July Orders are Closed

For those interested in our chickens, the first and second batch orders are closed!!  I'll put in our order on Monday.  We had a great response this year.  We're so thankful for all those who choose to buy from us.  Didn't get to order?  Don't worry, we'll order more sometime in June.  But don't wait, that list is getting full already!  Questions?  Let me know...

Village People

It was another successful “Opening Day” at Greenfield Village.  For those who don’t live in this area, the Village was started by Henry Ford.  He brought in all sorts of historic buildings and created a living museum.  Click here to see more about it. 

It’s always hard for me when we go to opening day.  I take the day off work and we go, rain or shine.  Today it was wind…lots of it.  My favorite part is the Firestone Farm.  Yup, you recognized the name alright.  It’s the farm that Harvey Firestone, the tire magnet, grew up on.  Men in period dress use horses to plow fields.  They herd sheep, milk cows, feed chickens, and tend fields.  The women, again in period dress, make meals over a wood burning stove, wash clothes in a tub, plant gardens and preserve food of all sorts. 

It’s beautiful.

I walk away every year deep in somber thought.  It’s as though the entire scene is yelling to me that we, as a society, have moved in a direction that is not sustainable.  It’s funny that I would use that word.  Everything we read about today focuses on “sustainability” and yet, in the light of history, it is not actually sustainable.  Case in point:  there is a building near the front of the Village that reflects on the changes in farm equipment starting in the 18^th century.  We went from using horses to using horse powered machinery.  Then we moved into steam powered machinery and migrated to gas and electric powered machinery. 

Compare this to watching the gentlemen of the Village working the farm today.  They used draft horses to plow and harrow one of the fields.  The horses, being horses, spread fresh manure on the field.  A man walks behind them getting in his exercise for the day.  The horses do eat a lot of food, but then they also work to grow the food they will eat.  An added benefit is that, if you choose, they can breed their own progeny who will in due time take over the duties of the “older model”.

So where are we today?  Today we use dwindling fossil fuels to spread chemical fertilizers on our fields.  The farmer must then also take out a gym membership because he no longer walks anywhere…he rides.  And he must be sure to separate out a percentage of his income to set aside for the maintenance of the tractors.  I should also mention that he must also take out a percentage of that income to buy a new tractor once he wears out the “older model”.

I submit to you the two models.  Which is actually sustainable?

Rethinking Energy

By now we've all seen the horrifying pictures of Japan.  We've watched as freighters floated down main thoroughfares.  We've witnessed second hand as buildings and people have been swept away by walls built entirely of water.  In what may be the most horrifying scene of all, we've shuddered as healthcare workers, wearing little to no protective gear, take readings on the Japanese population to test their radioactivity.  Each scene looks like some surreal excerpt from a sci-fi or apocalyptic movie.

The disaster in Japan has prompted governments world wide to revisit their safety policies for nuclear energy.  Yet as I sit back in the comfort of my home and watch the drama unfold, I can't help but wonder what we really think we're going to do to prevent a disaster like this again.  No, I don't blame the Japanese at all.  Rather, I wonder at the collective fault of mankind.  Now, I'm no scientist.  If you spend much time with me at all, you'll know that science is not my strength so I don't pretend that I can speak effectively to that angle.  Rather, I'm looking at our great need for "energy".


Without waxing too political, when President Obama took office, his energy platform was off-shore drilling.  Whoops.  After the BP disaster in the gulf, it became clear a new platform was needed.  So, it seemed that the President then began to embrace nuclear energy.  Whoops.  And now the new platform seems to be bio-fuels.  That in itself is fraught with risk, but I'll leave that for a later topic.  I have stated my political observation without animosity to the President.  In his position, I'm not sure there were other choices.  He did not make a radical statement when he took those energy platforms.  He did what most analysts expected.  He took the safe road...which turned out not to be so safe.

Yet in all of that posturing and planning, who was standing up and asking the obvious question?  Where was the free thinker who saw that we have only approached this issue from one angle?  Which person with a voice in government looked at the other angle and said,  "Is there a way we can cut back on energy?"

Silence in the room.

It's not like those thoughts aren't out there.  They certainly are.  But it's not really popular.  Less energy means....drum roll please....less money.  So which politician, which political action committee, which CEO will stand and proclaim that they are for...less income.  It seems that such a statement would tend toward a shorter career.  Yet for all our talk of "green", clean energy, environmental awareness, and global climate change (formerly known as global warming) why do we continue to find fuel sources through avenues that destroy the very environment we supposedly want to help?

The answer, I believe, is simple.  Greed.  And I'm not just talking about the money.

The truth is that energy has brought to us a lifestyle that is, well, easier.  Think of the electric washing machine.  That wasn't invented by a health nut.  It was an invention that made the drudgery of washing a bit easier.  And what about the microwave?  Energy embodied, it cooks food in a fraction of the time required by more conventional methods.  Then there is everybody's favorite..the television.  'Nuff said.  These inventions were revolutionary in their day and they freed up our time and personal energy.  But it wasn't enough.  Our washing machines need to do more things faster.  The microwave just wasn't fast enough.  And the television just wasn't entertaining enough. Now we stream video across a variety of platforms instantaneously.

And it's still not enough.

So we have a government that subsidizes the sale of corn for bio-fuel and we applaud our "greeness" all the while demanding more energy sources.  We recycle our computer components and praise our environmental awareness while some person in China strips out the hazardous materials with their bare hands.  When will it end?

It won't end.  Greed is a worldwide epidemic brought on by the fall of man.  But as I look at our already over-bearing government, I ask why it's so wrong to begin to subsidize things that really are beneficial to the environment.  Why not offer incentives to corporations who allow workers to work from home?  Why not subsidize the income of a family, or groups of people, who live sustainably?  Why not give grants to those who grow their own food sources.  And for heavens sake, why not give a tax break to people who reduce their electricity usage to a bare minimum.

For all out talk about living in the land of plenty, I hope we see that we are bringing needless tragedy upon ourselves.  I encourage you, my friends, to implement these things in your lives, as much as possible.  We cannot expect the government to step in and intervene.  The government wants to stay as is and so it will continue to cater to the energy greed of its constituents.  We, however, have a choice.  I know that there is so much more I could do.  Yet as I reflect on the great tragedy that has occurred, and is occurring, in Japan it spurs me on to think a little differently about how I use energy.  It causes me to think a little more simply.

Spring Newsletter 2011

It's time!!

We are thankful for a new year and looking forward to the challenges and joys God has in store for it.  As spring is slowly making its way, we are getting ready to start taking orders.   God was good and showed us His grace throughout last year.  We processed 213 chickens and 10 turkeys!  It was a year of learning as we continued to understand what it takes to raise clean poultry.  Based on our experience, we will need to make some changes for 2011.  First, there will be a limit on how many chickens we will raise.  So put your order in early to ensure a spot.  Unfortunately, due to rising gas prices and a better understanding of costs, we also realize we will need to charge $14/bird.  This year it will be a flat rate no matter what size bird.

The plans are similar to last year.  Here’s how it works:

•     If you’re interested, please fill in this sheet and return it to me.  You may email it back to me or you can print it off and put it in the mail or give it to me in person.
•     We require a $5 non-refundable deposit for each bird.  This will help us know that you are serious about your order and help defray the up-front costs.  
•     Next, you wait patiently for a hormone-free, chemical-free, antibiotic-free, pastured, locally produced and processed chicken.  Waiting time is approximately 7 weeks. We’ll contact you in advance with an estimated pick up date. 
•     Early in the morning of the pick-up date we’ll begin processing the birds.  When you arrive in the afternoon, bring your cooler.  You’ll pick up the birds much like you see them in the store: no head or feet, plucked clean, thoroughly gutted, and packaged.  A lot of people ask questions about that.  I’ll email you with a more specific pick-up time as we get closer.
•     When you come to pick up your birds, we will subtract your deposit fees from the total cost of your birds and the remainder will be due.   If you’re not sure what you ordered, just let us know.  We’ll keep track of it for you!

Also, we realize that most of us don’t have deep freezers anymore.  Perhaps you want several birds but you do not have the freezer space.  Consider staggering your order.  Below you will see the estimated processing dates.  You can choose between two batches and the number of chickens per date (see estimated processing dates below).  We will do our best to accommodate.  Understand that based on a variety of reasons the plans and prices are subject to change.  If it does, we will let you know.  By the way, we love visitors (especially kids) so give us a call!

Chicken Ordering:

Chickens will have an average dress weight of approximately 5lbs.  This is comparable in size to the whole chickens you might get from the local grocery store. Similarly, this is how you will receive your whole, uncooked chicken.  These chickens have a 6-8 week life cycle.  On processing day we will keep them in a cooler until you arrive.  Due to space and regulatory restrictions we will not be able to freeze or deliver the meat.  As this is working on a cooperative model the money you invest cannot be refunded for any reason once the chicks have been ordered.  However, you will receive clean, fresh, locally grown meat for a reasonable price.  We would love to have you join with us in this vision!

Remember, this is estimated and depends on how many orders we receive.  For up to date and accurate information, “like” our Facebook page (Legacy Family Farm) or track our blog at http://simplelife-thelegacy.blogspot.com/.

Estimated processing date:
July 9th
July 16th
August 13th
August 20th
*To ensure your order, down payment for the first (2) batches is due April 18th.  Without a down payment, orders will not be placed.   Note that chickens butchered on July 16th and August 20th will likely be larger than chickens processed on the other dates. 

Supermoon

I was standing on a dock off of Lake Eerie watching the Super Perigee Moon rise in the East. The wind was strong tonight. It's always strongest near the lake, but tonight it was unusually strong. And it was cold. Though I was wrapped in my thickest coat, it still tore through me like I was a straw man. I looked away from the moon into the darkness of a small island off the coast. With the wind and cold and dark, it appeared a very hard and desolate place.  I loved it.

Something in that desolation calls. It cries out to be conquered. It whispers to me that we too are a dark and desolate people. Yet Someone calls to us. Someone longs to conquer that stark wilderness of our soul; to bring life to an otherwise lifeless island.

I was pleased to see so many people out to watch the moon. No matter how advanced we get in our “civilized” world, we cannot run from the fact that God's nature is so powerful, so riveting.  We cannot pull ourselves away. Just as the dark island calls to me, so we are called by God through His nature. And as He calls we cannot help but see that He is there...even if we don't choose to respond.

Working Out - Daddy Style

I try to work out.  I really do.  I’ve tried to stay on a schedule, but, well, that seems fruitless.  So I squeeze it in when I can.  Here is a recent episode.

Day:

Saturday.  It’s my day off, so hey, plenty of time, right?

Scene:

Prepping for dinner.  My wife and I are doing dinner alone so I’m heating up food for the kids.  I decide I’ll throw on some shorts, put on a Billy Blanks workout video, and work out while the foods heating up.

Act 1:

Dad gets on his “workout clothes” (i.e. a pair of shorts).  The two year old, realizing what is going on, gets his dress shoes out.  He stutters.  “Daddy, I-I-I-I-I-I got my workout shoos.  Can you-you-you-you-you put them on.”

Daddy puts on shoes.

The nine year old, hearing of the coming events, comes out of his room in a pair of swim shorts…and that’s it. The two year old, somehow feeling like he’s going to be left out, strips off his shirt.  “Daddy, can you-you-you-you-you take off my shoos.  I-I-I-I-I-I-I need to get on my swim short.”  Daddy assures the two year old that he can just workout like this without a problem.

The nine year old disappears for some reason and reappears fully dressed.  Umm.....

The seven year old lays on the floor in the middle of the living room (a.k.a the workout area) facing the screen and ready to watch the show.  Daddy, attempting to remain calm, explains that the seven year old needs to move before I kick him out of the way bodily injury occurs. 

The video does not want to start.  Despite the fact that it’s worked hundreds of times (or maybe twice) before this.  Minor technical difficulty.  Daddy fixes.

Finally the video begins. 

The five and seven year old attempt to point out people in the video that they “like”.  Daddy, attempting to remain calm keeps pushing gently moving them out of the way.

30 minutes, and 5 “pauses” into the video, a fight breaks out at the dinner table. 

Thus ends Act 1....along with the entire workout.

Depending on Food

I’m not one to really get into conspiracy theories.  I enjoy them as much as the next guy I suppose, but I’ve never been able to buy the story that something like three people control events of the entire world.  It’s certainly possible.  Yet as I look at history in an objective light, it looks to me like you have groups of people all trying to do what’s best for themselves.  This all converges to create the impression that world events are being tightly controlled. 

A classic example for those of us in America is our dependence on foreign food. 

This issue has been taking center stage of late as legal mandates require that produce distributors label their goods with the country of origin.  My family recently devoured a small crate of Clementine’s from Spain.  Those Spanish folks grow some tasty citrus.  Importing produce has been going on in America for centuries now.  It’s not new.  But in the past it was special.  It was a treat.  Chocolate from Spain, citrus from South America, Banana’s from Brazil, and Pistachio’s from the Middle East were special items purchased by those who could afford them for special occasions.  Today, in our global marketplace, these items are part of our every day diet.  They are expected in large quantities on our store shelves.  And when we go to someone else's home, we instinctively expect that those items will be present.

But it doesn’t end there.

No longer do we purchase specialty items from overseas producers, we now get our standard fair across our borders.  I submit, by way of example, the infamous corn.  While we produce tons of corn domestically every year, it has become law that grains producers set aside a percentage of that corn for ethanol.  Fuel refiners are offered incentives for mixing ethanol in their gasoline.  So the government subsidized corn production and then subsidizes the use of ethanol in gasoline.  Thus the American tax payer (that means you and me y’all) is paying for corn and gasoline over and above what we pay at the cash register.

 

Now, with all this corn being set aside for fuel, we have a hard time finding enough corn to make feed for our livestock (not to mention human consumption).  So, we supplement by purchasing corn in bulk from foreign countries.  One such country is Mexico.  While I am not against the Mexicans growing corn and supplying a demand, I have a hard time swallowing that I am now subsidizing corn, paying for corn, subsidizing fuel, paying for fuel, and paying import tax on corn brought in to feed myself.

Is it just me or does that seem like it’s asking a lot?

I know I’m simple minded.  Maybe that’s why I keep envisioning a Simple Life.  But why can we not just grow crops?  Let the farmers charge a reasonable price (including profit) and let the people buy them.  Let the government pay the same price.  I know…crazy talk.  But it’s a bit like a home budget.  If disaster strikes, I know where all the money is going and I can divert it to meet the immediate need.  If I’m dependent on others for my money, I may not know exactly what they can and will provide.

So you see that I don’t think that taking away food independence from the American people is a grand scheme of communism or something similar.  Rather it is people fighting for their own agenda rather than the good of all.  This can be seen in a very recent predicament we now find ourselves in. 

Still using Mexico as our example, we import a lot of produce from them.  Produce, in many cases that we could grow on our own soil.  But like us, they are working through unusual weather patterns.  A cold snap has been disastrous on their crops.  Thus, we pay the price with them.  Since we can’t divert our own corn to meet the crisis (since must be used for ethanol) we will start seeing food prices increase for our meat.  Why?  Because our feedlot system is based on corn.  We will now pay big money for corn.  And we will pay big money for meat.  If we could freely produce our own corn, we could meet this crisis head on and divert the corn from green fuel to meat. 

This is what it means to be food dependent.  We do not rely on ourselves to meet our needs, but rather we depended on other governments and economies to do our thinking for us.  Shame on us. 

So what can you and I do?  Grow our own food, even if it’s just tomatoes in a bucket on the back patio.  Support local farmers through farm markets and co-ops.  Think locally, buy locally, and support your local businesses.  This is the key to gaining back our food dependence. 

"If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson (1778)