JournoActivist
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"Under a utility patent, #farmers can no longer save seed for replanting on their own farms. University scientists even face restrictions on the kind of research they can perform on patented crops."

#agriculture
12:43 PM - Feb 22, 2023
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Lizzie
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In response to JournoActivist.
This impacts so many in our community. Even the farmers who don't use patented seed but have neighbors who do, cannot save their seed because of cross pollination. It's insane the power these corporations have.
01:31 PM - Feb 22, 2023
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Thistlebloom Farm
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In response to Lizzie.
Given my farm's location and current production, I'm lucky so far in not having to deal with cross-pollination issues, but we all have to pay a lot more attention to how badly corporate greed has affected #agriculture . The effect on food/environmental health, sustainability and equity is mounting.
09:30 PM - Feb 22, 2023
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Lizzie
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In response to Thistlebloom Farm.
You are lucky.
We're doing our best to incorporate more sustainable practices into production but it makes it difficult to make ends meet.
People are so accustomed to buying cheap food they balk at anything above grocery store prices without considering how costly that food is in other ways.
10:13 PM - Feb 22, 2023
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Thistlebloom Farm
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In response to Lizzie.
Exactly. We face that here too, but this is a college town that can indulge in "boutique" local products to a certain extent. (Also, I recently found out that the local supermarkets are selling conventional eggs at nearly 2x the price of the stores that sell the ones from my organically fed hens.)
11:17 PM - Feb 22, 2023
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Lizzie
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We're surrounded by old farmers who think $1 for a carton of eggs is generous. My new cartons, required by law, cost $.60.
Eggs are better used for bartering to have post holes dug, gardens tilled, and even windows replaced.
The pigs are going to save the place, if they don't knock it down first!
In response to Thistlebloom Farm.
06:20 AM - Feb 23, 2023
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Thistlebloom Farm
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In response to Lizzie.
There are some like that in this area, as well, though most are not farmers. (Also Massachusetts is an expensive place, so people here are resigned to that.)

I'm curious about the legal requirement you're mentioning concerning egg cartons. Could you tell me more?
09:43 PM - Feb 25, 2023
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Lizzie
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In response to Thistlebloom Farm.
Here in Tennessee there are laws regarding the sales of eggs from small local farms. Requirements include washing eggs with a mild bleach solution, selling them in new, unused egg cartons, and the carton must be labeled clearly with your farm name, address, and phone number.
09:57 PM - Feb 25, 2023
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