On Meat eating

Jacob and I tell people "we're vegetarians" since that is the simplest way to phrase it for the general public. Truly though we only eat meat from 2 places. Rocky Ridge Ranch sells the turkey I get for Thanksgiving and the occasional chicken all though that's going to change. Then there's Tom's Custom Meats where we purchased some beef for a hamburger. Jacob and I were only able to split the burger since red meat is incredibly rich. It was the first time we've had red meat in, 4 years? I think? It will be an extremely rare occasion food. I felt good about that burger because the cattle are raised on pasture right here in Cheney there entire life. They never go to an Iowa feedlot, I drive by them on the freeway all the time. But still, consumption of red meat will be a once in every 4 years kinda thing (if not longer.)

We've been considering raising chickens/rabbits for our own consumption, this way we have a hand in the meat we choose to eat. I can't turn a blind eye to the atrocities of "protein production" that is standard in the ole` US of A. Which is why the simple answer is "we're vegetarians," and it is one of the main reasons we became vegetarians. I don't mean to offend strict vegetarians with this post either. For 4 years we were strict veggies and it was great. But in an effort to get our balanced diet from local as possible it seemed meat eating needed to be added back in. I had to ask myself how much oil did it take to get this tofu to me? Peak oil? Will tofu become a luxury? And other such thoughts along that line. Trying to reduce the MPG of our food seemed like a good idea. Now with the gulf oil spill, it seems even more prudent. 

It's really a very hard issue for us, seeing what is the normal for average America is rather sickening. Have you watched Food Inc? That's America folks, and that's sad. With raising our own meat comes the inevitable act of getting it to the table. Knowing from start to finish the purpose we're raising them for. I know I've touched on this before in the blog, maybe I am just trying to come to grips with it all. This planet is really pissed off and I don't think any one path is "right." But it sure would be nice if we could get a yellow brick road, you know?