May Musings~Youngblood Grassfed Farm

Hello Local Food Lovers

I have been keeping lists of things to tell all of you!  There seems to be so much going on lately, spring quickly melts into summer.  Let me tell you of a few things before I forget!

*Farm Day: June 12th, 10:00 a.m.  We will meet at the EZ-Mart in Wickes, actually behind it.  We will be traveling to 2 different farms, the roads are dirty and bumby, so small cars are not recommended.   Be sure to bring lawn chairs, sunscreen, wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring a sack lunch.  We will provide the drinks and antibacterial gel!!

*Locally Grown Clothing Co.  Here is a new company, just in case this interests you.  They have some neat products that promote, help you spread your beliefs and network with like-minded food lovers. 

*Farmer's Market Schedule starting soon!!  We will begin our farmer's market schedule the last week of May.  
          Tuesdays, Starting May 25th, Gateway Farmer's Market, Texarkana, AR (Jefferson and 9th)
          Thursdays, Starting May 27th, Polk Co. Farmer's Market, Mena, AR (Depot Parking Lot)
          Fridays, delivery to Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village and Little Rock online markets.

*If you haven't already, please join our Facebook group for quick updates, photos and funnies.

*If you are interested in buying in bulk, such as a whole, half or quarter beef, whole or half hog, or whole goat or lamb, email me and I will add you to our list.  The pigs will be ready sooner than the beeves.  We are happy to help you out!

*We have scheduled another day at the processor, June 2.  So if you see we have ran out of an item, check back with us.  We are increasing production just for you.


An Appreciative Thought
Last week was a tremendous struggle to get through.  We literally skipped lunch 3 days because we just didn't have the time to stop and eat.  As I was driving through Hot Springs to make deliveries, a car turned right in front of me into a grocery store parking lot.  I almost hit them.  I was mumbling and grumbling about this and going through a mental list of why we do what we do.  (These seem to be the times our reasons aren't clear.)  Then a thought struck me.  The fabulous folks that I was delivering to right that very moment chose NOT to pull into a grocery store- industrial food chain supplier.  Yes, at times, it would be easier on you to run to the store instead of driving downtown to pick up an order.  Yes, at times, it would be easier to not care about our world, our communities or our economy.  I realized what a symbiotic, dynamic, living relationship we have.  And, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  We thank you for educating yourself, choosing to spend your food dollars with us, and mostly, caring!  You folks make more difference to us and our world everyday by your steadfast choice.  I dedicate this quote to you:

                                     Little and Often amount to MUCH


Another "Calamity-ville" Story
We travelled to Montgomery, Texas last Friday and Saturday to pick up our bulls.  We usually have a piece of equipment that is questionablly safe for travel.  Andy took care of this by having the trailer inspected thoroughly at an auto shop.  Everything was great!  We took off.  Things went well until about an hour after dark, the trailer lights went OUT.  All we had were brake lights and turn signals, no running lights of any kind.  We stopped and bought fuses.  It blew again within 10 miles.  We drove the final 2 1/2 hours with our hazard lights on.  Do you know you can hear that blinking sound in your sleep??  The next day was super.  We heard some great speakers, networked with tremendous folks (hello Rudy and Ricky) and even bid on some heifers for sale.  We loaded the bulls and headed back.  Andy decided we would try a little cowboy ingenuity.  (This wasn't his first rodeo with faulty equipment.)  We bought duct tape, flashlights, batteries and some red plastic lids.  Andy and Ben rigged up the two flashlights with cut-to-fit red lids to simulate taillights and then duct-taped the entire contraption to the side of the trailer.  (I took a picture of this, but Andy was NOT in an amiable mood, so it isn't too pleasant).  The lights lasted, oh, about 15 miles.  We tried a larger fuse and a larger prayer!  We got all the way home with lights!  We also saw about as many police cars as county lines we passed over, expecting each time they would turn around to investigate our bizarre-o trailer!  Just another day on the Youngblood home-front, for which we praise HIM for safety and answered prayers!  But, finally, the result of efforts, Maverick:




                                       Wild, Isn't he???


A Start
I started reading recently about GMO's.  Let me say, I have not completed compiling my information.  There are literally volumes and as much as I push the kids to learn the ability, I cannot seem to summarize very well.  But I will try because I know you have much to do.  I only hope this will start your own search party! 

Some Disturbing Facts:
GMO: genetically modified organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes.  (Wikipedia)

A gene engineer, in a laboratory, combines traits that would not combine naturally, like animal or bacterial genes by splicing them into the chromosomes of plants. This gives the plant the ability to be sprayed with mulitiple chemicals to control weeds and not be hindered in it own growth.  These chemicals are obviously in the plant chemistry as well as the soil, in tremendous amounts.  This engineering also removes the ability of a plant to reproduce.  The unnatural product of genetic engineering is a "terminator gene" that causes a crop to not reproduce, just in case a farmer decides to save him some seeds instead of buying them from the seed company.  (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver)
There are 6 main seed companies that control 98% of the world's seed sales: Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Mitsui, Aventis and Dow.  Agribusinesses patent their varieties of seed and aggressively investigate and prosecute seed savers.  They also patent varieties for the purpose of removing them from production.  (Kingsolver)

I haven't even began to scratch the iceberg of health related issues involving GMO's.  The above facts scare me enough to scour the sites like Seed Savers' Exchange and Slow Food International.  I likely won't put a dent into the big six by planting heirloom seeds in my garden, but when I choose to buy my corn, peas, eggs or meat from a local farmer, educate others or share a delicious meal with a friend, I am exercising the notion that "little and often amount to much."  I am also learning and will continue to look outside of my box, reach outside of my comfort zone and be healthier for it.  Would you join me?

Blessings,
Tracy