THE ORGANIC GREEN COW NEXT DOOR: 7/31/11

Monday, August 1, 2011

Traveling Through "The Heartland"

As Mentioned, I am currently traveling. I am visiting "America's Heartland" where I have visited with a couple of farmers in Ohio and will be in northern Michigan for the next 10 days.

I can honestly say...The family farm is still alive and once again beginning to thrive. Will be posting an article with some pictures on "buy local" and some of the innovative businesses that are springing up "from the farm" in a few days!

In the meantime, here is a pic of the road that leads to part of our ranch...beauty comes in many forms and structure...

DRAGGING THE NET - MY FAVORITE Places to Visit on the Web!

GIGABITING
Where Food Meets Culture & Technology
What a fun place to visit! Really well written with some sharp wit added in.

CIVIL EATS
Jam packed with info on food, food safety and tons of other stuff

FOOD POLITICS
Timely and Relevant Info on the Politics of Food

FOODUCATE
Fooducate is a personal grocery advisor, helping people choose the best food for their families.

BODYNSOIL
"Work Your Body, Nourish Your Soil"

This site teaches about the symbiotic relationship between fitness and eating right. the author coaches the reader on being physically fit and organic gardening!

EAT WILD
Probably the foremost authority on natural/organic food and sustainable agriculture. Also has a "handy-dandy" Farmers Market finder!

LOCAL HARVEST
A wonderful website for really cool info and a "handy-dandy" Farmers Market finder!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
I refer to this website fairly often. Some eye opening health information if you are serious about eating healthy.

ALLAN's BLOG
Allan is the publisher of The STOCKMAN GRASS FARMER a monthly publication that the New York Times called "The bible for people raising livestock on grass". He is considered by many, the foremost authority on pasture raised/grass fed meats.

ORGANIC OR LOCALLY GROWN?
Although written way back in 2007, this is a great article!

JUST THE FACTS (Ma'am)

ORGANIC LABEL GUIDE

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-Studies have shown that sustainable agricultural practices can actually increase food production by up to 79%

-In the U.S., a wheat farmer can expect to receive about six cents of each dollar spent on a loaf of bread—approximately the cost of the wrapping.

-Farmers' markets enable farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.

-About 1/3 of all U.S. farms are located within metropolitan areas, comprising 18% of total U.S. farmland.

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TAKING A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF FOOD PRODUCTON

I'm sure most of you are here because your brain went Huh? "What?"....."Organic Green Cow Next Door"(??)....and your curiosity got the best of you, eh? Okay, I will explain, but first:

IT IS "ALL THE RAGE": Eat Healthy, Buy Local, Natural Food, Organic, Green, Farmers Market. These and other buzz terms are everywhere; in the news, at the coffee shop, magazines, etc, etc. But, what does it all mean? How do you know which food, grown or produced by which method, is really good for your well being?

I own and operate a ranch in central Texas and I raise cattle. Grass fed cattle. But, this blog is not about my ranch, our cattle or life on a ranch (although I will write about such from time to time). Instead, I will be giving you my opinions on our food and the various production methods. The articles will be based upon my personal experiences as a sustainable "ag" producer, as well as those of my friends and mentors in the agricultural business; plus, some actual scientific data, to guide you through the maze of truths, half-truths, and outright falsehoods associated with the current Food Industry, Food Politics, and Economics of Sustainable Agriculture. In addition I will add in a few little known interesting facts, some interviews, guest articles, photos and other fun tidbits.

So, without further ado, here is the answer to the question that brought you here...

There is one simple truth to the natural food movement. The freshest, healthiest and most flavorful food is that which is grown closest to where you live. Whether it is in a large metropolis or small town chances are there is a farm or ranch nearby that offers the fruits of their labor to the local public. Hence, “The Organic Green Cow Next Door”.