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themeletoryou know me. yes, I am a hippie, but I like to think that I am not a PETA crazy (I conceptually support several of PETA's and AFA's causes and directions, but am much more of a "cruelty-free" person than an "animal liberation" person).
that said, when Action for Animals dropped a link to this virtual battery cage in my inbox, I was obviously disturbed. (ps: please check it out. or at least read up on the conditions of laying hens and broiler hens. even taken conservatively and with a grain of salt, it's terrible -- and I know that at least 70-85% of what is said here is true and not that exaggerated because I had a friend at Bowdoin whose family farmed laying hens and meat hens for large companies like Campbell's.) but here's the deal.
at the same time as I know that animals are treated HORRENDOUSLY by large-market and corporate agriculture, I also know that people are going to continue to want to eat meat, dairy, eggs, honey, et cetera. in addition, I am in the fortunate position to be interacting with local, sustainable, careful and caring producers of these legitimate food items on a regular basis. so I get to say this: it's not about whether you eat animal products (or plant products that have a history of destructive or exploitative farming/harvesting practices, or whatever). it's about which products you eat. it's about taking the time to know your producer. support the people who deserve your support. and, when at all possible, keep it local. I truly believe that in this time of economic shittiness that's more important than ever.
for those of you in the milwaukee/madison/wisconsin area, for eggs we have Yuppie Hill Farm. Willy Street Co-Op has a great article profiling Lynn's treatment of her birds, along with the practices of New Century Farms and Phil's Fresh Eggs (I only mention Yuppie Hill in particular because they're what we sell at Outpost, and I've had the privilege of talking to Lynn and to other Outpost owners and employees who have visited her farm. I know personally and without a doubt that she is Good People).
Yuppie Hill Farm
Lynn Lein, owner of Yuppie Hill Farm, has been raising chickens for nearly 10 years and sells eggs and meat at area farmers’ markets and through a meat CSA from her farm in Burlington, Wisconsin. Last year, Lynn purchased the larger operation from Allmosta Farm in Delavan, who had been supplying Willy Street Co-op with cage-free eggs. Now, the sole owner and employee of the entire Yuppie Hill Farm egg operation, Lynn is happy to have some help from her mother. Currently supplying eggs for the Co-op and 35 to 40 more retailers in addition to several area restaurants and farmers’ markets, it’s a wonder Lynn finds time to finish caring for the birds, collecting, cleaning, inspecting and packaging the eggs—all balanced on her very tight schedule.
Starter pullets are bought at a day old and raised on the farm. Not organically certified, but using only vegetarian feed and cage-free methods, Lynn purchases grain from her local feed co-op where they mix a special blend of ingredients made to order for her birds. This mix includes soy, corn, alfalfa and flax seeds to name a few. Birds are free to access food and water as well as other supplemental feed rations at will.
Yuppie Hill Farm’s chickens enjoy an open barn system with rollout nesting boxes designed to let the freshly laid egg to roll gently out of the back of the box where it’s later collected.
Turning over the barns every 18 months (removing the birds, cleaning and restocking the barn with fresh birds) means Yuppie Hill has to contract barn space with neighbors to house the birds and keep the eggs coming during the transition. Lynn cites this time as the biggest challenge for her.
Lynn is also very concerned with the threat of Avian flu and has chosen not to allow her “girls” outdoor access, noting that the presence of geese in nearby fields could lead to a possible contamination, but Lynn is determined that the hens still have fresh air and open windows.
so to everyone who's actually stuck with me and read through this post, I thank you sincerely and I gently urge you, just try it. try finding one local supplier (use google; it's easy), one farmer or baker or butcher or co-op or roadside stand or farmer's market. visit them. talk to them about their food and their farms; they're their passions. their homes. then start buying. start with one. it's easy. work up to more if you feel comfortable (or if you fall as deeply in love as I have) and if you're fortunate enough to have a wide selection (you'd be surprised. once you know where to look, things start popping up everywhere). it'll make your life better, and it'll make the world a little better, too. also, go ahead and share the knowledge. link this post (and any other posts I make on the subject, because I assure you there will be others) to people. this isn't some wild evangelization run, just a hope that with enough people who care enough to open their minds and their hearts we can get the word out. we can begin to enact a change.
and finally, to Lynn Lein of Yuppie Hill Farm, Wil Allen of Growing Power, Chris and Krista of Tomato Mountain, the farmers of Tipi Produce, and everyone else I can't think of off the top of my head, and everyone else across the country and around the world who are working to make better food for a better planet, even though I know you will never read this, THANK YOU and CARRY ON. you make the world so much brighter than you know.
♥,
mel
that said, when Action for Animals dropped a link to this virtual battery cage in my inbox, I was obviously disturbed. (ps: please check it out. or at least read up on the conditions of laying hens and broiler hens. even taken conservatively and with a grain of salt, it's terrible -- and I know that at least 70-85% of what is said here is true and not that exaggerated because I had a friend at Bowdoin whose family farmed laying hens and meat hens for large companies like Campbell's.) but here's the deal.
at the same time as I know that animals are treated HORRENDOUSLY by large-market and corporate agriculture, I also know that people are going to continue to want to eat meat, dairy, eggs, honey, et cetera. in addition, I am in the fortunate position to be interacting with local, sustainable, careful and caring producers of these legitimate food items on a regular basis. so I get to say this: it's not about whether you eat animal products (or plant products that have a history of destructive or exploitative farming/harvesting practices, or whatever). it's about which products you eat. it's about taking the time to know your producer. support the people who deserve your support. and, when at all possible, keep it local. I truly believe that in this time of economic shittiness that's more important than ever.
for those of you in the milwaukee/madison/wisconsin area, for eggs we have Yuppie Hill Farm. Willy Street Co-Op has a great article profiling Lynn's treatment of her birds, along with the practices of New Century Farms and Phil's Fresh Eggs (I only mention Yuppie Hill in particular because they're what we sell at Outpost, and I've had the privilege of talking to Lynn and to other Outpost owners and employees who have visited her farm. I know personally and without a doubt that she is Good People).
Yuppie Hill Farm
Lynn Lein, owner of Yuppie Hill Farm, has been raising chickens for nearly 10 years and sells eggs and meat at area farmers’ markets and through a meat CSA from her farm in Burlington, Wisconsin. Last year, Lynn purchased the larger operation from Allmosta Farm in Delavan, who had been supplying Willy Street Co-op with cage-free eggs. Now, the sole owner and employee of the entire Yuppie Hill Farm egg operation, Lynn is happy to have some help from her mother. Currently supplying eggs for the Co-op and 35 to 40 more retailers in addition to several area restaurants and farmers’ markets, it’s a wonder Lynn finds time to finish caring for the birds, collecting, cleaning, inspecting and packaging the eggs—all balanced on her very tight schedule.
Starter pullets are bought at a day old and raised on the farm. Not organically certified, but using only vegetarian feed and cage-free methods, Lynn purchases grain from her local feed co-op where they mix a special blend of ingredients made to order for her birds. This mix includes soy, corn, alfalfa and flax seeds to name a few. Birds are free to access food and water as well as other supplemental feed rations at will.
Yuppie Hill Farm’s chickens enjoy an open barn system with rollout nesting boxes designed to let the freshly laid egg to roll gently out of the back of the box where it’s later collected.
Turning over the barns every 18 months (removing the birds, cleaning and restocking the barn with fresh birds) means Yuppie Hill has to contract barn space with neighbors to house the birds and keep the eggs coming during the transition. Lynn cites this time as the biggest challenge for her.
Lynn is also very concerned with the threat of Avian flu and has chosen not to allow her “girls” outdoor access, noting that the presence of geese in nearby fields could lead to a possible contamination, but Lynn is determined that the hens still have fresh air and open windows.
so to everyone who's actually stuck with me and read through this post, I thank you sincerely and I gently urge you, just try it. try finding one local supplier (use google; it's easy), one farmer or baker or butcher or co-op or roadside stand or farmer's market. visit them. talk to them about their food and their farms; they're their passions. their homes. then start buying. start with one. it's easy. work up to more if you feel comfortable (or if you fall as deeply in love as I have) and if you're fortunate enough to have a wide selection (you'd be surprised. once you know where to look, things start popping up everywhere). it'll make your life better, and it'll make the world a little better, too. also, go ahead and share the knowledge. link this post (and any other posts I make on the subject, because I assure you there will be others) to people. this isn't some wild evangelization run, just a hope that with enough people who care enough to open their minds and their hearts we can get the word out. we can begin to enact a change.
and finally, to Lynn Lein of Yuppie Hill Farm, Wil Allen of Growing Power, Chris and Krista of Tomato Mountain, the farmers of Tipi Produce, and everyone else I can't think of off the top of my head, and everyone else across the country and around the world who are working to make better food for a better planet, even though I know you will never read this, THANK YOU and CARRY ON. you make the world so much brighter than you know.
♥,
mel
