Wednesday, May 29, 2013

How We Homestead Series-Week Three


This is the third installment in a 5-week series 
about the origins of our homesteading endeavor.
Today we discuss
 Real Food.
Please make sure to join these four bloggers 
who write from their own perspectives:



 In all honesty, 
there was a time when I didn't give food much thought.
Once I started working full-time, some 30 years ago,
food was a means to an end.
I just needed to keep myself fed so that I could continue working
and doing the things I enjoyed on my time off.
Most of this time has been as a vegetarian, 
although I now eat fish.



 Several classes were taken along the way.
Courses on vegetarian cooking, 
nutrition and other health-related issues
were a few things that were explored in my 20's and 30's.




 After I had Lil' Guy, my perspective changed.
It was one of my highest priorities 
to ensure his good health by cooking from scratch.
We cut out preservatives, dyes, artificial colors and flavors
and wafted toward more organic and natural products.
Most of our meals were prepared at home by me, 
so that I could be sure we were eating as healthily as possible.





Then Lil' Guy developed asthma.
Or so I thought.
After a few years of being on all kinds of meds to treat it,
trips to the pulmonologist and numerous tests and treatments,
I finally figured out that he was actually sensitive to wheat.
Once I removed that from his diet, his "asthma" disappeared.

He hasn't taken asthma meds in over 7 years.

He still suffers from many sensitivities,
so I'm still cooking from scratch.
He must avoid wheat, dairy, soy, 
apples, bananas, coconut, white potatoes
and a few other foods.
 I had to learn a whole new way of cooking to keep my boy healthy.

I think he's the only 12-year old I know 
who's never been to Mickey D's
and has absolutely no desire to sample their wares.





 It wasn't until I watched "Food, Inc." 
that I really thought about where our food was coming from.
I forced Big K to watch it too and his eyes were opened.
It was decided then and there 
that we would make a more concerted effort
to support food providers 
who treated their animals with dignity and respect.
We started going to the farmer's market to seek out these vendors.
Unfortunately, in our town, no one was growing organic
or even selling their own produce.



I was determined to find the resources we desired.
 A small garden was started in our backyard with inconsistent results.
I had a lot of growing to do, in so many ways.



It got me started on a local search for organic and humane providers.
It hooked me up with a local CSA, about whom I posted a story.
As much as I really loved what they were doing there,
we weren't able to make the monetary commitment.
The next step was Craig's List.





BAM!  
I found local free-range eggs.
I went to meet Colleen and her hens and liked what I saw.





 

Then I hit the Motherlode.
In the "farm & garden" section, I had seen a small ad stating, "Pesticide-Free Produce".
The phone number stayed on my desk for a couple of weeks 
until something compelled me to call the number.
BAM!  BAM!

The most amazing folks were on the other end of the phone.
We've been buying produce from them ever since
and we now consider them good friends.
As if that's not enough, 
 they are allowing me to apprentice at their farm
so that I can learn to be a better gardener.
All I can say is that I am so very blessed.
It's been a long journey,
but I know that every step was a necessary part of the trek.





One of the best things I started doing since 
diving into this homesteading lifestyle
is make homemade bread.
Bread is almost a religion around here.
We are big carb lovers.
If you think making bread from scratch is too much trouble,
perhaps we don't share the addiction.
Count your blessings.

But try it anyway.  You won't regret it.

I still have plans to master canning, 
hosting bees for honey and chickens for eggs,
but we aren't able to pursue those things in our present location.



When we relocate to North Carolina,
we will be using the Local Harvest website 
to aid in finding our new community.
We want to live near farms, farmer's markets 
and folks who share our concerns about food and the environment.
We are willing to work hard to lead a more independent lifestyle.
We want to know our food is safe 
and that the earth that grows it is being well cared for.

We want to live a conscious life in every way possible.
These priorities in our lives will surely lead us 
to the perfect place to start Maple Hill.
The dream is taking flight...

How We Homestead Week One
How We Homestead Week Two




motivation-monday-6 hosts  

16 comments:

  1. Daisy-we are SO much alike in our "journey" with food. I so enjoy reading how you're coming along--even the set-backs help others to learn.

    If you really want to watch a scary movie-try Genetic Roulette. Just Google that--there is one link that shows an hour of the movie. Well worth the time to see it. I'm buying the movie because it's something I want some of my neighbors to see. They can't (won't??) see what has happened to our food supply over the years.

    End
    Of
    Novel---LOL!
    Have a great day.

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    1. I'll have to look for that one, Sue. Thanks for the info.
      If more folks watched these things, we'd have a lot more gardeners in the world!

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  2. I was raised on fresh farm and home made foods as I was raised on a farm we lived off of our livestock and land . None of the farm kids in the area ever had things like this and I had never heard of asthma or food allergies till I was older and moved to a small city . Things like that weren't common in the country on the farms back in the day ,kids back then were healthy due to home grown and made foods lots of fresh air and good hard work with chores ! I am glad your son is better and can enjoy fresh home grown foods and home made from scratch ! Thanks for sharing ! Have a good day !

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    Replies
    1. I so agree with you about farm life being the healthiest lifestyle. Who needs a gym when you're taking care of a farm? ;0)

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  3. Changing our diet has helped with health issues we've had in our family as well. My post today sounds very similar to yours.

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    Replies
    1. It really does change things up, doesn't it?

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  4. Daisy - your post is very interesting! I had no idea a wheat allergy could give symptoms similar to asthma. My goodness that's quite a list little guy is allergic to! I am similar to you in that I just didn't give food much thought until suddenly a catalyst to change everything entered my life. Looks like great people have come into your life when you needed it - how wonderful that purchasing veggies resulted in you getting gardening mentors!

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  5. What a journey you have been on! I think for a lot of people, when they have kids they really start to think about what they are eating and what they are feeding their children. It's amazing that your son hasn't been on asthma medication just from cutting out wheat! It really is crazy when you think about what food can do to our bodies, the good and the bad. I'm glad you guys found a system that works for you and I hope you can relocate soon to have more room to expand and fit your dreams! :)

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    1. Thanks Tammy! I think a lot of health issues are diet-related, it's just a matter of people making the connection and then being willing to do something about it!

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  6. That is amazing that you found out his allergy, and that it fixed his "asthma". Just goes to show you that mamas know best. :) How cool that you get to apprentice and learn more about gardening! I never thought of using Craigslist to find organic produce and animal products.

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    Replies
    1. You never know what you'll find on Craig's List!

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  7. Daisy, I am enjoying this series so much! I really look forward to Wednesdays now!

    I've never made my own bread, but I'd really like to try. It's so empowering to realize that baking bread, canning, gardening, beekeeping, etc. are all skills we can learn if we just keep at it and practice.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Leslie, you've gotta do it! It's so rewarding!
      Glad to see you here every Wednesday!

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  8. What a great post. That bread looks amazing.

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    Replies
    1. It tasted pretty good too! ;0) Thanks for stopping by.

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Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts!