I\'m Summer, a mouthy, sarcastic bitch. I\'m passionate about natural birth, long term breastfeeding, and living naturally. I curse too much, love tattoos, and will some day be crushed to death by my book collection. I homeschool, dream of gardening, and swing to the left. 
Real Food
I’ve been reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma and it’s got me thinking a lot about food. Not just food, but food labels. Especially the lying labels. Did you know labels lie? I didn’t either. I know, naive me. I assumed that when a label looked like this:
that the chicken was actually raised cage free. However, according to Pollan when he went to visit one of these farms he found something different. 20,000 chickens shoved into a barn for 5 weeks, and then a door opened to a 15 foot pen that none of the chickens actually went into because A) they wouldn’t fit, and B) they were well trained to stay in the barn. Of course they were killed 2 weeks later so, eh. Apparently free-range only means some access to the outside world has to be provided. How much access and for how long is open to interpretation.
So this Sunday we drove down to a local farm I found, one that sells straight to the buyers with no middle man. One that promises
We raise all our products without any added hormones, antibiotics, etc. Although we are not certified organic, we do use primarily organic principles, and use no chemicals, pesticides, etc on our vegetable crops. All animals are raised in humane, natural conditions. We specialize in “happy animals” and “healthy humans”.
And instead of putting it on a label and expecting us to believe it, the farmer walked us up and down her farm before she would sell us a thing. We got to pet the cows and the horses, meet the chickens face to face, and see with our own eyes all the animals running around free and happy. I know more about where my food came from, how it lived, and even the brand of cattle supplies. And that… makes me happy too.
Today I took that big pan of fresh veggies, mixed them in with some real cage free eggs and some organic raw milk and made a breakfast to die for. And the best part? I can do it again next week too.
That is so fabulous, and it’s what makes local eating so great. You can know how your food was REALLY grown and raised, instead of relying on misleading product labeling.
Amber´s last blog ..On Having No Life
That is wonderful that you were able to tour the farm. I’m all about happy animals, which is why I’m very against slaughterhouse food. I told my husband he could hunt to his heart’s content, because I’d rather eat something that grew up wild and free and happy, than, well, the sad and horrifing alternative.
Wendy Hawksley´s last blog ..Nature Study Overseas
Once a month, I drive 45 minutes each way to get meat from a farm like the one you describe—-it is so worth the aggravation, time and gas to get meat from animals that I know lived a decent life. M. Pollan’s book was an eye-opener for me as well.
It’s too bad more people can do this though. I realize not everyone has the time or money to buy humanely raised meat. And, that is too bad for all involved.
Fairly Odd Mother´s last blog ..Television? Oh, my kids never watch. . .(cough)