Action pnum1155 Last 25 Messages Transmitted Log Vote YES on SB51 (HB268) ********** [095958:012915] V.D., Afton, VA provide more income opportunities for Virginia's small farmers, enabling them to sell other products of the farm as well as items from other Virginia farms. keep the most environmentally-conscious stewards of the lands, small family farms, on the land. keep more of the food dollars spent by Virginia residents in the local and state economy. enable Virginia consumers to obtain more items directly from farms. ********** [175357:012815] J.T., Alexandria, VA I purchase much of my family's food from small farms and like it that way. Please support small farms. ********** [064005:102114] T.P., Asheville, NC Stop taking away our freedoms and choice options in food and farming. ********** [043348:102114] E.H., Virginia Beach, VA I vote yes to support our Virginia Farmers. They need all the help they can get! Please care and vote Yes for our future and our childrens freedom ********** [090203:101914] S.K., Chantilly, VA Local, family-owned farms are the key to restoring a sustainable, healthy food-supply system. ********** [055505:061714] B.L., Yorktown, VA I urge you to vote YES on SB 51 to support Virginia's small family farms and consumer freedom of choice. Passage into law will mean that Virginia's small farmers can engage in on-farm sales and other on-farm activities without overregulation by local government. ********** [172821:050614] J.C., North Hills, CA Grass roots action requires a voice. We urge you to provide your vote and voice to support SB51 and HB268 for our direct relationship with our local farms. This should be a basic freedom and right, don't you think? Thank you for letting us know you care! James Cochrum ********** [152520:031014] P.S., Buena Vista, VA Please give your support to Virginia Farmers by voting YES on SB 51. If we want small family farms to survive they don't need to be regulated to death (literally). ********** [152054:030614] T.F., Newport News, VA I vote YES on SB 51 to support Virginia's small family farms and consumer freedom of choice. ********** [083955:022114] D.M., Midlothian, VA Please support SB 51 which limits local government's ability to regulate selling your own farm produce and products. Small farms are good for Virginia's economy. If they are driven out of business by regulations, big agriculture will take their place. SB 51 protects the freedoms of small farmers. The last thing Virginia needs is more regulations. ********** [081910:022114] A.T., Glen Allen, VA Please support passage of SB51 to limit local government's ability to regulate certain activities on farms, e.g. sell your own tomatoes. When small farms are driven out of business, big agriculture comes in and pollutes the ground water with hormones and pesticides. Small farms sales encourage local and state economies. Big agriculture will pollute Virginia's land and sell their products elsewhere. Common sense dictates that small privately owned farms will better serve Virginia. When you own it, you are invested in taking the best care of it. Passage SB 51 into law will mean that Virginia's small farmers can engage in selling of their products on their farms and other on-farm activities without local governments' shutting them down with regulations. ********** [135421:021314] A.J., Fairfax, VA Please vote YES for this very reasonable, sensible bill to support our small family farms and consumer freedom of choice here in Virginia. It is the right, fair thing to do to protect our small farming families. Thank you. ********** [091152:021214] T.D., Springfield, VA It is time to stand up and be counted. This bill will help against the local government overreach and stop the attack on our freedoms. ********** [081954:021214] E.M., Woodbridge, VA Please vote YES on SB51. It will affect us all. No one will escape any results, good or bad, if they live in VA and get their food here. It is truly a property rights issue and the farmers know best how to grow and protect our food sources rather than bureaucrats and legislators. Their rights protect our rights. It's your obligation to protect us all from harmful initiatives and actions. We need mutual agreement on this for the good of all of us. Please vote YES on SB 51. Thanks. ********** [073631:021214] A.K., Arlington, VA To all VA legislators: Please vote for the above common sense bills This is a property rights issue and it not right that the old guard in certain counties pass laws to prevent newcomers from using their own land for farming. ********** [221508:021014] S.G., Silverdale, WA I strongly agree with this bill,its needs to be passed to encourage farms to keep feeding the country ethically and healthy food. Farmers should be able to have activities to educate and inform communities and have fun and incourage community development and help the farmers stay in business,they are the back bone or our country. ********** [144633:020914] j.b., Fairfax, VA If you were to ask a small farmer at the Farmer's market "How much chemical fertilizer/pesticide do you use?", the answer would probably be "As little as possible because the more I use the less profit." What has this to do with the SB 51? Simple, with this philosophy the small farmer is extending your life. It is a proven fact that many of the health problems we have today is the result of exposure to and ingestion of chemical fertilizers/pesticides. As we get older, past the 50 year mark, our immune system begins to deteriorate and chemicals don't help. Eating healthy, especially organically grown fruits and veggies, can help build the immune system and fight the many health problems we begin to face. It is only common sense, yes you spend a bit more for the produce if organically grown but you make up on savings in Doctor's bills. And when you compare the USDA's rules and regulations for earning the Organic seal of approval, you will note that they are more stringent than those for the items sold in supermarkets. I know that not all small farmers are using USDA approved organic methods, but I can confidently state that many small farmers do use these methods in growing fruits and veggies. The main reason they don't is the cost of earning certification from the USDA. What does a farmer do while letting his land lay fallow for 3 years and where does he/she come up with the $3000 for testing the soil? Hard to do, but many strive for coming as close as they can. They recycle after harvest which helps to improve the tilth of the soil, the ability of the soil to retain moisture and nutrients. It would be wise for you to look at your own eating habits and consider this information. Many schools here in the No. VA area are supporting Farmer's markets and providing the students with more nutriciouse meals. True, they can't have everything all year round but they are taking advantage of the fruits and veggies that are available seasonally. These programs have also widened and taught the student's tastes for a variety of foods. Visit a Farmer's market and find out for yourself the benefits that the small farmers of Virginia can bring to a region. ********** [091242:020514] R.M., Herndon, VA My wife Dawn, our 6 children Cameron, Casey, Alyse, Dean, Laci, and Blake, invest and support our local Virginia Farmer mostly Fields of Anthenry. We invest a large portion of our income on buying meat and produce from our local farmers. We also support weekly our local farmers market hosted in Reston, VA. We make considerable investment in our family budget on buying non processed foods that are free of GMO and pesticides. We also enjoy purchasing other other products produced by our farmers and want to be able to take advantage of the services offered by our farms without having to pay costs that are not sustainable. ********** [081029:020514] G.B., Reston, VA Please vote for SB 51 and support the small farms of Virginia! Small farms are good for Virginia's economy. If you've ever bought produce at farmers markets, you know the pleasure of choosing from an abundance of fresh, healthy vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as products made from the bounty of our local farms. There are many reasons to support SB 51, which can be summarized like this: for Virginia's small farmers, it provides more income opportunities, SB 51 helps Virginia's state and local economies, SB 51 helps preserve the quality of Virignia's farmland because of many small farmers' environmental awareness and conscientious use of the land. Thank you Georgiana Bloom ********** [080253:020514] B.Y., Reston, VA My name is Brian Y.and I am a Virginia resident. I am emailing to urge all Virginia State Senators to vote YES on SB 51. Please support SB 51, introduced by Senator Stuart. I support the right of farmers and consumers to engage in direct sales and farm activities. The passage of this legislation will create untold economic opportunity for Virginia farmers! Passage will also give Virginia consumers more responsible choices from sources they can hold accountable, rather than giant industrial food production companies with little accountability. Thank you for your support. ********** [061100:020514] G.W., Woodbridge, VA Please support SB51. My daughter is now a vegan and as a consequence I have learaned more about the importance of fresh local food. Please support or local farmers so that more fresh locally-sourced food is available to all. ********** [050258:020514] K.W., Vienna, VA Small farms provide jobs, financial independence and food security, all of which are critical to a solid working economy and the health of our nation. I hope Virginia takes a lead in facilitating farmer to consumer enterprises. Thank you for your consideration ********** [044116:020514] P.W., Reston, VA Small family farms are important contributors to our economy, our community and our health. I am proud to be able to support family-owned businesses, especially farms, in this region. Please vote to help small farms so they can prosper! ********** [042627:020514] T.D., Reston, VA Please support the state anD.local economies and vote YES for SB 51. Allow VA consumers the freedom to support our local farmers who work so hard to provide invaluable products and services to VA citizens. ********** [140432:020414] R.S., Sandston, VA Please vote YES on SB 51 to support Virginia's small family farms and consumer freedom of choice. Thank you! **********