis Freeman
Maria Jett
Blue Sandefur
Steve Racz
Cyndi
Mo
Cindy Whittaker Putnam
Chef Edmund Patrick/aka Hobokeneddie
Ellen C
Sharon
Charles Hudson
Kim Bennett
Carolyn
I'll update this list as people leave their comment. Fun!
Tags: fall, preserving, swap
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Torry on -
I'd offer up some 1/2 pints of blackberry jam for some apple butter. Also have Mint jelly...lemme know.
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Permalink Reply by Cornelia on -
OK Torry - you're on! I'll email you my address and will pack up a pint of apple butter in anticipation of getting your address, too. Thanks! Look at how easy that was!!
Torry said:I'd offer up some 1/2 pints of blackberry jam for some apple butter. Also have Mint jelly...lemme know.
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Permalink Reply by Aliza Ess on -
I have a lot of relish made from watermelon rind, banana peppers, tomatoes, and onions. It's sour, sweet, and a little spicy.
I haven't been able to come up with very many recipes using the relish though.. any ideas? The only thing I've been able to think of is eating it with cheese and crackers. It might be nice on top of a good sausage.. perhaps if I make a veggie sausage or something?
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Permalink Reply by Torry on
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Hmmm...who'd you prep the watermelon rinds? Are they large chunks, shredded, ?
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Permalink Reply by Aliza Ess on
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Prepping the watermelon rind is definitely a task for patient folks! Luckily I find chopping vegetables to be very meditative.
So I cracked open a beer, popped in a DVD, and slowly carved away the rind and chopped it into 1/2 inch pieces. Carving the rind from a whole watermelon took about an hour and a half.
Definitely worth it to me. Although I don't often eat the watermelon pickles at a meal, they make a very fun gift and potluck item. I've been thinking about using the watermelon flavored vinegar in a sweet-and-sour syrup mix for making mixed drinks or sodas.
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Permalink Reply by Megan on -
I want in!
I have some cherry jam (1/2 pint jars) and plans to make pumpkin or squash butter in the near future. I make apple butter every year, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Will let you know if I do.
I would love some dilly beans! Or relish!
I also have pickles and sauerkraut, but they are lacto-fermented and not canned, just refrigerated. Happy to arrange a swap with any interested parties in NYC.
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Permalink Reply by Aliza Ess on
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Hey Cornelia,
Perhaps there could be a separate swap area on the site, where people could post everything they're willing to swap in a list, and then people could search by region or by what item that want (preserves, relish, sourdough starter, kombucha starter, etc.)
Or maybe there could just be different discussions set up in the "Resurrect the Barter" section?
What do people think?
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Permalink Reply by Rachel Fowler on -
I'm in but I don't have any preserves but I do love baking...... Let me know if this might be able to be included in the fun.
Rachel
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Permalink Reply by Adriana on -
Wait a minute, I don't do preserves... Any other items acceptable?
Adriana said:Count me in!
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Permalink Reply by Cornelia on
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I say yes! Anything homegrown or handmade. Edible is preferable, but it's ultimately up to your swapping partner.
Adriana said:Wait a minute, I don't do preserves... Any other items acceptable?
Adriana said:Count me in!
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Permalink Reply by Magpie Ima on -
Oooh! I'm in! I have lots of different half pints of fruit preserves to share: apricot jam, peach butter, blueberry marmalade, cranberry marmalade, and more.
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Permalink Reply by John C. Scott on -
I have homemade soap , many scents some with oatmeal it is all our family uses and the bars last a long time and include only simple ingredients i's love some recipies for canning katie
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USDA Issues New Regulations Protecting Contract Farmers
The USDA released regulations (PDF link) this week that will provide new, much-needed protections for contract poultry farmers.Contract farming generally refers to a system in which a farmer raises or grows an agricultural product for a larger company. Contract poultry farmers invest their own money to build poultry barns to company specifications. Under contract, a company delivers the chicks to the grower who uses company feed and medicine to raise the chicks. The company retains ownership of the birds and dictates how the chicks are to be raised. The grown birds then go back to be processed by the poultry company for a previously agreed-upon price based on the birds' weight.
A typical chicken house costs about $300,000 to build, and most companies encourage growers to build at least four houses, for an investment in excess of $1 million. Frequently, growers take out loans covering that entire expense, only to find themselves dropped by the company, often with little or no notice. While there exists the potential for fair contracts in this agricultural system, that has not been the case historically. Contract growers have typically been extremely vulnerable, the contracts tilted against the grower who is subject to the whims of the poultry company. These new regulations issued by the USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration will help change that system.
Under the new rules:
- Companies must provide farmers with a written copy of the contract before the farmer makes an initial investment in his or her poultry houses;
- Contracts with confidentiality clauses must allow farmers to discuss contract offers with federal or state agencies, immediate family members, business associates, farmers who contract with the same company, accounting services hired by the farmer, a lawyer or financial advisor before signing;
- Contracts must state that if a farmer is put on a performance improvement plan (in other words, if they've received a warning that could potentially lead to their contract being terminated), they must be told why, what steps will be taken to help them improve, how they can regain good standing, and the factors that will be used to determine when or if the contract will be terminated;
- Farmers must be notified in writing within 90 days before a contract is terminated, expired, not renewed or not replaced.
"When the company terminated my contract, the company representative left a message on my answering machine saying that the flock of chickens that we had would be our last," Kevin said. "We had no warning. No one should be in that situation."
Mickey Box, a farmer in Berryville, Arkansas, agreed. "Growers have been left in the dark," Mickey said. "When I was put on a performance improvement plan, I knew I could lose my contract. It would have helped to know how I could get back in good standing."
Becky Ceartas, director of the contract agriculture reform program at Farm Aid-funded group Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI), said these rules increase fairness, transparency and good business practices.
"Before farmers make the financial commitment to build poultry facilities on their farms, they need to know exactly what's expected and what the terms of that arrangement will be," said Ceartas. "An informed farmer can make better decisions, and that benefits everyone."
Farmers and concerned consumers can get more information about these rules by calling Ceartas at (919) 542-1396 x209 or by visiting www.rafiusa.org.
The Administration will release additional proposed regulations in early 2010 that will deal with other competition and fairness issues in poultry and livestock agriculture—stay tuned!
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