Plant a Garden, Get a Tax Break?

[Ann]

Billy expounded:

I told you we had more in common than you thought! ;->

[Sue]

IIRC they no longer get money for *not* growing their crops.

I'm not sure what your definitions are of "elderly" and "wealthy" but my gentleman friend is 62, farms 100 acres of cotton and 45 acres of wheat and gets the subsidies. He may not fit your idea of elderly but he sure as hell isn't wealthy. However, he's very opposed to the government farm program. Last year his cotton crop was so bad that he made more money selling his water rights since he has a well so doesn't need his share of the canal water. Sue - Central California

[Charlie]

Quoting Bingo the Philosopher Dog now, are ya'?

[paghat]

Exclusively the few that are contemptible.

-paggers

[paghat]

Hey, a couple contemptibles showed an interest in wild & imperceptive guesses who I'm voting for. I was just fulfilling their limited desire for knowledge.

-paggers

[Sue]

The "family farmers", per the article, seem to be eligible for this money, too. The ones who are having trouble are the ones who lease rather than own the land and are not having their leases renewed. I was responding to this statement: "Nothing goes to the elderly farmer who still works dawn to dusk trying to pay for his own farm, but to the very wealthy." I saw nothing in the article to back up this statement. Now, I have been told that Queen Elizabeth used to get US farm subsidies because she did (or perhaps still does) own quite a bit of property here. I have absolutely no proof of this.

I've read the article now and see what you're talking about. My statement about the way things used to be was based on my gentleman friend no longer having to have a "set aside" to get the subsidies for his cotton. There was some very careful calculation about how many acres were under cultivation thereby how many acres he couldn't plant.

Well, I'm more worried about the meager livelihood of my gentleman friend (his pick up truck is about 15 years old and his tractor is older than that which I point out to demonstrate that he is *not* wealthy) than I am of farmers in the Third World. And, as I said, he is very much against the subsidies.

work in a welfare office and it sickens me at some of the stuff we do. But, that's just a point of view thing. I'm goin' out to plant the herbs now. Sue

[Leon Fisk]

If you want to lookup some actual numbers from past years in your local area look here:

on your state and maybe county, then click on say Top Recipients in 2005. You should see some familiar names from local farmers and what there "take" was in 2005.

[Charlie]

Investigate! Agitate! Aggravate! Advocate! Educate! Propagate!

Charlie

"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral." ~~Paulo Freire

[Jangchub]

Since its been stable since the beginning of rec.gardens, based on my observations, this is a very angry person with a serious infection of self.

[Jangchub]

and your fulfillment of grandiosity.

[Jangchub]

[Bill]

I like the idea of "to bring out".

Here is some Indian philosophy trying to make sense.

Indian philosophy too much for this western guy. Prefer Chinese and Thomas Merton attempts to figure what it is all about.

Bill a student of some human constructs who just started to bring over my Dad's compost and is waiting for son's to show up as it is a task. May be this it it?

[paghat]

Victoria said in her typical angriness & habit of projecting. So be careful of that crappy-ass self-hating temper of yours. The one long period when I stopped ignoring your periodic bids for a flame war with me you didn't come off all that tidy with your own pretences & fibberies throughout your nutso posting history, and changing your handle every couple years doesn't make your long history of craziness disappear. These last couple years, whether from pity or compassion, I've been kind to you even when you have your "moods" & you know it. If you don't want to reciprocate I'm always up for our previous relationship.

-paghat the ratgirl

[Jangchub]

You are good for a laugh. I'll give you that. Change is good. Stagnate in your paghat "handle" if you will. I change periodically.

You never ignored me. White knuckle, maybe. I wouldn't have anyone like you as a friend. You only have time for you.

[Charlie]

I am a bit relieved to find that I am not alone in my similar observations. Doesn't take much poking at her to awaken the beastie.

Eff her. Back to the garden.

How's the knee? Can you get out and about any better now? The weeds are growing. ;-)

Charlie, looking forward to the projected warmup....finally!

[paghat]

Aha! Always suspected it. You do it for the attention too. Only, alas, you have to imagine you're gettin' it even during long period when you're not

I offered mutual tolerance, not friendship. Although I'm not above offering friendship to a nutter, I just didn't happen to in your case. So you jump the gun refusing it.

If I had your mental & physical medical conditions I'd project that on to others too. I know you've got a tough life, it's why I take periodic pity & forgive some of your behaviors. I mean, crap, I had pain in my arm and became self-absorbed until it was gone. I can't imagine being in medical crisis pretty much ever minute of borrowed time.

-paggers

[Charlie]

struck me well.

Thomas Merton. I've read a little but have not yet bought any book. Funny you mention him. I have one picture of him I use as wall paper sometimes. I can't describe his countenance adequately. You can see for yourself

[Jangchub]

Oh glory be I gardened for three hours yesterday and that was mostly yanking stuff out, making a clear space to plant my new daylillies. I have:

'Strawberry Candy' 'Halls Pink' 'Little Women' 'Hush Little Baby' 'Desperado'

I also planted some Esperanza, yucca, bulbine, and lantana. Hopefully I will not have to water that spot more than a few times this summer. Yesterday was the first day since as long as I can remember where my knee didn't radiate heat and extreme pain, throbbing endlessly. I think I'm over the hump. My PTist will be very happy tomorrow. Swimming laps in the pool also helps.

It's cool here at 65. I'm too cold to go out in this weather!!!! LOL

V

[Jangchub]

I never refused anything, I professed it.

You'd be crawled up in a ball if you had my situation, which you are calling medical crisis (which is only the way YOU see it dear). On the other hand, I flourish and bounce back time and time again. I am not in any sort of a tough life. I have money, a wonderful husband/best friend, a parrot I adore, a beautiful home with a fifty foot pool, hot tub and sauna, plenty of room to garden, and my health is karma. I rejoice its ripening. I don't need any of it to be happy. Security is not what I have, it]s what I can do without. You know nothing about me. Stick to what you know...all about you.

If you think you can't die before me, think again. Are you ready? My being medically limited doesn't give you a longer life. Best to be ready.

[Charlie]

Nice. Several years ago we discovered the joy of eating the flowers. Nice addition to salads too.

Bueno! Is the pool heated? ;-)

Cool? That's a dman heat wave here in northern MO. COldest spring I remember in many years.

CHarlie