Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I Need My Smith County Watermelons and Tomato Sandwiches!

First it was green onions, then peanut butter and now pistachios.   If truth be told, there were probably a few others thrown in between.    Of course, I am referring to foods that cause food poisoning.    We are all aware of them.     Just this weekend my sister warned her mother-in-law not to eat pistachios because it was the "new" food not to eat.

So it is not surprising that a few in Congress have decided to sit around and doodle and rewrite the original HR Bill 759 into the new even more ridiculous HR 875 bill .

Do you enjoy raising a garden every summer so you can put up fresh vegetables for your family?
Do you enjoy hunting so you can have fresh meat in your freezer?

If this bill passes, you could be considered a criminal if you grow vegetables in your backyard.    It could be illegal if you share a summer fresh tomato with your neighbor... forget that... if you even grow a tomato!   No more farmer's markets.   No more roadside truck sales.    No more Smith County watermelons!   

The public is starting to stand and taking notice of this bill because of what it means for the everyday person.  However, in reality there are probably very few in Congress who probably even know about this bill and when it arrives on the floor they will vote based on the good old method of  "How are you voting?" decision making process.

We need to contact our members at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose HR 875 and S 425.  While you are at it ask them if they personally have read the legislation and what their position is? If they have not read the legislation ask them to read it and politely let them know that just because other representitives are not reading the legislation and voting on it does not mean they can do the same. 

Also, find out who sits on your states agriculture and farming committee and contact them with your concerns.

The time to act is now.     I seriously don't want to have to go to jail for a home grown tomato sandwich, but it just isn't summer without them.

Please, people, help a Mississippi girl out!

10 comments:

AM said...

That's CRAZY!!! What if I steal my neighbors tomatos?

black betty said...

did somebody say "tomato sammich"????? dat's what i'm talkin' bout!!! :)

Dr. Wifey said...

that is ridiculous.

Shelby said...

That is the most insane waste of time and taxpayer dollars and BEYOND THAT, it punishes the poor who might not be able to afford produce at retail prices!

K Storm said...

Craziness!!

Erin said...

The bill does not affect backyard gardens, only commercial farms, and its about securing food safety as the multiple scares we've had lately. I'm not sure at all that its the right thing to do, but it has nothing to do with your growing tomatoes, or anything else in your yard, unless you start distributing commercially.

Erin said...

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/food/foodsafety/background-on-h-r-875

Hoosier Homemade said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on the Creamsicle Cupcakes!
~Liz

A. Boyd Campbell, II said...

Sometimes, you just don't know how bad your problems really are until some yahoo tries to fix them.

Carrie said...

Any excuse they can find to put more ridiculous laws on the books.

I'm going to a tea party tomorrow!

p.s. TERM LIMITS! TERM LIMITS! TERM LIMITS!