News and Blog

Why aren’t more in the media talking about preventative measures in the health care debate?  Could it have something to do with money?  Campaign contributions, Advertisement revenues?? http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/27/The-Key-to-Affordable-Health-Care-Healthier-Lifestyles.aspx

Product alert.  http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2#inbox/12361743f399cd34 You must click on VIEW MESSAGE!!

that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra

• I have a source for some pastured hogs.  Anyone interested?  Remember, all the good and bad stuff accumulates in the fat.  Never buy a hog fed garbage.  I did a couple of years ago, then I found out where all that stuff in the day old bread  and expired store milk had accumulated.  Never again.  I have a new bumper sticker it reads, "KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD".
•  Had our first loaf of bread made with our own wheat.  It was delicious with butter and some of Bob's (our) honey.  If your interested in honey be sure to get a jar if you're near Breezy Hill.
• Dr Andrew Weil is pretty much right on target.  Is anyone out there listening or is everyone following some one’s “talking points”?  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/the-question-no-one-asks_b_268873.html
• Here’s another Jerry Brunetti video.  You’ll learn a lot.  This guy is really smart. He's an animal nutritionist.  He survived cancer and he is sharing things learned.  You may want to share this with someone who is facing a similiar challenge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na6jopSorlM
• Food, Inc. is still showing in KC. $50 beef credit is still available.
• that's it for now.  Art and Debra

• Here is an interesting interview on Fresh Air.  It gives a good overview of existing health care systems.  Sounds like the USA is in the dark ages unless you are fortunate enough to own a health insurance company or an HMO. http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=112172939&m=112173424

• Marlies sent me this and I think you will enjoy reading it as I did.
  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/opinion/23kristof.html?_r=2
  
  
  We still have a couple of yogurt makers, $20.  If you are buying store milk, making yogurt is a good way to add some value to store milk.
  
  Wheat berries are available for either grinding, if you have a grinder, or you can sprout them.  They are $.75 per pound.
  
  Food, Inc is still showing in KC. 
  
  The first beef processing date in nearing, Sep 8.
  
  A recipe in todays Food section called for fat-free half and half.  What's that?   I guess one of the halves can be fat-free, but how can you get the other half fat-free and then combine the two?
  
  that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra 

• How many of you know about tumeric? Check this out.  http://organicindia.mercola.com/herbal-supplements/turmeric.aspx 
  
  

• Our next chicken day will be in about 7 weeks.

•  The European Union refuses to buy U.S. chicken

Few people realize that the European Union has banned the import of all US poultry since 1997. This month, EU agriculture ministers voted to continue the ban despite aggressive pressure from the United States. The issue?  The standard practice in the US poultry industry is to wash the carcasses in chlorinated water to kill bacteria.

European health authorities are not convinced that it’s safe to ingest the small amounts of chlorine that remain on the meat and concluded that lifting the ban would “threaten the community’s entire set of food production standards.” 

John Bowis from the UK was more outspoken. He told reporters that “lifting the ban would be “outrageous” and would degrade EU citizens to the status of “guinea pigs.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of US citizens are unwittingly playing that role.

“EU Ban Remains on US Chickens” December 19, 2008, Meatprocess.com

• We still have fall beef available.  You can enjoy grass finished beef too.  Food, Inc is still showing at the Tivoli and Leewood.  The offer stands, a $50.00 credit on your next  beef order.  Just send me your ticket.  I'm beginning to wish they would stop showing the film.  I thought it would only be for a short time.  Oh well,  I still think it's important to go and get your vote counted.  Something needs to be done to change our existing food system.

• From Texas Grain-fed to Kansas Grass-fed

Topolobampo,a white-table restaurant in Chicago, is reported to be Barack and Michelle Obama’s favorite restaurant.

Several months ago, managing chef Brian Enyart placed grain-fed and grass-fed ribeye steaks side-by-side on the menu. Grass-fed steaks were the clear favorite. On some days, almost twice as many grass-fed steaks came off the grill. 

Insiders say that Topolobampo may host a number of inaugural celebrations.  If so, grass-fed steak will be on the menu. Topolobampo’s main supplier is Eatwild’s own Tall Grass Beef.

• This information is only for our milk customers.  Others should read only at your own risk. We only have a limited supply.  Hopefully, more small dairies will emerge.   For anyone wanting to begin I will assist in helping you get started.  It is confining, but with a calf on the cow you can get what you want and let the calf have the rest. http://www.eatwild.com/articles/superhealthy.html
  
  that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra

Just so you can keep on the ag side of things read this by Rhonda Perry.  http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_18830.cfm

 The following is an example of a corporation misbehaving just as we saw in the film, The Corporation.

Whole Foods in the news.  Whole Foods Market Bows to OCA Pressure--Promises to Sell Significantly More Organics in 2010

The emperor of natural foods, Whole Foods Market (WFM), has no clothes. Throughout the 2009 summer months, OCA has been alerting organic consumers to the troubling fact that the overwhelming majority of grocery items (approximately 2/3) sold by WFM, even their private label "365" brand, are not certified organic, but rather so-called "natural" products that are typically just conventional products in disguise. After being defensive and unresponsive at first (basically saying "we sell more" organic food than any other retailer), and after putting pressure on OCA's advertisers to stop supporting us, WFM seems to finally be "seeing the light."

• Here is a complete description of how to buy and to process a chicken.  You’ll probably want to print a copy of this and put in your cookbook.  It is information that will be in Shannon’s upcoming new book.  http://grassfedcooking.com/articles/prudentcarnivore-chicken.html

• Here’s a Michael Pollan short video.  You may need earphones as the audio is somewhat weak.  http://news21.jomc.unc.edu/index.php/stories/diet/food-and-fossil-fuels.html

• Here is some more information regarding Vit D and CANCER.  Make sure you read this. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/13/New-Model-for-Cancer--Dynamite.aspx
  
  The hard white winter wheat makes great pancakes. 
  
  Our green house is about finished.  Need to put the floor in and get the plastice film. 
  
  that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra

Last Call for this Tuesday at La Sous Terre to see the August film, The Corporation.  We will start at 6 pm. 

High Fructose Corn Syrup has a hidden contaminate.  Read all about it here. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/14/Most-Common-Source-of-Calories-in-US-is-LOADED-With-Mercury.aspx

The following is not only for women.  It affects men as well.  Remember, the value of Real Milk and its CLA from cows that get a lot of grass.  We also add iodine to our mineral box for our milk cows. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/04/why-mammography-is-not-an-effective-breast-cancer-screen.aspx

• Looks like the beef will be great this fall.  The grass has been great.  Plenty of rain and some cool weather.  The FOOD, Inc $50 credit is still available.  I’m surprised how long the two theaters have had this type of film.  I got another ticket from D. Fuerst.  They saved $50 on their fall order.  I was at Nature’s Pantry today.  Guess how much one pound of hamburger costs?  $6.69 per pound.  Same for a roast.  Steaks were more, much more.  And this meat was not even raised by the farm on the label.  Remember tenderness is 40% dependent on genetics, not the breed, and when you shop around for beef at various farms there is no guarantee of the genetic base.  Our freezer beef delivered to your door and processed to your specifications is still $3.10 per pound and with shrinkage and trim it will be about $3.48. 
• When you get your beef processed you should ask for the shank bones to be cut into 3 inch pieces, makes great broth and after reading the book, Real Food, I learned that the marrow is extremely rich in nutrients.

• Whole fryers are still $4.19 per pound at Nature’s Pantry.  Again these fryers are not being raise by the farm on the label.  We will have more fryers in about 8 weeks.  We lost out, as you will recall, due to the high water and the raccoon.  We lost 100 day old chicks.   We’ve made some changes and hopefully that won’t happen again.  We are doing 50 at a time to insure they are protected.   So, if you want insure fryers, you may want to pre-order.

• We have 30 turkeys out on grass and should be ready for third Thursday in November.  Anyone interested?
  
  Next Tuesday we are showing, The Corporation, starting at 6 pm at La Sous Terre.
  
  that's it for now from the hill.  Art and Debra
  
  

Here’s a short video with Michael Pollan.  http://fora.tv/2009/06/18/Farm_City_Novella_Carpenter_with_Michael_Pollan#Michael_Pollan_Links_Food_Reform_to_Health_Insurance

Food, Food, real food.  I just finished the book, Real Food, by Nina Planck.  It is a good book for those who are trying to establish what's the best food for the best health.  It not only discusses the best foods, it also tells the WHY.  Most of you know the real foods, but in discussion with friends you lack the facts, the whys and you just can’t understand why they don’t get it as you do.

Next Tuesday Aug 11 at La Sous Terre we will show the film, The Corporation.  We are starting as 6 pm as it is 2 hours in length.  That will be the August film.   Please RSVP so we can have adequate space.  We are limited for space and when the chairs are taken, that’s it.  We are limited by city ordinance for seating capacity.

Food, Inc is still playing at the Tivoli and The Leewood theatre.  Our $50 meat credit on your next beef order is still available.  Save your ticket and send them to me.

We are going to have the honey available at our house, so when you pick up milk or just stop for a visit we will have the honey.  It is $5 for 16oz with comb, $4 for 16 oz and $3 for a 12 oz bear.  I guarantee it is local.  We have two of the hives in our orchard.

Cancer is not something to fear, just make sure your diet is based on REAL FOOD and your health will reward your efforts.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/17/More-Than-1-in-3-Common-Cancers-Could-Be-Preventable.aspx

We still have beef available.   The grass has been great this summer.   I can get some more processing dates.  Remember, you can save $50 just by attending the film FOOD, Inc and sending me the ticket.

We could add a couple of new milk customers.  Daisy is due in a week and some customers are not consistent and some are still on vacation.  Milk happens every day, so it helps to have consistent customers.

that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra

For those of you that didn’t come to the Pollan lecture at La Sous Terre or couldn’t hear all of it due to marginal sound go to FORA.TV and type in Pollan in the search box.  There are two of his lectures.  The best one is the second one.

For our next film, The Corporation, we will have a much better system.  Art Jr is providing a large TV Monitor, so sound and picture will be much better.  Thanks Art

H1N1 vaccine may not be what you need.  Make sure you get a lot of vitamin D, the sun is still shinning.  Oh yes, be sure to have enough cholesterol.  You’ll need that to convert the sunshine to vitamin D.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/07/28/What-are-the-Dangers-of-Mandatory-Swine-Flu-Vaccination.aspx

Watch those carrots.   http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/07/28/Chlorine-in-Your-Baby-Carrots.aspx    And be aware of what chlorine can do to your health.  Iodine will drive the other halogens out of your cells.  Iodine and Iodide are very important for cell health.  An utube video by Jerry Brunetti that I included in a recent breezy hill update revealed that fish waste, high in iodine, was fed to dairy cows in New Zealand and in that particular region there was no incidence of breast cancer.  I have increased the iodine content in my cattle mineral for the dairy cows and it also precludes the virus pink eye in cattle.  Icelandic kelp, which is high in iodine, is also included in my cattle mineral.  My neighbors are still vaccinating and calling the vet for pink eye. 

Bill Maher can explain things like no one else. Maybe there are some things that should be not-for-profit.  Read his latest.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/new-rule-not-everything-i_b_244050.html

Here is a great web site to include in your bookmark/favorites  http://www.organicconsumers.org/    and here’s why.  “What many of our readers don't know is that the OCA website is a library of nearly 70,000 articles related to topics you read about in Organic Bytes. These are not links to articles on other websites, these are articles the OCA staff has personally reviewed over the years and found to be pertinent enough to post to our own website."

"Every OCA webpage has a search box where you can input terms ranging from something as general as "organic" to something as specific as "genetically engineered sugar beets in Kellogg's cereal". A search for "hexane" resulted in a list of 66 articles posted on OCA's website relating specifically to this topic.”

Obama blew this one, big time.  I got this from OCA.

You're Appointing Who? Please Obama, Say It's Not So! 

The person who may be responsible for more food-related illness and death than anyone in history has just been made the US food safety czar. This is no joke.

Here's the back story.

When FDA scientists were asked to weigh in on what was to become the most radical and potentially dangerous change in our food supply -- the introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods -- secret documents now reveal that the experts were very concerned. Memo after memo described toxins, new diseases, nutritional deficiencies, and hard-to-detect allergens. They were adamant that the technology carried "serious health hazards," and required careful, long-term research, including human studies, before any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could be safely released into the food supply.

But the biotech industry had rigged the game so that neither science nor scientists would stand in their way. They had placed their own man in charge of FDA policy and he wasn't going to be swayed by feeble arguments related to food safety. No, he was going to do what corporations had done for decades to get past these types of pesky concerns. He was going to lie.

Dangerous Food Safety Lies

When the FDA was constructing their GMO policy in 1991-2, their scientists were clear that gene-sliced foods were significantly different and could lead to "different risks" than conventional foods. But official policy declared the opposite, claiming that the FDA knew nothing of significant differences, and declared GMOs substantially equivalent.

This fiction became the rationale for allowing GM foods on the market without any required safety studies whatsoever! The determination of whether GM foods were safe to eat was placed entirely in the hands of the companies that made them -- companies like Monsanto, which told us that the PCBs, DDT, and Agent Orange were safe.

GMOs were rushed onto our plates in 1996. Over the next nine years, multiple chronic illnesses in the US nearly doubled -- from 7% to 13%. Allergy-related emergency room visits doubled between 1997 and 2002 while food allergies, especially among children, skyrocketed. We also witnessed a dramatic rise in asthma, autism, obesity, diabetes, digestive disorders, and certain cancers.

In January of this year, Dr. P. M. Bhargava, one of the world's top biologists, told me that after reviewing 600 scientific journals, he concluded that the GM foods in the US are largely responsible for the increase in many serious diseases.

In May, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine concluded that animal studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between GM foods and infertility, accelerated aging, dysfunctional insulin regulation, changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system, and immune problems such as asthma, allergies, and inflammation

In July, a report by eight international experts determined that the flimsy and superficial evaluations of GMOs by both regulators and GM companies "systematically overlook the side effects" and significantly underestimate "the initial signs of diseases like cancer and diseases of the hormonal, immune, nervous and reproductive systems, among others."

The Fox Guarding the Chickens

If GMOs are indeed responsible for massive sickness and death, then the individual who oversaw the FDA policy that facilitated their introduction holds a uniquely infamous role in human history. That person is Michael Taylor. He had been Monsanto's attorney before becoming policy chief at the FDA. Soon after, he became Monsanto's vice president and chief lobbyist.

This month Michael Taylor became the senior advisor to the commissioner of the FDA. He is now America's food safety czar. What have we done?

The Milk Man Cometh

While Taylor was at the FDA in the early 90's, he also oversaw the policy regarding Monsanto's genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH/rbST) -- injected into cows to increase milk supply.

The milk from injected cows has more pus, more antibiotics, more bovine growth hormone, and most importantly, more insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). IGF-1 is a huge risk factor for common cancers and its high levels in this drugged milk is why so many medical organizations and hospitals have taken stands against rbGH. A former Monsanto scientist told me that when three of his Monsanto colleagues evaluated rbGH safety and discovered the elevated IGF-1 levels, even they refused to drink any more milk -- unless it was organic and therefore untreated.

Government scientists from Canada evaluated the FDA's approval of rbGH and concluded that it was a dangerous facade. The drug was banned in Canada, as well as Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. But it was approved in the US while Michael Taylor was in charge. His drugged milk might have caused a significant rise in US cancer rates. Additional published evidence also implicates rbGH in the high rate of fraternal twins in the US.

Taylor also determined that milk from injected cows did not require any special labeling. And as a gift to his future employer Monsanto, he wrote a white paper suggesting that if companies ever had the audacity to label their products as not using rbGH, they should also include a disclaimer stating that according to the FDA, there is no difference between milk from treated and untreated cows.

Taylor's disclaimer was also a lie. Monsanto's own studies and FDA scientists officially acknowledged differences in the drugged milk. No matter. Monsanto used Taylor's white paper as the basis to successfully sue dairies that labeled their products as rbGH-free.

Will Monsanto's Wolff Also Guard the Chickens?

As consumers learned that rbGH was dangerous, they refused to buy the milk. To keep their customers, a tidal wave of companies has publicly committed to not use the drug and to label their products as such. Monsanto tried unsuccessfully to convince the FDA and FTC to make it illegal for dairies to make rbGH-free claims, so they went to their special friend in Pennsylvania -- Dennis Wolff. As state secretary of agriculture, Wolff unilaterally declared that labeling products rbGH-free was illegal, and that all such labels must be removed from shelves statewide. This would, of course, eliminate the label from all national brands, as they couldn't afford to create separate packaging for just one state.

Fortunately, consumer demand forced Pennsylvania's Governor Ed Rendell to step in and stop Wolff's madness. But Rendell allowed Wolff to take a compromised position that now requires rbGH-free claims to also be accompanied by Taylor's FDA disclaimer on the package.

President Obama is considering Dennis Wolff for the top food safety post at the USDA. Yikes!

Rumor has it that the reason why Pennsylvania's governor is supporting Wolff's appointment is to get him out of the state -- after he "screwed up so badly" with the rbGH decision. Oh great, governor. Thanks.

My friend, Bob, processed 40 gallons of honey this past Monday.  Let me know if you want local honey.   For those picking up milk, perhaps we can have a case here at the farm.  I'm not sure how to distribute to others.  Let me know how much you would want and perhaps we can deliver with beef orders, or you could pick it up on the next chicken day.

that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra