Heath, yet another brilliant article. I really need to purchase this Wendell Berry book for myself, as although it was written in '77, it couldn't be any more prescient in its commentaries on various aspects of society. If anything, things have only gotten worse than he could've imagined when he authored that tome.
What I really wanted to discuss, however, is organic food and how much I love it. As a fellow New Englander (I'm originally from South of Boston and today live in Central Vermont), I'm blessed to have so many great local farms from which we can purchase grain-fed meats, produce, and dairy products. In fact, I have really no choice but to acquire mostly organic foods because I have severe food allergies.
My biggest allergies are to whey and soy proteins, meaning that I really can't consume dairy at all; although I can eat eggs without any issue. I actually went completely vegan for several years, but due to soy protein eventually becoming the stock of most processed vegan foods, I decided to nix being fully vegan in exchange for eating eggs, shellfish, and beans as my primary sources of protein. I can't properly digest most meats, especially red meat which actually makes me sick, thanks to having a bout with cancer that destroyed my ability to digest many types of food.
One thing that is a bit disappointing in our neck of the woods in Vermont (yes, literally the woods), is that we live in dairy country. This is great for eggs, obviously, and great for my partner when it comes to milk and cheese. But, when it comes to most organic products, our nearest organic supermarket is in Saratoga Springs, New York, an hour and twenty minute drive one way. Yes, there is one of the same chain in Williston, Vermont, but that's a two-hour drive one way. I lament that our nearest big town, Rutland, has only infrequent farmer's markets and no supermarkets focusing on organic products.
However, now that I'm aware of all these awesome farms in central and western Massachusetts it may be well worth looking into these options, especially as my partner still eats other meat besides the shrimp, scallops, and lobster that I can eat. I'm obsessed with focusing on grain-fed only - as the soy fed to many factory farm animals eventually contaminates everything else. The prices I see are exactly what we pay per pound in Saratoga Springs/Williston, and if we can get greater quantity, something that we've found difficult, that could really be a major benefit to our health!
Again, awesome article, and I look forward to reading many more!
Heath, yet another brilliant article. I really need to purchase this Wendell Berry book for myself, as although it was written in '77, it couldn't be any more prescient in its commentaries on various aspects of society. If anything, things have only gotten worse than he could've imagined when he authored that tome.
What I really wanted to discuss, however, is organic food and how much I love it. As a fellow New Englander (I'm originally from South of Boston and today live in Central Vermont), I'm blessed to have so many great local farms from which we can purchase grain-fed meats, produce, and dairy products. In fact, I have really no choice but to acquire mostly organic foods because I have severe food allergies.
My biggest allergies are to whey and soy proteins, meaning that I really can't consume dairy at all; although I can eat eggs without any issue. I actually went completely vegan for several years, but due to soy protein eventually becoming the stock of most processed vegan foods, I decided to nix being fully vegan in exchange for eating eggs, shellfish, and beans as my primary sources of protein. I can't properly digest most meats, especially red meat which actually makes me sick, thanks to having a bout with cancer that destroyed my ability to digest many types of food.
One thing that is a bit disappointing in our neck of the woods in Vermont (yes, literally the woods), is that we live in dairy country. This is great for eggs, obviously, and great for my partner when it comes to milk and cheese. But, when it comes to most organic products, our nearest organic supermarket is in Saratoga Springs, New York, an hour and twenty minute drive one way. Yes, there is one of the same chain in Williston, Vermont, but that's a two-hour drive one way. I lament that our nearest big town, Rutland, has only infrequent farmer's markets and no supermarkets focusing on organic products.
However, now that I'm aware of all these awesome farms in central and western Massachusetts it may be well worth looking into these options, especially as my partner still eats other meat besides the shrimp, scallops, and lobster that I can eat. I'm obsessed with focusing on grain-fed only - as the soy fed to many factory farm animals eventually contaminates everything else. The prices I see are exactly what we pay per pound in Saratoga Springs/Williston, and if we can get greater quantity, something that we've found difficult, that could really be a major benefit to our health!
Again, awesome article, and I look forward to reading many more!