following up on opportunities
from the--August 27th,
the Third Annual Taste of Slow Food--
San Diego event--
Chefs, Farmers & World Cuisine,
One of the highlights was meeting
News Friends from--
Brandt Beef, a Brawley based natural beef
producer. Brandt Beef is committed to improving
the condition of sustainable beef production,
and providing high quality beef to local restaurants
and outlets.
Many of us in the Curezone, aspire toward
a vegetarian diet and lifestyle, and yet,
I as many, have conflicting feelings about
eating meat.
For more on Dr. Jensen's thoughts
and my own on this topic, read
"Meat as Medicine."
http://curezone.com/blogs/m.asp?f=92&i=1858
For those who eat meat,or who want the best
for our beloved pets that also are carnivores,
it is important to understand
the difference between Commercial Factory Farms
and the growing trend to listen to consumer concerns
and turn away from
hormones and anti-biotics that are common in
Factory Farming.
I have also witnessed positive results
and seen positive results in others
who have benefited from raw meat diets.
Of course, the only meat suitable for such
regimens are the finest, purest, and freshest
meat.
http://www.karlloren.com/human-raw-meat-diet.htm
This Blog also reintroduces
Enchanted Garden Sponsor Anthony Zolezzi.
Anthony has made a significant contribution
to humane animal farming.
(See Pet Promise info below.)
Anthony is also one of the inspirations behind the Organic
Center Mission to move from 2% usage of organics
to 10% usage by 2010.
My Super Ripe Photos are now being used by
the Organic Center. I was also one of the main
photographers at the recent Slow Foods event.
This Blog also quotes
"How Dog Food Saved the World,"
a fictional account of the beginnings
of Pet Promise.
http://www.howdogfoodsavedtheearth.com/
A free copy of this book goes out to
Enchanted Garden Members, 06-07.
____
I met
Tom McAliney, Executive Chef;
and also Brian McCready, the general Manager
of Brandt Beef at the Slow Foods event.
http://www.brandtbeef.com
I also took photos of Mick and Christine Hamilton,
of Hamilton Meat and Provisions, Inc.
Hamilton is Southern California's premier purveyer
of all-natural prime meat,and is in exclusive partnership
with certified all-natural grower suppliers including
Brandt Beef. 619.275.7810.
I planted seed dreams to connect Brandt with
Anthony Zolezzi.
As a gardener, It is almost impossible to get hormone free
cow manure in San Diego. One of my intentions
to was to get a truckload of that for our
Enchanted Garden compost pile. Perhaps this
can open pathways for other local gardeners being
able to get manure that is free of anti-biotics.
Brian said he would hook me up with
Scotty, the feedlot manager for Brandt Beef.
These were notes written
at the Slow Foods Event.
To Anthony Zolezzi, Pet Promise, from Brian McCready
brandtBeef,
"Anthony,
I spoke with Leslie and he gave me a copy of your book.
I am the G.M of a natural beef company and interested
in discussing sustainable food system with you at some
point. We are a vertically integrated family ocmpany with
100,000 head in So. Cal."
Tom asked me to come out and take some photos
of the Brawley Farm for their web site some time
this Fall, when the land looks at its best.
__
Tom McAliney with Leslie
To Anthony Zolezzi, from Tom McAliney, brandt Beef,
Executive Chef.
"Anthony, we raise our cattle naturally but we are interested
in creating a 100% organic herd."
--Tom
More about Pet Promise:
Pet Promise--is a Pet food company
on a Mission. One of the key players
is Anthony Zolezzi, who is also the
the board of directors of the Organic Center.
He is an Enchanted Garden Sponsor, and supported
last Springs successful project to introduce
locally grown organic strawberries in Whole Foods
Market, Hillcrest, San Diego.
The power of our promise:
Since 2005, Pet Promise has helped eliminate 39 million doses of antibiotics in the food chain, and 6.3 million doses of artificial growth hormones fed to cattle.
We've sourced over 1.5 million pounds of natural, pure meat and poultry in our foods, for the health and well-being of our companion animals. And, we're supporting over 1,500 U.S. family farmers who are committed to the humane treatment of animals and use natural and sustainable methods to protect our environment.
Because we say “no” to animal byproducts and protein sources raised with antibiotics and added growth hormones in our pet foods, you can say “yes” to helping U.S. family farms raise natural beef, chicken and bison using humane and sustainable methods. You can say “yes” to feeding your pet like a member of your family. And you can say “yes” to helping us achieve our goal of changing the way farm animals are raised and companion animals are fed. We need your help to make the promise grow.
Join other pet owners and see the difference you could make if you fed Pet Promise to your pet for just one year.
Read the results here:
http://www.petpromiseinc.com/new_pages/power_promise.htm
From "How Dog Food Saved the Earth"
The book describes how more than 70% of the carcass
is leftover.
"After a cow is slaughtered and processed, all the leftovers, the stuff
that isn't usable, gets sold to rendering plants."
"Well,in general the meet industry in controlled by factory farms,
or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO's). In fact, they
aren't farms in the traditional sense. The conditions are horrible.
Imagine hundreds of acres of grassless land, dried dirt or mud
depending on the time of year, fences formed into hundreds of pens,
and tens of thousands of cows walking around in each other's waste.
"Because CAFO's create so many leftovers, they can sell it for a much
cheaper price and still make a profit."
"...The family farmers, on the other hand, barely breaks even..."
Excerpted from Pages 78-79.
There are many family farmers who use humane animal farming methods.
This trend is expanding.
____
Seed Dream--truckload of high quality manure
for the Enchanted Garden from Brandt, a natural
beef producer I met at the Slow Foods Fundraiser,
August 27th.
___
other theme:
Gardens can be built up without animal
fertilizers, using vermiculture--worm farming,
but for the most part, animals
are essential to the farm balance.
Cow Manures are used in Biodynamic Farming.
Tierra Miquel, the Biodynamic farm and teaching
center in San Diego County, uses them.
____
3:49 AM
9/6/06
Research Links and notes:
http://www.silliker.com/html/index.php
mentioned on Brandt Beef site--
I wanted to know what kind of testing they do....
mentioned here on Brandt Site...
HUMANE HANDLING AND FOOD SAFETY
Animal handling and food safety are paramount to our operation and we are committed to providing beef raised and produced using the best and most humane technologies available. Furthermore, we also require that our processors complete and pass a Silliker Laboratories Audit. The audit consists of three parts: Humane Handling, SRM Removal, and GMP’s (General Manufacturing Practices). This extremely stringent, world renowned, 3rd party audit ensures that proper practices are being followed. Their seal of approval represents quality and confirms the highest of standards are being maintained throughout the production process.
What is SRM Removal?
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/bseesb/specrisinde....
Do we have to eat our animals to sustain ourselves?
NOTES:
4:02 AM
Woke up with more uncomfortable feelings about this topic
of Humane Animal Farming.
I am wondering what kind of lifestyle changes would
I/would we have to do to live in harmony with a vegetarian lifestyle?
I was invited to visit the Brandt Beef plant to take some photos
sometime this fall.
What am I doing with my time?
What kind of changes do I have to make?
This is the second time I have been drawn into
relationship with a meat company.
At the NPEW last March, I made friends with
another company....I have to review my notes for the name.
One of the guys was describing to me the process of humane
animal treatment....at a certain point the animal becomes a carcass.
They described the procedure. I felt uncomfortable hearing about
it, even this process that was among the most humane.
I rarely eat beef--sometimes I feel depleted and go for it...
generally Whole Foods Market meats.
Prefer to make a stew at times..sometimes have felt good
eating raw ground 22% with raw unfiltered honey...Angenus Vonderplanitz
idea (sp?)
I can hardly fathom the lifestyle changes I am being asked to make...
enough to wake me up right now.
4:12 AM
Did you ever read this piece by Jonathan Swift?
http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html#hit
Note: Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), author and satirist, famous for Gulliver's Travels (1726) and A Modest Proposal (1729). This proposal, where he suggests that the Irish eat their own children, is one of his most drastic pieces. He devoted much of his writing to the struggle for Ireland against the English hegemony.
4:19 AM
feeling hungry right now...
did not eat well last night...
I wonder if a person who feels they
need meat as food is not already starving.
Prepared foods are so convenient....
Fruit was easy to eat...
and yet...for many of us out of balance,
too much fruit causes further imbalance.
your eg