Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

I've written the commission to express my displeasure with any changes that weaken the law. Hopefully I can attend the next public eeting.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

saw you there and was hoping to talk to you, but you had left. I understand why you had to leave. I thought that you did great, hope that I made the same impact too.

It was scary for me to stand up to talk, and I could not stop shaking for about 5 mintues after I sat down,

I'm still jittery, lol.
I was trying really, really hard not to think about WHO they were. I had speech in HS, so it's not my first time in front of a crowd, but still........I got about 3/4 of the way through, then the nerves hit, hard. I was literally shaking in my shoes, lol. I had some mint tea after, to calm my stomach. I was glad to see you, i wish i could've stayed too. You made some good points, too. I was really disappointed that more people from my community didn't show, this is all farm around here. The more of us speak, the more better it looks all in all.

I was thinking about what i would say, if i did, all week. All that kept popping into my head of all things is my dad's attitude towards chickens.....he's not fond. What speaks to him is money, and i dare say most of the people who are in charge of our futures also think this way. That's why i brought up the financial impact on the little farms, and roadside stands and whatnot, that is money and if there's one thing that is important to these guys is making MI successful They do seem to be very concerned with promoting small business, agriculture and encouraging the next generation to start farming. They just aren't putting the dots together to realize that what they want and what this bill will do are two different things...... It seems like they haven't read it yet, and thought that it was just about banning chickens in the city. Um, no, this is for a whole lotta change.........

It would have been nice to mingle with the representatives, i think we shook them a bit and there's much they seemed not aware of....

 

[RaZ]

So sorry Nova!
BYM- Thanks! I will post yesterday's Emu pictures tonight. Ann had a blast playing in the kiddie pool, and took a bunch of pictures.

No time now as I am getting ready to go the the Right To Farm meeting in a few minutes! Please pray that I will do well there, and have enough bravery to stand up and speak out.

You did well my friend. You seemed to have captured their attention and I saw them nodding in agreement with you.

I'm getting to the point where I really hate carpeting....... When we built our house I had two rooms to cover, and I got some nice ($$) carpet for the master, pretty sculpted swirl pattern........ stuff didn't hold up worth a darn! think I'm going to tear it up and put some pergo down... at least that stuff holds up!

I played hookie from work yesterday, I had 4, 5gal buckets of tomatoes to put up.... and they weren't gonna do themselves. I made my first attempt at sauce. I would like to have let it simmer a bit longer but it was getting late. It was reduced to almost half in the pan so I think it'll be ok. I used one of those old cone strainers w/a wooden handle to make the sauce,. It's tedious, but worked pretty good. Is there anything you can do with the seedy tomato pasty stuff left over (besides compost)? I still have one bucket left to do but it'll have to wait.

Tonight DH is coming home from the industrial trade show in Chicago... and bringing a co worker from Germany with him that I'll have to help entertain..UGH!!!..I find this out at 10:30 last night....... the house was a disaster so I stayed up and cleaned.

I took out all my carpet years ago. All hardwood oak except the kitchen which I hope to do this fall.

I went, said my peace, and dipped out........... Didn't want to, feel kinda bad that i didn't get to mingle with the representatives, (Or talk to my BYC friends

At any rate, there was only 4 of us there to speak, and the irony was that we knew more about what was going on than the representatives did!

You did fine Fuzzy, glad you could make it. Every voice helps.
Part of the reason that we seem to know more about these changes is that we are more directly related to the issue. The commissioners cover a lot of ground, from the GAAMPs to helping to get broadband to remote rural areas. They also deal with the feds, MDOT, DNR and a bunch of other organizations.
I did chat with a few of them at break and afterwards, I think it helps.

We're proud of all 3 of you guys!!

Actually there were 4 of us there, Wingless doesn't post very much on this particular thread but hangs out on the Faveroll thread.

I've written the commission to express my displeasure with any changes that weaken the law. Hopefully I can attend the next public eeting.

Thank you. Also be advised that Genoa Twp prosecutor was at the last meeting with the expressed intent of using the GAAMPs/RTF to completely outlaw chickens in Genoa Twp unless specifically sited as an agriculture use zone. His name is Frank Mancuso, currently prosecuting a noise issue (rooster) and says the township should dictate the rules.

I'm still jittery, lol.
I was trying really, really hard not to think about WHO they were.

They do seem to be very concerned with promoting small business, agriculture and encouraging the next generation to start farming. They just aren't putting the dots together to realize that what they want and what this bill will do are two different things...... It seems like they haven't read it yet, and thought that it was just about banning chickens in the city. Um, no, this is for a whole lotta change.........

It would have been nice to mingle with the representatives, i think we shook them a bit and there's much they seemed not aware of....

They are all "WHO"s just like you and me.

They really do seem to care about promoting agriculture throughout the state. We need to make them aware that we backyard farmers serve a role in that objective as well. I've offered to help them develop a reasonable set of GAAMPs that apply to suburban farming and be fair to all concerned. I hope they take me up on the offer.

We have until December 12 to get our message to the commissioners. The next meeting is October 31 in Lansing. You can call or write as often as you like.

BTW, wingless and I stopped at the "Twisted Rooster" for lunch on the way home. Excellent food.

 

[caz426]

Well played fuzz, if that's what they're concerned with, use it to stress our situation!

I had contacted someone with the American live stock conservatory... the people who track the survivor status of livestock, heritage breeds etc. I basically asked them if most of the people who had heritage animals were small farms. They said it varies, but most farms that want this kind of live stock are mid to small operations. I wanted some basic info from them so that I can add that to my letter when I get the time to write it.

thanks again to everyone... looks like it's time to write our representatives as well!



Pancakes made in muffin tins. Only fill the tin 1/2 full and it will create the crater when it bakes (follow biscuit directions on package). Fill with fresh berries or whatever you like!

Those look so good!!

 

[snowflake]

thanks to all who took the time and were able to go and speak,

..Kudos to all of you

 

[caz426]

My BOs started around 26-28 weeks.


Fenton just became chicken-friendly.
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/09/fenton_joins_few_other_cities.html

Good to know.... I've been wondering if my BO was "broken." She should be around 28 weeks this week, so hopefully soon!!

 

[RaZ]

The highlight of the day was getting to see Daron's operation.
The pigs are super cool, the cows are great too.
But you have to see the emus up close.

I think I saw some turkey and chickens too.

 

[taprock]

Thanks to all who spoke up! Do I understand right that the four who spoke were all BYC people? If so that's very sad that more people don't know what's going on. Raz have you heard anything about meetings that are up at my end of the state? I have been listening for something up north my way, which has lots of small farmers, but have heard nothing.

 

[caz426]

Caz... When you say hen... do you mean chicken or duck? Only asking cuz of your last statement about "lots of drama in my yard and the only 1 laying eggs is the duck! " I wouldn't want a drake in with my chicken hens...

I do have 3 chicken hens with a pair of ducks... We originally got 2 chicks and a duckling, all supposed to be female. The duckling turned out to be a drake and since they all free range together I got a female duck around the same age as the drake. He has been fine with the chickens he was raised with, but he is very aggressive to the new chicken hen we "rescued." I won't let them all out together unless I am out with them and can make sure the drake leaves her alone. Hopefully I'll be able to keep them together eventually, but if not I will keep them separated.

 

[chickflick]

Thanks guys for being our voice!! I took Speech in HS, gosh, so long ago, but I always cut that class. Just don't like standing up in front of people and speaking.

When we moved into this house, we tore out all the carpeting too. Have open concept, so living room, dining room, kitchen, hall and two bathrooms are all tiled. Have dogs, so didn't want hardwood floors. Only two of the bedrooms are carpeted. I hate carpeting. Floor you can just wipe up the dirt, carpet holds and hides it...

Gosh, those pancake look so good!!! Will have to try it.
Sorry, Nova.