yesterday was very interesting. The farm is about 10 miles from me in a bucolic setting - rolling green pastures interspersed with woods. Simply beautiful! The animals roam freely - geese and chickens actually walk up to you when you get out of your car. The same family has run this farm for 17 generations, and someone personally greets you when you arrive.
The farm uses no pesticides or herbicides whatsoever. In fact, they told me that they have experienced a huge influx of wild animals (rabbits, wild turkeys, etc.) onto their property from surrounding areas- the animals apparently prefer the more natural grazing! Smart, aren't they? No hormones or antibiotics are used. In fact, if an animal becomes sick, they first try homeopathic methods!
I bought some free range beef, chicken, and sausage. It was all stored in big freezers and each item was dated. I hope I like the taste - haven't tried any yet.
But I have to say I was somewhat unnerved. As I watched all of those beautiful, content animals, it really hit home for me - that we actually EAT them. I began to understand how removed we have become from our food origins. I think the overall feeling I experienced was one of overwhelming gratitude for the animals. (I know this must sound weird, but I don't know how else to say it).
If you want to check it out, go to www.OurSpringfieldFarm.com
Love,
Polly
P.S. Wayne, apparently someone in the family is of German background, because they had recently completed a great deal of sausage-making. One freezer was filled with all kinds of "wursts" - I'll bet you would know all of the different kinds!
My visit to a free-range farm
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
My visit to a free-range farm
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Polly,
You experienced the same feeling of reverence and respect, that legitimate hunters have felt ever since the beginning of human existence. As you probably are well aware, most ancient hunters offered prayers of thanks for their "kill", and performed rituals, honoring the animal for it's contribution to the tribe's subsistance. It's a far more complex emotional state than most modern humans can comprehend.
As you say, we are losing the ability to undersand those emotions, as our social traditions devolve away from close, integral contact with the rest of the food chain.
Considering the wursts, as far as I'm concerned, one of the wurst wursts is blutwurst, (bloodsausage). (Kind of a tongue twister, isn't it. LOL.) I've never tried it, and don't intend to. Mlost of the others are really good, though.
Love,
Wayne
You experienced the same feeling of reverence and respect, that legitimate hunters have felt ever since the beginning of human existence. As you probably are well aware, most ancient hunters offered prayers of thanks for their "kill", and performed rituals, honoring the animal for it's contribution to the tribe's subsistance. It's a far more complex emotional state than most modern humans can comprehend.
As you say, we are losing the ability to undersand those emotions, as our social traditions devolve away from close, integral contact with the rest of the food chain.
Considering the wursts, as far as I'm concerned, one of the wurst wursts is blutwurst, (bloodsausage). (Kind of a tongue twister, isn't it. LOL.) I've never tried it, and don't intend to. Mlost of the others are really good, though.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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barbaranoela
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 5394
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:11 pm
- Location: New York
Amazing POLLY
Polly, your post was very interesting to read--
I sorta feel like a *dumb-bunny* when I read most of the *informed* posts that pop in here---which are usually followed by Professor Galahad's replies
I never knew what free range meant-----so now I know---
Guess I should get
'ing and investigate more things that are important to know--- 
cat-napping dont get the brain moving---does it?
Good weekend to all
luv Barbara
I sorta feel like a *dumb-bunny* when I read most of the *informed* posts that pop in here---which are usually followed by Professor Galahad's replies
I never knew what free range meant-----so now I know---
Guess I should get
'ing and investigate more things that are important to know--- cat-napping dont get the brain moving---does it?Good weekend to all
luv Barbara
Sis,
You are such a HOOT! Every post you make is not only interesting, but also funny and unique! And you are one of the smartest *peoples* I know, so I won't let you hide behind any "dumb bunny" label! LOL!
Have a fun weekend!
Love,
Polly
You are such a HOOT! Every post you make is not only interesting, but also funny and unique! And you are one of the smartest *peoples* I know, so I won't let you hide behind any "dumb bunny" label! LOL!
Have a fun weekend!
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Thanks for the interesting post Polly. I am not aware of any free range farms around my area, although they may exist.
I try to disassociate myself from the fact that I am eating an animal when eating meat. I love animals of all kinds. This excludes insects (which aren't included in the animal chain are they?)! I know that if I were a hunter, I would only kill to survive. I guess in a way, we are hunters. We just hunt at the grocery. Sigh. Kind of depressing when thought of in this light isn't it?
I try to disassociate myself from the fact that I am eating an animal when eating meat. I love animals of all kinds. This excludes insects (which aren't included in the animal chain are they?)! I know that if I were a hunter, I would only kill to survive. I guess in a way, we are hunters. We just hunt at the grocery. Sigh. Kind of depressing when thought of in this light isn't it?
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -- Buddha
Polly,
It's wonderful that you found this place! I think there are similar places around here - I just haven't visited them yet. We get free range eggs and
chicken at our health food store, but I'd love to find beef somewhere. The free range chicken has less fat than the other kind, as you probably know, presumably because the chickens get to move around and aren't over-fed.
After reading "Diet for a New America" some years ago, I can't bring myself to purchase factory-farmed food anymore. Except for Laura's
beef - which Bruce eats for his blood-type diet. It's hormone and antibiotic-free, but I don't know about free range. He buys it mostly, not me. I eat it very sparingly.
Love,
Alice
It's wonderful that you found this place! I think there are similar places around here - I just haven't visited them yet. We get free range eggs and
chicken at our health food store, but I'd love to find beef somewhere. The free range chicken has less fat than the other kind, as you probably know, presumably because the chickens get to move around and aren't over-fed.
After reading "Diet for a New America" some years ago, I can't bring myself to purchase factory-farmed food anymore. Except for Laura's
beef - which Bruce eats for his blood-type diet. It's hormone and antibiotic-free, but I don't know about free range. He buys it mostly, not me. I eat it very sparingly.
Love,
Alice
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harvest_table
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:29 pm
- Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Polly,
That was a fun site to visit. I think you scored girl, finding this farm only 10 miles from your home! Farm fresh eggs too....it's awesome and is going to make it that much easier for you to tranistion into the Paleo style diet having such easy access to all sorts of wonderful products that you know are safe.
The Lafferty family scored too- I bet you will be doing alot of business with them in the future.
Love,
Joanna
That was a fun site to visit. I think you scored girl, finding this farm only 10 miles from your home! Farm fresh eggs too....it's awesome and is going to make it that much easier for you to tranistion into the Paleo style diet having such easy access to all sorts of wonderful products that you know are safe.
The Lafferty family scored too- I bet you will be doing alot of business with them in the future.
Love,
Joanna
THE GLUTEN FILES
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/
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annie oakley
- King Penguin
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- Joined: Fri May 13, 2011 5:56 pm
Polly...I once worked for a health food store that was so big it had a grocery section as well as herbs and vitamins...anyway I worked in the meat department and we had alot of free range meats..such as rabbitt and chicken. I bought alot of it while I worked there. Loved the meat. And If I remember correctly I had fewer problems with the bowels too. I wish There was a free range market here. Love Oma
May I be more compassionate and loving than yeterday*and be able to spot the idiots in advance
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moremuscle
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 706
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 6:16 am
- Location: South Carolina
Polly; your thoughts and feelings at the farm today are interesting - thanks for sharing with us.
When I was a little girl we lived across the street from my grand mother who raised chickens. She had been a small time farmer earlier in life but the only animals she had when I grew up were the chickens and some cats. She raised the chickens and cared for them every day. She gathered the eggs and sold them to neighboors. Every now and then it was time to slaughter some of the chickens before they became hens - the chicken meat is more tender and not so tough. I remember going back behind the little barn building with her where she had a butcher block and a sharp ax. Normally, she didn't take anybody back there when she slaughtered the chickens but my curiosity was too big to bear and she probably decided to give in and let me see it. So I watched as she held the chicken and swung the ax to let it chop off the head in one fell swoop.
I think I closed my eyes because I don't remember actually seeing it - I only remember seeing the headless chicken in her hand afterward.
There is a lot of work involved - caring for the chickens and making sure they are well fed and have a clean place to lay their eggs, day after day.
After slaughtering the chicken it has to be cleaned. You cut it open and take all the intestines out etc. You have to pluck the feathers off - very dirty and ill smelling to work with those wet feathers.
After all this work you have a delicious chicken that you know is only as good as the care you put into raising it.
My grand mother loved the work with the chickens. But I don't know if she loved the chickens themselves - she never spoke of them individually or how she felt toward them. I think they gave her meaning and purpose and helped fill her day with a connection to "the circle of life".
Love,
Karen
When I was a little girl we lived across the street from my grand mother who raised chickens. She had been a small time farmer earlier in life but the only animals she had when I grew up were the chickens and some cats. She raised the chickens and cared for them every day. She gathered the eggs and sold them to neighboors. Every now and then it was time to slaughter some of the chickens before they became hens - the chicken meat is more tender and not so tough. I remember going back behind the little barn building with her where she had a butcher block and a sharp ax. Normally, she didn't take anybody back there when she slaughtered the chickens but my curiosity was too big to bear and she probably decided to give in and let me see it. So I watched as she held the chicken and swung the ax to let it chop off the head in one fell swoop.
I think I closed my eyes because I don't remember actually seeing it - I only remember seeing the headless chicken in her hand afterward.
There is a lot of work involved - caring for the chickens and making sure they are well fed and have a clean place to lay their eggs, day after day.
After slaughtering the chicken it has to be cleaned. You cut it open and take all the intestines out etc. You have to pluck the feathers off - very dirty and ill smelling to work with those wet feathers.
After all this work you have a delicious chicken that you know is only as good as the care you put into raising it.
My grand mother loved the work with the chickens. But I don't know if she loved the chickens themselves - she never spoke of them individually or how she felt toward them. I think they gave her meaning and purpose and helped fill her day with a connection to "the circle of life".
Love,
Karen