I have always considered myself ‘anti-green,’ but recently began purchasing organic milk, as well as eggs from my friend with backyard chickens. I’m going a step further and purchasing 1/4 of a cow (I’m a red meat girl myself!) from a local farmer and friends of ours have started a free-range chicken farm. But, all that to say, we are in MO, too — so where are you exactly, and perhaps I can hook you with some of these gals…my SIL’s family has a farm in IA where the cows are actually grass-fed (our 1/4 cow was corn-fed…). It’s a whole new world out there, but I’m learning this is probably the healthier way to go for my own family, as well…

Best wishes to you as you travel a new path to eating!
Karin

My father was a meat cutter. Instead of giving me money during college (which I would have wasted), my dad gave me free steak. There is no way I could ever be a vegetarian! Instead, I married a hunter. I know there are many people who think hunting is cruel. But! My husband says that when he takes the life of an animal, it makes him more aware of being responsible and humane (I think that’s probably true for most farmers who slaughter their own livestock as well). We’re very conscientious about not wasting meat, and my husband has become quite the venison and wild turkey gourmet. (Which always pair well with a nice bottle of wine).

I plan to visit your blog from time to time.

For me, I try to do the best I can every day. I pay a few bucks more and try to get the best quality I can, whether from the grocery store or the home goods store. I feel that in our pursuit of lower prices, we’re also accepting lower quality and higher risks. There’s no way that place with a W can offer eggs for $0.80 a dozen, without something being compromised.

As with wine — you get what you pay for. Me, I’ll spring the extra few bucks for a nice bottle.. or a nice steak!