Reviews for: Seeds and Spores Family Farm LLC

I have to laugh! After posting the review it came up and was right next to one I had done before and forgotten about. My error.... Chuckle.

Sherwood, we have been farming in the Upper Peninsula for 12 years now. Our first three years we were certified organic, first by OCIA and then by OGM (Organic Growers of Michigan). Still have the certificates to prove it actually. Not sure why this is such an issue but if you would like a more complete explanation of our thoughts on this issue please take a moment to visit our website.

Ms. Crocker, have you been to the farm? volunteered there? Are you aquainted with the people who actually run the farm? I think that it is likely that one would not oppose a decision like the decision against certification if he or she had been involved or witnessed the inner workings of a farm like Seeds and Spores. I believe that certification can be a snafu for small farms in less populated areas. I think that I'd like the money generated by the farm to pursue natural and biodynamic practices than to defend a certification set up by government regulations and "Big Ag." I think that if anyone would like to dispute the practice or discredit Seeds and Spores, or any other local farm that grows with natural practices without organic certifications, then that person should visit the farm and/or become involved and acquainted with his or her food.

Am Ed, you are dead wrong. All laws in the United States come from the people. Farmers developed the whole criteria for organic farming certification and then lobbied congress for those laws. The whole reason behind these laws is to protect the American consumer from fraudulent farmers pretending to have grown their crops organically. Especially those farmers who market their crops as organically grown, but do not get certified. It is the same as claiming that you are a doctor, but do not have any documents to back it up.

Betty Crocker, I would argue that the "experts" who define the criteria for organic certification are not the experts at farming. I do not know Seeds and Spores' position on certification, but I know that many small farms choose to follow organic farming practices (often stricter than those required for certification, and infinitely malleable to new science and technique) due to the political implications of supporting a certification process that has been taken over by Big Ag and other unsavory elements.

Berryman, your opinions are not fact. There are standards and criteria for growing and marketing products. If being certified is not important then why does this farm cling to "have been certified" rather than be certified? Every newspaper article or lecture given by Seeds and Spores emphasizes this point. This farm even discredits how to properly grow organic food. How does someone only farming for a short time become more of an expert than the experts?

I would agree. You said your piece, no need to beat the issue with a stick. Show peaceful, silent protest by not shopping at their stand. Or you could even be an adult and talk to them in person about this issue. Being passive aggressive about it will not bring about change.

Why are you trying so hard to discredit Seeds and Spores? It's a market economy. As a consumer just make your choice not to buy from them and get on with your shopping. But don't keep bashing them. It smacks of an ulterior motive like trying to drive their customers away so they'll aQuire their produce someplace else.

The issue is that you charge too much for a product that isn't what you say it is..... also, what is up with the attitude everytime I shop at your booth? It's like you don't even want my business?

Beth, not sure where you purchased our produce, but my apologies if we included some of our quality soil. We do our best to avoid dirt on the produce. As far as the price, I find in my annual comparison to grocery stores, titled "The Wal Mart Challenge" that we are equal or better that even Wal Mart on 3 out of 4 prices. It is a bit like comparing apples to oranges as Wal Mart has only conventional produce to compare, but a useful comparison none the less.

Ellie, you have been brainwashed. Obviously you have been uniformed. The cost to become certified is not expensive. Check it out. It's just the local guys way to bypass the system. Ridiculous!

I know this person. They work for a competing store. The review is a deliberate attempt to undermine a well-run and honest business.

Anyone who was a member of our CSA last season can attest to the fact that we included tomatoes in 10 of our 20 boxes. Not sure where this comment comes from. Obviously, not from a former member. As far as the certification comments, we address this issue at length on our website. Suffice it to say that we were certified organic in the past and have not changed our growing methods since.

Un true comments. Have been certified, and can back it up with paper. Ideas are reflected on the webpage regarding the certification process: http://seedsandspores.com/extra.htm He probably got a tomato.