Cows are Easier than Kids

Oct 31, 2016

I have had both, and plenty of each one over the years. They are both cute, for sure. But cows are easier—why?

Cows are easier than kids

They do not live in my house first and foremost. This is huge—no shoes, socks, dirty underwear, books or toys are to be found strewn around my house because of the cows. I do not have to dust nor vacuum their space. They eat the same thing morning, noon, and night. No meal planning necessary. How great is that? I never have to wash their clothes.

There are no days of packing them in my truck and hauling them hither and yon for this and that activity. No music lessons to pay for, no beds to make, no faces to wash, nor teeth to brush. This is getting better and better!

Yet…I would have no one to play games with, to tuck in bed at night, no poetry to read and laugh over…”There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead!”…and worse of all is that I would have nobody to horseback ride with.

Have someone to horseback ride with. Grandkids are the GREATEST!! (Three generations of riders here in this pic!)

Well, cows are great—yes. Kids are greater to be sure. But,

Grandkids are the GREATEST of all!!! Can I hear an AMEN!!?

I am Seeking a Divorce

Oct 12, 2016

It pains me to say this, but I am seeking a divorce. I hope those that know me know how hard I have endeavored to make this relationship work. It simply is not going to happen, so I must seek a divorce ASAP.

It surely is not because I have not made every effort. I have trusted and trusted—to no avail. A divorce is simply the only way out. My sincere hope is that everyone will eventually come to an understanding of just why this divorce must take place. Perhaps if one would spend the time where I have been lately one would know the utter pain and sadness I have felt as of late—perhaps, hopefully, one would see just why I need this divorce.

I am seeking a divorce from the supermarket. We simply do not see eye-to-eye any longer. Oh! How it grieves me to say this chasm has been building for years upon years. We simply must break up, period. End of story. Now the hard part is making this happen, and figuring out just how life proceeds without the grocery store. I am seeking a new “me.” I have determined because of the despicable nature of the source that supplies supermarkets, they no longer are worthy of my hard-earned dollars. To all my Christian friends, please pray for me!

I am working diligently to divorce myself from the industrial food system that supplies all supermarkets. I have finally read and watched enough u-tubes on this grotesque industrial food system, aka CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), to know I shall not ever buy meat again from a grocery store, or superstore.

I have evolved into a true “localvore.” Yes, we do spend more money on food (that is because real food is not subsidized by our government). That is fine, for I know our beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables have enjoyed a real, normal life, indigenous to how they were created.

As I have said in previous blogs: if you cannot visit your food supplier—you may want to evaluate where your food comes from and just what you are eating. Here at Blue Rock Horses and Farm, we delight in showing you where your beef (and soon eggs!) come from, and exactly how they are being raised. You are invited to come meet the animals, and visit around the farm.

Here at Blue Rock Horses and Farm you are invited to come meet the animals, and visit around the farm.

“The Measure of a Society can be how well its people treat its animals”

—Mohandas Gandhi

A Visit to Polyface Farm, Swoope, Virginia

Oct 6, 2016

Polyface Farm, Swoope, Va

Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface, led the tour.

We visited Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia this past September. We took, what they call, their Lunatic Tour, a two-hour tour over their beautiful, rolling hills farm. It was a lovely, sunny, warm day. One of the tourists was a beautiful lady from Africa who farmed chickens, and was interested in the way Joel Salatin raises his. Another tourist, a gentleman, was from Israel. It seems this is normal at Polyface, having interested folks visiting from all over the world.

Their beautiful, rolling hills farm.

We heard about this farm several years ago from our son and daughter-in-law who live in Charlottesville . They purchase Polyface meat from various places around town. It sounded very interesting, but got lost in the shuffle of life. A couple months ago, however, some guests came to tour the house where I work in Winchester. They had visited Polyface the day before coming to visit us. The enthusiasm of those ladies surely sparked the interest, as I re-heard all the non-usual operations done at the farm. The way they manage their animals, the wide, wonderful variety of animals they have, how they manage the land, it all struck a chord this time. I am sure it is because we now have cattle, and more land for other animals as well. I immediately ordered two books written by Joel Salatin that the ladies told me I would enjoy. He has written around 10 books on farming, raising pasture fed beef, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, pork, and farmland management.

After blazing through The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, I signed up for the Lunatic tour. There were about 100 visitors the day we were there. Two tractors with two attached wagons to each tractor and straw bales going down the middle of each wagon as seats for us, and a big cooler full of ice cold water (how thoughtful!) was ready and waiting to escort us around the farm. Joel drove one of the tractors, and led the tour. The other tractor was driven by an intern.

Their eggmobiles!

The pasture fed turkeys and chickens were fun to see—so differently are they raised than how I have seen and known over the years.

The tour was informative and encouraged us to re-think how we eat, where our food comes from, how is it raised, managed and processed. Joel Salatin is an informed, passionate farmer, and is a first-rate steward of his farm/land/animals. He knows his business, he is willing to share his knowledge with interested folks, and he signed my books! His farm is worth the visit for those that are interested in the quality of food you eat. If a visit is not possible, get on his website and purchase his books. Two movies we recommend are: Food, Inc., and King Corn. Be forewarned, they will change the way you look at food.

Know the farmer, know the farm, know where your food comes from, or even grow some of your own food! Here is a good rule of thumb: if you are not allowed to visit the place where your food is raised, you may not want to eat it. This goes for both meat and vegetables.

Now that we have cattle and land for more animals, we are very interested in how farming is done at Polyface. You are always invited to come visit us here at our farm!