tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post2927134164814580541..comments2023-10-08T08:24:29.055-07:00Comments on Ah,Life: Dead ChickensRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10371163714955983800noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-84178372979059036332012-02-21T21:57:41.548-08:002012-02-21T21:57:41.548-08:00I'm wondering... is Seth ALWAYS right? It see...I'm wondering... is Seth ALWAYS right? It seems like it.<br /><br />Hunting is something that to me, too, feels like such an elegant answer to the dilemmas you discuss... You know the animals have had a GOOD LIFE. They were given a GOOD DEATH. AND they ate a healthy diet, relatively free of chemicals!<br /><br />I'm not a hunter but I'm admiring and envious of them--they are the only ones amoung us (well, among us meat-eaters) who don't pay others to do our difficult, dirty work for us.<br /><br />I do have hunters in my family, I think they could be enticed to share but--alas, I don't eat red meat. (Paul and I gave it up a dozen years ago, when he read Fast Food Nation. I don't know all the precise details, but I decided if it was enough for him, it was enough for me to give up red meat. Plus I never liked it that much anyway.) <br /><br />Anyway we made that small change years and years ago... and I have known, in the intervening years, about factory farms but only recently was able to do anything about it where my own practices are concerned. And I can't say that anything really happened for me to take action, just... I was finally ready. I remember, over a year ago, reading about how well known it has been, for so long, that factory animals "live lives of sheer misery." And I thought: YES. It has been known, and in fact I myself ME have known, so why do I pretend like I DON'T know?!<br /><br />Argh. But eating, like you say, IS a personal thing and it's so deeply etched into the patterns and needs and feelings of our daily lives and changing a single habit is hard, even if you (well, I) hate what I'm doing. <br /><br />But in the end, I was able to make a big change by starting to make little changes, one at a time: not eating red meat. Then, when it came to cooking poultry items at home, only buying free range. Then, I slowly cut out other items--turkey sausage I miss the most since free range sausage isn't a thing around here--and now I also only eat free range when I eat out, which means being limited to fish and cheese, sometimes, but that's okay. I no longer feel like... please don't be offended anyone... I no longer feel like an a-word, when I eat. I try to eat a cruelty-free diet--I guess you could say I try to be a good-karmavore. (:D That phrase came out by accident when I was telling friends about what I was trying to do and it cracked me up.)<br /><br />But I had no idea, when I started, that making small changes would lead to a big one. (The commitment to goodkarmavorism.) I just knew that making small ones lifted a weight of worry and feeling like an ugly person who participated in suffering and misery for FOOD. And we can afford to pay a little more. Most (not all) Americans can. I just kinda regret my hypocrisy and taking the easy way out for so long--I can so well remember being at the grocery store and picking up a package of meat and looking at the price and thinking, "What? So much?" And putting it back. Why? Why was I so concerned about the price to my pocketbook when my soul was hurting? Why did it take so long? I wish I had my whole life of callous choices to do over.<br /><br />So anyway that's what worked for me. (Regret. Ha! That's what works!) <br /><br />I wanted to say, your idea of mindful eating is... beautiful. That's the word. I think that's what lots of hunters do--mindful hunting. They're aware and grateful and they cause no unnecessary suffering.<br /><br />WHO among us who doesn't hunt can say the same? <br /><br />I will try to be aware and grateful at dinner. And whenever I can. This was a good reminder.<br /><br />Love, <br />H.<br /><br />p.s. I learned from all the comments and I can so relate to Kate--not about food but just life in general. I want to do better but it... what? It's hard. But this I can do and I will keep trying about other things where I feel I have any influence for good.heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02194614616594881998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-69661025808406726782012-02-21T10:09:39.656-08:002012-02-21T10:09:39.656-08:00Now I'm much more motivated to try to kill an ...Now I'm much more motivated to try to kill an elk this fall because I don't want to give up meat but I also want animals to have a good life. Hunting = Problem Solved! Nice!Sethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01324278771922618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-28454263689934841092012-02-17T22:57:57.488-08:002012-02-17T22:57:57.488-08:00I grew up in Ririe, but my prime contacts (my pare...I grew up in Ririe, but my prime contacts (my parents) are currently on a mission in South Carolina. But I'll ask next time I talk to them if they know of any chicken farmers there. I personally don't. My guess, though, is that there aren't any overly-occupied hen houses in Ririe. Everyone there seems to have at least an acre of land, so it'd make the most sense to let them be free-range. But that's just a guess. Next time you buy some, though, see if you can find out more info. Likeā¦ a name? And I'll see what more I can find. (email me at tiannahomer at gmail)Tiannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10225416679542274879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-47034306442100653612012-02-17T06:59:26.599-08:002012-02-17T06:59:26.599-08:00Eggs are pretty much the only thing I try to buy t...Eggs are pretty much the only thing I try to buy that are from "free-range nesting hens." They are a little more expensive than the regular ones, but it does make me feel better about eating them. I actually don't buy a whole lot of chicken, but when I do, I can generally find the organic "nice" chicken on clearance because it's a bit more expensive than the regular stuff so it doesn't sell as well. I try to buy up all the discounted packages so it lasts a while.<br /><br />I don't know that I could give up meat. I just like it too much. At least cows anyway. But I figure somebody has to eat them otherwise they wouldn't have a purpose and wouldn't be around. So I'm giving them LIFE! HA! jk I think it's great if you can pull off the vegan thing. I think the farthest I could ever go is vegetarian. I just love eggs and dairy products way too much.<br /><br />Anyway, that's not to say I haven't found a few vegetarian meals that I love. Some of my favorite recipes don't include meat and could probably be tweaked to be vegan. There's a grilled portobello sandwich that I love and the other day I made Greek Quesadillas which were fabulous. It's all about finding the right recipes. If you're looking for a place to start there's a blog I follow called Daily Garnish (link on my sidebar) and she's a vegan who posts her own recipes. Lots of good stuff out there if you're willing to look around try some new foods!Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13768786324207810131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-81163251302742213702012-02-16T21:46:11.453-08:002012-02-16T21:46:11.453-08:00So thoughtful and well-written. I have a lot of th...So thoughtful and well-written. I have a lot of the same concerns. <br /><br />This is something that someday, I really, truly want to worry about. But right now I am overloaded and can barely manage to get ANY meal on the table, or even groceries in the house. The thought of changing it all up, figuring out new ways of eating and places for getting good, happy food--it would tip me right over the edge.<br /><br />I will say that we eat meat far less frequently than what I grew up with. Two, maybe three times a week tops. But that's not anywhere near what I would consider "sparingly." Someday...Kate Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18677325.post-13600581250815796862012-02-16T21:42:21.957-08:002012-02-16T21:42:21.957-08:00I generally go out of my way to buy free range/gra...I generally go out of my way to buy free range/grass fed chicken eggs. Besides the fact that the animals are treated better, their eggs and flesh are healthier. I have seen a small farm house here in the Shelley area with a big hand-written sign on it that says "Fresh Eggs!" that I have been curious about but I feel odd just walking up to someone's house with my debit card saying, "I would like a dozen large eggs, please." :) Maybe I will get brave.Lara Zierke https://www.blogger.com/profile/14678809883294746934noreply@blogger.com