Haven't yet seen it yet but it's on my list. Here's a link to a previous discussion back in January.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food, Inc.

I saw most of it last night. It was amazing!

I saw just a minute of it last night. Changed channels very quickly... can't remember why and can't say I liked it. :-)

Al

I started to watch it last night but it made me just ill. I changed the channel fast, but I'll also be changing where I buy chicken. Horrible.

I watched the show about the canine assistant dogs called Through A Dog's Eyes. That was wonderful and very touching.

Yes, I watched it about two months ago and thought it very well done.

I didn't see anything that shocked me because I've read a fair amount on these topics. What infuriates me every single time I hear of it, however, is how companies like Monsanto have a choke hold on farmers with their GMO seeds and how these huge corporations engage in mafia-like tactics.

Renee, agri-business has been trying to drive the small farmer out since the 50s, it's nothing new.

Some of us just won't go, though. (grin) Heck, small farmers are always broke and never have anything so let Monsanto sue, we've got nothing to take!

As for Food, Inc., it's nothing new to me either. The animals are largely miserable and mistreated and the food that's produced is becoming more and more unhealthy, but it's cheap and that's what we want, apparently.

Annie

I know it's not new, Annie. sigh. It's still infuriating, though.

I think about that poor guy in Canada who had been saving his own seeds for decades being sued, losing everything, because the d--m wind blew the wrong pollen into his field. (What I don't get is why Monsanto isn't considered to be trespassing by taking samples without permission when this guy had NO business relationship with them.) And the seed cleaner sued and losing everything just for cleaning seeds other people brought to him. These guys didn't just lose land and houses, they lost far more precious things -- dignity, pride, friends, a way of life. They probably lost years off their lives from the stress. (Yeah, I know, I'm preaching to the chior.)

Oh, yeah, we want it cheap at the sacrifice of any other attribute. If that were not true, Wal-Mart would not be the world's largest grocery retailer.

Renee, I hear you. It didn't shock me into being a vegetarian, it just angered me for the seed cleaner and farmers that can't save seeds. What do you expect from the makers of Agent Orange?

I must be getting old because few things shock me anymore. Disgust, yes.

Annie, I guess I will be heading your way in spring and fall to stock up my cellar.

It, along with books and other movies, has resulted in my family moving more and more to organic local farming. I am trying to buy chicken and beef that feed ffrom the same grasslands but am having trouble sourcing small enough quantites.

Annie, that offer to buy meat from you still stands or if you can put me in contact with someone else who can help, that will be great.

It's spring and the local farmer's markets will soon be open - can't wait.

Hmmmm. This is odd. I posted a reply to this topic this morning, and even went back a bit later to see if anyone else had replied and saw my post. Now it's gone. I posted my opinion about this "documentary" using no profanity, insulting no individual, but expressing my distrust of this movie and my reasons for that distrust. My post was here, though, and now it isn't, so I must assume that someone removed it.

Is there someone I should ask?

Ilana, I just managed to buy a feeder steer from an old farmer who raises beef the same way I do, so I very well may have beef to sell in the fall. We'll have to see how well he grows over the summer, he was born last September and weighs about 400 pounds right now.

Since Bossy Cow was kind enough to provide me with Mookayla, I'm short a beef, so it's do without or find one. I found one.

Annie

Rachelellen, I believe that when a post is removed because it is deemed inappropriate or violates the terms of service you will receive an email to that effect. Did you check your email? I didn't see it so I can't comment.

I watched Food Inc. last night and tonight I watched the mass genocide (through various means) of millions of people throughout Europe during the Soviet Stalin/Nazi Hitler period, watching corpses being bulldozed into mass graves. And to me, both were/are examples of atrocities by humans and the twisted mindset behind it. What astounds me is that we are capable of this either directly or by literally 'buying' into, and thus, supporting it.

The feedlots and animal processing plants look like animal concentration camps... hell on earth.
And what was that awful 'kill machine' used on the pigs?

When I first turned to organics in my area they were just starting (maybe 25-30 years ago or more). At the time I was buying 'free range' eggs and chicken products from Whole Foods and choosing other organic alternatives too. One day I was driving with my boyfriend in the country. He was looking for old model cars to drag home and rebuild. We spotted one car out in a field just rusting away and went to investigate. It was near a barn and farmhouse so we knocked on the door and a farmer answered. He looked at us very suspiciously. We explained our interest in the car but he looked like he didn't believe us which was baffling. We all walked over to the rusting car and after discussing it for awhile the farmer sold the old car to my boyfriend. It was only then that the farmer explained his initial suspicion of us. He thought we were poultry inspectors who had come to get a look at his chicken operation. He cracked open the door to his big barn and we could not believe our eyes or stand the stench. It was eerily quiet but packed beyond description with chickens. They were so packed in they couldn't move. The farmer told us that the local health food stores were paying a premium for these 'free range' chickens. I just about threw up right there....

From that day on I was determined to either know the source of my animal products or not buy them at all. And I sent some scathing letters to Whole Foods and other stores about this cruel practice with the nice label!!! AND my diet has changed dramatically. I am about 80% vegetarian and may just go all the way. Any meat I buy is carefully sourced to local people and I know their operation.

Perhaps corporate farming will collapse under its own evil weight as alluded to in the program relative to its dependence on cheap fuel, government subsidies, etc. However, I would NOT rely on the change coming from the top as there are many people from the industry now sitting in key decision-making positions in OUR government. However I do believe in grassroots efforts to make a difference. More people choosing to buy organic, taking the time to get an education about the source and content of their food,
demanding appropriate labeling, buying locally and eating seasonal foods and growing as much of ones own food as is possible - the cumulative effects of these individual changes do add up in powerful ways.

I'm still a newbie, but I'm crazy about my veggie garden! It is a labor of love with so many rewards!

Annie, DEFINITELY keep me in mind for beef in the fall. If you can spare it I'd love brisket, steaks and some ground beef, about 10-20 pounds worth of ground meat, and some ribs.

The source of our food is a major concern to me. Whole foods sells their chicken, not as free range, but as uncaged. As dragonfly says - that is meaningless. Last year there was a farmer at the market who sold his truly free range chickens. I asked if they were organic and he said he couldn't guarantee the bugs they ate were organic LOL but the rest of their feed was freely found food. What do chickens eat when they forage? I only bought a few. This year I plan on stocking up and freezing more.

And for anyone who cares, you can Google Monsanto and FDA and you will be surprised, or maybe not, just how many people in the top key positions have important ties to Monsanto including Clarence Thomas.

We've been on a Mission these last few months to locate sources of organic foods (or, at least, less contaminated).

For 3 years I've looked locally to not much success. Then, I changed my search terms &, bingo, hit the jackpot.

I've now got a source for free-range (outside their coop are 500 acres of pasture they are free to roam) chickens & eggs. They have 250 chickens. The farm's also raising organic produce and & is a teaching farm for local schools. We're doing some volunteer work for them as camp guides and also helping with seedlings, transplanting, crop care, weeding, & harvest. Plus, we're going to be learning how to care for goats, chickens, cows, pigs, & lambs. We were at the farm last Saturday & two of the cutest little piglets followed us around the farm right at our heels. They looked to be about 20 lbs. (?). All of the animals share the pasture & are quite tame. We had trouble getting our car out of the parking area by the barn 'cause the animals were "napping" underneath. lol

Anyway, we're delighted & it's right here locally just about 3 miles from home. They need more help than normal this year 'cause the woman just had a baby 6 weeks ago & isn't functioning at full steam yet. Up until this year, they've had a 20 person CSA but didn't do it this year 'cause of the new baby. They are doing all of the camps though because they're under a contract with the schools & that's why they need a few helpers.

They say they are as "organic" & "natural" as is possible. We'll be learning much more about what that actually means. I think we'll be a lot more knowledeable consumers by fall than we are now. How can that be a bad thing? We're excited & having fun, so far. I'm assigned transplanting seedlings, washing eggs, & helping with the kids since I'm so limited in mobility. DH is an active "farm hand"! Boy, has he changed hats in the past year!

/tricia

Tricia, tell your DH he hasn't really farmed until he's spent 6 hours in the top of a 100+ degree hay mow, stacking 90 pound bales of hay!

BTW, I hope you aren't actually "washing" eggs. They have a natural protective coating that keeps impurities from entering through the shells. Mine get wiped clean, but they don't actually get washed until I use them.

Ilana, I think I can probably accomodate you, but how you'll get stuff frozen from Michigan to Chicago is going to be your problem!

Annie

I don't really know yet, Annie. Last Saturday was our "meet & greet" day. I had to bring my master gardener's certificate to show I knew the difference between a cuke & a tomato. DH just had to show he wasn't afraid of the animals, was willing to do heavy lifting, & could use tools. Being a CO boy who's best friend's family owned a large dairy DH is looking forward to his weekly day on the farm.

I'll let ya know how it goes...the kids start arriving for day camps in a couple weeks & various programs run through the fall harvest. There will be about 2 dozen volunteers eventually, they hope. The goal is to get 5 acres of mixed gardens planted plus care for the animals. They're not planning on selling any meat this season except chicken. Next year, they'll be back to normal operations. The baby's cute, BTW.

Speaking of babies...found out Wednesday that our DD#1's baby, due September 10, is a GIRL! Whoopie! It's time for another girl! We won't know about DD#2's baby for a few more weeks.

/t

From my father, who was an egg rancher back in his day (1950s - 1960s) - he had one customer who brought in his own egg cartons - marked 'Alta Dena organic' - my father told him that his eggs were not organic, but the guy didn't care and apparently Alta Dena never checked. Ever since then my dad has been distrustful of the whole organic biz.

Jessy, that's really funny to me especially since the farm we're volunteering at uses egg cartons marked, "Eggs Not From Cage-Free Hens". They get the cartons free as donations to the farm schooling effort & their eggs are sold just to locals so they don't care what the carton says!

/t

I rented it, however, I had to shut if off as my daughter who was watching it with me, got hysterical when they were innoculating the baby chicks - she didn't know what they were doing to them and thought they were being hurt, but the movie just affected her so badly I didn't finish it. I have watched other movies similar and have read many books and done plenty of research on factory farming and companies like IBP and ConAgra, etc., so I pretty much wasn't going to be learning anything I didn't already know.

And what's not to trust? There's plenty of video out there showing this stuff going on all the time. They're not making it up.

I've just about ready to give up meat again. I'm waffling about continuing to eat chicken or to give it all up. I'll probably do what I did last time I gave up meat - I'll finish up what I've already purchased, but won't eat anymore after that. I still have to buy it as the rest of the family won't give up meat, but if it's a once in a while thing, I can spend the extra money to make sure when it's marked free range or organic, etc., that it really is. I'll probably still eat fish, however. Even when I stopped eating meat before, I still ate fish so I was never a true vegetarian.

I wish I was in an area where I had easier access to family type farms where you can get to know the people and trust in the food you're buying from them. I feel we're too removed from where our food comes from in this country. That's one reason I increased my home garden about five-fold last year. I want to grow as much as I can myself so I know what's in it. I'm learning to can as well. I wish we could keep our own chickens for eggs as well, but it's against the law around here.

Lisa

Annie, is that an invite? Even if it's not, I can easily drive to you and back in a day. I've been to Mackinaw Island and back in a day and you're much closer :) THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Trica, what search terms did you use? I'd love to find something like that locally however I don't have a Master Gardner certificate - I have black thumbs - but I do know the difference between a cucumber and a tomato IF I see the fruit. LOL

And how funny, scary are those carton stories...just shows why you SHOULD know the source of your food either way.

Ilana, of course it's an invite. I might make you pick tomatoes or something though. Or gather your own eggs, yeah, that's it!

I put my eggs in whatever cartons anyone gives me, LOL, so they say everything from Eggland's Best to Spartan Stores. (grin) I don't sell many eggs, I give them away, no one will pay a buck for a dozen anyway, too many Amish farmers in the area are selling eggs.

I have considered stacking some in a cooler and letting Makayla have an "egg stand" out by the road. My cartons would still say "Eggland's Best" and "Spartan Stores", though. (grin)

Annie

I just expanded my search area to include all of SE CT. As it turns out the farm is practically within walking distance.

They have this organic farm where they provide school kids with an opportunity to learn about where food comes from & the benefits of eating locally/organic. A system of volunteers keeps the place operating. They offer both day camps & week camps. Every kid will learn how to train a baby animal to walk on a halter alongside them, how to take care of a garden, harvest, etc. with camps geared to the kid's age group starting at 4 years old.

Annie, you might be amused to know that their eggs are $4.00/dozen.

/tricia

$4 a dozen? Wow, that would pay for my chicken feed and still leave me eggs!

Here I think we are too agricultural to pay that for eggs because nearly everyone either has their own hens, or knows/is related to someone that has hens, or just stops at one of the Amish farms and buys a dozen for a buck or so.

Annie

Is this on TV or is it a rental?

My egg lady up at the lake charged $1.50 a dozen. Bring an empty and pick up a full one...put your money in the coffee can on the table if she wasn't around. The various cost of food shared here has always amazed me...very interesting.

David

Lisa,
I hope you can find some local sources. I think the easiest way to become introduced to local farmers and healthy foods is to frequent a farmer's market and get to know them. They can probably recommend sources for meat, etc. if they don't already offer it at the market. Or you could contact your county ag extension agent and ask for a list of local farmers. There are also websites like the one I've linked to below, called Local Harvest. You enter your zip code and they let you know who is in your area and what they have. You might be surprised!

I'm glad you turned the show off. Kids don't need to be exposed to films like Food Inc. and its horrors. I feel the most positive thing parents can do is to simply begin to expose children to their food sources, create opportunities for establishing an informed, respectful and compassionate connection that will later translate into a vastly improved relationship to their food sources and natural environment. In my experience kids love to garden and work with animals. Making those connections between the natural world and their place in it seems to ground them too. One of the local schools here is teaching gardening as a subject (instead of recess).

PBS showed a charming and informative docu-drama film titled, The Natural History of the Chicken. There are a couple of mildly disturbing scenes of chicks being vaccinated and sent along a conveyor belt, but it's not overwhelming within the very positive context of the film with its touching and hilarious stories about the chicken. In other words it focuses on the wonders of the chicken and our relationship to them. The film now has a vast cult following of children and adults alike. You can often find it at video rental places, and it's also available for sale. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Here is a link that might be useful: Local Harvest

David, Netflix has in on instant view.

Variations in pricing is amazing, David & Annie.

My local grocery store carries Country Hen eggs from MA. They are supposedly organic. The chickens are not exactly what I'd call "free range". They've got these sun porches attached to the barns.

Anyway, Country Hen eggs sell for $6.38 a HALF dozen here. So, the $4.00/dozen I'm paying now seems like a real buy. I can get various versions of "organic-free range" eggs at Whole Foods & the prices are $6.00/dozen.

A side benefit of volunteering at this farm will be free manure for our home gardens. Since we're paying for manure now the savings will reduce the cost of our eggs to something more reasonable. Our town has free compost but it's horrible stuff...metal pieces, rubber stuff, & G@d knows what else so I'd never use it in our gardens...not even the ornamentals.

This farm does not grow berries. But, they're referred us to again another local farm that does. I like the place. The farm has been continuously operated by the same family since 1758. It's right here in Stonington also although you have to enter Rhode Island to get to the driveway so I think they carry a RI address, hence, did not show up on my Google search? They are also all organic (certified - whatever THAT means?!). Strawberries will be ready early this year because of our abnormally warm spring (May instead of June). They are a PYO farm. Again, we're looking forward to getting to know the owners.

Apparently, this business of eating local CAN be done even here in coastal CT but not without some individual effort. Surely, not as easily as Michigan. These places don't advertise so one has to either already know they exist or spend some time online hunting. CT has laws against signage (we don't have billboards advertising farm stands - or anyting else - like CA's Route 99, as example). Only within the major city's town limits are billboards of any type allowed. It helps maintain the New England image but makes it more challenging to ferret out what you're looking for. Even during harvest season all farms can do is put out a temporary sign (real estate for sale size) at the front of the property saying something like, "PYO Apples". The sign has to come down when the season is over. So, unless you happen to drive by at the right time...you'd never know they were there.

The place we're volunteering has zero signage. Stonington is notoriously nasty about signage. A couple years ago, our police department conducted a "sting" operation that made national news. They decided too many small, illegal signs had cropped up so they drove around, under the cover of darkness, scooping up the signs & followed through by sending the property owners a bill for a $750 fine for each sign confiscated from their property. We have been basically a sign free zone ever since! :)

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Country Hen Eggs

Anyone wanting to help David fight Goliath (Monsanto, GMO canola) can donate to Percy Schmeiser's legal fund.

What were the courts thinking that this guy had to take it all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court.

Here is a link that might be useful: Percy Schmeiser fight

I watched it, it didn't tell me anything I haven't seen or heard before because food is a very interesting topic to me so I spend a good deal of time researching these things. I thought it was very well done, it showed how nasty and sad many of the processes of raising livestock in confinement lots are, without looking like an over the top PETA film.

We are even more committed to eating locally now, the film has re inspired us. With the exception of things like butter and oil and spices, we are going to see if we can only buy food from the farmers market or other local markets this summer.

I agree with the point of the film, the systems we have for producing food may give us lots of cheap calories, but at what true cost?

If you want to eat local there ARE resources out there. Start with your county cooperative extension office. Ours has a list of farmers markets, which is a place to start. I also recommend these two Web sites:

www.pickyourown.org
www.localharvest.org Call first because not everything on there is up to date. Also, ask around and find out if there are any CSA's around, you might be surprised. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Also, there is probably a network of small urban farms around your city, you just have to start asking around, you'll be surprised. These folks are too busy farming to spend a lot of time advertising!

But unless you want to spend a lot of money, you'll have to simplify your diet and start using your freezer if you want out of season stuff.

Jessy, IMO, the problem started when the _____ courts decided cells and DNA were patentable and could become private property.

Thanks Renee!

Tricia, fresh manure is the best. Glad you worked out a deal for that with the volunteer work y'all will be doing.

David