I used to be pretty granola. As a teen, my passion was vegetarianism. I was appalled by the meat and dairy industries and super enthusiastic about living a lifestyle that supported it as little as possible. Now that I have a very aware little human being that I’m trying to raise to be conscious and healthy when it comes to decisions about her body and this planet, I’m thinking of changing our grocery shopping ways even more drastically than just switching to organic foods and foods low in preservatives and dyes.
Sometimes living out in the country seems like a curse, especially in winter when we are stuck inside and isolated. There are great benefits, however, and one of those is the fact that we live so close to many organic and all-natural farms and orchards. Across the street from us is a long-horn cattle ranch (plus two horses and a donkey), although they are beef cattle and I don’t eat red meat, at least not at home. A few minutes away is a lovely apple orchard and cider mill where we can buy jams and sauces with no additives, preservatives, or dyes. Now I’ve discovered three large working farms that raise beef, pork, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and vegetables completely organically and humanely. You can even join a goatherd share!
This is all coming about because I was disturbed by reports of early onset puberty as a result of milk consumption and looking for a milk alternative. Even almond milk did not seem that great, as it contained a lot of preservatives and thickeners that weren’t healthy. In the end, I wanted to look for raw milk options, as well as for chicken and turkey products that are more compatible with my values.
It all comes down to this… I want my daughter to stand up for what she believes in, and to be part of a movement that supports the health of our selves, other living beings, and the planet. If I don’t model this for her, it’s not very likely that she will grow up to do it, either. And also… she loves farming! She is way into farm animals, milking, chickens coming from eggs, etc. In fact, she won’t eat scrambled eggs now because she insists that it’s a baby chicken! *spoiler alert- future vegan*
So, with all of this access to organic farms, why haven’t I made the leap? It all comes down to the sad fact that I don’t enjoy cooking. I really just… dread the process. Even if I include M and she enjoys it, it kinda feels like a chore. Well, you can’t love everything, right? Who knows, maybe I can find simple recipes that aren’t so bad to pull off…
What do you guys think?
Mother of All Things 
I think its a great idea! I have been into organic stuff since my pregnancy and my daughter eats a predominantly organic diet (I even found organic bread!), she has no food dyes, limited sugar, etc. Our only non organic meals are when we eat out which is once a week. You are lucky to have access to all these farms. I hear you on cooking though, it is a chore, but I plan my week’s meals which makes it easier.
I don’t know if they deliver to your area, but Blue Apron (called Chef’s Plate here in Canada) is what got me “into” cooking. I still hate it. But each week, they deliver the recipes, step by step ingredients and foods/ingredients to my doorstep. The food (veggies & meat) are all locally sourced and organic. I have been enjoying the tastes of the meals but still hate cooking.
Yes, I’ve looked into those! I hate buying a whole can of some ingredient to only use it once in some recipe… so it’s nice that it’s all packaged individually. The thing is, though… what about carbon offsetting? The packaging, the delivery, I don’t know… seems to defeat the purpose of the “save the planet” mentality. Nevertheless it appeals to me. I just don’t want to pay for it when so often I will probably not even cook what they send.
I don’t do it to save the planet – I do it to get myself to cook more than just pasta every night!
But yeah – if you’re not going to bother to even cook what they send, it’s not worth it. I ended up giving one of my meal kits to Sarah last week because I just couldn’t be bothered.
Have you thought about making your own almond milk? I am lazy, so I wouldn’t do this, but many of my friends say it’s super easy if you have one of those massive blenders.
OMG. I don’t even know how to use my own blender. Maybe someday!
You can totally do it! I read “Eating Animals” last year and it has totally freaked me out about our animal farming, processing, and catching. (I have only bought shrimp once since then because there is so much by-catch from shrimp catching that sea horse species are endangered. Sea horses!!!) Being chemically sensitive, I have become very aware of all the crap in our environments. I wish I could eliminate all plastic and crap chemicals from my environment but it is so hard. As for milk, you don’t actually need it. The reason it is pushed in the US is because of the dairy industry and decreasing breastfeeding rates. As long as you both eat good healthy fats, you don’t need dairy products at all. Nuts, avocado, fish, olive oil…
I don’t like milk and wouldn’t buy it at all, but M loves it and requests it all the time. I’d rather have her drink some raw milk if that’s her beverage of choice, and not all the shit that comes with commercial milk!
I have wanted to try raw milk. Do you limit how much milk she gets? I have worked with kids who would eat only milk if they had it their way.
I haven’t found any raw milk available in the area. She gets one cup per day and sometimes another half cup in the morning. So not a ton.
There has got to be some but you will have to look hard for it because it is borderline against the law. I see a sign at a country intersection for it up here but I’m scared to try calling it. Maybe when I’m ready to test dairy after having cut it out. I know in Colorado you have to do a “cow share” to get some. Ask around at any farm you go to for eggs and chickens if they know of any.
You can get it in Ann arbor! They deliver it, not sell it, and you pay for supporting the farm instead. I just don’t live close enough to pick it up.
Dang!
Maybe this resource can help http://www.realmilk.com/real-milk-finder/michigan/#mi
This is a good site but the farm has to give permission to be mentioned… So I feel like there could be some local sources that I’ll need to find by word of mouth!
Exactly. It says to look up the local Weston A Price group and ask them too. Just don’t get sucked in, they are kinda cultish!
Never heard of them… I’m more inclined to just asking the local farms that sell all natural dairy products like eggs and cheese.
WAP is all about natural eating and living. Some of it won’t jive with you and they can be really intense. The organization at least. It can be a good resource for whole foods eating etc.
Interestingly the chapter for my county is one of the farms I was going to visit! Haha. I’m an ICU nurse I’m probably too mainstream medical for them, plus I’m not someone who enjoys wilderness living. BUT I do think they are right about more things than not.
Ooh then totally ask there!
Just remembered this site and think you would like it http://www.whfoods.com
I say do what you feel comfortable with. I refuse to eat organic due to the industry I work in and hit puberty at 10 years old and never drank milk because I didn’t like it. Lol But, if you feel strongly about it, do what you can to pull it off. As for milk, I used to work with a guy who bought ‘cow shares’ with another person locally. Basically they found a local dairy farmer willing to do the diet/experience they wanted with a milking cow if they paid expenses and then they could have raw milk. You might look at local groups and see if anyone does that.
Which organic industry did you work with?
It wasn’t an organic industry. I work for the government doing testing.