We had a wonderful day of gathering together with some ladies and one gent for a workshop on sprouting grain and making homemade bread, biscuits, sweet rolls and pizza. We topped it off with learning how to make homemade butter from the inspiration of my Great Grandmother Emma's prize winning homemade butter.
As the conversation spun it's web into homemade goodness and the shift of healthy living alternatives, we were all in agreement that the small farm could be kept sustainable for the future health of our rural and suburban families. The reality that big farms have had to use pesticides and the worlds alternatives in competing to produce more to stay in existence. The trend to purchase grass fed meat and organic veggies has put the small farm back on the map with the possibilities of squeezing it's way back into a sustainable crevice.
We still have a way to go for those who are seeking to purchase our small farm products. We are still competing with the Walmart mind set of more bang for our buck with out the considerations that the small farmer and his or her passion does not pay for the increase in organic feed. A quick example would be a regular bag of turkey feed would cost $11.95 and an bag of no GMO turkey feed is $18.00. When finishing twenty-six Thanksgiving birds the last two months of their lives, we are going through a fifty pound sack of feed every other day. This gives zero profit for no hormone, no pesticide, no GMO farmer. It does not take into consideration for the time spent changing newspaper like diapers for sanitation and the health of the baby bird. No paycheck for their daily care of feeding and watering and shoveling manure. There is no compensation for the gas that is spent to purchase organic feed that often times cannot be obtained at your usual local feed dealer. Yes, it has to be a passion to free range a bird and patiently herd it back from across a fence and from the nearest neighbors tree. You can bet your bottom dollar, that I will be thankful at our Thanksgiving feast.
There still can be a more with less exchange when you are not paying for doctors visits and your food cravings decline because you have shifted to eating real food just like Great Grandma. This took place long before the drive through was installed for our convenience or for our slow demise.
A new appreciation for healthy food needs to be talked about and discussed with our children. They need to learn to appreciate the finer things in life.
Spend a day helping do chores with your local farmer.
Ask if you can attend butchering day.
Learn where your food comes from, what it eats and the care it is given before it ever reaches the convenience of your table.
Teach your children to understand the depths of how their Great Grandparents lived.
Encourage them not to forget their roots and teach appreciation as they move forward in this face paced world. Convenience like greed has a much higher price to pay.
Cheryl's Turkey DressingIngrediants:Cook down giblets (heart, liver & gizzard) Chop and add broth to ingrediaents
4 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 cup melted butter
4 quarts or 16 cups of homemade dried & cubed bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste
Whisk 2 eggs
Warm Chicken or turkey broth
Directions:Add the above ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Add broth to desired consistency.
Place in a Pyrex baking dish.
Cook at 350* for 20 minutes covered and 15-20 minutes uncovered to brown sufficiently.
This recipe makes enough dressing to serve with a 14-18 pound turkey.
November fifth is butchering day at Rise 'N' Shine Farm. I will miss my feathered friends. They follow me around the farm like dogs. Although, I believe Rufus (A White Holland) and his girlfriend will stay and reside as part of the farms ambiance. Rufus won his way into my heart at two days old when he would drop his wings, strut and turn in a circle. His daily dignified dance has captured my attention and won a place in my heart. He has never been forceful with his demeanor like some of the other males, but proudly displays his presence with a dignified honor.
