This has been a busy, busy, busy week.
As the race begins with time, I’m overwhelmed some days.
I had the opportunity to go to a local community college to hear & meet Joel Salatin on Wednesday.
Joel is the owner of Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia.
He deliberately lives below the poverty level. He believes that he knows better what to do with his money than the government….I love that!
Yet, he’s rich beyond measure.
Photo Credit: USA Today
If you’ve never heard Joel speak, you’ve missed a real treat. He cleans up real good, just like us Farm GALS who showed up to hear him. The topic of the day was “What is Wealth?” And Joel had one hour in the day long lecture series. Of course he could of talked for hours and hours and I could of listened for hours and hours.
Joel is an out spoken follower of Christ and although he never spoke the Lord’s name, for those of us who knew his faith, we knew he was intertwining a “message” into every word. The kids at the community college didn’t have a clue. He believes, as do I that God is the creator of all. That we are mere caretakers and stewards of the earth. That our practices should be to heal the earth, heal people and heal the food we eat.
Did you know that in 1940 40% of all veggies were grown in backyards?
Have you ever heard of the Terrain Cellular Theory?
Have you ever heard of Antoine Bechamp?
Did you know that Louis Pasteur’s theory on germs was popularly embraced because he was much better looking than his counterpart Bechamp, who taught the Terrain Theory?
Did you know that Pasteur cried out on his death bed just before his last breath…..”I was wrong”.
Loius Pasteur
Antoine Bechamp
PASTEURIAN GERM THEORY vs BECHAMP CELLULAR THEORY
| GERM THEORY (PASTEUR) | CELLULAR THEORY (BECHAMP). |
| 1. Disease arises from micro-organisms outside the body. | Disease arises from micro-organisms within the cells of the body. |
| 2. Micro-organisms are generally to be guarded against. | These intracellular micro-organisms normally function to build and assist in the metabolic processes of the body. |
| 3. The function of micro-organisms is constant. | The function of these organisms changes to assist in the catabolic (disintegration) processes of the host organism when that organism dies or is injured, which may be chemical as well as mechanical. |
| 4. The shapes and colours of micro-organisms are constant | Micro-organisms change their shapes and colours to reflect the medium |
| 5. Every disease is associated with a particular micro-organism | Every disease is associated with a particular condition. |
| 6. Micro-organisms are primary causal agents. | Micro-organisms become “pathogenic” as the health of the host organism deteriorates. Hence, the condition of the host organism is the primary causal agent. |
| 7. Disease can “strike” anybody. | Disease is built by unhealthy conditions. |
| 8. To prevent disease we have to “build defences”. | To prevent disease we have to create health. |
Did you know that affluence causes a disconnect with food?
Did you know that we are about to see a pendulum swing? That a correction is due. We cannot continue down this path that Americans are on. It’s coming and it will correct itself whether you like it or not.
I was at a ladies…..not necessarily termed a Bible Study last night…but just a few women who love the Lord and wanted to connect with some others who are like minded. The funny thing is that although none of us knew that we were going to talk about food……BUT YOU ALL KNOW THAT I CAN’T GO ANYWHERE AND NOT TALK ABOUT FOOD AND HOW IT HEALS…..so of course when it was my turn to share about myself…..it turned to food…that was the open door. Our hostess also had food on her agenda! We didn’t really eat anything….we talked about farming and gardening and prepping for difficult days that lie ahead. It was good.
I stayed out way past my bedtime, but I was blessed completely to know that I’m not alone. To know that I have other women around me who want to get the word out that we must return to our wealth of caring for the land. To grow our food and to heal our bodies of disease. That God wants to use us to shout from the roof tops and bring others along on this journey…..this…sacred journey.
As Joel Salatin said, “it’s a sacred decision” to turn back to the land and to be it’s caretaker. Wealth is not measured by the accumulation of stuff. It’s measured in relationships and love. It’s the time you gather around a table and break bread together. It’s digging in the dirt and knowing where your food came from. It’s looking a farm animal in the eye and knowing that it knows it’s Creator. It truly is sacred.
A Sacred Decision.
Wow.
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This is fascinating stuff!
Hi Pam! I guess 3 hrs south of DC is considered local….BUT nothing around here is easy to navigate around the nations capital….you first need to call the White House and find out if the President, VP or any other big wig is traveling that particular day since the interstates are SHUT down to a halt. You also need to make sure your travels are not during a rainstorm or ice storm. Then you need to make a public announcement that you’d like everyone else to stay home that day! Oh and don’t plan it during vacation season due to gridlock on the major interstates & beltways…other than that yeah, I guess we’re pretty local. We don’t venture out around the city unless we really have to! I was glad that Joel came to our neighboring agricultural county….it was a great opportunity for me…..DANG Sweet Girl for telling me to leave my camera at home!!!!
Hi Liz! I’m so happy to meet another who is healing and is a fighter!!!! You are the umpteenth person I meet who has Lyme and Cancer…..I dare say not a coincidence. Jerry Brunetti believes that the Cancer is a result of the Lyme. So true in so many cases. Ah yes, you just reminded me that I need to put on my pot of coffee….so I can take my upsidedown coffee break! I’ve recently had a new layer uncovered by acupuncture and it’s been a booger to get a handle on….boost that immune system! I don’t believe I have very many layers left….but who knows. Right?
I do believe that it’s the traditional foods that have given me the level of healing I’ve found and of course the grace of God. Eating lots of raw butter with my cod liver oil. Eliminating food intolerances and avoiding grains for the most part. Focusing on raw dairy and farm fresh foods. I pray that your journey continues to find you healing and wellness.
Hi! I just found your blog…as a fellow Lyme fighter, and person healing from canSer using alternative methods, I am delighted to find you
I had a big laugh about your coffee enema posts! I’ve been using them for cancer healing myself…we call it my upsidedown coffee break
I’m learning more and more about traditional cooking, though beginning a juice fast in the next couple of days…I also knit…just a beginner though getting better…
Anyway, I think I’ll put you on my blogroll and be a frequent visitor to your blog…
How ever did I miss this posting of yours Diane.
So informative girl!
Yesterday we got to our first Organic Food Expo. It was the 12th annual one for Kansas City area, though we had only heard of it for the first time a year ago. We had it all scheduled in to go last year but an ice storm hit. Yesterday was rainy but didn’t stop us. Dozens of CSA’s with displays. We made contact with a family in our state that raises 100% Grass Fed Angus…we’ll be getting info from them at some point via email.
How fortunate you are to be near Polyface!
We have friends in Iowa that visited Polyface with one of their daughters quite a number of years back who wanted to learn the how to farm like Joel does in an internship because they had heard he did that. I believe this daughter was in college studying agriculture – but so wanted to learn the organic side. Well they were so immediately taken by Joel’s standards as a believer – He said he would love to do such but he could not and would not take on a young gal and compromise his faith because so much of the work would involve him being off on the farm just with her.
Over the past few days I have been stream lining my blog, even changed the color of it. I’m working towards removing some things and adding other and have some other things in mind that I have not settled on yet. All I know is that I want my blog to honor the Lord completely, otherwise it’s not worth my time.
Take care, have a great week.
Pamela
Gee thanks Donna Rae, it’s so good to have you stop by. Your little garden looks beautiful!!!! Those boxes can grow an abundance of food, even on 1/5 of an acres!!! I love them.
We have a buying club drop-off from Polyface but I still try to buy local from my own farmers and of course this year we’re growing our own meats. I’m sure their food is absolutely delicious! He’s been a great teacher for all of us!
I do love you Nita!!! Honey, growled and said, “thanks a lot!” Well, I think we may rent a skid loader or something just to drag that crap out of there. Yeah, hay packs pretty good!!!! Oh well, I live and I learn. Hopefully I won’t make this mistake again.
I only had a second to say “hello” to Joel and he was the kindest and most gentleman I’ve met in a long time….except for Honey of course! I do envy you for the time you had to spend personally with him…..I wished I’d remembered to mention your name…it was really only a second while they were dragging him out the door like a celeb! Funny thing is, he was to all us farmers, but once he stepped outside he was just Joel!
Was going to comment on a previous post about the deep bedding, but came to this one instead. I can’t resist a good post about Joel, our personal hero. It’s funny to read how people think Michael Pollan made Polyface famous, but he was already famous to anyone reading Acres or Stockman Grassfarmer 15 – 20 years ago. He’s the real deal, I am glad I have had the opportunity to travel to his farm, meet his family, eat meals in his home and to actually see the difference between his shepherding the land and the way his farming neighbors don’t shepherd theirs. Amazing. Always an inspiring speaker no matter what the subject – and a very kind man to boot. Joel for President!!
Mike, Family Friendly Farming, may be what you’re looking for too, in addition to You Can Farm. Family Friendly Farming gives more insight to Joel’s beliefs about the land, and passing it and their business on to the next generation, without all the trappings and problems of modern life. Tapes from Stockman Grassfarmer are a good place too, as well as Acres. The rule of thumb with Joel, is if you want Joel Lite Less Filling, read his Acres USA articles, if you want the Full Fat version, read Stockman Grassfarmer. All good though. We went to a free talk he gave at Nike for their management, and it was great to see Nike asking him to speak since most people are, “Whaa…a farmer, what can he tell us about managing a business?”
Dear Honey, I am sorry if I led Diane down the path of deep bedding – I sometimes don’t explain myself too well and forget what is rote to me, may not be clear to someone else. I would never have enough time in the world to bake all the pies it would cost me if I deep bedded areas that can’t be cleaned out with equipment! So that means I clean my milk cow’s stall every day, by hand and I do not deep bed her. That being said, if I remember right your girls were pulling hay out of their feeder and that became some of the bedding. Hay really packs tight, (think linoleum) compared to straw or shavings. So that probably added to the degree of difficulty for sure. So deep bedding works, but for cows would probably need to be cleaned out with a loader – now, chickens that a different story, the deep bedding is like fluff. Oops I’m throwing out ideas again
Great post Diane – keep up the good work!
What a great post! My husband and I have seen Joel Salatin in a couple of documentaries and hope to attend an event to hear him speak later this Spring. The documentaries show his ideas and farming in action and it’s amazing! What’s also shown is his passion for faith, family and educating the public. One of our local organic grocers sells Polyface meats, and I prepared a Polyface roast recently for my family. As you might have guessed, it was delicious! So glad I found your blog!
Oh I do think you should host such an event Amy. I didn’t know of this either until I was invited. Not just the small grp of ladies last night but I’ve just joined a newly formed Farm GALS grp where topics of farming from CSA’s to Sheep, to Cows are discussed. It’s pretty cool how God’s just opened the door for me. I feel very content where I am right now and I don’t feel alone in my endeavor.
That is pretty neat how you just knew that Joel was a believer. Yes, I do believe the Spirit makes us sensitive to others. Bechamp was new to me too and I couldn’t believe it when I read about him. And to think NO one knows his name…nor his theory which may have saved us all a lot of pain and suffering. But God knows best. And now it’s important that we teach others what we know.
Wow. Best post I’ve read all week. It has given me lots to think about. You know I’m like minded, but some of these names and such are new to me. I believe I saw Joel Salatin in a documentary recently and I immediately detected he was a believer although I don’t believe it was mentioned. Interesting how the Spirit can speak to us this way. I really would like to read some of his works, so thanks for mentioning this. Also, Bechamp is new to me. Very interesting!
How I would have loved to join you ladies!! What a treat! While many out here in CA are doing some of the same things I am, I feel like I’m one of very few who are passionate about it. That’s why my blog is my outlet for this kind of thing. But perhaps I underestimate their desire and I should consider hosting an evening of discussion, too.
Hi Mike, I have read You Can Farm and Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal , the Poultry and Beef books as well. It seems as if there is some overlapping in all of them, which is to be expected. I haven’t read Family Friendly Farming or Holy Cows & Hog Heaven. I would recommend You Can Farm and I loved Everything I Want To Do Is Illegal! Here are the sections in the book You Can Farm: Envisioning Your Future, Examining Your Ideas, Embarking on Your Venture, Evolving The Model, Establishing Your Market. I’d like to find some CD’s maybe from Acres USA or WAPF. He’s quite entertaining for sure! Which ever one you decide on I’m sure you’re going to like it.
It sounds like you had a really great time. I was wondering if you have read all of his books and if so is there a particular one that might deal with his thoughts on wealth and frugal living in a manner similar to the talk he gave at your local college. I have yet to read any of his books but was trying to decide which on to read first. I would be interested in learning about his ideas on wealth and third-way economics. “Holy Cows and Hog Heaven” maybe?
I’m so glad to hear that your mom is doing better….every little bit helps. Hope your weekend is bright and beautiful!
Outstanding post!! Every opportunity I get to see Joel speak I jump on it. Nothing he has ever said has proven to be wrong and we always benefit in some way. We have a local butcher who gets many of his meats from Polyface Farm, so frequently we eat well! Thanks so much for sharing all of this valuable information.
Diane, thank you for your emails and comments regarding my Mom. Quick update, she is doing much better. People like you keeping her in your prayers has definitely been a great comfort and help.
Have a wonderful weekend! – MaLinda