You can see the chickens and pigs as you pull up. So we decided to go visit them before heading into the barn to pick up our goods. The pigs were happily oinking away and I thought, "Whoa! We're going to be eating one just like you soon!" and it almost freaked me out! And that's when I realized how far away and out of touch from my food I've become. Meat does not grow in some little plastic wrapped package ~ it came from a real, live breathing animal.
So I whisper some words of heartfelt gratitude towards the pigs as my son starts frantically tugging at my me. I turn around to see this:
A little piggy had escaped and was running and beelining it straight towards us!!!
Now, I have no clue what a pig will do to us and my son was pretty nervous so we booked it into the barn lickety-split! This is when I make my grand entrance and introduce myself to the farmer for the first time:
"Well, hello farmer! So nice to meet you! I hope to create a long and lasting relationship with you and your meat!"
But it really went more like this:
"Eeek! Hey! Um...there's a pig on the loose out there! Help!!! Save me!!!!"
Or something like that. And this is when I had my second revelation about my food.
I am sooo NOT a farmgirl!!!!
I mean, I was freaked out by a pig!!! A pig!!! They are much smaller than the herd of cows that tried to gang up on me once. The cows were going to ambush me and stampede me. Honest. I saw it in their big brown eyes. And they were gathering together and staring me down. Yep. That's a scary story too! But that should be a story for another day! ~wink~wink~
So, yeah.
Have you ever been around farm animals much?
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{Sorry about the bad photo taken with my phone while we were running away in terror! At least I had the presence of mind to hurry and snap a pic!}
Oh man, that is classic! Paul and I also have made the resolve to switch to grass fed, locally raised meat this year too. We're also switching over to organic milk. I really feel like eating more REAL food is something my family is suppose to do. I'm glad that I'll be able to check-in with you for ideas + support.
ReplyDeleteOur butcher raises pigs, just sayin'.... he hee, if you want a source..
ReplyDeleteAwesome Eliza! It's more expensive but in the long run totally worth it for your health to get rid of the chemicals and stuff out of your diet! Besides there's nothing like the real thing!!
ReplyDeleteHave you checked into the Weston A. Price Foundation? By joining you can get hooked into your local group that will help you find local sources and stuff!
I need to go speak to your butcher Anne! Let me know next time you go! I have questions for him! :D
ReplyDeleteWow, what an adventure!! I think it would weird me out, too, to see an animal and think I might be eating one just like it later. I'm pretty well separated from my food, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a very little girl, my mother raised chickens in our yard in Montana. My job (as a three and four year old) was to go with her in the morning to collect the eggs and to help herd the chickens. I guess I was really comfortable. I also helped herd them into a pen so she could butcher them.
ReplyDeleteI've petted a cow, too, but not a pig.
It's kind of weird actually seeing the animal Jeanine! I mean intellectually you know meat comes from a live breathing animal at some point but to get up close and personal was definitely an experience for me. It makes me feel more humbled and grateful for what I'm eating. :)
ReplyDeleteI guess if you grow up around them it's no big deal then, right Rebekah? I'm impressed you've petted a cow though! Not sure I'm brave enough for that! Lol!
ReplyDeleteMy dad {who grew up on a farm} told me that in his experience, pigs can actually be kinda mean so maybe I was justified in running away! Lol!