annecros

Gin and tonic with a humongous slice of lime.

Animal control will come and get him within "48 to 72 hours" if I call with a trapped raccoon. It is against the law to relocate it. I also have the option of dispatching it myself "humanely" - and directed me to a website that I have perused before when I had Iguana issues. Yep, carbon monoxide poisoning is considered humane. I just want my egg layers, that I purchased (and feed and house and consider pets) to be safe and secure! What am I gonna do with a hungry, angry, scared, trapped, thirsty raccoon in my garage for three days? Oh well, will discuss with hubby this PM. We still haven't set the first trap, but I have followed sparrowgrass' advice, and so far so good.

A gun shot in this neighborhood wouldn't go over well, you are right. We triply secured the coop after the first incident - we thought it was a stray cat but wanted to be super careful after being big dummies and leaving the pop door open. Now, I'm thinking it was probably this guy (and I saw enough of him going over the fence to know he is a guy) but had assumed cat because the damage done just wasn't on the scale of the damage that I have seen raccoons do. He's probably just a dumpster diver, and hasn't had a lot of experience with live prey. He looked young, too. Don't want to use a kill trap, too many pets wandering around. I'm waiting for a call back from animal control. After all, what do you do with a trapped, angry, scared raccoon once you have him?

I know that this is a bit untoward, but I have heard that if you get your husband to deposit some of his urine around the property, that the 'coons will not bother you. I have been contemplating this procedure myself, as we have regular visitors at night and they are digging up my beds. ← Not untoward at all. My grandfather swore by it. I just don't know if he is doing it or not. He won't say. I am also sending the dog out there after dark, when they are cooped, to stretch her legs before going to bed. Hoping that will help. Flower beds or veg beds? We've been growing veg on this property for two years and haven't had a 'coon problem until now. I guess everyone loves chicken.

They are card carrying minions of the devil. Why are they so darn cute? Now, hubby and I are into a whole other discussion. What to do about the predator? I don't care where it goes, but it can't stay here. If we live trap it and relocate it, we would probably be relocating all the problems associated with raccoons (rabies, livestock threats, general mayhem) and creating a problem for another area. I'm not sure relocating the pest is the best thing to do for my environment. Animal control sort of blew us off. I am going to call again tomorrow. We are allowed to dispatch a predator trapped live on our property, as long as we do it in a humane manner. What? This is going to require research.

Oh, I just saw a raccoon in my back yard. We are in the city, they don't belong here. I just got one back out into daylight, I'm not going to lose the other two. Mr raccoon, it's on.

They are, and should be looked at. But, if anyone can feed people on the cheap and make it taste good, I am of the opinion that it is us.

Duplicated efforts are not necessarily a bad thing. If you can't get the message through one way, do it another. Everyone should be supporting efforts that already have steam, including us. There is more than one road that leads to the Cooperative Extension Service, a fantastic and necessary agency. Churches, Hospital waiting rooms, the "dray" (day worker) line. Just off the top of my head. I don't think it can be said too often.

If you, or you in combination with a group of members, wanted to develop a set of teaching materials -- essentially an online class on how to teach a class on low-cost, healthy eating -- the Society could publish and promote that. ← I'm game to have Heidi's back if she chooses to move this forward. Housing a class here on the site would allow us to reach people all over the globe. We have some content out in the archives I'm sure that would help and be appropriate. But Heidih, you and me can't do it by ourselves. It's that manpower shortage I was talking about earlier.

I volunteer. A local church (that I am not a member of, and don't attend, but they have a kicking soup kitchen), the Red Cross, La Leche League, Feeding America, Farm Aid and Meals on Wheels. These organizations need money and inventory, sure, but more often than not they need warm bodies to make things happen. There is a critical shortage of volunteers in nearly every organization I work with. I agree, everyone probably knows at least one person that has been negatively impacted by the current situation. I've personally reached out to those people that I know that have been laid off, and offered to babysit (cause I like having kids around), or baked two loaves of bread instead of one and sent it over because I thought they might like it. That sort of thing. Every little thing you do makes a difference.

So, I ate all the peaches I could, and saw they were going to go down. I peeled, sliced, and froze them with a bit of sugar laid out flat on a baking sheet. Then bagged them up. IQF, baby. A suggestion that I should take a slice of frozen peach and drop it into a glass of champagne was the inspiration. Used them as ice cubes for vodka and ginger ale. I'll wash my face and change my shirt later. Where next? I'm thinking GA and SC will peak next. Ruston peaches are the best I have ever eaten. So far.

Thank you and that should be clear. He still doesn't eat meat.

McWilliams responds to criticism of his piece in the Atlantic. Article here: An excerpt in his own words: So, McWilliams doesn't eat meat, and had never been in contact with anyone from the pork industry, but cited a study funded with a grant from the National Pork Board. The good things is, he is attempting to educate himself.

Eating a Ruston, LA peach right now. I'll go change my shirt and wash my face later. Best peach I have ever eaten.

Even if every American had a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Vermont, we'd still need labeling on account of the complexities of the marketplace. Consumers, no matter their level of education, can't be expected to do the research on every single product and producer. ← Well, my hypothesis is that the marketplace is complex because of the average consumers ignorance of agricultural practices, and the marketing tools used by factory farms and big ag that take advantage of that ignorance. Big ag will have a humane sticker of their own in no time. And probably have federal legislation and regulation to back it up. That is, if humane even sells. I'm a cynic.

With the proposition that the public school system should extend the school year to a year around year - because kids are no longer needed on the farm - I see no reason why at least an edible schoolyard type of project shouldn't be worked into the curriculum. Along with some other vocational type programs. I support the year around school year, by the way. Agricultural practices require better than basic literacy and math skills, in addition to a practical application of those skills which will engage some students bored with the text book. It would help with that obesity problem as well.

Have a look at the Certified Humane website and tell us if you still feel that way. ← That's all well and good, and they have the label trademarked and copyrighted. But, well, nothing is to stop somebody slapping on a blue and green label that just says "Humane" or "Raised and Handled Humanely" or any other confabulating text. Please note, that in the FAQ's concerning "free range" they say: Then there is the organic entry: Don't get me wrong. I think these people are trying to help and have all good intentions. I am not knocking this organization. I'm just wondering if a good animal husbandry course in Middle School would not accomplish more in the long term.

Exactly. Some of these practices have some real common sense behind them. Uprooting someone's yard is one thing. Uprooting a neighboring farmer's soybean crop that he has invested 250k in to support his family operation, is legally and ethically another. The tags (earrings) I think are vaccination certifications required by the government in most cases, and the vet pops those on. When ownership in the animal is transferred, so is the animal's medical history. The ring in a bull's nose is so that you can literally lead him around by the nose. Previously, livestock "catch dogs" (generally pit bulls) would catch the sucker for you out on the range by grabbing the bull by the nose and immobilizing it. But, that practice fell into disfavor because it was inhumane... Oh sure, that's what we need. Another label that will be abused, misconstrued and not enforced.

That is where the disconnect is happening I think. A reliable source of meat that tastes good and doesn't harm animals. I agree that both the farmer and the consumer want that. I think McWilliams and Pollan are missing another level of complexity. In the case of chickens, "Broilers" and "Meaties" cannot be allowed to roam free because they would, in fact, come to harm. The consumer demands a product that comes from a broiler or meaty chicken, because it tastes good and delivers value in the meat vs bone ratio. Those chickens require a very managed diet and exercise regimen, or else they will die of a heart attack, or outgrow their bones (breaking them.) If a chicken of this breed were allowed to range and eat at will, they would die before attaining a meat to bone ratio that the consumer would find "acceptable." Even with our little pets, it was a big "what if" to decide whether to allow them free range in my little backyard, because of the predator concerns. Chicken is quite literally on everyone's menu. So, a secure coop and run where they get some daylight and a bug or two when they get lucky? Or frolicking in the grass? We opted for the frolicking, because, well, it makes them happy. And we don't depend upon their eggs as a primary source of protein, nor for our livlihood. We are also emotionally prepared to lose them, should a predator decide they want lunch. And, well, factory farms are evil.

I think I've actually visited that place, but not on castration day and I can't remember whether the pigs had nose rings. I wonder how we could find out. More to the point, it's not like you ever see on packaging a checklist like "__ nose rings, __ castration without anesthesia, __ spaying without anesthesia, __ confinement for __ months." I think the salient point of the article is that a "free range" claim doesn't begin to end the discussion of humane treatment. Me, if I'm going to pay a lot more for meat in order to guarantee humane treatment, I'd rather only do that with the knowledge that I'm actually paying for humane treatment. ← You have been there. I took you a number of years ago. It so happens that I recently republished a photo on my blog of Jen Small at Flying Pigs Farm taken several years ago. She is with some of her pigs with not a nose ring in sight. You can see it here.. McWilliams has become more subtle since his other recent attack on non-factory farmed meat production. While he does not defend factory farming here, he indirectly does by saying how bad the touted alternatives to factory farming are in their own right potentially narrowing the distance in the minds of consumers. Of course, even though it appears that he has a very strong bias and may be prone to exaggeration, his main point is a good one. Though free-range is significantly better than factory farming, it could in many instances be better yet. The problem is that rather than emphasize those farms that do adhere to more humane practices, he paints them all with a very broad brush. ← Another question I have is what yard stick McWilliams is using? There is no doubt that free range results in a significantly better quality of life than factory farming. What's the alternative to free range? Feral? Pigs and chickens are particularly adept at going feral. So, is the uncastrated pig struggling every day to scrounge up enough food in the Florida scrub better off than the free range brother? Wild pigs regularly rip one another apart and eat each other, literally. No anesthesia or medical attention out there. Just try to keep moving ahead of the scavengers and predators until you have time to heal. Oh, and if you walk up on one, he will happily tear you to bits and eat you as well. Even domestic pigs have murder in their eyes, and would love to munch on Anne. Those happy chickens wandering around Key West are Game Bird decedents. Lovely eye candy, but the roosters are literally out there killing one another. Behavior very similar to Red Jungle Fowl in Asia, who were the predecessors to all our domestic chickens. If you had a stroke on Duval Street, they would pick the flesh off your bones. Now, I believe we have a responsibility to responsibly care for those animals that we have domesticated in order for us to eat in a more efficient manner. In fact, many of the practices common in farming meat are actually our adjustments to their nature and way of life. Factory animals are born, live and die in an unsanitary prison - treated cruelly. I think cleaning up the factory farms might be a better place to start.

Absolutely. Every farmer, consumer and factory will give you their definition of organic, sustainable or free range. That's what happens when somebody on the outside (industry, govt., pick your poison) arbitrarily places a label upon something they don't understand, then wriggles through the loopholes. I don't think McWilliam's credentials are being questioned. The passionate responses to these opinion pieces are the result of people not speaking the same language when using the words "organic" and "free range" and "natural" and etc. Also, these animals are domesticated. They are certainly not tame.

Now see, this brings up the "farm to plate" disconnect that I was reading about the other day. Here it is. From the opinion piece: Does the consumer really want to know? I spent my share of time on actual farms, where farmers are raising animals for meat. All of those practices have been common for decades. Nay centuries. Actually, probably millennia. That's what goes on down on the farm. Anyone that has eaten boar that has truly free ranged, and is past adolescence, understands the "Boar Taint" that Dave mentioned earlier. It literally tastes like what urine smells like. I can't imagine anyone wanting to eat it. I have three pet chickens that I treasure. They have names. I'm nursing one through an injury to her leg now that has required time and attention, and expense. I still bought chicken feet for my stock last week. Can the consumer handle the truth?

I got two mailers today from surprisingly upscale establishments. Expensive print job, advertising decent deals, and two establishments I wouldn't expect to see via direct mail. I'm glad everyone is doing what they can to stay competitive.

I've always preferred honey to molasses in gingerbread. Flavor and mouthfeel. Honey is sort of silkier, if that's a word. On the other hand, I prefer molasses to sugar when sweetening my southern style greens.

"white" carbon steel, like these? I have been tempted to try one... mark ← It looks like it. I think yes. Older women sought them out because of the light weight. "Cooks as good as cast iron." I seem to remember them saying. These ladies would be arthritic, and sort of burned out on the whole hauling a cast iron frying pan around. Why would they call it "cast steel" instead of carbon steel though? I just looked, and my one sort of smallish, bare aluminum pot is my chicken soup pot. It isn't right unless it comes out of that pot, and honestly, it does appear to have a season. Crazy. I bought that pot on a whim, cheap, and thinking back on where I lived when I bought it, I can safely say it is better than a decade old. Maybe two decades?