Hey, all! For those of you who are interested in keeping up with information about baby Leela, my sister-in-law, Kendra, has started a blog. There's new information about the genetic testing they've done on Leela and you can read about it on Kendra's blog. Also, Kendra's mom shared a website that explained more about the exact gene that has been effected: MT-ND5. I found that to be very informative and helpful in understanding what's going on in Leela's body. You might want check that out, too.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Flip Side: Where Beef Meets Burrito
Any time a stand is taken there is going to be opposition. I would imagine that Chipotle is getting fire from a lot of different 'sides' now that their show has circulated through a good portion of the American populous. One of the major uproars comes from my very own, the farmers. I would imagine this is mostly because the Farmed and Dangerous parody-of-extremes puts down CAFO's and praises organic farming. The farmers, tired of being bombarded by liberal media and propaganda, were quick on the draw: The battle of tits has begun.
You're probably familiar with the Peterson brothers who have gained popularity through their YouTube videos. One of the brothers, Greg Peterson, blogged a response to Chipotle's mini-series stating that, "While it may seem that Chipotle is on the side of family farmers, the truth is that they are attacking thousands of family farms across America like ours that fit the definition of an “industrial farm.”"
I read Greg Peterson's four-part article and would have to say that his points are well made and mostly true, although I think he is more concerned about the "attack" against farmers than he is about GMO's, conventional farming and how that will affect our future. Here is The Peterson Farm Bro's Beef With Chipotle, if you would like to read it for yourself and see what you think.
Don't get me wrong. I am a farmer and I am on Greg's side... but I am also on the side of the people who are freaking out because their food has become adulterated junk and the 'powers that be' are doing nothing about it. Is there no common ground for the farmers and the fast food franchise to stand on? We shall see...
You're probably familiar with the Peterson brothers who have gained popularity through their YouTube videos. One of the brothers, Greg Peterson, blogged a response to Chipotle's mini-series stating that, "While it may seem that Chipotle is on the side of family farmers, the truth is that they are attacking thousands of family farms across America like ours that fit the definition of an “industrial farm.”"
I read Greg Peterson's four-part article and would have to say that his points are well made and mostly true, although I think he is more concerned about the "attack" against farmers than he is about GMO's, conventional farming and how that will affect our future. Here is The Peterson Farm Bro's Beef With Chipotle, if you would like to read it for yourself and see what you think.
Don't get me wrong. I am a farmer and I am on Greg's side... but I am also on the side of the people who are freaking out because their food has become adulterated junk and the 'powers that be' are doing nothing about it. Is there no common ground for the farmers and the fast food franchise to stand on? We shall see...
Friday, March 14, 2014
A Hug From Chipotle!
I recently blogged about the new mini-series that Chipotle has created called, "Farmed and Dangerous". We, my family and I, are quite excited and impressed by the stand and statement that Chipotle is making so after watching the last episode we emailed the company to tell them how much we appreciate what they are doing.
Dear Chipotle,
As a dairy farming family we really enjoyed your Farmed and Dangerous mini-series and would like to see more!
As farmers we are working towards a more sustainable type of farming and we are glad you care about food, food issues and most importantly, the health of the American public.
Thank You!
Doug, Melissa, Mary Ellen, Channing, Patrick and Janelle
Literally, the same night we emailed Chipotle, we received a response!! Not just a "thanks for your comment, blah, blah, blah.." but a real and welcoming reply! They said:
Douglas,
I want to hug you right now! Thank you so much for this awesome message. Your praise is all the more meaningful given your profession. We will absolutely keep on working to change the food culture in America, and we have so much respect for what you're doing to accomplish the same.
Also, please let me invite you in by sending you a couple free-burrito cards, each good for any main menu item. Just let me know a good postal address I can mail those out to.
Sincerely,
James
Customer Service Consultant
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Seriously, folks, these are real people with a real product. Be informed, watch Farmed and Dangerous, and the next time you go out to eat, eat Chipotle. =)
They are on our side.
Dear Chipotle,
As a dairy farming family we really enjoyed your Farmed and Dangerous mini-series and would like to see more!
As farmers we are working towards a more sustainable type of farming and we are glad you care about food, food issues and most importantly, the health of the American public.
Thank You!
Doug, Melissa, Mary Ellen, Channing, Patrick and Janelle
Literally, the same night we emailed Chipotle, we received a response!! Not just a "thanks for your comment, blah, blah, blah.." but a real and welcoming reply! They said:
Douglas,
I want to hug you right now! Thank you so much for this awesome message. Your praise is all the more meaningful given your profession. We will absolutely keep on working to change the food culture in America, and we have so much respect for what you're doing to accomplish the same.
Also, please let me invite you in by sending you a couple free-burrito cards, each good for any main menu item. Just let me know a good postal address I can mail those out to.
Sincerely,
James
Customer Service Consultant
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Seriously, folks, these are real people with a real product. Be informed, watch Farmed and Dangerous, and the next time you go out to eat, eat Chipotle. =)
They are on our side.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Farmed and Dangerous
I suppose it all started back in Genesis when God told Adam that
because of the curse man would have to toil for his food. (Gen. 3:17-19)
In rebellion mankind has been in constant search for ways to ease our
burdens. Less work for more product or what have you. With the increase
of technology we find a decrease in labor but as a result we find the
repercussions skyrocketing; some immediate and others that have yet to
be made manifest.
In the history of every great civilization from the beginning of time we can find the ups and downs of technology, progress and the pragmatics thereof. Looking just at the United States of America it has only been in the last century or more specifically in the last 50 years that technology really took a dramatic leap, changing the ways in which we work and live.
At a glance one might think we have come a long way in the US, in terms of living long and healthy lives, but the negative statistics are starting to stack up. One major area we can see this happening in is the food we produce and consume. Processed foods cut down on the amount of time people spend growing, raising and cooking their food and this shortcut has left us at a dead end of striking health issues.
Having grown up on a farm and investing a large portion of my time in the "occupation of hope", as some would call it, I am quite interested in what sort of fruits my labor produces. As a farmer I am looking to see how I am affecting the world around me and how the world affects what I do. A lot of things play into this business. Things like agricultural sciences, GMO's, conventional vs. organic farming, the general view of farming held by the American public, the government's involvement, how farming matters are portrayed by media, among other things. The list is unending....
So I come to my point:
Chipotle, a 'mexican grill', has jumped ahead of the game by switching to serving food that customers can feel good about eating AND promoting the awareness of what's really going on in the food industry in a humorous, but quite serious, parody/mini-series called, "Farmed and Dangerous".
I recently watched it with my clan and we liked it so much that we emailed Chipotle to tell them we appreciate what they're doing. There has been a lot of conversation created by this show, some in favor of it and some against it... but that was exactly what Chipotle is aiming for. They want to raise awareness of these complex and pressing issues and get people to start discussing what is really going on in the food industry and what they can do about it. (Dr. Mercola wrote a good article about the show)
I'll warn you that it is not exactly a "family friendly" show, in that there are a number of innuendos and worldly implications, but all around it was witty, well written, well produced and performed, and it was incredibly provoking. It's also short (each of the four episodes are little over 20 minutes long). Those in my household greatly enjoyed watching the series and are looking forward to the next installment.
It really is true: You are what you eat.
Be informed.
In the history of every great civilization from the beginning of time we can find the ups and downs of technology, progress and the pragmatics thereof. Looking just at the United States of America it has only been in the last century or more specifically in the last 50 years that technology really took a dramatic leap, changing the ways in which we work and live.
At a glance one might think we have come a long way in the US, in terms of living long and healthy lives, but the negative statistics are starting to stack up. One major area we can see this happening in is the food we produce and consume. Processed foods cut down on the amount of time people spend growing, raising and cooking their food and this shortcut has left us at a dead end of striking health issues.
Having grown up on a farm and investing a large portion of my time in the "occupation of hope", as some would call it, I am quite interested in what sort of fruits my labor produces. As a farmer I am looking to see how I am affecting the world around me and how the world affects what I do. A lot of things play into this business. Things like agricultural sciences, GMO's, conventional vs. organic farming, the general view of farming held by the American public, the government's involvement, how farming matters are portrayed by media, among other things. The list is unending....
So I come to my point:
Chipotle, a 'mexican grill', has jumped ahead of the game by switching to serving food that customers can feel good about eating AND promoting the awareness of what's really going on in the food industry in a humorous, but quite serious, parody/mini-series called, "Farmed and Dangerous".
I recently watched it with my clan and we liked it so much that we emailed Chipotle to tell them we appreciate what they're doing. There has been a lot of conversation created by this show, some in favor of it and some against it... but that was exactly what Chipotle is aiming for. They want to raise awareness of these complex and pressing issues and get people to start discussing what is really going on in the food industry and what they can do about it. (Dr. Mercola wrote a good article about the show)
I'll warn you that it is not exactly a "family friendly" show, in that there are a number of innuendos and worldly implications, but all around it was witty, well written, well produced and performed, and it was incredibly provoking. It's also short (each of the four episodes are little over 20 minutes long). Those in my household greatly enjoyed watching the series and are looking forward to the next installment.
It really is true: You are what you eat.
Be informed.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Seasons
Taken as the Fall wind flies
The slumber of the Summer skies
For now below the Winter's grey
The greenest growth of Spring awaits
Ta ta! We say to snow. Alas!
For all we long to see is grass
And pine we will until satisfied
The wish to see a daisy's eye
Blue rains caught in thunderclouds
Are lost, but not the stratus shroud
And grim the skeleton of trees
That long for leaves to catch the breeze
Come swift! Oh ever youthful Spring!
The frozen brooks desire to sing
To raise the wings of butterflies
Kept in cocoons while Winter lies
Now Fall has flown and Winter wanes
Who is Spring's sire and Summer's bane
A word or whisper from the South
Yes! This is what we wait for now
The slumber of the Summer skies
For now below the Winter's grey
The greenest growth of Spring awaits
Ta ta! We say to snow. Alas!
For all we long to see is grass
And pine we will until satisfied
The wish to see a daisy's eye
Blue rains caught in thunderclouds
Are lost, but not the stratus shroud
And grim the skeleton of trees
That long for leaves to catch the breeze
Come swift! Oh ever youthful Spring!
The frozen brooks desire to sing
To raise the wings of butterflies
Kept in cocoons while Winter lies
Now Fall has flown and Winter wanes
Who is Spring's sire and Summer's bane
A word or whisper from the South
Yes! This is what we wait for now
Saturday, March 1, 2014
It Is Not Time That Ages Us
February is gone, robbing us of an extra day or two, it would seem. Though the calendar reads, "March", the snow is no less deep and the winter no less bitter. After a short burst of 40 degree weather we are again greeted each morning by the chill, sub-zero temperatures. People are hopeful that Spring is not far off but I fear we must not anticipate any serious warm weather just yet. April sounds more promising.
Each year it seems that I discover a few major things. Turning points or lessons of sorts. I suppose I realize what I am to learn quite early on, just as everyone discusses their New Year's resolutions. I don't tease myself to go so far as to set resolutions but it seems that I have noticed a common trend throughout the recent years of "this is what I am to learn".
This year I feel that I am learning to not take anything for granted. Especially the things that I find to be the most fixed or that I hold most dear. For example, I like my days/time off and yet I've worked more in the past months than I ever have before. Also the dramatic news of my baby niece, who likely has Leigh's Disease. The list carries on... and it's only March. What will be next?
From this question I have made a simple and yet profound discovery. Something that probably most people of greater wisdom or age have long since understood:
It is not time that ages, but rather, it is loss.
Even the accumulation of wisdom and understanding. I used to perceive the acquisition of such things to be a great gain, but is it really just the loss of innocence? There is no earthly thing of which I may be certain or whereby I may obtain security.
My confidence and hope is only found in the Lord.
Each year it seems that I discover a few major things. Turning points or lessons of sorts. I suppose I realize what I am to learn quite early on, just as everyone discusses their New Year's resolutions. I don't tease myself to go so far as to set resolutions but it seems that I have noticed a common trend throughout the recent years of "this is what I am to learn".
This year I feel that I am learning to not take anything for granted. Especially the things that I find to be the most fixed or that I hold most dear. For example, I like my days/time off and yet I've worked more in the past months than I ever have before. Also the dramatic news of my baby niece, who likely has Leigh's Disease. The list carries on... and it's only March. What will be next?
From this question I have made a simple and yet profound discovery. Something that probably most people of greater wisdom or age have long since understood:
It is not time that ages, but rather, it is loss.
Even the accumulation of wisdom and understanding. I used to perceive the acquisition of such things to be a great gain, but is it really just the loss of innocence? There is no earthly thing of which I may be certain or whereby I may obtain security.
My confidence and hope is only found in the Lord.
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