Do you educate or just walk away, shaking your head?

[Big Daddy]

I'm afraid to try pigs again. We got a pair when we first moved here 6 years ago. Had them in a 16x32 pen. The area was too small and it was a terribly disgusting experience. I think if we had a larger area it would turn out better, but I'm afraid. The area smelled terrible for the next 2 years. I don't think we fed them properly either. Too many table scraps. Then our butcher smoked the ham and bacon too long. Maybe we'll get brave again. It sounds like a lot of people on here have had good luck without the horrible smell from their poop.

We're still eating the meaties from this spring. They were gross too, but they were on a wood floor so I was able to scoop their stuff up and wash out the shed. I still like our laying hens the best. The geese are ok now that we moved the water outside the shed. If it's in their shed they soak everything and make a huge mess. They are cool to watch. Every morning when you let them out they run around flapping their wings and making a huge racket.

 

[Beekissed]

Now, folks, I didn't mean to imply that I make fun of those folks. I think instead of evoking humor, it rather distresses me in a "How did the world get to this state?" kind of way.

When I was young it seemed everyone was very aware of the ins and outs of how our food got on the store shelves. As I get out in the world and meet more and more folks from different backgrounds, it is always a surprise that they are this unaware.

Yes, I don't know how electrical things work....who in the world does unless they have received specialized education on it? But our science classes in school give us a rudimentary explanation of the concept of electricity, if not all about the gadgetry now available.

They also used to teach about plants and our ecosystem, of which animals play an integral part.

As they continue to play an important part in our lives on a daily basis, I'm wondering why more folks don't at least educate themselves of just how, why, from where their food cometh.

Electricity and modern industry aside, food is and always will be a basic need. That need was here well before any advances in technology and will be here after civilizations have come and gone.

I guess I get a little concerned when so few see the need to take a part in the process of producing foods, even if this part is being educated about it.

 

[me&thegals]

I think it's appalling what people don't know about their food, but I'm not surprised at all that they don't want to produce it.

One of the major steps in becoming a developed society is to move from the farm to the factory/city. In fact, a more industrialized farming sector allows so much more time and manpower to be freed up for other societal development, good or bad, like it or not.

I'm glad that while people are getting more in tune with HOW their food is grown and WHERE it is grown and WHAT is put in it, they still want (mostly) other people to grow it. It makes a really nice side business for me, leaves them more time and still lets them have the great feeling of feeding their family well. Plus, it gives me many opportunities to teach them what Brussels sprouts look like, show them how sweet potatoes grow, let them collect chicken eggs and try to get turkeys to gobble. All without them having to do it themselves.

Of course, I would rather be me than them and have the basic knowledge for survival, but they also make the world turn the way it does and I don't look down on them for it.

 

[okiegirl1]

We watched Food Inc. last night.

I'll never give up meat, but the thought of giving money to these corps to pay them to abuse these animals is tragic!

It's pretty expensive to buy a half cow, but it's better meat. I think it figures out to about $3 - $4 a pound. That's HB and steaks and eveything else in between combined. Comes to around $500ish.

we'll have to see.

The whole thing (family farms, food production, slaughter houses) has gotten so out of hand, I'm not sure there is any fixing this mess.

 

[me&thegals]

I think as long as Americans want very cheap food, they are going to get the food system we have. As long as they want to subsidize corn and soybeans, farmers will continue growing as much corn and soybeans and they can possibly produce.

You have to be willing to pay more or find a different system (farmer's markets, growing it yourself, bartering) if you want anything else.

JMO

 

[Dace]

As they said in the movie.....we vote every time we make a purchase. What do we want to vote for? The more we as a nation choose to purchase organic, humanely raised meat the message will start to come thru.

 

[me&thegals]

Absolutely! My conventional farmer husband says he would go organic if he knew he would have a market, consistently, for his products. He sees the demand I have for my free-range eggs and meat and organic CSA, and he starts to think about switching over to the dark side. It would be a tough 3 middle years, but he would consider it.

So, yes, keep voting for local, fresh, organic, free-range, sustainable (or whatever you most want) by buying it. I don't really see any other way to "grow" the movement, so to speak.

 

[okiegirl1]

but it's SOOOOOO hard to buy food that is twice as much.

I KNOW I need to, I KNOW it's better for us and I KNOW in the long run it's better all the way around, but it sure hurts my grocery budget. It basically cuts it in half. When the farmers market is open around her I love to shop there, but this time of year, I have to buy at wal-mart or other local store.

 

[enjoy the ride]

Here goes my old story of why I raise meat goats.

People do ask me how I can do it when goats are so cute and friendly. So fun to be around.

I tell them that I used to drive by the "grass fed" Harris ranch feed lots where you could smell it 5 miles down the road. Then you'd see the poor animals standing in manure in miles of pens- some standing on the top of 10 foot high manure piles.

I tell the questioners that I couldn't stand the idea of contributing to that - just because I don't know the name of the animal in the plastic wrap doesn't mean that I wouldn't have enjoyed it's personality too. I prefer to give the animals a good life as long as I can.

That usually ends the guilt trip being offered. After all they are eating dear sweet ol' Bessie- they are just in denial.

It is hard to send them off to the butchers- I whine every year on this site when it's time.

 

[ORChick]

Here goes my old story of why I raise meat goats.

People do ask me how I can do it when goats are so cute and friendly. So fun to be around.

I tell them that I used to drive by the "grass fed" Harris ranch feed lots where you could smell it 5 miles down the road. Then you'd see the poor animals standing in manure in miles of pens- some standing on the top of 10 foot high manure piles.

I tell the questioners that I couldn't stand the idea of contributing to that - just because I don't know the name of the animal in the plastic wrap doesn't mean that I wouldn't have enjoyed it's personality too. I prefer to give the animals a good life as long as I can.

That usually ends the guilt trip being offered. After all they are eating dear sweet ol' Bessie- they are just in denial.

It is hard to send them off to the butchers- I whine every year on this site when it's time.

We stopped at the Harris Ranch once - the adverts got to us. It was one our worse steak experiences. I haven't reached the point of raising my own yet, but I do try to find sources that fit my ideas of humane treatment.