This is the young couple from whom we get our eggs, and that’s Henny Penny.
The past three years or so have seen dramatic changes in the food we eat. I have been gardening since I’m 16, so vegetables have always been a staple. We have alway purchased whole grain bread and have even ground our own whole wheat flour at times. We purchased raw milk from a neighbor in our early married years. I was a sugar addict as a child, but I got that out of my system a long time ago and rarely, if ever, crave sugar. But we have taken our food purchases and preparations to a new level more recently.
It began with meat after seeing the documentary Food, Inc. I guess I was asleep but I really did not understand the extent to which our farming system had changed. The factory model has been applied to how animals are raised to the detriment of both animals and the people who eat those animals. How an animal is raised and what it is fed determines not just how nutritious it is, but whether it is nutritious at all. Animals raised on pasture have meat that is chemically different than animals raised in CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations). Some of the benefits of eating pasture raised meat may be found here. We now buy all of our meat and eggs exclusively from farms that we have visited to assure that the animals are raised in a healthy manner.
More recently, I have come to realize that for my body to be nourished, it has to be able to digest the food. Sounds like a “no duh”, but much of what we eat is not so easy to digest. Seeds, nuts and grains need sprouting or soaking for our bodies to get the most out of them. I have had food intolerances for years. Guess which foods bother me the most? In addition to dairy, it’s seeds, nuts and grains. Â Nourishing Traditions is my go to book for info on properly preparing these hard to digest foods.
We lived in the country for only a year in our early marriage, and so it was only a year that we were able to enjoy farm fresh raw milk from our neighbor. We have begun to again find sources for raw milk and cheese, and make our own yogurt. As long as I enjoy in moderation, I’m able to eat these foods that bothered me for so many years. Enzymes that are destroyed in pasteurization enable me to digest it more properly.
During gardening season, we enjoy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. And yes, we purchase fresh during the winter, too. But, we now also rely on lacto-fermentation to preserve and increase the nutrients of many of the vegetables we eat. This is how our ancestors, and traditional societies preserved food without canning or freezing. Lacto-fermentation not only preserves our garden produce, but it is full of beneficial bacteria which help to keep our guts healthy. The Weston A. Price Foundation has more information here. We’ve also invested in a juicer and have increased our vegetable intake through juicing. On my wish list is a dehydrator for preserving fruits and vegetables, but for now I have used my oven to dry tomatoes if the sun is not shining.
I have far to go and so much to learn but I am loving the journey! And I love that the world that our Creator gave us is more respected when we eat this way. What I try to do, most of all, is purchase single ingredients and make as much as I can from scratch. It’s not so difficult these days with conveniences like bread machines and food processors. I’d love to hear about your journey, big or small. And, please give me advice on ways that I can move forward.
Disclaimer: I am an Amazon affiliate and I do earn a small tiny percentage of purchases made when you click through to Amazon from my blog. Every little bit helps me to move forward in my blogging journey. Maybe I’ll even be able to get that dehydrator one of these days!
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
lightlycrunchy says
A dehydrator is on my list too – I’m waiting to find it used somewhere.
learningandyearning says
Good idea!
Chandra says
I found a cheap one at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago – it is small and pretty limitied, but I have used it to make jerky and it does help me with the problem of drying herbs in high humidity. I still plan to buy a larger one sometime in the future, though.
susanv says
I tend to think that I have to get the best one right off the bat. This is a good idea!
Leslie H. says
I have started the same journey and am waiting in anticipation for my Nourishing Traditions book. I bought an excaliber dehydrator and LOVE IT! I do fresh veggie juices and use my Vita Mix to do green smoothies. I am still trying to do the 80 percent raw foods and do love the raw scones etc. I can make in the dehydrator, all grain free! I may look into the GAPS diet and try some things along that line too!
susanv says
Although I read Nourishing Traditions first, it was the GAPS book that really motivated me to start fermenting vegetables and making bone broth. Keep up the good work!
Heather H. says
I just finished reading some extensive information by Dr. Amanda Rose at http://www.phyticacid.org. It was really helpful regarding phytic acid and grains/nuts etc…I thought I would recommend it, because I found it so thorough and helpful. She really simplifies is and makes it so easy to understand. Definitely worth your time if you are as confused about grains as I was 🙂
susanv says
Thanks, Heather. I will check out that info.
Kathy (aka Mrs Dull) says
Hi Susan … Loved reading about your journey 🙂 I’d love it if you’d share your story with us at Scratch Cookin’ Tuesday. The linky is open 🙂
susanv says
Thanks for the invite, Kathy! I’ve posted this to your site.
Kathy (aka Mrs Dull) says
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Rhonda Devine says
I, too, have been on this journey, kicking up the juicing and barley greens to my daily routine–been helping me deal with ovarian cysts and complications during menopause. I’m so thankful the Lord brought this info across my path as it has been so helpful in avoiding surgery thus far.
susanv says
It’s wonderful that you have found some help! I had to smile when I visited your site – I work for Lamplighter Publishing!
Lisa @ Two Bears Farm says
We aren’t totally clean food, but we try to do a lot of it.
susanv says
I know just what you mean!
Nancy says
Great information about eating healthy —
Thank you so much for sharing at Rural Thursdays this week.
susanv says
And thank you for hosting!
Kathy says
I hope you are able to get the dehydrator. Mine was running almost non stop last fall. We’ve been saving here and there to get a second and just ordered it as there was a sale. We have 20-30 lbs of potatoes dehydrated, tomatoes, celery, radish, seasoned zucchini chips, cucumber, apples and beautiful peppers. We were able to use them all winter long.
susanv says
I will have to keep my eyes open for a sale. Wow! You make me want one all the more!
Jen says
I love reading stories on how people make their transformation. Sounds like you were light years ahead of me when you were introduced to NT. And I still haven’t broken down and gotten a dehydrator yet. I need to because running the oven is killing our gas and electric bill. I’m guessing the dehydrator would be better . . . . and not heat up our house in the summer.
susanv says
Yeah, that heating up the house can be a problem. As long as we had sunny dry weather, I had success outside, but NEPA is known for humidity!