Get involved with the Weston A. Price Foundation

 Albert Lea has a Weston A. Price Foundation Chapter. The chapter is dedicated to bringing nutrient dense foods to our diet through education, research and activism. It backs the movements of accurate nutrition instruction, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, organic and biodynamic farming, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. Click on the link for a detailed description about the foundation and what it stands for.

Young Pigs Have Plenty to Look Forward To

These young small Duroc and Spot pigs are enjoying their morning soaked oats/legume mix. These pigs are getting acclimated to the farm and soaking the feed in water for 12-24 hours helps their chances to digest the nutrients in the oats because of the sprouting process. When the seed sprouts it is live and full of enzymes which aid in the process of digestion of the little pigs. Soon they will be let out into the garden of corn that you see in the picture. In and amongst the corn is oats,white clover, many varieties of grass and even some turnips. I don't feed our pigs soybean meal like the majority of pigs in the U.S are fed. One reason I don't is because the processing thats involved in making soybean meal deals with High heat which makes the oil in the meal rancid. Rancid oil in the system causes free radical damage at a cellular level which in turn compromises the animal.

If your not aware of the dangers of soy please visit http://www.mercola.com/ and read a little about the history and the findings about soy and why we should hesitate before eating. Here is the attached article. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/09/soy-research-update.aspx

What I find funny is how we are using soy to feed animals. Thats just great we can condense the unfavorable aspects from soil into the animal before we eat it. Something to think about.

"How to eat,move,and be healthy" Paul Chek

Are any of you frustrated with the Food Pyramid? I am! What it really should be called is the "Feedlot Pyramid". Have you ever noticed that if you follow what it tells you to eat that your figure begins to look simliar to it (humpty dumpty). Anyway I've attached the 1st chapter of the book http://www.howtoeatmoveandbehealthy.com/ for you to explore the common sense to taking care of yourself from the inside out. You will find that Paul Chek's views on how to be healthy is polar opposite from what your hear on the radio,tv, or at the doctor's office.

Instructions to making Water Kefir

Water Kefir is an effervescent, cultured and enzyme rich probiotic drink thats filled with microrganisms that balance your inner environment. Benefits of water kefir are as follows: 1) contains the good bacteria and yeasts as well as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes 2) has antibiotic and antifungal properties 3) contributes to healthy immune system 4) stops unhealthy food cravings 5) Aids in digestion of all foods 6) Tonifying affect on the intestines, reduces bloating and flattens the abdominals 7) Cleanses liver 8) Promotes better skin 9) Has a cleansing affect on the endocrine system.

This is a drink you can make for pennies and the value can't be matched in any grocery store. It's also a wonderful replacement for pasturized fruit juices and other sweet drinks. If you experience heartburn this drink is for you. Heartburn is a sign of low hydrochloric acid in your digestive system this will help bring that up and aid in proper digestion.

I will soon have plenty of kefir grains if your interested. If your interested let me know. Below is the instructions on how to make.

Rainy Warm Weather Encourages Summer Pastures

Here the cattle are grazing a 1 acre paddock on a 6 acre field. This pasture consists of Alice white clover, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, and birdsfoot trefoil. The bigger cattle are nearing 24 months in age and are fattening nicely with the lush growth of early summer. The red cattle are predominately South Poll crossed with North Red Devon. These Genetics give a docile animal that fattens nicely on grass. Bringing quality nutrient dense beef to friends, family and customers gives me great satisfaction. Here on the farm in Hayward,Mn we received .75 inch of rain last night June 22. This morning I kept them off the pasture while the sun and wind dried things up a bit to prevent pugging in the pastures. Cattle have cloven hooves so when the soil is soft from bigger rains the cattle will sink and tear up the soil that has plant life on it. If serious pugging takes place it can set the pastures back making them less productive for later grazing.

     As for for the Spot pigs they love it when it rains. The softening affect it has on soil makes a perfect playground for them to root up plants and find worms and other critters to munch on. This definitely makes the pig happy. 

Introduction Blog

Today my friends Zach and Erika came by to teach me the lingo of online advertising and blogging. What an experience this is for a farm boy like myself. I'm starting a blog to get my views out to you on proper nutrition through thoughtful farming. My passion is in grass base farming and that has prompted me to start up Wacholz Farm.