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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Local Food

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  • From: IdleThymeFarm AT aol.com
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org (Market Farming)
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Local Food
  • Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 21:07:40 -0500

Shamefully, I am just now getting around to responding to this email (a bit
behind I am afraid). For those who may have missed earlier posts about the
struggles of small farming in Wyoming I would like to post a relevent update.

I am the only local vegetable and poultry producer anywhere near the Cheyenne
area. I am surrounded by large grain farms and ranches.

In February of this year, I began the process to register with the FSA. I
have been consistently denied and put off for a number of reasons. Ignorance
being the greatest of these....I have heard everything from "we do not
register little hobby gardens" to "Chickens are not livestock and they do not
graze". I am certified organic by OCIA (Wyomings first veggie operation to
certify) and I found it interesting that according to one branch of the USDA
(NOP) I was a certified organic farm but according to another branch (FSA) I
was not considered a farm. I am happy to report that through the involvement
of my US Senator, the University of Wyoming, the WY Director of the NRCS, and
the Wyoming Business Council....the local committee of the FSA has finally
recognized my operation as legitimate and I have been granted a farm
number....whew! I am mainly interested in wind break assistance (this is
Wyoming after all) and research funding for organics in the farm bill.

My customers happily buy everything that I can grow and raise and are not
afraid to pay organic/local prices. I am in the process of converting my
income to being 100% farm based and consequently am expanding my operation
next season. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth on local, sustainable
agriculture here in the wilds of Wyoming. It is lonely going at it alone but
I feel a battle worth fighting and a public worth educating.

Thanks for all the support and input that I have received from this list!

Blessings,
Shelly Elliott
Idle Thyme Farm
www.IdleThymeFarm.com



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