Happenings on the Ranch

It’s been a debate for a long time; what are the benefits of drinking raw milk versus the pasteurized version?  There is a small number of the population that seeks out and drinks raw milk, but their voices are loud and strong.  Proponents say raw milk contains more essential nutrients than its heated counterpart which kills those beneficial elements.  Opponents say it’s too risky to sell unpasteurized milk because of the risk of illness from bad bacteria.

In the 1940’s , states began to require milk to be pasteurized and, according to health officials and advocates, the number of milk-borne illnesses dropped.  Pasteurization is now the industry standard.

But, raw milk advocates say the process has taken vital enzymes and beneficial bacteria from our diets and that’s what is causing a rise in digestive disorders.  Many people are convinced pasteurization of our dairy products is behind the increase in everything from autism to allergies to ADD.

Sally Fallon Morrell leads the Washington-based Campaign for Real Milk.  ”Raw milk is superior for growth, development, bone density, protection against cavities and infections, protections against allergies and building the immune system,” she says.  But public health officials say the dangers of raw milk far outweigh the potential of any benefits and say studies supporting the raw milk debate are flawed.

According to federal figures, from 1998 to 2008 there were 1,614 illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and two deaths linked to raw milk.  Raw milk advocates contend that many of these illnesses, and the two deaths, are actually from raw cheese, often produced in peoples’ homes out of raw milk bought at conventional dairies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that any milk sold between states be pasteurized and says unpasteurized milk and milk products put too many people at risk of potentially deadly poisoning.  But as more people become raw milk drinkers, dairies that produce raw milk have seen their demand skyrocket.

Some form of nonretail sales of raw milk is allowed in 33 states. Only 10 states allow milk sales at the retail level, while nine states and Washington, D.C., ban it. Missouri bans retail sales at stores, but allows sales direct from the farm and by prearranged delivery to individuals.  But it’s difficult to find raw milk producers because they’re not allowed to advertise.  Most consumers find the dairies by word of mouth.

I’ve been able to find some sources of raw milk but have to travel pretty far to get it.  There is a producer here locally that sells direct from the farm but, since I’ve never actually met the owner, I don’t know if it’s been pasteurized.  I only know it’s not homogenized and I get it straight from the tank.

Do you prefer raw milk over pasteurized?  Have you found any local sources for raw milk?  Personally, I think it should be up to the consumer whether they drink pasteurized or unpasteurized milk.  I’m tired of the government telling me what I can and cannot eat or drink.  I think the information from both sides should be out there so consumers can make their own informed decision.

What do you think?

~Karin

Being a proponent of locally, sustainably grown foods I refuse to by tomatoes from Mexico or apples from China.  If there is something I want that is hardly grown in the U.S., like plantains, I will purchase it on occasion.  That purchase does go to support the local economy in that country and I view it as a luxury purchase.  Having labels on these products makes my decision in the grocery store much easier when I can’t buy things at farmer’s market or grow it myself.  Even so, I will rarely buy produce in the winter.  I can’t justify the shipping cost and impact on the environment through the use of fossil fuels just so I can have a head of lettuce in February, even if it is grown in the U.S.

So I, personally, was very happy when legislation came out requiring Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) on all nuts, fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood.  But there are quite a few items that this legislation doesn’t cover, like dairy products.  Unless I am able to buy from a local producer or the company specifically puts where the item comes from on their label, how am I to know that the milk or butter I’m buying isn’t using milk coming from New Zealand or, worse yet, China?

Now, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for legislation to require country of origin labelling on all dairy products including yogurt, cheese and ice cream.  I know I can’t be the only one saying, “hooray” for this one.  Many of today’s consumers are much more conscious about where their food comes from and how it is produced.  Producers that are just as conscious about these issues proudly display where their milk is produced and how it is handled.  But large manufacturers very infrequently put any labeling at all about where their milk is coming from and how it is produced, including whether the cows are treated with bovine growth hormones.

Where do you stand?  Does where your food is coming from affect your purchases more now than before the COOL legislation was passed?  Would this new legislation make a difference in the dairy products you buy?  Sound off, please.  I want to know where you stand.

Yep.  It’s been that long since I blogged.  I really thought that after the main part of the season was over, I could take a little break and then have plenty of time for updating everyone on farm activities and manage the new CSA sign ups.  Boy, was I wrong.

While the pace hasn’t been as frantic as it was during market season, it’s still been pretty busy around here.  We’ve had seven new potbelly pigs born, have two goats due to kid soon, baby chicks to care for, new pullets that started laying eggs (despite the cold weather and short daylight hours, which is amazing), a grant proposal to write, school application to submit, general clean up, website issues (that still arene’t resolved) a weekly winter market and the work that goes with it …. whew.  Let’s start at the top!

Lola, our mama potbelly, and her mate Ito are the proud parents of seven new babies.  Born on November 9th, they are all doing so well and Lola has proven to be a terrific mama.  They will be ready to go to their new homes in about another two months.

Our two female goats are also getting ready to  have their babies.  Onyx is an experienced mom who always has the most beautiful strong kids.  She is due around the end of the month and, as is normal for her, is already huge!  Bambi is a first time mom so we are monitoring her closely.  She is due in February.  Can’t wait to have fresh goats milk again and make some fantastic cheeses.

Our spring flock is coming along nicely.  We have 15 production red pullets who will be great egg layers along with the one cockerel who’ll be their mate.  In the same flock are 17 White Wyandottes, a mix of males and females.  The females will also be added to our layer flock and the males, except one great looking cockerel, will become someones dinner.  They run around freely during the day right in front of the house, rather than with the older chickens, to keep them from being picked on.  They also like to come up on the porch and visit when the door is open!

And, as I mentioned, some of our five-month-old girls have started laying their first eggs.  Although the age is right, it’s unusual for these breeds (i.e. not commercial production types) to be laying when the temperature is below 65 and the daylight hours are less than 15 hours per day.  That being the case I am extremely optimistic about their production level when spring hits!

Some of you know we purchased our first greenhouse earlier this year and have been in the process of putting up one 20′ x 48′ house for spring production and some winter growth.  What we’ve also done is put together and submit a proposal to the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education foundation for their 2010 Farmer/Rancher grant program.  We want to find a way to increase winter production in our area using greenhouses and completely sustainable heating and watering systems and a much lower cost than traditional methods.  Our hope is that if our experiments are successful we can share this information with other small farmers, thereby increasing the amount of local produce available during the winter months and create the possibility of winter CSAs for this area.  I know many of you hate when the regular market season ends because it becomes much more difficult to find locally grown produce.  We’re hoping this will enable us and other local farmers to provide more to you during the winter season.  Keep your fingers crossed … we’ll hear back from the committee in the Spring.

The school application is strictly mine.  I’ve decided to go back to school to get my bachelors in horticulture from Texas Tech University.  My application has been submitted for the Spring 2010 semester, so we’ll see.  No worries …. most of my classes will be done online so I won’t be going anywhere.

As far as the website issues go, some of you have experienced problems with downloading the 2010 CSA contract.  That, along with updates to the site, are something I have been trying to fix; however, my server connection is not cooperating.  I’m still trying to work through it but, in the meantime, if you need a copy of the contract please shoot me an email.  I’ll be happy to send one right over.

Speaking of CSA, if you are interested in taking advantage of the 10% discount we offer for early sign ups the deadline is Dec. 31st.  Pay for your share in full by that date and you can automatically take 10% off the share price.  That’s a pretty significant discount and we do that as appreciation for letting us get an early jump on ordering seeds for next season.  Just let me know if you have any questions.

I think that does it for this update.  I will be doing a three part series on the creation of our greenhouse once I can get organized enough.  In the meantime, come see us on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm at the Grand Court Retirement Center at 107th and Wornall.  There are still some fresh veggies available along with great baked goods, organic fair trade coffee, holiday gifts and more.  This market is indoors, which is great, and will continue through spring.  We hope to see you soon!

~Karin