If you just wanted to be able to sell your favorite cookies, it may not have occurred to you that you have a lot in common with the people who are passionate about sustainable living issues. I have to admit that I had not put two and two together until recently either. The more I research how to help others be able to start a business baking from home, the clearer the picture becomes for me.
One of the goals of the sustainable living movement is to make it possible for people to have access for local food. I had thought that they were talking about fruits and vegetables. That is not the case, as a matter of fact, a lot of the local organic gardeners are helped by the cottage food laws as well. The truth of the matter is that we are partners in trying to create businesses that produce food, baked or grown, that is local. It puts the consumer face to face with the producer. You get to actually get to know who makes or grows your food, and you can actually ask questions about how they do it.
Meet the people who are baking for you
If you are looking for organically grown, not GMO, chemical free, you can go to the farm and see for yourself. If you want food baked sans preservatives, ask the baker who made it for you. Cottage food laws require a list of ingredients on non hazardous foods. I bet you will be able to pronounce all the words listed on that label. It is taking us back to the basics, and in most cases, access to home grown or home prepared food. We need to combine our efforts as part of a growing movement to localize food systems and stimulate small-scale food production.
I recently heard of a great book It is about a family that decided to live only on locally grown food available in season. It is a good read, I would have to say inspiring. It does tie into the Cottage Food Law mindset.It too suggests the benefits of reverting back to the way things once were. The before all the chemicals and preservatives that are present in many things we eat everyday. You should check it out. I think you will see the connections I am talking about. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.)
