Episode 64: Reeba Daniel

Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good Reeba DanielHobby Farms Presents: Growing Good Reeba Daniel

Reeba Daniel talks farm to school, land access, leadership in food systems and more on this episode of Hobby Farms Presents: Growing Good.

Reeba talks about their business, Keep Growing Seeds, that allows them to create and manage school gardens, work with “learners” to grow and eat good food, and also examine culture and connection through food. They talk about the benefits and challenges of gardening and garden education in the Pacific Northwest climate of Portland, Oregon, and how they adjust their plans based on the weather. Reeba shares their dream for school gardens and garden education everywhere and why this could be important to all of us.

Hear about Reeba’s own garden, growing and marketing culturally relevant crops from responsibly sourced seeds, and learning about the business side of farming from the Come Thru Market. They talk about the search for farmland, Black land loss and opportunities to create community partnerships for growing space. Learn about some of the value-added products Reeba creates—like vegan honey!—their R&AIRE botanical skincare line, Oregon’s cottage-food laws, and why value-added products are a smart business idea.

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Get to know the nonprofit Farmers Market Fund, which matches SNAP purchases at Oregon Farmers Markets. Reeba talks about their experience as a first-time board member—and podcast host Lisa Munniksma gives Reeba (and you!) a pep talk about why “we”—meaning everyday farmers and community members—are fully qualified to serve and actually must serve in leadership roles.

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EPIC Urges UK ICO To Address Law Enforcement Use of Private Data/Systems, Security Issues, AI, and “Soft Biometrics” in Draft Biometric Data Guidance

In comments filed October 20th, EPIC urged the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to make updates to its draft biometric data guidance. The guidance is meant to instruct organizations using biometric systems and vendors of these systems on good practice and legal obligations. EPIC recommends that the ICO expand the guidance to (i) address the pervasive ties between law enforcement and private companies’ biometric data and systems; (ii) establish baseline security standards for biometric processing, including a template risk assessment; and (iii) detail the risks of scale and scope of harm present where AI is integrated into biometric systems.

The guidance explicitly does not cover law enforcement or security service use of biometric data and systems. The close ties between law enforcement and private companies in this area makes it impossible to address one group’s practices without acknowledging the other. EPIC recommends that the UK put in place robust biometric regulation that would address all public and private use of biometric systems. In the meantime, EPIC’s proposed revisions to the guidelines will prompt more privacy-protective practices from companies.

EPIC consistently works to protect against the spread of biometric surveillance and protect civil liberties and privacy rights. To that end, EPIC has called for a ban on biometric recognition technology and encouraged multiple states to implement biometric privacy laws and defend existing regulations. Recently, EPIC opposed DHS’s rollout of biometric systems including facial recognition for Biometric Entry/Exit and called on Amazon to suspend hosting a vast biometric database for DHS. EPIC also urged the White House OSTP to implement better protections for biometric data and address biometrics.

Creating Your Own Garden Paradise: Tips for a Serene Outdoor Haven

Gardens are more than just outdoor spaces; they are opportunities to craft personal havens where you can escape, unwind, and relax with a glass of sweet wine. To turn your garden into a little paradise, consider the following tips and ideas that will transform it into a serene and rejuvenating oasis.

  1. Define Your Vision: The first step in creating a garden paradise is to define your vision. What do you want to experience in your garden? Is it a peaceful retreat, a vibrant floral haven, or a functional, self-sustaining space? Take some time to clarify your goals and visualize the atmosphere you want to create.
  2. Plan and Design: Once you have a clear vision, plan and design your garden space accordingly. Consider factors like the size of your garden, the climate, and the types of plants that thrive in your region. Design paths, seating areas, and focal points to ensure your garden is not only visually pleasing but also functional.
  3. Choose the Right Plants: The choice of plants is critical in transforming your garden into a paradise. Select a variety of plants, including trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcovers, to add depth and interest. Opt for native plants that are well-suited to your climate, as they require less maintenance and can attract local wildlife.
  4. Create Inviting Paths and Walkways: Well-planned paths and walkways can enhance the appeal of your garden. Use natural materials like gravel, stone, or wood to create pathways that meander through the garden, inviting exploration. Incorporate curves and hidden corners to make your garden feel larger and more mysterious.
  5. Water Features: Water has a soothing effect and can elevate the tranquility of your garden. Consider adding a small pond, a bubbling fountain, or a simple birdbath. The sound of running water can drown out urban noise and create a serene environment for relaxation.
  6. Garden Seating: To fully enjoy your garden paradise, include comfortable seating. Whether it’s a bench, a swing, or a hammock, choose a spot where you can unwind, read, or simply soak in the beauty of your garden. Adding comfortable cushions or pillows will make your seating area even more inviting.
  7. Outdoor Lighting: Extend the hours of enjoyment in your garden by incorporating outdoor lighting. Soft, warm lighting can create a magical ambiance at night. Use solar-powered lights, string lights, lanterns, or hidden LED strips to illuminate paths, trees, and garden features.
  8. Wildlife-Friendly Garden: Encourage local wildlife to visit your garden by incorporating bird feeders, butterfly-friendly plants, and small wildlife habitats. The presence of birds, butterflies, and bees can add to the charm of your garden paradise and help create a harmonious ecosystem.
  9. Seasonal Variety: Ensure your garden paradise has something to offer in every season. Plant a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants, so your garden remains attractive throughout the year. Spring and summer can bring vibrant blooms, while autumn showcases beautiful foliage, and winter offers a unique, serene charm.
  10. Edible Delights: Consider incorporating a small vegetable or herb garden into your paradise. Fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits not only provide a rewarding gardening experience but also allow you to enjoy the…

Cleaning The Coop Gives Chickens A Healthy Home

Cleaning is the one thing we all dislike doing. As flock owners, we don’t just need to clean our houses. We also have to clean our chickens’ “house” too. The good news? Cleaning the coop for our chickens doesn’t have to be a drag or require much time. Just as you wash the dishes or dust the living room regularly, routinely cleaning the coop will help prevent common health concerns in your flock.

Knowing some cleaning tips can save you time cleaning your coop. So, grab a pitchfork, a bottle brush and a broom, and let’s start cleaning!

Essential Cleaning Tools

Cleaning the coop for our chickens starts with having the proper tools to do the job quickly and efficiently. To do that, you will need the following:

  • Pitchfork to fork out soiled bedding
  • Trash can or wheelbarrow for hauling away old straw, wood shavings, etc.
  • Broom and dustpan for sweeping out dust and removing cobwebs
  • Trowel to scoop out nesting box material
  • Ice scraper to scrape dried manure off the coop floor
  • Bottle brush to scrub waterers and feeders
  • Facemask to protect against dust and other particles that can irritate your respiratory tract

Say Goodbye to Deep Litter

The deep litter method has been practiced in backyard flocks for centuries. This method of cleaning the coop consists of removing the bedding soiled by chickens once or twice a year. Instead of removing the manure, chicken keepers place more straw or wood shavings on top.

The manure will break down throughout the year and become a perfect fertilizer, ready for the garden. The old bedding is often placed in the garden to overwinter and break down to provide nutrient-rich soil for next year’s vegetables.

Yes, this may sound ideal for the gardener and flock owner. But the deep litter method can also cause some health issues for the flock.

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Chicken manure breaks down into particles of dust. These particles can irritate the respiratory tract, so experts advise wearing a mask over your nose and mouth when handling chicken manure. Not only is this dust harmful to you, but it is also harmful to your chickens. And the dust from manure breakdown can cause respiratory issues in the flock as they scratch through the bedding, causing illness and even death in chickens.

The deep litter method is also known for harboring bacteria, fungi and diseases such as coccidiosis, as well as external and internal parasites. Never use the deep litter method housing hens five years or older, as these aging ladies’ immune systems may no longer be able to handle the bacteria often found in deep litter.

So what should you do instead? Remove all the bedding from the coop floor and nesting boxes weekly to keep your coop clean and chickens healthy. Depending on the size of your enclosure, this will only take a couple of minutes. Trust me, the rewards of a clean coop are worth the time it takes to clean…

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EPIC Testifies in Support of Massachusetts Data Privacy and Protection Act

EPIC Deputy Director Caitriona Fitzgerald testified before the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies and Joint Committee on Advanced IT, the Internet, and Cybersecurity in support of H. 83/S. 25, An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy and Protection Act. The bill is modeled on the American Data Privacy and Privacy Act (“ADPPA”). 

“For more than two decades, powerful tech companies have been allowed to set the terms of our online interactions,” Fitzgerald told the Committee in written testimony. “Without any meaningful restrictions on their business practices, they have built systems that invade our private lives, spy on our families, and gather the most intimate details about us for profit. But it does not have to be this way – we can have a strong technology sector while protecting personal privacy.”

Unfortunately, Congress failed to enact ADPPA last session, but state legislators can now take advantage of the outcome of those negotiations by modeling a state bill on the bipartisan consensus language in ADPPA. EPIC crafted the State Data Privacy and Protection Act to provide that opportunity. Massachusetts is one of a number of states considering legislation based on ADPPA.

At the hearing, Fitzgerald said, “This is about so much more than avoiding creepy ads — commercial surveillance systems fuel algorithms that dictate the content we see, shaping our entire information ecosystem, they determine the interest rates on mortgages and credit cards, or decide who gets a job, often perpetuating structural inequalities.” (video here.)

Snohomish Lavender Farm Is About Connecting With Community

“I feel very fortunate to have grown up in the Pacific Northwest,” says Allison Lamb, who runs the Snohomish Lavender Farm and photography venue in Washington. “In the ’80s and ’90s it was natural to be outside all the time. And to this day I prefer to spend my time outdoors. Yes, it sure does rain a lot here, but it’s worth it when you get to soak in the beauty of the Puget Sound. All the different textures and colors of summer through fall bring me great joy.”

Lamb’s outdoors-based upbringing officially transformed in Snohomish Lavender Farm in 2020, when she and her family secured an old farm set on 5 acres of property. A humble vision to establish a vegetable garden and a greenhouse has now grown into a full-on hobby farm, which supplants lavender with dahlias and sunflowers.

Taking a moment from caring for her flowers, we spoke to Lamb about her favorite types of lavender seedlings and how family is a key part of hobby farming. We also got into lavender’s culinary potential.

Searching for Room to Get Creative

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When looking at properties in 2020, Lamb says the goal was to find a place “that gave us the room to be creative.” Lamb adds that the idea to establish a hobby farm developed over time and came about organically.

“One moment I can say for sure that helped solidify my dream for a hobby farm was when I was pregnant with my second child and we were looking for a safe private place to take maternity photos,” explains Lamb. “I couldn’t find a flower farm that offered the vibe I was looking for. I love photography and if I can offer to share my garden with families to safely bring their families to capture those special moments, then why not?”

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Putting Trust in Lavender

“I love lavender because of its wide range of uses and it’s a hardy herb that is easy to maintain and grow in my region,” says Lamb, recalling why the aromatic shrub became the focus of her hobby farm. “In the spring of 2021, we planted over 200 lavender seedlings. Folgate, Royal Velvet and Grosso are the three varieties we grow here on the farm. We hope to expand over the years.”

Bringing Lavender into The Kitchen

Lavender wreaths and sachets are the biggest requested items at Snohomish Lavender Farm. But Lamb says embracing the shrub’s culinary potential is fascinating.

“Folgate and Royal Velvet are perfect for in the kitchen,” she says. “You can enjoy lavender lemonade, tea and baked goods. Beyond the kitchen, this aromatic herb is highly sought after for its health benefits and cosmetics.”

A World Beyond Lavender

After Snohomish Lavender Farm’s titular crop, Lamb says they also grow over 300 cultivars of dahlia flowers and frequently receive requests for sunflowers.

“Most farms grow sunflowers late in the season for a fall attraction. Our customers here…

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EPIC Letter to White House Emphasizes Need for More Staff, Resources for AI Oversight

EPIC sent a letter to the White House ahead of the forthcoming Executive Order on AI urging the Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize building agency workforce and resources for AI oversight and accountability.

EPIC specifically recommended directing increased resources to agencies to ensure compliance with existing and future AI transparency requirements, using the National AI Research Resource to model responsible AI governance, and supporting efforts by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to make information about government use of AI more accessible and user-friendly. EPIC also called on the Office of Management and Budget to update its E-Government Act guidance on agencies’ mandated privacy impact assessments to include AI impact requirements. These recommendations will help ensure that there is as much focus put on AI transparency and accountability as there is on development and procurement—oversight that is essential for ensuring responsible government use of AI.

EPIC regularly advocates for commonsense AI regulations, including requirements for increased transparency and accountability.

Assessing the Assessments: Maximizing the Effectiveness of CCPA Risk Assessments 

The unchecked spread of commercial surveillance over the past few decades has led to a data privacy crisis for consumers in the U.S. and has allowed abusive data practices to flourish. The ability to monitor, profile, and target consumers on a mass scale has created a persistent power imbalance that robs individuals of their autonomy and privacy, stifles competition, and undermines democratic systems. And now more than ever, emerging generative and non-generative AI systems are also causing harm.  

With the support of the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, EPIC is launching our latest project in this field: Assessing the Assessments: Maximizing the Effectiveness of Algorithmic & Privacy Risk Assessments. Through this project, EPIC will develop model privacy and algorithmic risk assessments and other materials to educate consumers and promote best practices for entities processing personal data. 

California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) creates legal rights and obligations that can address many of these harms, including a requirement to perform assessments when personal information is being sold, when automated decision-making systems are being used in sensitive contexts, or when personal information is being used to train AI systems. EPIC’s work to disrupt these data abuses and ensure that entities can no longer extract value from personal data in ways that undermine the public good is more important than ever. It is crucial that the regulations implementing the CCPA provide for risk assessments that enable transparency and accountability of AI and other automated systems. Risk assessments are going to be required in California, and although regulations are not written in stone, they should provide instruments for accountability. 

As a leading organization for consumer privacy rights, EPIC has spent nearly three decades creating educational resources to inform Americans about their privacy rights and advocating for strong privacy protections. Some recent highlights of this work include: 

  • In 2020, we published a resource to help California residents understand how to exercise their rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). 
  • EPIC also supported the California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) efforts to establish robust data privacy protections for Californians and, with a coalition of partner organizations, submitted comments to the agency on the development of further CCPA regulations. 
  • We also submitted comments to the Colorado Department of Law in support of the efforts of the Department to establish robust, pathbreaking privacy protections for Coloradans in reference to the Colorado Privacy Act. 
  • EPIC also recently presented testimony in Massachusetts in support of House Bill 64 and Senate Bill 33, (An Act establishing a commission on automated decision-making by government in the Commonwealth). 

So, what is a risk assessment? A risk assessment is an analysis of how personal data will be collected, processed, stored, and transferred by an entity. The term “risk assessment” is context-dependent, and in the particular context of California’s privacy bill, they are made effective by being robust, publicly accessible requirements. When implemented properly, risk assessments force businesses to carefully evaluate and…

Do You Know These 25 Native American Survival Skills?

Learn from these Native American survival skills from the past and learn more survival hacks you can use in the future!

RELATED: Native American Survival | What You Can Learn From These Experts

Native American Survival Skills We Can All Learn From

Learning from the Native American

Native American survival skills included crafting survival tools and building shelters. They foraged for their food and hunted their prey, all by hand.

It is astounding to think of how well they survived and thrived based on necessity alone. Would someone like you or me be able to do the same if put into such a hostile environment?

Probably not, and that is why it is good to be aware of old-school Native Indian survival techniques.

How did the Native Americans survive? How were they so deftly able to sustain themselves in the unforgiving wilderness?

It is very easy to forget, in this digital age that people use to live a much simpler and much harder life before the advents of these modern comforts.

The Native Americans are the prime example of how people use to live off the land. They also survived the threats of nature with basic and cultivated survival tactics.

Though the methods and practices of Native Americans varied from tribe to tribe, the innovation for the sake of survival was universal. They borrowed methods from each other and created ones unique to their tribe.

They even borrowed from foreign settlers and visitors. The Native Americans were a group of humans who had to learn how to adapt and we are all the richer and wiser for their survival efforts.

Native American Survival Skills You Should Know

This list will highlight 25 of some of the more interesting Native American survival skills commonly used by the tribes of North America. Let this list be an insight into the lives of these fascinating people.

May this also be an educational tool for our modern culture–a means of appreciating a society so rare and thin today. Let this remind us too that the human spirit and will are much stronger than what we give them credit for.

The tribal mindset and lifestyle of the Native Americans of yesteryear play a huge role in their survival tactics. As you probably are already aware, Native Americans distinguished themselves by tribes.

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You have probably already heard of the more common and prominent tribes like the Apache, Navajo, and Mohican. Their sense of community, sharing of resources, and wisdom matters in each tribe.

Their collective protection between tribesmen cannot be understated when considering how Native Americans were able to survive.

If you have ever worked a day in your life wearing the improper pair of shoes then you know how important footwear is to comfort and bodily health. Footwear is just as important to the Native Americans.

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10 Practical Tips To Keep Dogs Out Of Your Garden

Dogs love fresh, aerated garden soil. While you work so hard to create a perfect environment for plants to live, canines can destroy it all in one fell swoop. Below, we provide some steps, strategies and recipes to protect your hard work, and keep your garden and puppy happy. 

Install a Fence

For vegetable gardens especially, a garden fence will serve you well to protect your garden from your pets, neighbor pets, rodents and predators.

Create Prickly Borders

If you are looking to protect your pooch from invading your flower beds and a fence is not feasible, plant prickly shrubs and hedges at entry points. Also plant along the edges to create a border, often enough that animals can’t find large spaces to dig and lay.

Roses and holly bushes are great choices to help redirect your pet.

Sprinkle Powders

Dogs don’t like to taste mustard powder or red pepper flakes. Sprinkling some of either (or both) won’t harm your garden but will deter animals from digging.

Sprinkle Coffee Grounds

Dogs don’t like the smell of coffee grounds, and using them throughout garden beds has a dual purpose. Both used and fresh coffee grounds contain nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and tons of micronutrients.

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Grounds can be used in your garden as mulch or as a slow-release fertilizer. Adding coffee grounds to soil improves drainage, water retention and aeration in addition to keeping dogs out.

Make a Dog Repellant Spray

In a clean spray bottle, mix two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and 20 drops of any citrus-scented essential oil into 1 1/2 cups of cold water. Mix well and spray in the places around your home that you want the dog to stay away from.

Dogs dislike citrus scents. Grapefruit, lemon, bergamot and even oranges deter them. 

Plant Marigolds Throughout the Bed

Marigolds emit a pungent smell pets don’t like. Planting in drifts, next to other plants or as a border to your beds will do a lot to ward off pets from entering.

Marigolds benefit your garden by attracting pollinators and deterring harmful insects.

Use an Ultrasonic Animal Deterrent

This approach is gaining popularity for repelling dogs, raccoons, rabbits, mice, rats and other rodents. In most box stores, you can find solar, waterproof stakes that emit a high frequency sound that manufacturers claim will deter nuisance animals. There’s a lot of debate about the effectiveness of these products, but you may decide to give one a try.  

Dog Poop

If you are not growing vegetables in your garden beds and if your dog has a recurring area he likes to dig up, bury some of his/her own poop in the spot. Once they dig it up, they will no longer be interested in revisiting that area. 

Redirect Them to Another Area

Create a sandbox for your dog to play in with bare soil, sand, dog toys and other items your pooch enjoys. Give positive praise and affirmation when they start to use that area instead of your garden. 

Plant Herbs…

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