My dad always says that you can tell a real rancher from dime-store cowboys. The latter are always dressed to the nines. New boots, expensive hats, and big shiny belt buckles. Whereas the former wear whatever they want. They have nothing to prove.
If that is true, then Joel Salatin is the real deal. Just look at his hat. If you are interested in learning about running a grass fed operation, reading or listening to Joel Salatin is a must. He is a pioneer, if you will, in the industry. Michael Pollan showcased Mr. Salatin in Omnivore’s Dilemna.
In this video, Joel Salatin is explaining how he raises “salad bar beef” a.k.a. grass fed beef. His talk is informative and funny. It is definitely worth watching.
He discusses briefly the importance of electric fencing in a grass fed operation. He fails to mention the importance of training your cattle to the electric fencing. You don’t want to do all the hard work of setting it up to have them trample right over it. They have to learn to respect the fence. In another article, I will explain our process for training cattle to electric fencing.
Today, just watch and learn as much as you can from Joel Salatin. Whether you are interested in simply eating grass fed beef or raising it yourself, this video will help explain the grass fed beef operation.
I know that the economy is not good, and we cannot yet see the end in sight. Families everywhere in our country are tightening up their belts and looking for ways to spend their hard-earned money more wisely. At some point, we have to balance the health benefits of organic produce and grass fed meats with the higher cost of each.
I watched Michael Pollan being interviewed on NBC Nightly News. It was filmed on June 24. Michael Pollan has made the documentary, “Food Inc.” He has also written many books on the subject of making healthier food choices. You can read more about it on an article that I wrote also called, “Food Inc.”
In this interview, Mr. Pollan is specifically speaking about the whether or not buying organic is worth the higher cost. He gives great advice as to on what produce we should spend our money. Some produce is not worth spending the money on organic because we peel it before consumption.
The reason that I am showing the interview on “Welcome to the Ranch” is because Mr. Pollan spends a good time discussing organic beef versus grass fed beef. He talks about the health benefits and the environmental benefits. Most importantly for this article, he talks about the most economical way to enjoy grass fed beef. I feel it is an interview worthy of your time.
If you would like either a 1/4, 1/2, or whole order of grass fed beef, please let me know. Like I wrote last week, we are currently sold out, but have started a waiting list. We already have many families waiting for our grass fed beef to be harvested. Now is the time to get your name on the list, too. To read more about the waiting list and what I need from you to be on it, read last week’s article, “A Waiting List.”
At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we do not just raise grass fed beef. We garden organically. We pick wild grapes and berries. We tend our fruit trees. We eat fresh fish from our lake and ponds. Our family believes in the health benefits of eating real food.
Recently I received many phone calls by family and friends who viewed The Oprah Winfrey Show last week. I did not watch it as it aired, but Oprah was interviewing Michael Pollan. He is one of the most famous proponents of natural, healthy foods. When he eats meat, Mr. Pollan chooses grass fed beef, which is why I received all the phone calls.
Michael Pollan has written many books like,The Omnivore’s Dilemna, and has delivered many speeches on the subject of food. You can search his name on YouTube and you will have many different choices of videos to watch. His most recent project has been a documentary called “Food Inc.“ I have not seen the movie, but it has intrigued me. To see more about the movie as well as watch its trailer, click here.
To see a portion of Oprah’s show from January 21st about Food. Watch this video. It starts out with a food quiz. You will not believe how much antibiotics are given to livestock in one year. It is astounding! The clip also gives a peek into the documentary, “Food Inc.”
Oprah’s interview, “Food 101 with Michael Pollan” is available to read. Mr. Pollan also has a new-book out called, Food Rules. In short, Mr. Pollan wants America to get back to what our great-grandparents ate, to eat real food. He calls out other nations in the world that live on seal blubber or cow blood mixed with milk and have little heart problems and/or type-2 diabetes. This line of thought and the desire to eat what our ancestors enjoyed daily is very similar to one of my favorite authors on food and nutrition, Sally Fallon.
In light of all the national debate on health care reform, I think that it is safe to say that we are all concerned about our health. The connection that Michael Pollan makes is how our health is affected by the foods that we eat.
We are concerned about what we eat here on Cross Creek Cattle Company. We are also very happy to be able to offer grass fed beef to the public. Our beef might cost more than a steak at a Super Wal-Mart grocery store, but as Michael Pollan asked, “What are the long-term health costs of buying the cheaper food?” I assure you that our grass fed beef has been raised as a herd on grass. Our beef has not been raised on antibiotics, growth hormones, steroids, or grain. If I might add, our grass fed beef is not only nutritious, but also very flavorful and delicious.
