Answer
Well, maybe you can, maybe you can't -- it depends on what state/USA you're living in and where you live within that state.
At the moment, a number of states in America are persecuting and prosecuting small dairy farmers who are providing milk directly from their cows to people who want it and are willing to pay for it.
Why shouldn't people wanting raw milk be able to buy it from a local farmer, unfettered by government forces? And why shouldn't the farmer be able to sell it to them without fear of prosecution?
Why shouldn't people wanting raw milk be able to buy it from a local farmer, unfettered by government forces? And why shouldn't the farmer be able to sell it to them without fear of prosecution?
To all of those involved, it just doesn't seem right.
Raw milk advocates are saying, "How in the World does it make any sense that we can't buy milk directly from a farmer to feed to our families without fear of prosecution?"
"Isn't it the most basic human right we're given upon being borne upon the face of this planet, and into this World? How does any government have any right to tell us that we can't fulfill the most basic human right of feeding our families as we see fit?"
It doesn't make sense but then, with government agencies involved, that's no surprise as nonsense seems to be one of the things many politicians, but certainly not all, in our national, state and local governments are doing best these days.
Current Story
One of the most current stories comes from the town in Massachusetts that hosts the New England Patriots, Foxborough.
In spite of State oversight of raw milk in Massachusetts, the local Foxborough town government is taking it upon themselves to enact stricter raw milk requirements that essentially make it much more difficult for a local, 300-year old generational family dairy farm to stay in business.
Critics say the rules and regulations seem to be aimed directly at the Lawton Family Farm in Foxborough and are coming under fire from raw milk advocates across the country.
They add that this could be another precedent-setting case if it ever goes to trial for any reason as per the Vernon Hershberger trial in Wisconsin recently, where the jury vindicated the Amish farmer on all charges(3) except for accessing the products in his store and coolers that Wisconsin's DATCP had sealed and taped shut during a raid with a full complement of armed Deputies, warning Hershberger not to violate the holding order.
During the raid they even went so far as to pour a blue dye (non-toxic) into his bulk milk tank to mark those many gallons(300) of fresh milk to help prevent them from being consumed.
Hershberger admitted to violating the holding order saying he simply had to get the vital food and nutrition to the members of his private buying club as it was their property, and he couldn't stand by and watch it go to waste.
The jury had no choice but to convict him on this charge but listen to this, after the trial at least one of the jury members approached farmer Hershberger asking to join his private buyers club.
Here are a couple of links to that story, and there a bunch more online:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/news_wp/?p=9236
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/05/amish-raw-milk-farmer-vernon-hershberger-wins-big-in-court/
Back to the Foxborough, Massachusetts story
This is just plain a heck of a story, it's happening right now and here's the link from the website, "The Complete Patient", a really interesting website about related things and hosted by Author and more, David Gumpert.
It will provide insights into the issue, more are available online:
http://thecompletepatient.com/article/2013/december/2/what-real-agenda-behind-nfl-town%E2%80%99s-continued-harassing-tiny-raw-milk-dairy
We can't dig too much into the issue here as it runs really deep, but by the grace of the internet and social media there is the opportunity and need to pass this information along to let anyone interested know what's going on with it. Take it and run with it as much as you're inspired and interested to do so.
And expect updates here as appropriate.
Sum-up
Our old barns remind us that we are all people of the land, and when issues like raw milk come along the old barns still standing are strong reminders of where we're all from not so long ago.
For cryin' out loud, I just want a glass of milk from my neighbor's cow. Why does that have to be such a legal and bureaucratic challenge?
It just doesn't make sense and the politicos standing in the way of it are in the process of finding that out.
As I started production on the, "American Barn Stories..." series some years ago I could never have imagined the World it would open up to me.
I truly enjoy bringing it to you and sharing it with you and hope that it brings and adds countryside things to your lives that you would not have had otherwise.
Stay tuned ---
==============================================================================
In the meantime
Gonna run up and help Art with the cows tomorrow. Cold weather is banging on the barn doors and some things have to get done in the meantime. Will try to snap a few pics to pass along.
Like always, thanks for clicking in -- more later on it all.
And remember to check out the new note cards and more at the website. There's only a few there right now, but look for more as time goes by.
"Isn't it the most basic human right we're given upon being borne upon the face of this planet, and into this World? How does any government have any right to tell us that we can't fulfill the most basic human right of feeding our families as we see fit?"
It doesn't make sense but then, with government agencies involved, that's no surprise as nonsense seems to be one of the things many politicians, but certainly not all, in our national, state and local governments are doing best these days.
Current Story
One of the most current stories comes from the town in Massachusetts that hosts the New England Patriots, Foxborough.
In spite of State oversight of raw milk in Massachusetts, the local Foxborough town government is taking it upon themselves to enact stricter raw milk requirements that essentially make it much more difficult for a local, 300-year old generational family dairy farm to stay in business.
Critics say the rules and regulations seem to be aimed directly at the Lawton Family Farm in Foxborough and are coming under fire from raw milk advocates across the country.
They add that this could be another precedent-setting case if it ever goes to trial for any reason as per the Vernon Hershberger trial in Wisconsin recently, where the jury vindicated the Amish farmer on all charges(3) except for accessing the products in his store and coolers that Wisconsin's DATCP had sealed and taped shut during a raid with a full complement of armed Deputies, warning Hershberger not to violate the holding order.
During the raid they even went so far as to pour a blue dye (non-toxic) into his bulk milk tank to mark those many gallons(300) of fresh milk to help prevent them from being consumed.
Hershberger admitted to violating the holding order saying he simply had to get the vital food and nutrition to the members of his private buying club as it was their property, and he couldn't stand by and watch it go to waste.
The jury had no choice but to convict him on this charge but listen to this, after the trial at least one of the jury members approached farmer Hershberger asking to join his private buyers club.
Here are a couple of links to that story, and there a bunch more online:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/news_wp/?p=9236
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/05/amish-raw-milk-farmer-vernon-hershberger-wins-big-in-court/
Back to the Foxborough, Massachusetts story
This is just plain a heck of a story, it's happening right now and here's the link from the website, "The Complete Patient", a really interesting website about related things and hosted by Author and more, David Gumpert.
It will provide insights into the issue, more are available online:
http://thecompletepatient.com/article/2013/december/2/what-real-agenda-behind-nfl-town%E2%80%99s-continued-harassing-tiny-raw-milk-dairy
We can't dig too much into the issue here as it runs really deep, but by the grace of the internet and social media there is the opportunity and need to pass this information along to let anyone interested know what's going on with it. Take it and run with it as much as you're inspired and interested to do so.
And expect updates here as appropriate.
Sum-up
Our old barns remind us that we are all people of the land, and when issues like raw milk come along the old barns still standing are strong reminders of where we're all from not so long ago.
For cryin' out loud, I just want a glass of milk from my neighbor's cow. Why does that have to be such a legal and bureaucratic challenge?
It just doesn't make sense and the politicos standing in the way of it are in the process of finding that out.
As I started production on the, "American Barn Stories..." series some years ago I could never have imagined the World it would open up to me.
I truly enjoy bringing it to you and sharing it with you and hope that it brings and adds countryside things to your lives that you would not have had otherwise.
Stay tuned ---
==============================================================================
In the meantime
Gonna run up and help Art with the cows tomorrow. Cold weather is banging on the barn doors and some things have to get done in the meantime. Will try to snap a few pics to pass along.
Like always, thanks for clicking in -- more later on it all.
And remember to check out the new note cards and more at the website. There's only a few there right now, but look for more as time goes by.
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