Well.. if you haven’t yet seen this movie, I suggest that you do. No, it’s not your typical industry bashing film, it’s much more hopeful and encouraging than I expected. In fact, it’s probably the best film I’ve seen on the topic as it leaves you with a feeling of awe & respect and even some motivation. Basically, they help to lay everything out for you to understand, and then show you how easy it is to fix it. Well.. easy is an understatement of course because it’s going to be QUITE complicated and QUITE difficult to effect any real change, but what they point out is HOW we can get started on a road that will naturally lead to the correct outcome… Sustainable, Healthy foods for all!
The “truth” as I learned it from this very simple yet eloquent film is that the REAL problem, is us. Yes yes.. we know… we’re awful, eat what we shouldn’t do what we shouldn’t etc, but really, it’s not so hard to be good after all!!! I can still LOVE burger, steak, chicken & turkey, I can still eat fried foods, chocolate & ice cream type munchies and I can still eat Fast Food (albeit not at many places). The only thing is, that now I need to care where it came from, say NO when it came from somewhere unacceptable and choose something else instead.
I have made the commitment for our family to avoid feed lot meats and to support sustainable meat & vegetable farming methods from now on to the extent that we find possible. I think the last bit is very important, because there is only s0 much you actually CAN do depending on where you live and your financial situation. But I gotta tell you, being broke is NO excuse… it does not cost more to eat healthy.. the bottom line is eating healthy just isn’t glamorous and so we don’t want to do it.
I have just placed our order for half of our chicken meat for the year 2010. I chose to purchase Colored Freedom Ranger Broiler chicks from JM Hatchery because I ALSO do not want to continue supporting the “meat bird” industry as it is an abomination, in my opinion. I feel very strongly that if you stripped away all of my culture and brought me back to pure instinct.. I would prefer a dinner that I could give a little chase to as opposed to a blob of meat to unhealthy to get up and walk around. They are unnatural no matter how well cared for they are and I am glad there are other alternatives. The Freedom Rangers will do well free ranging for a portion of their food, have retained the instincts & mobility of a quality heritage breed but will dress out in about half the time of a traditional heritage variety. They will get minimal intervention on our part and we will see how it goes this year before we make any long term commitments to raising our ENTIRE poultry meat supplies for each year. I do have access to free range poultry at the market if need be too 😉
I have also found that Bison is FANTASTIC and that I will not be eating much ground beef anymore ever! Ground Bison really is WONDERFUL with such GREAT flavor and none of that sour smell that I associate with beef. It’s very clean, low fat & naturally raised and it’s long overdue for Bison to make a comeback in North America.. it’s the ORIGINAL red meat 😉
I’m locating local farms with free range grass feed beef & pork. I am perfectly accepting of feeding corn & hay/feeds as supplements IN ADDITION to the range feeding free access but do want to make sure first & foremost that they are raised well and are in good conditions during their short lives. Their diet is just as important but I figure if these animals LIKE corn & choose it sometimes, that is ok too! Everything within reason.. ya know?
Well… I just wanted to update you on my own findings. It’s probably a bit of a ramble, especially if you haven’t seen the movie. Well.. if you haven’t… you are missing out and you should. The truth about our food supplies is something everyone should know. And if your like me, you’ll find that it’s NOT THAT HARD to participate in a GOOD and healthy system…. it is a little more work.. but the reward is VERY BIG for not just you and your family, but the whole planet!! You can do it!!! We can ALL do it!!! And yes.. you CAN love meat too 😉 Yummy Bison Burgers!!! 😀