A season of rewards

I canned a lot of food this summer and it wasn't until now that it felt so right to dig in and enjoy, (unfortunately this is not my pantry!)

Preserving in this fashion- food stored in an air tight environment, has a long history. One which I learned about from Blaine Pearson, owner of the Preservery.

Blaine tells me that "Romans preserved foods in honey and thousands of years later- we are finding jars filled with ancient foods”. In more recent times in North America, back in the days on the farm, people were forced to put food up to feed their families over the winter months. Preserving via canning made a modern re appearance.

However today, Because of the convenience of the supermarket, we no longer need to store our food in this fashion and as a result canning has become a lost art.

Blaine believes in small batch preserves as well as buying or sourcing produce as close to its kitchen as possible directly from the people who produce it. Noting that our growing season is limited, we can take advantage of the produce that is in season, capturing the nutrients for a later date.

Unfortunately the Preservery sold out of there pumpkin marmalade, strawberry chamomile jam, strathcona blackberry jam, green tomato relish and citrus blueberry conserve- but get on the mailing list for updates on next seasons divine creations.

Michael Schmidt Acquitted in raw milk case

A landmark win for real food, food security, small scale farms, farmers and us, raw milk drinkers!!  

Michael Schmidt was acquitted in a Newmarket court this morning of 19 charges of distributing raw milk and raw milk products.

Justice of the Peace Paul Kowarsky upheld the legislation, but said in this case Mr. Schmidt did not break the law because he was distributing to joint owners of cows and not the public at large.

Mr. Schmidt, a 54-year-old Durham region dairy farmer, and his supporters (seen above after an earlier court appearance) say milk is healthier before it is pasteurized, Canadian health officials deem it unsafe for public consumption.

Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act makes it illegal to "sell, offer for sale, deliver or distribute milk or cream that has not been pasteurized or sterilized." Consumption is legal, however.

For National Post coverage link here

Food for Haiti

Are you interested in donating to a charity assisting in relief efforts in Haiti?

If so...visit the United Nations World Food Program

Preserving Heritage species....

Rare breeds frozen in time- the misfits of modern argibusiness

story from the New York Times

Where once there were thousands of options, the food industry has selected a few high yielding seeds to plant the majority of our crops with. The same goes the story for livestock.

Meet chip (picture above).  He is a Tennessee fainting goat.  He lives on a farm preserving 45, 000 sperm and embryos from heritage animals.  He is also unofficial mascot of the Swiss Village complex, a facility in New Port, USA.   

Why is this important?

1. For biological diversity

2. It is a safety valve for diversity

3. We are dangerously interbreeding

4. Because 93% of the milk we drink is from 1 species of cow and 1 single bull

5. Because heritage breeds thrive on smaller farms, like the urban farms of the future

6. These animals fit in to the locavore movement

Raw milk controversy

There has been a long controversy over the sale and consumption of raw milk in Canada & the US. Pasteurization of milk began in 1886.  This method of heating milk to temperatures between 71.1- 138 degrees Celcius slows the growth of bacteria, slows enzyme activity and prolongs shelf life. 

Raw milk can be legally purchased in California, New Mexico and Connecticut. There are raw milk cow shares available around North America.

Where can you find raw milk? 

What is the controversy all about?

First off:  Most milk found in the grocery store is milk from conventional cows.  Cows are often ill from close living conditions, improper diets and consecutive pregnancies which tax their immunity, leading to the use of antibiotics. Furthermore, hygiene at large farms is often not adequate (E coli is present in feces). To protect everyone from harmful bacteria- which has the opportunity to grow over the time milk is shipped,  THIS KIND OF MILK SHOULD BE PASTEURIZED!

Second off: There are a handful of local dairies which are smaller in operation, where cows roam the fields and eat grass.  Cows are not ill, no antibiotics are used. Bacteria counts are lower.  Milk is a living food.  Often, milk is directly sold to customers.  WHY SHOULD THIS MILK BE PASTEURIZED?

Why chose raw milk from local dairies with grass fed cows?  Raw milk is...

A whole food

A complete Protein

Full of enzymes- specialized proteins that aid digestion, promote immunity, organ function,

Rich in lactoferrin (iron building protein)

Full of lactose- digestion of lactose creates an environment that inhibits bad bacteria growth

A source of excellent fats- Saturated, O3, O6- supports body function, hormone production

Rich in CLA- raises metabolic rate, boosts muscle growth, reduces insulin resistance, lowers allergic reaction

A source of vitamins and minerals- needed for daily functioning & detoxification

Why avoid store bought conventional pasteurized milk? This type of milk...

Supports an unsustainable and unhealthy practice for cows, humans and the environment

Has higher bacterium counts

Is void of nutrients and enzymes

May have additives like skim milk powder

May be fortified with vitamins A & D, which are present in natural quantities in raw milk

Could be homogenization and is linked to inflammation, allergies, heart disease

If this topic interests you please read Ron Schmid's book- The untold story of milk

On December 18th 2009, the Fraser Health Authority drove around to the depots of Home on the Range farm in Vancouver dumping out milk (Link to news coverage).   Members of Home on the Range, own the cows, therefore this milk was property!   Furthermore, and even a more pressing issue- If you own your body- you have the right to choose what you eat.  Prohibiting the consumption of raw milk is a violation of human rights (Canadian Charter of Human rights, Section 7).  

For more information on the fight for raw milk visit Michael Schmidt's blog a dairy farmer and raw milk activist in Guelph Ontario.

What are your thoughts?