Not only does this video by Bryan Marcel accurately show the conditions on a committed grass fed ranch operation, but he is a big proponent on eating healthier as a lifestyle. Beyond his catchy motto, “Look Better Naked,” he has a healthy diet plan that includes grass fed beef. For more information, check out The Bryan Marcel Healthy Diet and/or read his article, “Unhealthy Americans.”
For most of our customers, they seek out grass fed beef because of a desire to eat healthier. They instinctively know that the more naturally an animal lives the better. They believe the adage, “You are what you eat.” If you eat meat filled with antibiotics and growth hormones, then it stands to reason that the meat will eventually have an adverse effect on your health.
On Cross Creek Cattle Company, we raise our beef in a natural setting in Grimes County. The herds graze natural grasses, and they are currently enjoying planted rye grass. They have access to fresh water and loose minerals. There is no feed-lot setting on our ranch.
To see for yourself, we invite you to tour Cross Creek Cattle Company. Contact me for an appointment so that I can make myself available to you and your family.
A storm came early Monday morning. It woke us up in the middle of the night with swirling winds, lightning flashes, and rumbling thunder. Our youngest boy, Andrew, knocked on our bedroom door as he sought our parental comfort. Our puppy was whining. Typically this scenario would not be welcome. I mean, I treasure my sleep. However after the year we have had, it was a sheer joy to wake up to the sound of the downpour on our metal roof. I did not mind the inconvenience of a whining dog and scared child.
The storm was not short lived. It lasted most of the day, but by noon the really hard rain had left. Instead, a soaking rain set in for a few more hours. We watched as puddles spilled into larger ones, which then eventually led to some minor flooding as the once dry creek beds filled and spilled over.
This was not our first rain during this drought. We have been blessed this fall and winter with occasional showers. They have had an incredible effect on our winter grass. These rains have provided a steady soaking of the ground. In spite of these showers, our ponds and lakes have been lower than we have ever witnessed. Run-off had not really begun to refill them.
We cannot say that anymore. Just look at the before and after photos of the same lake on our ranch. If you will recall, we built the pier this summer in the hopes that we would once again have a full lake.
Taken in late August. The lake dropped another four feet, but I failed to take a picture of it.
Water level as on January 9th.
In literature, a rain like we experienced Monday symbolizes a rebirth or fresh start. This is exactly how we feel. It is like we have turned a corner. Our land is on the mend from the devastating effects of such a severe drought. To receive 6.6 inches in one day is truly a blessing. Cross Creek Cattle Company is looking forward to watching as God heals our land and restores it. What a wonderful way to start this new year!
Alton Brown, host of Good Eats on the Food Network, prefers grass fed beef to grain fed beef. As usual, he presents his argument in a humorous way. Enjoy this clip as Alton explains why he loves the texture and flavor of grass fed beef.
If you have never tasted the true flavor and texture of beef, there is no time like the present. Cross Creek Cattle Company is still harvesting beef. Please contact Lara DeHaven, our Business Manager, today. Her phone number is 936-870-5798 or her email address is lndehaven@aol.com.
I saw the trailer for Freshthis past week as part of the Real Food for Rookies cooking class that my children and I are taking together. I was so intrigued that I have sought out more information.
There is a movement afoot. A movement to get back to the basics. A movement to grow and/or raise our food naturally without herbicides, antibiotics, etc. Cross Creek Cattle Company is part of that movement, too.
As producers of grass fed beef, we have transformed the way we raise cattle. Some ranchers call it re-inventing ranching. That might be the most appropriate term; however, we don’t need to re-invent the wheel. American ranchers/farmers need to find our way back to the way God intended our food to be raised, which is what we are trying to do with our ranching business.
Cattle were created to eat grass. They were created to stay in a multi-generational herd. Since we raise cattle, it only makes sense that I discuss beef all the time. But today, I want to use a different animal to illustrate this point.
When you cram thousands of chickens into a facility in tiny cages, you are simply creating problems because chickens are supposed to forage. They roam around eating bugs, worms, and grass. They will peck at each other in these tight quarters so to remedy that problem farmers have to clip their beaks. The stress of their lifestyle lowers their immune system so farmers regularly administer antibiotics.
The way our country has been raising animals, fruits, and vegetables has created problems that have led us to our current food system. Scientists have genetically modified many of our vegetables as they look for ways to grow disease resistant, fast growing, new and improved produce. According to many experts, the most commonly modified foods are corn and soybeans. We consume hormones, antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, and/or herbicides as we eat our “healthy” grilled chicken, salad, and corn on the cob.
Joel Salatin, a fellow grass fed rancher, says that he is “in the redemption business: healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture.” From this statement, I gather that Joel Salatin feels a strong need to heal our country. Again, the theme is not necessarily re-invent, but instead restore. Mr. Salatin was made famous in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Delight. He also appears in Fresh.
I really want to see this movie, but alas there are no showings anywhere near our ranch. The public should be able to purchase the video soon for personal use. If you are lucky and live in an area where there are showing of Fresh, please write and let me know your thoughts and impressions of the movie.
Until I hear from you or Fresh comes out for sale, I have the trailer to watch. I am including it here at the end of this article for you to view as well. Whether you see the movie or not, a movement is occurring in our farming and ranching communities. Consumers want better, healthier foods. Together we can all work to improve the state of our food supply. Together we can restore and heal the practices in our country.
Rain, glorious rain! It started raining last night and I believe I heard it still raining early into the morning. At about 8 o’clock this morning it began again. We are so excited here at Cross Creek Cattle Company.
It is the perfect rain, too. It is not accompanied with a storm system. We were not under a tornado watch. We did not lose our electricity due to high winds. We were not kept awake with thunder and lightning. It is a steady rain.
Not only is this rain steady, but it is a soaking rain. The water is doing exactly what we need it to do; the water is seeping into the soil nourishing the roots of our plants and grass. It is not running off our pastures into creeks that eventually flow into the Gulf of Mexico. It is not flooding our pastures and putting our herd in peril. As I said before, we consider ourselves blessed with this perfect rain.
As you would expect rain plays an important role on a grass fed ranch. Grass has to have sufficient rainfall to thrive. I know that our cattle and grass fed operation did well despite a drought last summer, but two back to back droughts would have been tough to pull through without many problems, which is why this rain is absolutely glorious.
I have a more selfish need for the rain that goes beyond the pasture conditions. I have a big, organic vegetable garden that badly needs the rain, too. Despite my seemingly constant watering, the plants are turning yellow. The soil is never muddy; the soil has been soaking up all the water. For some reason, watering with a sprinkler is not as good as rain falling from the sky for your garden.
I don’t know the reason, but I have made this observation countless times. The garden always seems refreshed after a rain like this, but not when I water it myself. Maybe it has something to do with the rain bringing cooler temperatures and overcast skies. Whereas when I water, the skies are clear and the sun is still baking the plants. Evaporation of the water might be a key issue as well. Regardless of the reason, I am celebrating the fact that my garden is being refreshed and soaked by rain.
We want the rain to stay, but obviously we don’t want it to rain forever. That would be unhealthy for our grass fed operation and my garden. We want the rain to continue treating us with its blessings throughout the summer. We definitely don’t want to endure another drought. This great rainfall is a good sign that we will not.
