Mamas, let your babies grow up to be farmers!

From "Flavor" magazine, this editorial by Joel Salatin encourages moms (and dads) to encourage young farmers for the good of us all:


Noble Farming by Joel Salatin

It is on page 17 & 18 of the electronic magazine.

Happy Mother's Day!

Have a COW, man!

Well as of Thursday we own a cow. Well, part of a cow anyway - a Jersey. Her name is Daisy and she lives at Myrtle Acres Farm. This is an amazing arrangement whereby we don't have to milk twice a day but get some of the milk and cream she gives! We did some research into raw milk before we chose this path. Apparently those against the consumption of raw milk present the argument that someone MAY get sick from drinking it, since the pasteurization process has not taken place (and btw most of the cons are from government and, I suspect, dairy industry lobbyists). The pro side suggests that there are many health benefits to raw milk and that the good organisms are done in along with the bad when you pasteurize. Unless your system is already compromised in some way (weak immune system, for example) and provided the milk is handled correctly (which is true of store-bought milk as well) then it is just fine. The family that boards the cows told us that they had extreme lactose intolerance in the family and once they got the cows and started with the raw milk they were able to eat/drink it in any form and no problems (except they've had to clip their fingernails more often). Let's face it, if raw milk was a problem we wouldn't be here, would we? Generations grew strong on its benefits. It is also delicious! We have made butter and a Banana Cream Pie from scratch so far. Just a cold glass is heaven!

What are you worth?

I was discussing this beef article:
http://www.alternet.org/environment/144904/yummy!_ammonia-treated_pink_slime_now_in_most_u.s._ground_beef?page=1
with my husband this morning and he made a really good point. If you buy or choose not to buy from a major food/retail chain, you are a fraction of a penny in their eyes. If you buy or choose not to buy from your local farmer you are $7 a pound, a $26/mo. CSA share, and, over time, much, much more! The source you can look in the eye will always be the source that cares more - about your business, about the quality of the product, about you. When we shopped at Harvest Market the other day my son was much more interested in the process than he usually is when I grocery shop and when we left he said, "Those people were friendlier than the people at the other groceries." What are you worth? Are you worth a fraction of a cent or much, much more?

Harvest Market - Spotsylvania County Eat Local!

People of Spotsy County no longer have to wait until Saturdays from April - October to find local foods! A new business has opened at Spotsylvania Courthouse called "Harvest Market". They have meat and vegetables from local sources and many organic and whole food brands as well. We had some Pop Weaver's pork last week that was fabulous! Food from small local farms tends to run more expensive than large chain food, but you know the source and reduce the cost to our environment, while keeping your dollar in our community! In a recent article in the Free Lance Star ( http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/042011/04142011/619642 ), the owners cited health as their main impetus for opening. There are so many long-term reasons to eat local, whole food. I sometimes have sticker shock, but I've made a goal to buy a certain amount of my groceries from them each week - helping them stay in business while staying within my own budget. Harvest Market actually seems to be doing well - they are on the way to everywhere for anyone at or south of Spotsylvania Courthouse! Check out their link below and happy eating!

Everyday is Earth Day

I heard a story a few days ago about a new day of recognition, "Whole Food Day". My gut reaction to this compartmentalization of concepts that should be innate and organic is puzzlement and frustration. I suppose it is all well and good to draw attention to the cause but inevitably the commercial agendas creep in, in fact probably created this false focus to begin with. The people who truly support these concepts try to live them consistently even when no one is looking. I'm sure there are well-meaning participants who wish to pass along the practices of stewardship and nutrition to their offspring. What's wrong with a little fun and celebration of precious natural resources? Nothing, as long as we don't lose the awareness and the effort the day after. Usually the worthwhile result eludes the easy fix. So when the soy banners come down, the fumes from the food vendor trucks settle and the grass grows back from all the foot traffic, we must remember to revere Mother Nature in the small hours of each and every day.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

One of the first books I read going into the quest for whole food. This family endeavored to buy only local foods to eat. Interesting and informative! Go to: http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/

Farmers' Markets Opening Everywhere

Our local farm market has been open here in middle Virginia for a few weeks now. Find a local farm market or farm store in your area and take the Eat Local Challenge! (See "String Bean" links below for resources).