Missouri Rural Crisis Center

I had the pleasure of attending the documentary “Farming Was My Life” and the discussion that followed. I am going to try to get the video onto our website so more people can see it. I thought I knew a lot about CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations), but truly I have a lot more to learn.

The Missouri Rural Crisis Center assisted with the film. This 24-year old organization works to address the challenges faced by rural Missouri families and CAFOs are a big challenge. Here are some of the highlights (Facts taken from handouts from Missouri Rural Crisis Center and these facts were highlighted in the documentary.)

1. A Missouri study found that corporate contract operations create a net loss of employment. While creating 9 jobs for every 12,000 hogs produced, corporate contract operations displace 28 jobs.

2. Corporate concentration in the hog industry does not benefit consumers or independent producers. In the last 20 years, hog number in Missouri have stayed the same (2,800,000), while the number of hog farmers has decreased by nearly 90% from 19,000-2,000. From 1985-2006, the retail price of pork increased 64% from $1.71 to $2.81. During the same period, the hog producers’ share of the retail dollar decreased 39% from $.49 to $.30.

3. According to an EPA study, a CAFO with 4,000 hogs can generate as much waste as a city of 16,000 people. A Class 1A Cafo (17,500 hogs and above) can generate as much waste as the City of St. Louis.   (I’m not an expert on this, but my understanding also is that the CAFO’s are rarely if ever responsible for clean up of the polution caused by their operations.  This expense is passed onto everyone else.)

Some CAFOs house as many as 50,000 hogs. These animals never step outside for fresh air and sunshine. CAFOs strip the “animal” out of the animal!

There’s tons more information to share.  If you’re interested, get involved with Missouri Rural Crisis Center.  A great organization with an important mission.

Patchwork Farms is affiliated with Missouri Rural Crisis Center. We sell their brats, deli ham slices, bacon and we serve their  ham at our cafe. A great group of hog farmers who are doing it right!

 

Earth Dance Farms (Mueller Farms) and Meet the Farmer dinner

Time for another farm tour. This time the farm is in Missouri very near downtown Ferguson.  First of all if you haven’t been to Ferguson in a while, it’s definitely worth a trip to see what Ferguson has done to revitalize and highlight the area–new shops, a Saturday Farmer’s Market, and beautiful neighborhoods.

Mueller Organic Farm sits at the back of a residential neighborhood.  It is serene, picturesque and I loved the scent  released as you brush past the large patches of mint lining the road.   I enjoyed the chance too to pick a few black raspberries although my son ate them before I could even get a taste. He said they made his tummy happy, so I’ll believe mine would have been happy too.  I was so taken by the scenery and atmosphere of the farm that it was a jolt to hear the very load sound of a plane landing at Lambert  Airport a short time after we arrived.  You feel very far away from civilization when you can block out the airport.

I would never have imagined all that lay behind the thin metal cord barrier–14 acres of “some of the best soil in Missouri” according to Dave one of the men who farms on the land.  The sign that greets you out front says the Mueller Farm has been around since 1893.  And it has been organic the whole time.  The farm used to be 200 acres.  As the Mueller Family got older a lot of the acreage was sold to development.  Now, Mrs. Mueller rents out acreage to a variety of farms.  The one we originally went to visit was Earth Dance Farms.  Molly Rockamann has been our main contact and the visionary for the farm.  Earth Dance Farms is working to bring young people into farming and has apprentice farmers, work parties, music concerts, pesto dinners and tons of energy. It was wonderful to see  the vision becoming a reality.

While at the farm we met some other folks farming the land. Karrie from Red Earth Farms (we’ve sold some of her produce in the store), John  Wilkerson (farming on the property for 10 years) and Rufus Cole who says “I’ve been farming out here since the beginning” and promises this is his last year.  Molly told me he’s 80, but it’s hard to believe when looking at him.  I guess it’s all the good eating and honest work!

It is so exciting to see all the interest in farming, preserving the land and of course, sustainable farming as is practiced on the Mueller Farm.

Learn more at our “Meet the Farmer” dinner on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 7:00p.m.  We’ll feature all the delicious produce, plus you’ll get to view a short documentary about the farm.  Call 314-772-8815 to make reservations.  Cost is $35 vegetarian/vegan, $45 omnivore and $15 for optional wine pairing.

Yours in farming and living my dream of actually visiting the farms,

Maddie

Rufus Cole giving a tour of his crops.

 

Biver Farms

 

 

About a month ago I had the chance to visit Biver Farms in Edwardsville, IL.  I must admit I’m not one who readily crosses the river, but it was definitely worth it. Brett Palmer gave us a tour of the crops and that meant also a walk through some heavy mud. Biver Farms is an organic farm and they make good use of hoops to insulate early crops and row covers to decrease pests. 

I was reminded very quickly of what friggin’ hard work farming is.  Brett will be our featured Farmer at the “Meet the Farmer” dinner on June 29th. The dinner is by reservation only. But if you are lucky enough to be able to attend, be prepared to hear some great stories and learn some ins and outs of organic farming from someone who does it all year.

Beautiful heads of cabbage waiting for harvest. We'll have them in the store the week of 6/22.

Enjoy these few photos from the adventure.

-maddie

P.S. Many thanks to Brett for carrying my son for part of the tour. He worked hard to minimize the mud intake. It was partially successful!

 

100% Grass Fed Beef

Local Harvest Grocery is excited to welcome Missouri Grass Fed Beef as a new vendor.  You’ll find that this  100% grass fed beef is comparably priced, delicious, locally produced and we believe better for the environment and the animal.  And, how great is it to be able to buy it right here in the City of St. Louis. No trip to the county is necessary. 

Please check out the information below to learn more about Missouri Grass Fed Beef.  Jeremy, one of the farmers  and owners, is very knowledgeable and a big believer in the importance of 100% grass fed beef, sustainable farming, and treating animals well.  

If you want to meet him yourself, he will be at the Maplewood Farmer’s Market this year. 

The meat arrives on March 26th so we hope to see you soon!

-Maddie

Website: http://www.eatmograssfedbeef.com/

Our mission at Missouri Grass Fed Beef is simple:

>Treat our animals humanely and ethically
>Provide the highest quality grass fed beef in a reliable year round supply
>Enable small farms to continue their way of life while leaving the smallest footprint on the environment

We forbid any growth hormones, steroids, or antibiotics to be given to our cattle so that our customers can be assured of receiving pure, healthy beef the way nature intended.

The beef we sell has been born and raised on the same farm from start to finish.  They are processed at less than 1 year of age which results in the leanest, most tender grass fed beef available.  They have never been fed any grain or animal by-products(standard practice at commercial feed lots) and have only had grass, legumes, mother’s milk, and free choice minerals.

Our family has been in the cattle business since 1945 and we have seen many changes in farming and ranching throughout the decades.  One thing that has not changed is our commitment to the land and to our animals.  We keep our land healthy and productive by utilizing a rotational grazing system.  This insures that our cattle are taking in the highest quality protein. 

 

We now carry salmon

We now carry frozen salmon from Wild Alaska Salmon and Seafood Company.  This company operates out of Illinois and Alaska.  Tony Wood, the owner and fisherman, lives half the year in the lower 48 and half the year in Alaska.  I’ve included the website so that you can read all about this company. http://www.wildalaskasalmonandseafood.com/about.php

We are carrying frozen sockeye salmon fillets (6-10oz) and frozen smoked sockeye salmon.  This is a wonderful product and we’re excited to be carrying their salmon. 

You’ll find it in our frozen food section.  It’s easy to find. : )

-Maddie

 

Meet our farmers–the Edwards

Ethan, Clark, Marie and their pecans

This week we welcomed a new farm to our store–Edwards Farm from St. Claire, Illinois which is also known as Shiloh Valley. Marie Edwards grew up on the farm. She, her husband Clark and their son Ethan, who recently returned home, run the farm. We are super excited to introduce their dried beans and peas. We don’t have them all out yet as we’re still obtaining jars for our newly arranged bulk section, but we do have the black-eyed peas, crowder peas, and shelled pecans available for purchase now. Soon you will find their lima beans, kidney beans, black beans, and an unnamed heirloom bean.

We were also so happy when they also showed up with beautiful sweet potatoes, acorn squash, and butternut squash. As you can guess, it’s hard to find local produce now so this was a special treat. Not as special though as this family. Seriously, they are such a warm, friendly, and genuine group that I want them to permanently hang out at our store and cafe and just visit with people.

Last night they came with a load of pecans for us. They were on their way to see their son Ethan play cello with the St. Louis Philharmonic Symphony. Seriously! I learned a lot in our short visit last night. Here are the highlights and they revolve around pecans. They brought two varieties of pecans–yes varieties of pecans. I think we all get used to thinking that there is one type of everything–carrots, bananas, nuts, tomatoes, etc, because that’s we’ve learned from large chain grocery stores.

Well, last night I was introduced to River Bottom Pecans and Grafton Pecans. We did a little taste test and I was so amazed at the difference. The River Bottom Pecan is a much smaller pecan with a hard shell. It has a very intense pecan flavor–and I mean that in the best way. I can imagine that a pie made with these would be unbelievable. The Grafton Pecan is larger and has a mild earthy flavor. Also delicious.

Marie told me that her grandfather planted the the River Bottom Pecan trees about 150 years ago. The Grafton Pecan trees are probably 90 years old. And I learned that when they were building the Mid-America Airport they passed an ordinance that said no building could be taller than the tallest River Bottom Pecan Tree on the Edwards Farm. I love that.

Meeting this family is another reminder to me about why buying local is so important and a reminder about how much I love the mission of our store and the people who make it possible.

Yours in local eating and sustainable farming,

Maddie

 

Farrar Out Farms–unintentional profile

In case you missed it, Bryan and Christina Truemper of Farrar Out Farms were featured on “All Things Considered,” Oct. 30, 2008 during a piece on the presidential race (everyone know about that? ha.)

A link to the story can be found below. We carry Farrar Out Farms eggs and again this year you can purchase one of their turkeys (see photos on NPR’s website) for Thanksgiving. I’m sure you’ll want to support them as much as we do after you hear this story.

Your purchases at Local Harvest Grocery really do make a difference in the lives of families across our region . Check out the link.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96323476#commentBlock