March comes “in like a lamb, out like a lion”

Big kitty footprint, show next to Mark’s hand for size comparison.

March – the fair weather friend month is upon us.  For those of you inclined to the Farmer’s Almanac and iconic sayings about the weather, we note that the first day of March was mild and pleasant, definitely lamb-like.  So we should keep the snowblower handy to take care of the lion later on.

Speaking of lions, Mark, our resident trapper, hunter and wildlife expert found tracks in the snow in his back field which were almost certainly made by a large cat. We’re not talking about an overweight tabby, but a cougar, otherwise known as the mountain lion.  For years now, rumours of sightings have floated around Grey and Bruce counties, with no actual proof in the form of a body.  Skeptics are in the mainstream, weighing in on the reluctance of these majestic cats to co-habitate anywhere populated by humans. They are known to keep away from civilized areas, preferring mountainous, uninhabited regions; hence the name.  But things are changing – that’s for sure – so who knows?

Mark Approves!

New Product: Italian Sausage Patties

These all-pork patties will put a big italian smile on your face! Typically, our patties are a mix of beef and pork (on sale right now!) but these are all pork, seasoned with italian seasoning. Ready for the start of barbecue season!

Sale Products

• Small chickens – like a Cornish Hen, perfect for the slow cooker or oven. 3 to 4 lbs each. 25 lb box; $125.00
• Beef and Pork Patties – 20 lb box – $100.00
• Chicken Necks and backs – great for soup – 20 lb box – $30.00

New Batch of Summer Sausage

We ran out of summer sausage last month, but a new batch is in the works and will be available by the end of March, so keep it in mind when placing your orders.

I think he’s smiling for the camera!

Endemic Times… What Now?

an article by Ted Zettel

As the turmoil of the last two years of Covid Confusion seems to be subsiding, and each of us seeks to re-evaluate our positions in the aftermath, I am asking myself what could be learned from what has been for many individuals, families, institutions and businesses, the challenge of a lifetime. (So far)  As in the famous opening lines of Dickens’ famous story; “It was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.” As with every trial, there is the opportunity for learning.  Pain is the Great Teacher – the more intensely we are challenged the more we are motivated to go beyond our previous limits and to embrace something new and better.  Here are my thoughts on what could be beneficial take-aways, in the related fields of food and health.

Our globalized, industrial food system gives those of us who are privileged enough to be middle-class Canadians access to every imaginable meat, fruit, vegetable and processed product all the time.  And compared to other places we spend a relatively small portion of our disposable income to access this incredible convenience.  When it is working, this is truly a marvel of logistics, taking food from everywhere to everyone everyday.  But it is a very complex and fragile thing.  If one piece of the puzzle falls away, such as a major processor shutting down, or a transportation link failing, being reliant on food from far away becomes a liability.  It is quite likely that the upsets in the economy begun during Covid will continue to cause shortages in the future.  Empty shelves at the supermarket should make us re-evaluate our strategy and move toward regional self-sufficiency in food.

Individuals and families have a powerful part to play in this transition.  By choosing to buy what is locally grown and certified organic; and passing up items like the California strawberries in January, or the apples from South Africa, we can direct the food system toward a more efficient and sustainable future.

Knowing where food comes from; being able to name the producer or drive to the processing facility – these are good things that we should have in place as safety features in an increasingly volatile world.

Reliance on doctors, hospitals and medicine to keep us healthy is an unhealthy attitude.  As the dust starts to settle on the pandemic, we should take note that strong individuals were, for the most part, not susceptible to serious illness.  Keeping ourselves strong has more to do with good nutrition, exercise and a positive outlook on life than with “health care”, and avoiding germs. The everyday decisions we make to eat healthy, whole foods, avoid processed food which tends to be loaded with additives, to get outside and make vigorous exercise part of our daily routine, determine to a great extent our personal health.  We all need a doctor at some point in our lives, and we should thank God for the amazing publicly funded availability of services for all.  But the failure of people to do what is within their own control to stay healthy is placing such immense stress on our hospitals and health care professionals that when an infectious disease comes along, they are quickly overwhelmed.  When I was teaching farmers to transition to organic farming and dealing with wholistic livestock care, I had a slide that said:

Closing restaurants was one of the most drastic COVID measures. Our hearts went out to the independent restaurant owners, who, like farmers, work long hours to keep afloat in one of the most challenging sectors of our economy.  But I can’t help thinking that the families who were forced to adjust by cooking and eating food at home would discover some surprising benefits. Gathering around the supper table has traditionally been a huge part of the stability of the family.  And “As the family goes – so goes civilization”. The great cultures of the world all have their own distinct and unique customs around preparation of food and eating which to a great extent unite them and define their group identity. What are the enduring hallmarks of 21st century Canadian cuisine?  Will historians look back on this as “The Era of Timbits and Big Macs”?  Time spent together preparing and enjoying food, along with each other’s company, in an environment of casual, unhurried conversation, is the stuff of life!