HI all. here we sit on the Mount Misery Lands and every day I get to see the Codman tractor or truck go by with water and personnel to check on the chickens and the livestock in the field. The houses with the meat chickens are moved often which involves hooking them up to the tractor, and you can see in the fall and in the spring the result of the additon of chicken manure to the soil. Green squares clearly mark the spot. If we are going to raise animals for our own use it feels so much better to me to take care of them and the land as much as possible. I admit it is getting harder to eat the cows, much harder. Especially as you can see the babies running around with the herd. But perhaps that is also part of it....if you see what you are eating...it is no longer a cheap commodity. It is a part of us.
Here in LIncoln we are exposed to the actual actual raising of animals for our table. Even the organic ones at the market are not raised in the same way, nor does one get to really see it unless you are involved in it. The cost depends on the labor of raising them, feeding them, the costs of the surrounding organisation ie crew, food (organic feed is prohibitive) insurance for all cases and then the costs of hauling to finish and packing. If you think about it one major reason meat is cheap in this country is because of the low cost of slaughtering which is made possible by quick and fast methods and countless people doing the same thing all day long, chopping legs and body parts etc. and earning job induced injuries for their lower wages and punishing hours. Our costs rise and fall on the backs of all those who grow and prep it and contain it. Even the cost of organic chicken in Donelan's has risen. It is about $20 to buy one when it used to be $11. If we are so lucky to be able to live as we do in Lincoln then in my mind, at least, it behooves us to pass it on, both the earth (in a healthy state) and the conciousness and the money if possible. And to celebrate life as much as we can by caring for it. Stewarding. This takes attention and time (and therefore cost). Donelan's itself does a good job of providing for our community. And we know that margins for big markets are tough. And that is it for now, before we go out and farm this morning. May you all have a good day. Moira Lindentree Farm
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