Farm Animals

Another area of concern for farmers today revolves around the care of farm animals. Recent allegations and arrests for mistreatment of turkeys at a local turkey farm have proven that people are genuinely concerned about how our animals are being treated. And rightly so.

One of our most requested items in our produce boxes is for cage-free eggs. Wise Farms gets all their eggs from Starrlight Farm just down the road from our family farm. Here's a past post about what Robin had to say about her hens. She says it so well I have nothing to add.

http://www.patricialait.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-about-dem-eggs.html

Pesky Pests

I'm much afraid that some of the farming practices of big-time, mass-producing corporate farms have given all conventional farming a bad rap. Especially when it comes to spraying for bugs, worms, etc. That is all the more reason for you to buy local and build a relationship with area farmers in order to gain a better understanding of how your food is being produced today.

Truth is that all farms have some sort of pesky pests that require attention. Farmers cannot afford to turn the other cheek and let the bugs eat up their crop. There simply has to be some kind of pest control.

Many times farmers will choose to spray their crops with some form of pesticide. Yes, organic farmers spray, too. What makes all the difference is what type of pesticide is applied. At Wise Farms an all-natural spray is used, one that meets organic-approved standards. And there are many crops from our family farm that are completely pesticide free due to years of sustainable farming methods such as crop rotation and no-till farming.

More to come...

Organic vs. Conventional

Organic seems to be the buzzword for today. People often ask, "Do you sell organic?" I want to ask back, "What do you mean when you say organic? What does that word mean to you?" Because to different people organic can mean different things. Oftentimes organic standards will vary from state to state, and definitely from country to country.

A much better question to ask your local farmer is, "What are your farming practices?" You might be surprised to discover that many farms, Wise Farms included, are practicing ways of producing food that equal or even exceed organic farming practices. But to be on the same page of understanding, you must be specific in your questions, and in your answers.

This week I'm going to sit down and interview "The Farmer", Mr. Gary Wise himself, and share with my readers some of the things he's doing on the farm and his reasoning behind it. Also, I'll be comparing and contrasting organic vs. conventional. You might be surprised, as I have been, with much of my research.

So, ya'll come back now, hear?

A Video Worth Viewing

I don't normally do this, but when I find something with this much value, I have to promote it. Please take 5 minutes to watch this video. It is well worth the time. As always, would love any comments.

How to Have Fresh Butterbeans in January

I've been thinking and have decided that there are 3 easy ways to have fresh butterbeans in January.

First, live in a part of the world where butterbeans are harvested in the winter months. That would NOT be NC.

Second, Grandma's Sunday Buffet where there is always an abundance of fresh butterbeans along with other yummy veggies. WAIT! Grandma's Buffet? How I miss her Southern cooking. God, bless her soul.

Third, grab a bag from your freezer and cook 'em up for dinner. You know, those beans you froze last summer. What? Too busy to freeze fresh veggies? Oh, well. Guess you'll have to look at my pictures for now. Here's the last of my freeze from last summer's goodness. These thangs are incredibly delicious, and so easy to prepare, especially when you buy them already shelled at the Market. My cost is $2.00/bag; each bag is 4-5 servings. Time spent-1 hour. So worth it to have fresh butterbeans in January. Just follow this recipe, pop 'em in your freezer, and you, too, can enjoy fresh butterbeans in January.

Cherry Tomatoes

These babies are bursting with flavor! Popped a few in my salad and roasted the rest for freezing. Oh my! What a great way to keep it fresh!

Here's how it's done. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon basil and 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic. Cut tomatoes in half, and place on cooking sheet cut side up. Drizzle oil over tomatoes. Roast at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until done. Freeze and use within 6 months. Great for pastas dishes, or any recipe that calls for roasted tomatoes.

Roasted and Ready!

A Look Back before Looking Ahead

It's hard to believe that I am one size smaller than I was last January. How did it happen? Magic? I think not! Like most good things in life, it required hard work, discipline, and the encouragement from special friends. Thanks! (You know who you are.) We have shared recipes and kept each other motivated with our weekly reports.

Second, I cut back on sweet cakes and pies, sugary soft drinks, and milk chocolate. This was a huge feat for me because these foods had become my afternoon buddies. The kickoff for this was mid-February followed by a diet VOID of these foods for about 6 weeks. The MOST important thing I did when I removed these food favorites from my diet was to replace them with something equally satisfying. So, I added MORE fresh fruits and veggies to my diet. These are some of my new foods - bok choy, spinach, rutabaga, turnip roots, bison, purple sweet potatoes, almonds, and greek yogurt.

NEVER underestimate the value of counting calories. I know it may sound tedious, but with the help of online calorie-counting sites (I use myfitnesspal.com) this task is easy to master. I enjoy the daily challenge to stay within the caloric boundaries I have set.

And, last but not least, is exercise. That dirty word. Hoping I would forget, right? Well, it is of utmost importance. When I first started I couldn't last 5 minutes on the elliptical. Now I'm going 35 minutes. Way to get that blood pumping!

And the results - oh my! When the number on the scales go down, when your clothes begin to sag, when you begin to FEEL good again, when the doctor says "Your blood work is good!", when you have MORE energy, when you gain a new confidence that this way REALLY DOES work, you are motivated to keep it going!

My goal for 2012 is to weed out more processed foods from my diet, and eat even MORE fresh! I want to cook more meals at home for even MORE control.  That way I will know what goes in every dish! And, this last food goal is WAY ambitious - to try my hand at growing a few of my own veggies. I'll definitely let you know how this one goes.

Would love to hear back from my readers. What are your special goals for 2012?