I've eaten vegetarian for awhile-- wanted to try it and see how my body did. Not good. My body really did not like that idea.  I gained weight and felt awful.

We eat meat several times a week; not every meal, and I try to stick to mostly locally-raised meat. I feel a lot better about eating a cow that spent his days out in the pasture I drive by every day than one stuck in a feedlot, but it's not a huge deal for me. I get homeraised chicken if I can, and I trade handmade soap for eggs with a woman down the road.  We live in livestock central. I know so many families whose livelihoods are dependent on raising animals for slaughter or corn/soybeans for market that I can see both sides of the issue. There is a small niche market for organic goats, sheep, and beef but the cost difference is so high, a lot of people who would like to buy organic simply can't.  The cost for half a pork raised by the organic producer was more than double the cost of the same cuts of meat from a traditional producer.  Most families just can't afford that price difference.

Every year or so, my parents and my husband and I go together and purchase a calf, raise it and slaughter it out.  Good meat, and we know how it was raised and what it ate.  When we find a bigger place to purchase, we plan on having room for a few steers, a pig, and chickens so we can raise all of our own meat and eggs.

Organic is not a big deal here, at all. The organic section of the grocery store and walmart consists of a few boxes of sad-looking lettuce and some carrots. And some overpriced apple juice and $3 granola bars. That's it. In fact, eating organic is nearly impossible unless you have enough land to raise absolutely everything you eat. We're in the mecca of livestock/crop growing areas. Mention 'organic' at the coffee shop or feed store where all the farmers are sitting drinking coffee and you're likely to be run out on a rail....

~My Handmade Soaps & Body Products~
Silver Maple Soap Company
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"Handmade Soap is the simplest thing you can do for healthy skin."

Last Edited By: dogsnhorses Nov 20 12 4:06 PM. Edited 2 times.