Happy Cows; Happy Chickens

This will create a lively discussion.   I believe in good dialogue, a civil discussion of ideas.  It is extremely important, that values be discussed across production agriculture, that realities be brought to light, that politics be buried when we try to work through difficult food policy issues, while we educate our consumers and try to survive on the family farm.  I never criticize my neighbors decisions concerning how they run their farm, they are doing their best for their families and their own survival.  Although my husband and I are organic grain farmers we believe that every family who lives in rural communities has similar values  as we do, especially when it comes to land, the stewardship of the land, feeding the multitude, and raising a family on the family farm.

While Alan and I were traveling to Rome we were fed, at two different times sandwiches which promoted.............well see for yourself.

"Happy Cows!"

"Chickens have a nice day, EVERY SINGLE DAY."  They have a camera to prove it!

They have a working relationship with the Dutch Society for the protection of animals.

Happy cows are free ranging cows which make the best milk.

 The packaging was creative and the message was clearly written for the European consumer.  However, I think, it wise to remember we in the United States are not just selling a product to be consumed here,  but we are in fact selling to our consumers the necessity for family farms.  Food policies are difficult to understand because they are so complex.  Every nation has their process, ours always includes some Executive, Legislative, and Judicial component that deals with the farm bill (a very small portion of the entire food policy package), agricultural concerns, nutritional assistance, food safety, food labeling; dietary guidance and international politics.   I think I'll try at some point in the future to dive into these issues of food policies.  

We use approximately 17% of our total budget on food and nationally a large percentage of that amount is used to eat out.  Obviously eating out has continued to increase over the years.  This is another topic needing to be discussed when we look at a reliable, safe, and affordable food policy.  Everyone who eats votes on what type of food policy is put into place.  What kind of food, where we eat, how often, where it's from all help decided the food policy of the United States. 

The consumers in Europe think differently about what they are consuming then we do in the United States.  Therefore the marketing of the sandwich addressed the consumers concerns there.  The move to healthy food, food safety, and the romance of rural living is gaining ground also in the United States and I think it wise we think about how to best market what we produce and how to educate the consumer about our realities, and at the same time meet the needs the consumers requests.  It is important that our voices becomes powerful, not compartmentalized.  We need to make deliberate decisions on how to best go forward for the sake of our children and children around the world.  

Spring Arrival, Easter's Presents

It's finally here!  Time for celebration, wonder, and to be honest some frustration.  Spring comes with  the birds singing, the buds just barely swelling, the grass fighting to get past the dead remains of winter, and mud brought into the house by two dogs, one cat, and three grown men.  Although frustrating, I accept the mud in my home because boots are difficult to take off for a short visit into the house, and I hate trying to wash dogs feet every time they venture out.  I love Spring for the beginning of life and for the songs of the birds that wake me each morning.  Alan said the other day, "Time for you to walk the farm again!"   I walk, pray, bless, and take photos of the farm each year during the course of the Spring and Summer months.  Today although it briefly snowed, I had to get out for a few shots anyway and it didn't stop seeding either because we are organic and must plant peas for fertilizer early.  This will be the earliest we have gotten them in.  They are also a good cash crop if we can get them to harvest.

Kody with a truck full of peas!

Planting is a matter of faith.  Franking, it stretches me every year.  I did better, in this matter, when I was younger, and I am not sure why.  Older age brings with it more family members to care about, less energy, and more memories of reality I guess.

I did take a short walk this morning with my camera, because the clouds were inviting me.  I take way to many pictures of clouds!  I have to get out earlier because it takes me 30 minutes to drive to work each day, except when I take my camera and deliberately look for things to take pictures of, then I am often late.  I was late this morning.

It is good to celebrate Good Friday with life coming out of death.  Shortly everything will be bright green, and we'll forget about winter and that there is life after death.  That good can come from bad and that song can come from tears. All because of Easter, and the Risen God.  The problem is we don't celebrate Easter everyday,  I need to wake up with praise on my lips, joy in my thoughts, and a plan to celebrate life each day!  We don't celebrate enough.  The littlest things can be celebrated.  Like a closeup of snow. 


Ok I added the close-up picture because I love it!  It's more of what I like to take pictures of.  I'm a little bit of a freak about textures, colors, oddities!  Farming with so much nature around me at all times, allows me to look closely at the gifts around me and to be honest, that close look always allows me to have a sense of wonder and allows my heart to celebrate.

Happy Easter

Pomeii Revisited--Carpe Diem "Seize the Day"

     I couldn't help but compare.  It was raining the two hours we toured Pompeii, with an English speaking guide,  and most of the cobblestone footing was original, from 2,000 years ago, making it difficult to walk.  I could easily imagine what it was like to live there.  Pompeii was a beautiful city.  The whitewashed plaster covered every wall outside the home and every room inside the home had colored plaster, all over the city, most of it no longer exists but enough so you could imagine walking the streets, or coming into Naples Bay aboard a ship and looking up to the powerfully rich city on the hill.   The homes would have been beautiful it would felt like royalty living there.  Art work covered the walls.  Wonderful color.  Delicate floor tiles.  Carved marble.  Indoor plumbing.   Thousands of people constantly celebrating, for Pompeii was a large city with a population of 20,000 with numerous activities to participate in.  It was a designation city with shops, concerts, fast food restaurants, bars, art shows, coliseums, gladiator battles, and plays.   There was beautiful bath houses with large steam rooms.  They lived their lives fulfilling their every desire.  They had lively discussion in the town square with politicians running for office.  We know that because there was political graffiti painted on the outside walls of people's homes. 

Original cobblestone road

An example of the color plastered rooms inside a home.

This is a mural of a successful hunting trip.  It could have been to honor one of the Gods

There was numerous prostitution parlors, with painted positions on the walls so you could pay for what you wanted.  Gay prostitution was represented in the paintings by males being colored a little darker then the women, so you could point to your choice and amount you wanted to pay.  If you wanted, you could paint or place a sculpture of a penis outside your own home to indicate your profession.  I saw penises on walls and on the walks that pointed to the establishment offering such services.  They worship a fertility God, Priaspus, whose penis was as long as an arm.   So back then nudity implied strength and desire I think!  We don't necessarily worship penises, but we sure place enormous values on body image.  Beautiful people are always considered to have more going for them.  Lets admit it, what we think of our ourselves is greatly discredited because we aren't one of the beautiful people.  We worship the physical body too!                                                                                     

Sculpture of  Penis

A Male and Female

We actually worship affluence just like they did.  We get depressed because we can't buy, buy, buy.  We compare our clothes, our homes, and our cars to that of others.  Few of us would rather live simply.  We want the beautiful life like the residents of Pomeii had.  They lived it up fully not knowing it would be over in hours.

Temple of Hercules

Temple of Asclepius, God of Medicine, 200 BC

There were numerous God's worshiped-- Isis, Applo, Venus, Ceres, Diana, Juno, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury Minerva, and Neptune.  We know because there were temples in the court yards and paintings of the God's in people's homes.  Christianity had not reached this city before its destruction in 79AD.   Pompeii was engulfed with poisonous gas and covered with 20 feet of ash.  However God was still God 2,000 years ago!  I can feel His heart.  Many people died on the roads as they tried to escape.  In the city alone 2,000 people died.  It was obvious that the suddenness of the eruption wasn't planned or even understood.  Meals were left on tables and bread in ovens. 

We live our lives from day to day, week to week, the sameness overcomes.  We continue to live our lives like we have thousands of days.  Life is not guaranteed.  We need to live like it is our last days.  My brother who died from cancer once told me his cancer was a gift, because he said and acted on those things that were really important.  I live everyday without telling people how much I respect them, how much I appreciate their talents, their work ethic, their leadership, their laughter, their joy, their faith.  We let the littlest things control our attitudes, creep into our goals and dreams.  When you plan your day, deliberately act on those things that are important! Carpe Diem "Seize the Day"

Man--any man, All Men

Pomeii's large square and Apollo's Temple with Mount Vesuvius

Pottery Merchant and his various goods for sell.