Food
October 28th, 2006 by Northern FarmerThe week is ending and it was good! Now at least if we’d be hit with a blizzard it wouldn’t be a disaster. And I’ve seen big snows this time of the year, the last one being in “91†I believe. That one dumped about three feet of snow here and I remember digging out for days. Heavy stuff too! But nothing like that in site just yet. And I hope not for a while yet.
One thing got me thinking for a good long time now and it’s covered on other blogs quite a bit, it’s about the modern food system and cancer. Now I do think a person would have to be a total idiot not to put the two together. And I do hate to use the word idiot, but can’t think of anything tamer that would fit the bill. I sure can think of more powerful words though. I don’t think there’s many families that aren’t affected by this affliction, I know we are here. And on many blogs there’s really good advice on how to shop for good foods from farms and all of that. There’s good advice on natural healing and prevention. I won’t go into blaming the industrial food system, why waste my time, because they are so guilty I’m not going to rehash it.
But I’m coming from a slightly different angle here. When brought face to face with this modern epidemic I have to wonder what can we do here. Just a small cog in everything, we don’t amount to much. But a person has to do what’s right or I can’t see how one can even look in the mirror at themselves. We are greatly blessed with a family farm that does produce a sizable amount of food. The easy route would be to go the industrial way, then a person don’t have to think real hard and also one doesn’t give a hoot about the end product. Easy, it really is. You’ll get the family farm devoured in the end, but at least a person can live a good modern life and be the envy of all the non farming relation. Or a person can take the same sizable farm and farm with the customer in mind. That the customer gets a product that can’t even be bought in the supermarket, no matter what kind of government label is on it using words that one can only buy into. Real food, what a concept, healthy food the way the Lord intends for us to raise it. No money going off the land to support corporations that support every evil thing there could possibly be. No, the line gotta be drawn and a person got to stand firm. I truly believe that when a person raises food the way God intends they will be blessed.
Now, I’m not getting legalistic here, believe me, I’m not that kinda guy. But I can’t see how a person can call Lord, Lord, and still support all the evil that comes from these corporations. And it ain’t only the business practices I’m talking about. I’m talking about how these corporations are supporting every anti Christian agenda that there is, openly now. And we wonder why we’re sick! Well, we’re going to get a heck of allot sicker if we stay on the present course!
This farm has changed so drastically these last few years and it continues to change. No more of the world’s ways in raising food, we’re doing it better, the quality is skyrocketing compared to what’s offered in the stores. And we know the customer isn’t getting slowly poisoned or turning into hormoned up monsters. It’s our own responsibility to do this, we’re not waiting for society to come up with the answers because they are incapable of doing so. I read the Bible and do know where society is heading, and it ain’t good. I’ve thought long and hard on this for quite some time, about blending into society, supporting evil by purchasing and doing business with corporations that are leading people to death. To coin a phrase, “the culture of deathâ€, hmm, I’ve heard that somewhere.
October 28th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
Tom,
I applaude you for raising food the way that God intended. May God reward you for your efforts.
I am greatly disturbed by the industrial ag that I see around me. Did you see the latest Stockman Grassfarmer article that talked about the effects of artificial nitrogen? At the University of Wisconsin they calculated that a few decades of artificial nitrogen use had aged the soil 5000 years (and they only considered the soil to be 10,000 years old). They said that soon our fertile midwestern soils would be essentially destroyed. During World War II they applied large amounts of anhydrous to harden soils for airfields. It is no wonder farmers have problems with compaction.
Consumers have to wake up as well. In our township we have a bunch of people fighting a proposed hog confinement operation. They will fight the confinement operation, but then go out and spend their money on pork that has been raised in the same confinement operations. If they would actually support a farmer raising livestock in the proper way, these confinement operations might actually go away.
Jim
October 28th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
That’s why I love to buy meats and other things at our local Mennonite bulk food store. It is all top quality natural-the way God intended. I am not a Mennonite, but I respect them for their lifestyle glorifying God.
Great thoughts, Tom.
October 29th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
My sister lives in so. Calif. and it is really a challenge to find “real” food and if you do find it it is pretty pricey. Yesterday I went on a “run” with my husband and had to eat meals at truckstops.:( That food should be outlawed!! Our nation runs on what these men and women deliver and I think they deserve better food!!!!!!!!..p.s. I usually pack my husbands food but to save time,since I went along,we ate out…..
October 29th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Jim,
You are so right with your comments! About the artificial nitrogen from what I’ve seen with my own eyes is that that article is right on. Our soil was getting that way when we crop farmed the modern ways. But the last ten years with hay rotations being used for nitrogen placement instead of industrial ag’s methods the land is coming alive again. The soil is just plain fluffy, healthy! Took the drought better than adjoining fields, could see it plain as day. In fact we out yielded the adjoining fields by quite a bit. Now that says something, eh! And you got it about supporting raising livestock the proper ways instead of factory farming, you are what you eat and what you eat from a factory farm ain’t making you good! God Bless You Folks Down There!
John,
Yup, you got your head screwed on straight! I figure if a person eats food raised the way God intended that they’ll be blessed, short and sweet! A person don’t have to go into long theological debates on that one, just some good old fashioned common sense. Thanks and God Bless!
Patti,
Your sisters area would be a challenge for finding good food, that’s why the huge companies are taking over organics and the like, they want it all to themselves, even though their organics is industrial food. But at least they can charge more for the name.
I see opportunity for a go getter in this one, imagine a truck stop serving old fashioned meals from real food, hmmm. They’d have to build one heck of a big parking area once that thing got off the ground because them truckers would flock to that like flies on….. well you know
Oh, by the way, great post on your blog, I’m trying to figure out how to comment over there, I’m kinda ignorant on these computers you know. God Bless!
October 29th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
Heart Series Part 1 Campmeeting
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Click on the (comments)
We could name the truckstop Gurtie’s Gas & Great Grub….or Freeda’s Fuel & Fine Food…waddayatink??
October 29th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Patti, I done did it!! I think anyhow
Took the big leap and posted over your way and it looks to me like it showed up. Amazing how things like that can make me so happy!
Ok, we’ll figure out a name one of these days and then whip up some seed money, I can see it now……..
October 29th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Good post, Tom. I am constantly amazed at how far we’ve come (and not just in miles) from our time in the city. We have lots of company up here, and at times I see things brought into the house, such as packets of Splenda, chips, lunchmeat (we still love it, though!), headache medications, convenience food, etc., that make me thankful for having the ability to have our own produce and herb gardens, chickens, etc. Even though we are in a rural community, people still tell us it’s much cheaper to buy “store bought chicken.” It probably is, but there is a big price to pay some day in the future when it comes to our health. We are so grateful that the Lord has placed us in a position to have had our eyes opened to the truth — through new friends up here, as well as our blogging friends. Maybe some day we’ll even be in a position to raise our own beef and pork! Keep hammering away; we need you and all our friends with the same mission to keep us on track!
October 29th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
I’ve been a lurker for ages but never posted. I just wanted to chime in regarding Patti’s post and say my family lives in So. California. Yes, it is difficult to find good food but not impossible. There are lots and lots of farmer’s markets here . The farmers do have to travel a ways because L.A. isn’t exactly close to any farms but they are as local as we can get. I know one guy who drives 5 hours each week to get down here from Tulare county. But he has great peaches! Anyway, there is lots of good produce there and for meat , we found a grass-fed beef rancher and ordered a whole beef then went up to pick it up. For chickens, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat the stuff in the store anymore so we started raising our own in our swimming pool. (we don’t exactly have pasture but they get fresh hay bedding every day and have plenty of fresh air and organic feed) . We weren’t really using it so we built a pen in there and we were in business. I know it isn’t the greatest way but it is the best we can do with where we are right now. It is a far improvement on those confinement birds soaked in fecal soup. This way I know how they are killed and just how clean they are. (And we hope the neighbors don’t find out what we are doing because I don’t think they would like living next to such goings ons being rich snobs….You should see us trying to shush the chickens when we put them in the killing cones…. ) I don’t think my family is ever going to move since my dad’s business (construction) is here but someday I sure hope to move!!!
I know most lots in So. Calif. wouldn’t permit doing this as far as space and zoning goes . And most people simply don’t want to do it. It sure is easier to go to the store , and cheaper. But I wouldn’t touch that stuff with a ten foot pole anymore. It was pretty easy to convince my family after revolting them with tales from “Slaughterhouse” and “The Meat We Eat” etc. during dinner.
Anyway, love your blog Tom. You are a great encouragement.
October 29th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
Greetings from Montana, where we probably will get more snow here pretty quick.
That’s why we grow most of our veggies and fruits right here in our greenhouse and support our local Amish community for other goodies.
Been a real busy time here.. up and down rollercoaster but the major breakthru for me, is giving it to the L-rd and finding more peace. So much so, that I’ve started a “daily verse” on my blog… appropriate for that day’s doings. I invite you to visit.
PTL
GP in Montana
October 30th, 2006 at 6:36 am
Lynn,
Well I tell you, if there was ever an example of folks doing it right it’s you folks over your way. I love it when folks quit crying and get out and do it! You all are just a huge inspiration to many!!
God Bless!
Merryrose,
First, thank you so much for commenting, I know that for many that lurk here it can be intimidating, it still is for me on other blogs. You folks are the perfect example of getting er done with what you got, and doing it well. You know, I need to hear stuff like this to keep me going too. It’s a huge lift hearing what others are doing to get away from the culture of death, one job at a time. Thanks again for your thoughts and God bless you folks!
GP,
Thanks for dropping by and I’ll get over your way this evening and visit, gotta see what’s going on. God Bless!