Food, Inc.--New Movie...New Motivation To Grow Your Own!

This past weekend, a movie called, Food, Inc. was released. If you have the proverbial "stomach" to go see it, perhaps it may entice you once again to take garden hoe in hand, canning jar to task, and 5 gallon bucket to fill...with whole grains and cereals. Here are a few comments about this lastest release:

New film exposes unsavoury side of US food industry

By Leonard Doyle in Washington
Published: 7:05PM BST 14 Jun 2009
The much-anticipated documentary Food, Inc. opens this week, many may find themselves unable to finish their snacks as the film exposes some unsavoury realities about how food reaches the dinner table.

Major food producers would not agree to be interviewed for the movie and they tried to ban the filmmakers from their stock yards, pig farms and chicken barns.

The documentary claims cows are fattened up on heavily subsidised corn, even though they cannot digest the grain properly and their guts become breeding grounds for deadly E. coli strains as a result.

It also says chickens with oversized breasts are grown to maturity and are ready to be slaughtered twice as quickly as they would be naturally, thanks to chemicals in their feed.

There is also stomach-churning footage of conveyer belts packed with little yellow chicks being pushed around like mechanical parts; a cow, barely alive, being dragged around by a forklift; and herds of squealing pigs being forced onto a factory "kill floor".

Food Inc is being released as America is finally starting to wake up to the public health crisis fuelled by its eating habits and food industry

In the film, the best-selling food writer Michael Pollan says: "The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000. You go into the supermarket and you see pictures of farmers, the picket fence and the 1930s farmhouse. The reality is, it's not a farm, it's a factory. That meat is being processed by huge multinational corporations that have very little to do with ranches and farmers."
The film addresses the country's epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Among young Americans born after 2000, one in three will contract early onset diabetes. For blacks, Hispanics and American Indians a staggering one in every two will contract the disease.

"The industry doesn't want you to know the truth about what you're eating because if you knew, you might not want to eat it. We've never had food companies this big and this powerful in our history."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/5533075/New-film-exposes-unsavoury-side-of-US-food-industry.html


Fast-Food Nation Kills Kids, Sickens Corn-Fed Cows: Interview

June 12, 2009
By Rick Warner
Bloomberg

Food is like air, an essential ingredient of life that most of us consume daily without much thought. “Food, Inc.” may change your attitude.

The new documentary dramatically shows how the U.S. food industry is controlled by a handful of conglomerates that churn out products that can make us -- and their workers -- sick.

“It’s all about producing food that’s cheap and plentiful,” Michael Pollan


Warner: Monsanto, Tyson, Smithfield, Perdue. Why are so few companies producing most of our food?

Pollan: Fast-food franchises have a lot to do with it. They need huge quantities of beef for hamburgers and huge quantities of chicken for chicken nuggets. And they want their food to taste the same everywhere in the country. So they’d rather deal with one producer instead of 50.

Warner: Cows are now being fed corn instead of grazing on grass because it makes them grow bigger and faster. How does that affect the health of the cows and the quality of the meat they produce?

Pollan: Cows aren’t designed to eat corn, so it makes them sick and their guts become a breeding ground for E. coli. Forty percent of the animals on feed lots are carrying it. It gets into the food supply through manure. And when you’re slaughtering 400 cows an hour, the way some of these places do, it’s very easy for the manure to get into the meat.
The government can recall toys and cars, but it doesn’t have the power to recall meat. That’s left up to the companies. Which tells me the government can’t ensure the safety of our food supply.

Revolving Door

Warner: Isn’t part of the problem the revolving door between the industry and government agencies? The movie documents how industry officials end up running the agencies that are supposed to regulate their former businesses.

Pollan: People go back and forth all the time. The food industry is one of the most powerful lobbying forces on Capitol Hill. They usually get what they want

Warner: What can the average person do to change the system?

Pollan: They can do a lot. Never underestimate the power of the consumer. Wal-Mart listened when consumers said they didn’t want milk from cows treated with (artificial growth) hormones. And McDonald’s stopped using genetically modified potatoes after consumers complained. People can vote with their pocketbooks.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9lvgmYFkJHFOGOpJbIb5xfmnGuwD98O27A82

Instead of spending money to go see the movie, maybe you should invest in a couple packages of seeds...

Food Safety and Bioterrorism

Another GREAT and Expedient reason to start your own food storage program! Please click the link below...then decide for yourself!





Just type in key words food safety and bioterrorism once you reach the site!

How to Can Sauerkraut

If you are not going to use your sauerkraut up right away, or you were brave enough to make a big batch..., you probably will want to can up your "kraut". I tend to can my sauerkraut in pints not quarts, as we do not eat sauerkraut on a regular basis and I find that a pint of sauerkraut is plenty. So, here are the basic steps on canning your sauerkraut:

Fill pint or quart jars with sauerkraut
Add boiling weak brine to sauerkraut if needed to fill jar to 1/2 inch from top. (To make brine, dissolve 1.5 tbs. salt in 1 quart of water)
Wipe jar rims
Adjust lids and bands
Process in boiling bath for approx. 30 minutes for quarts, 25 minutes for pints

If you haven't had a chance, please read my other posts on how to make big and small batches of sauerkraut!
Enjoy that next hot dog roast!

Codex Alimentarius: Look Out For December 31, 2009

There is a saying that goes like this: "He who controls the food, controls the world." If you are unfamiliar with the term "Codex Alimentarius", it is HIGH time that you educate yourself....because it has every thing to do with you and your health. Please watch the following video (and there are many more done by this woman that are EXCELLENT):



One of the beauties of a home food storage program, is that you can remain somewhat in control of your food supply. But, you must do more! You need to educate yourself in homeopathic or alternative medicines! Learn more about the Native Remedies range of homeopathic, herbal remedies.
You must get a good, clean water supply! Check out Big Berkey
or IsoPure Water
Another alternative is to silver to your water....it has been shown to kill pathogens in your water and boost immunity...check out your options at Village Resource Solutions, LLC
And above all, you need to acquire your own food by canning or bulk food storage. Or visit Nitro-Pak.com
where you can look into obtaining a food storage package. Your family will eat more nutritiously and be more satisfied.
You don't have much time...acquire canning supplies, food storage containers, etc., non-hybrid seeds, etc. And, educate yourself as to what you are up against.

Global Food Catastrophe 2009

One of the main reasons for setting up this blog was to share some of the expertise I have garnered over the years. I began storing my own food around the Y2K scare....yes, I thot something was going to happen. But, I do not regret any decision or action I took back then. I learned more about self-sufficiency, proper food storage, and basically took charge of my life and the welfare of my family. There have been times when "work" outside the home was "scanty". Needless to say, we were all happy to have healthy and hearty meals on the table regardless of our economic condition.
I read an article yesterday, and I would like to share it with you. If this article doesn't convince you to get started on a home food storage program....I'm not sure what will. You will find the article at http://www.marketskeptics.com/2009/02/2009-global-food-catastrophe.html

Start a canning program. Start putting up bulk food. Please use the tips and suggestions on this blog to help you and your family prepare for the days ahead. You don't have a lot of time!
Be prepared for the coming food shortage.

Canning: 3 reasons you cannot afford not to!

Start Canning NOW! Tips to getting on the road to self-sufficiency

It's winter time, and the last thing on most people's mind is the garden and putting up food! However, this is a great time to start preparing for the canning season! The "early bird gets the worm!"
Here are a few simple suggestions to get you thinking and STARTED with canning!

1. STOP throwing out or recycling those mayonnaise jars and pickle jars--they are GREAT for canning, especially for fruits and juices!

2. SHOP at your local thriftstore and look for jars, canners, or other canning accessories. Do not wait until the canning season. If you do....they won't be there!

3. If you do find some jars at the 2nd-hand store, carefully examine the jars for cracks and chips. Run your finger over the mouth of the jar to ensure it is smooth and free from imperfections.

4. DO go to estate and garage sales and inquire about canning supplies--often you will hit the "mother-lode" and save BIG TIME on jars, etc.

5. Put out the word at your workplace, church, neighborhood, that you are wanting canning jars, etc. You will be surprised at the response! People have basements, garages, and attics filled with empty jars waiting to be filled by YOU! (and often they are FREE!!!!!)

6. Each time you go to the store, pick up 1-2 packages of canning lids. Lids can be expensive; the cheapest source I have found is at Wal-mart. To accumulate a good supply over a period of time helps in the overall cost. When the canning season is upon you, you can spend your money on the produce instead, and have the peace of mind that you have plenty of lids on hand.

7. Be Ready to look for canning equipment sales towards the beginning of summer! Also, be aware that many stores start closing out canning supplies in late August/early September...a great time to stock up for the following year!

It may not seem the time to be thinking about canning, but there's no better time than now to prepare! So, good luck and HAVE FUN!!! You're way ahead of the game!