Vine Living: Healthy/Organic Eating

Showing posts with label Healthy/Organic Eating. Show all posts

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Just Wanted You To Know...

You know, as a writer/blogger, I constantly have writing topics that zip through my mind and I think, "Oh! That would be a great blog topic!" Sometimes, I write them down on my day planner. Sometimes, on my hand. Sometimes, I think I'll remember the topic and don't write it down, and then it pretty much never makes it to the blog topic list (yes, I'm a nerd and I have a small one going...thank you also for your input recently. More on that later.)

I want to touch on a subject that I should've touched on a LONG time ago. A topic that I think rings like a gong in certain communities more than others.

Judgement.

I read an article recently that touched on this and thought to myself, I need to elaborate. I need to clear a few things up before another blog post gets written.

http://theelliotthomestead.com/2014/01/god-cares-a-lot-more-whats-in-your-heart-than-whats-in-your-fridge/

We are constantly trying to better our lives as people, right? We strive for things. We enjoy learning new things. We "ooh" and "ahh" over what others are doing and we praise them for it. We praise them for the things they're doing with their lives and we can SO EASILY loose sight of the goal. Us moms are REALLY bad at this. We praise others for what they can accomplish. It's almost like a competition and it shouldn't be. It can't be.

Writing is a wonderful tool. I love to write, but writing eliminates tone of voice. It eliminates personal touch. It eliminates fellowship. Some would argue that words could, indeed, present a tone and I agree, but to an extent. It will never replace face-to-face connection. It will never replace fellowship. It will never replace memories or personal experience.

On this blog, you only get to see what I type out on my computer. Unless you know me well personally, you don't know my heart. I want you to know my heart today.

On this blog, I write a lot about food. I write a lot about nutrition, farming, agriculture and gardening. Things that I believe God gave me deep passion for. Things that I believe are beneficial in this short life. Yes, short life. This isn't the end and that's the key. These passions that I often blog about (and do enjoy a good conversation about), will never exceed my love for the Lord and my gratitude for his brutal flogging and crucifixion on the cross for all of the sins of the world. My daily sins. I mess up ALL.THE.TIME.

I do firmly believe that we are to be good stewards of what the Lord has given us on this earth and that is not to be taken lightly. We are to take care of His creation...animal husbandry, soil, grasses, vegetation, water, but these things should NEVER exceed our passion to spread the gospel. The Great Commission is clear...

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey every thing I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

What a dangerous thing to live this life not knowing Jesus. Eternally dangerous. A life without hope.

Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Just because we think we "know" the Lord, doesn't mean He knows us!

You can know who a famous singer is, but that doesn't mean he/she knows who you are.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Do I think that a mother out there who feeds her children Pop Tarts and Kool Aid love her children any less than I do? No. Are those things eternally important? No.

There are many things that we judge one another for.

Romans 14 is a wonderful reminder NOT to do this.

So, from my comfy couch, jammies and cozy blanket covering this evening, I just wanted you to know {wink}.

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Future Of Food...{Movie}

If you eat food (which that is all of us), you should watch this movie.

Bottom line, start a garden, buy local, organic foods and order your seeds from open-pollinated, organic seed farms. The "O" word (yes, "organic") can be so misleading now-a-days. Some of the ingredients in organically processed foods are just as bad for you as other foods. READ YOUR LABELS! I've successfully taught my 6-year-old to read labels and have taught all of my children how to properly wash fruits and vegetables (if they are not organic and sprayed with chemicals/pesticides). Sometimes they'll even ask me, "Mommy, does this have bug spray on it? Do I need to wash it?" I love how at such young ages our children are learning about where food comes from and what's in it. The Genetically Modified seeds are a whole new ballgame with which we'll tackle when they're a bit older as it's hard to explain.

Anyways, watch this movie with your spouse tonight and talk about ways you can frugally make things from scratch, saving money to buy more wholesome, safe fruits and veggies. Better yet, grow your own. Get your family involved. What great work ethic, time outdoors and reaping what you sow at dinner time. Your children will be grown and gone before you know it, so influence them now and train them well. :)

Friday, April 27, 2012

45 Healthy Foods to Make and Never Buy Again

Be sure to give this a visit today. With food prices soaring and the ingredients getting less and less healthy, this is a must see. Start small. Pick a few things that you want to try. Make mistakes, but keep trying. Get good at a few things and go from there adding new things every few months so you don't get overwhelmed. When you get good at a certain recipe, teach your children! Have them make it with you so that they can make it independently (lots of math skills here...pouring, measuring, adding, subtracting, etc.).

I thought the BPA in the tin cans info. was interesting. I'm an Amy's Soups addict and I was in fact eating a bowl of her lentil soup when I was reading it. I did finish the bowl of soup, but I really should get back to making our own soups. The bread is a no-brainer as we enjoy the homemade stuff SOOO much more (I can't even tell you). My husband is addicted and I have to make him bread to take to work and eat. He's converted. :)

Last thing, READ LABELS! The FDA and the USDA do not have your health at their best interest. They are out there to make MONEY. Some of the preservatives and ingredients in our American pre-packaged foods aren't even allowed in other countries' foods! That says something. I just heard today over at Organic Pastures that "raw" almonds can be labeled as "raw" in a grocery store, but they are not in fact really raw. Once again, there we go with the pasteurization of food, stripping away all the good stuff. (Ug.)

Anyway, pick a few things and happy cooking! Let me know how some of your stuff turns out. (I'd like to try the granola bars and get back into my soup making.)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Okay, so this video is a bit cheezy, but take from it what you will (there are some great resources mentioned). It would be nice if the FDA would put together some human studies on what GMOs are doing to our bodies. We know that they cause major reproductive complications in rats/mice. Complications that could cause miscarriages and multiple other things. You can read more HERE.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

All Becuase of Tomatoes

Depressing trip to the grocery store today. I was pacing the produce aisles and glazing at the tomatoes. I've always bought tomatoes that are organic and/or ripened on the vine. They aren't supposed to use a certain ethalayne gas (the gassing process is really gross, stripping out all natural flavor or tenderness in a tomato...of coarse everyone knows they're picked green and the gas is what turns them red and hard as a rock, right?). Well, on weeks where our budget is tighter than others, I'll just buy the "ripened on the vine" tomatoes. Well, today I noticed that the sign above the tomatoes said "tomatoes ON the vine". I was perplexed. I grabbed the produce guy next to me who was stacking carrots in the fridge and asked him why the sign changed. He told me that the tomatoes weren't gassed, but were ripened on the vine. I asked him, "Then why did the sign change?" The manager who had been lurking our way immediately jumped in on our conversation and replied with a "everything is gassed now" comment. I asked if there were any choices of tomatoes without the ethalayne gas and he said "organic" which was a bit pricy. {sigh}

So, what's a girl to do? All I wanted were some juicy, delicious, red tomatoes for my salad for lunch today, but I'll settle for the pink, hard, tastless rocks (harsh, I know) before me.

Do things ever just urke you to where you want to do something about it, but wonder what kind of impact you'll have as "JUST a stay-at-home-mom"? Of coase, we all know that our jobs as mothers are SOOOO much more important than the world visualizes us to be. After all, we are shaping tomorrow's youth for the future!!!

I get urked though and today it didn't stop with tomatoes. For example, there was an opprotunity where a man next to me in the parking lot could have been a gentleman, but wasn't. I get urked when so many feminists have fought for women's rights (don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have the freedoms to drive a car when I want and vote), but there have been times in my life (sometimes, when I'm very much pregnant!) and am struggling with a heavy package or something and the man standing next to me can't give me a hand. Maybe he's thinking, "Hmm, I don't want to assume this woman is in distress and needs a man's help. Don't want to offend her that she can't do the job." All-the-while I'm screaming inside my head, "Yes! Please! I'm about to drop this. Never mind the three little ones in my car that need my attention. Can you help a lady out?"

Or of coarse there's the ever-so-popular door opening scenerio where a lady would LOVE the door opened for her, but the guy doesn't want to offend her by opening the door for her. Or better yet, the young lad hasn't been taught proper manners to think of others by being a gentleman and helping the girl out.

I'm not trying to put on a whine fest. Just stating the obvious. It urkes me that I get "beeped" when I'm walking out of a grocery store as if I'm being counted as a number for a customer who shopped there that day. It urkes me that there are cameras everywhere now and you're always being watched. It urkes me that those cameras can actually give you a speeding ticket (not that I've every gotten one...I haven't, really) as well. It urkes me that America (and the world, for that matter) is so uneducated about food (not that it's entirely their fault either) and where it comes from that we just believe what The Food and Drug Administration says and don't think for ourselves. Thinking for ourselves. Now that's a concept!!! We don't do it anymore. We ship our kids off to a public school building to total strangers and trust that they know what's best for them and that they will give them this grand education which trains them to love and serve the Lord. It urkes me that my pediatrician gives me a blank stare when I say, "No, we're not going to get that vaccination today" as if I'm a weirdo that has no clue what she's doing as a mother. The phrase "you've got your hands full" is getting so old I could scream at every little old lady we pass by in the store. I know I have my hands full...full of sweet blessings that yes,need training when they're being selfish, rude or inconsiderate, but that's how we all are, right? Sinners. I'm doing my best to train it out of the sweet little ones, but your comments aren't helping! Try, "My, what a beautiful family you have."

And all this because of a few tomatoes. {sigh} What's a girl to do? :)

Monday, October 31, 2011

Lookin' Into Grain Mills
I recently celebrated my 32nd birthday in the beginning of October and along with a romantic date, a sweet homemade card and a night alone, he told me that for my gift, I could finally order a mill. I've had my eyes on one for awhile, but wanted to make sure that if I was going to fork out a substantial amount of money for it, that it be a good one. I'm still doing some research, but am liking the Wonder Junior Deluxe and Wonder Mill Electric (as shown in this video). Now it's down to do I want a loud, but fast one or a quiet but slow one I can use if power goes out? Anyone ever used one and highly recommend one or the other?

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Dear Hailey,
Thanks for your sweet comment. As far as milk goes, I haven't found anything wrong with almond milk, but know that it is nutritionally different than cow's milk. Almond milk doesn't have the enzymes that a cow or goat's milk has. There are actual antibodies in the cow's milk as well, just as there are antibodies in breast milk. It's funny, if you think about it, you wouldn't take expressed breast milk and heat it to extreme temperatures right? All the good stuff is in the RAWNESS of it. So why in the world would you do that to any other milk?

Answer: So that supermarkets can place milk on the shelves for longer periods of time and make a profit because no one farms and "does" their own dairy anymore. We depend too much on the grocery stores for our food and grocery stores are slowly dwindling down to only a few running the whole show. When I was little, there were so many different kinds of grocery stores here in the state of Florida. However, now there are only a few that are buying the others out in a Monopoly-like attempt. Publix is the front-runner down here and who can beat Walmart's prices, right?!

If you'd like to try and locate some good milk for your family, try this website:

www.realmilk.com

Just click on your state and it will list all of the available raw milk providers in your area. Please note that there are many other milk providers that just aren't listed. I found our dairy farmer by attending a bee-keeping field trip with our homeschool group and found out that the bee keeper also sold his Jersey's raw milk. Our families have been friends for over 3 years now and we also purchase honey from him as well as load up our truck with manure for our garden from his horse stalls. He loves the Lord and has never had a problem with pathogens invading his milk. He's a dairy farmer and knows what he's doing. Get to know your local farmers. It's an awesome experience! Once you get to know your local farmers, SHARE the wealth girlfriend. :) Share with friends and family so we can stop paying the grocery stores. They want us to be 100% dependant on THEM and not ourselves. Let's prove them wrong!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Milk...Does a Body Good (or not?)

Laugh if you will (city-folk), but the more I learn about pasteurized/homogenized milk, the more I wish for one of these...

a sweet Jersey cow who produces out-of-this-world, healthy, creamy milk. The more I research and find out, the more I've observed its link to cancer, especially breast cancer. Not to mention the high hormones that are suggested to allow young ladies to develop earlier and the enormous links to heart disease. Last I checked, heart disease was the number one killer of Americans, with dairy (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, etc.) contributing to it.

Call me crazy, but I've actually looked into miniature Jersey cows! They're half the size of a standard Jersey breed and oh, so sweet. They don't produce as much milk either, but that's okay. The rBGH hormone is a hormone that stimulates a cow to produce more and more milk. At least 80% of cows are treated with this hormone each year. Organic dairy cows are supposedly not treated with the hormone, but the pasteurization process still encourages obesity and heart disease. (People don't realize that pasteurized skim milk is more apt to make you fat than raw, whole milk...healthy fats can actually help you LOOSE weight along with other natural fats like almonds, salmon, avocados, etc.)

So, I'll let you know if my husband ever gives me the "OK" to get a female Jersey calf. (I won't hold my breath...he-he.)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Chicken Processing, Summer 2011

As I mentioned months ago, we purchased 25 Freedom Ranger chicks for processing this summer. We split them with friends and this past weekend was our processing party at their house. With the exception of one previous rooster (who's name was "Jack"), we have never done chicken processing before. This day, we did multiple birds and pretty much everything went off without a hitch. There was one thing we did learn and it was concerning the feed of our chickens. When we showed up, our friends' chickens were twice the size of ours!! I didn't know Rangers were capable of growing at the speed that they did, but after much thought, we narrowed it down that our problem was the amount of feed they received. Our hens had competition, period. We had 14 veteran laying hens, 21 replacement hens for the 14 we were going to give away (which we did a few weekends ago...no fresh eggs in this house...sigh) and then came the Ranger chicks who apparently did not receive the full amount they needed. After the processing, our hens looked more like quail (insert laughter here!). It was a valuable lesson learned. Anyway, here are the photos of our day. We learned a lot, laughed, our kids played together and we got time to catch up with friends whom we miss very much.

Their hens awaiting execution

Our hens awaiting execution. Can you see the size difference? There are 4 turkeys in this brooding box which will be their Thanksgiving dinner this year. They were beautiful and will be organically grassfed.

"J" with Isaac

Rob hooking up the turkey fryer. Using the fryer (filled with water for relieving the feathers before plucking) allowed our water to maintain a constant temperature. We kept it between 125 and 145 mostly. Younger birds can stay closer to the 125, as the older birds need a higher temp.

killing cone and drainage bag

Norah watching

Avonlea

Rob, "J" and Mr. Jim putting up the shade tent.

processing

On the way to the killing cone. I was very impressed at Rob's professionalism. I know he was a bit nervous at first, but it quickly became a quick assembly line-type function and I think that helped.

Rinsing the plucker...no hand-plucking for this crowd. We saved so much time.

Stocking the freezer after we finished.

In the meantime, the kids came out and helped, but also enjoyed playing indoors as we processed.

It was a long day and we were tired, but we enjoyed some food, cold drinks and some Wii afterwards. I love the fact that our freezer has healthy, free-range, fresh chicken in it that we raised ourselves. No hormones. No antibiotics. Nothing artificial. I can't wait to get our large chicken tractor finished up (Rob's working on plans for one now). We're still trying to figure out the best plans since we don't live on acres of land. Our backyard is officially cleaned out of grass, but the tractor will allow for them to range in the front yard.

What a wonderful and blessed day it was!

Monday, August 15, 2011

When A "Bug" Hits Your House
I definitely consider it a blessing our kids haven't been sick in so long, but I guess we were "due" a few weeks ago when they came down with a virus. Lots of shakes with Echinacea, plenty of water and baths with Epsom salts and Castor oil (for hydration) helped us get through. We did wind up giving a bit of Tylenol to Norah (who had it the worst), but no antibiotics (remember that antibiotics kill off all the good stuff that help you fight things off) were necessary and we pulled right through. I also felt blessed that Issac and I were able to sail by without getting it.

(Thank you Lord.)

Movie Time on the couch

Sweet Avonlea with her pillow pet and bunny

Linkster

Poor Norah had it the worst, but got through it within about 4 days.

I took 4-6 of these each day and was able to pass up the lovely bug.

I also added Echinacea to shakes with lots of elderberry, Vitamin D and blueberries. They were a hit with the kids as well as myself.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

So, What Do I Do With Wheatgrass?

Due to a sweet, new addition to our family, our indoor garden didn't get the attention we originally wanted to give it. However, we did have a huge success with what you see above...wheatgrass. This stuff is LOADED with nutrients. In fact, you'll see it in health food stores, added to shakes and smoothies for an extra kick of goodness. The thing with wheatgrass is that to obtain the nutrients, you have to change out the soil it grows in. This soil that the wheatgrass grew in will need new soil the next time we plant. We simply dump the used soil into the garden beds (to be treated and restored with good, old-fashioned compost) and place new soil (from our composted beds) into the new trays. Then, the wheat berries are planted (you can buy them in bulk from your local health food store and they're cheap too...hooray for cheap!), covered and watered. We put the trays under the indoor garden lighting (we grow it here b/c it's too hot to grow now in the summer heat...northerners could probably grow it though in their summer gardens) and watch it grow within a few days. It then takes on a new form...

food for our chickens!

Checking things out...hmm.

"This stuff looks good gals. Come have a try."

(Can you see one of our two roosters in the back left corner? He's got more of a larger comb than the ladies do.)

The rabbits love it too!

It's a great source of nutrients when you have limited grazing areas in a city. One more fun fact. If you let this stuff continue to grow to full capacity, yes it will produce more wheat.

Give wheatgrass a try today. ;)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thank you Hannah for this awesome post today. ;)

I love how she reiterated the fact that you don't have to stock up or buy foods with major preservatives to save money. I have to amen this one because recently I tried couponing. Yes, the whole "schpeal" with the 12 folders holding 5-8 Sunday papers worth of coupons. I found it exhausting and non-rewarding. I was spending more on newspapers than I was saving on actual foods/toilitries that our family uses. There were more coupons for Centrum Silver, hair coloring products, denture adhesives, junk food (ahh, the junk food), dog and cat foods and oh, the list goes on.

I save more money when I buy 5 pounds of barley and make soup with leftover vegetables and no meat.

I save more money making my own breads (with no preservatives or high fructose corn syrup).

I save more money making my own soups (but I still buy Amy's Organic soups when I'm lazy...anyone noticed that Target sells them now and for only $2.00 and change?).

I save more money picking our own produce from local farms and drying it out, making pies and muffins from them and freezing them for breakfast shakes.

I save more money by not buying the prepackaged stuff...staying away from the middle aisles of the grocery store are 1/2 the battle here...you know, all the canned stuff, processed stuff, etc.

I save more money by drinking a ton of good, reverse osmosis, filtered water during the day.

I save more money by paying $2.00 for a pack of 150 non-GMO, organic garden seeds and growing it ourselves than paying $2.00 at the grocery/health food stores.

I save more money making homemade laundry detergents, cleaners and hair products (much better for you too! I can pronounce all the ingredients.).

I save more money by educating myself and our children about how to graft plants and collect and dry seeds, using them for the next growing season.

On the "non-food note", shopping at second-hand stores, swapping and trading clothing with our Mom's group/family/friends and buying used are HUGE ways to save as well. My kids love going to Goodwill and picking out clothes. They get a kick out of it. Yes, we'll splurge a few times a year on an outfit or two for special holidays, but it's not an every month thing. I've been known to buy baking tools and other cooking supplies (beaters, measuring cups, silverware, glass plates/bowls, pitchers, pastry cutters, etc.) there as well.

Hannah's blog is a new one I've found myself browsing around. It's always fun finding new ideas, implementing new recipes and learning new, creative ways to do things. She clearly loves the Lord and uses her blog as a ministry as she stays at home with her 6 adorable children. Thanks Hannah for the article and tips!

Monday, June 20, 2011

My Favorite Salad

fresh, organic lettuce, cranberries, sunflower seeds, blueberries, blackberries,fresh orange slices,crushed cashews,cucumbers and a tad of Greek dressing.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

How To Make Your Own Blueberry Syrup

I've been trying to find a replacement for this terrible food...

but haven't found anything we really like until we discovered how to make our own blueberry syrup. It's quite easy and if you've ever canned veggies, fruit or jams/jellies, you'll have no problems. The ingridients are simple, nothing is genetically modified, you can make it organically if you like and there's no high fructose corn syrup...hooray! :)

The directions can be found HERE.

Avonlea and I had a blast making our own and taste testing too!

Let me know how yours turns out if you try it!!!