So to catch up first; we had a fabulous time in Florida! We rounded out the trip with a quick overnight trip in New Orleans.
While on vacation, I finally got around to reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. . It documents a family's mission to live on locally produced foods only for a year! I highly recommend it to anyone involved in agriculture (HINT: If you eat, you are involved in agriculture!!) I also recommend reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. I can't wait to see Food, Inc., a new documentary with a similar message. Over the last two years, Chris and I have really made strong efforts to become better stewards of our environment. We have made a conscious effort to eliminate any material that we feel is not a safe option for ourselves or our environments. Everything from soap, shampoo, household cleaners, laundry detergents, medications, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, etc... to food options, food packaging, recycling, etc... It was been an exciting journey and this past weekend we were ready to take it to the next step. I finally decided that I was done paying a premium for commercially produced organic meat in the grocery store because 1) it is wildly expensive and 2) I still have major issues with the questionable farming practices and insane transport of said meat. I found a family in Brenham that raises their own grass-fed cows, pastured pigs, and free range chickens! Saturday, we drove out to beautiful Brenham, TX where we were graciously greeted by Jason Kramer of Yonder Way Farm. We spent an hour or so chitchatting with Jason about sustainable farming practices before loading up our coolers with over 40 pounds of meat and heading home.
There is something special about sitting down for a meal at home and knowing exactly where this meat came from. I know for a fact that the chicken we eat tonight lived a happy and healthy life at Yonder Way. If I ever needed to know anything about our meat, I can pick up the phone and call the Kramers (at their home!) and ask any question! Can you say the same about the food you buy at the grocery store?
We have now completed a major step in our plans to eat as locally as possible! Our local organic produce co-op provides us with a mystery box of fresh veggies and fruit every Wednesday! Now that we get our meat, produce, and eggs from local sources, we need very little from the grocery store (rice, olive oil, flour, pasta, etc...) It makes you feel good inside to know that you are doing what is best for your family and that you are supporting other local families!!
To finish up this post, I leave you with a picture of the Bean at Fitzwilly's in College Station next to our initials (written in 2006, I believe, in the booth we sat at EVERY Friday night while at A&M)
4 comments:
What did the prices run on the meat you guys got?
There is an online order form on their website that lists the prices (yonderwayfarm.com)
It is more expensive than conventionally produced meat; there is no denying that, but the meat is so much healthier (no growth hormones, vaccines, or antibiotics). The cows eat only grass, the pigs and chickens are pastured and get only organic grain supplements.
We crunched the numbers for a while, and decided that we could cut down on our meat consumption a little to make up for the higher costs. The meat really is great, and knowing that everytime we eat, we are helping a small family (not Tyson) makes us feel a little better inside :)
Hi Cassidy,
Recently I joined Facebook, and immediateloy got barraged with e-mailed notices that someone or other from way back when wanted to add me as a "Friend." One such friend, from high school, was quite impressed with a picture that I'd uploaded of me holding Lilah in Destin, here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4611&id=100000333127152&comments=&alert= so in response I posted a link to this webpage on your blog: http://allisonkrewepartdeux.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-of-lilah-ann.html.
"For a real treat," I wrote.
Anyway, thanks for letting me and my high school friend share in your adventure!
Uncle Mike
P.S. I still eat "enhanced" meat products, but prefer "mechanically separated" chicken to its beef counterpart. That should count for something, shouldn't it?
Sorry, I should have used tags!
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