Let's Face It...

Okay, people are going to eat meat. End of Story.

As much as I wish we lived in a world where everyone only lived off of fruits and vegetables and animals coexisted with us human folk and all we did to them was love them too much, that's never going to happen.

In fact, I'll admit that that's a pretty ridiculous idea to have.
So while I certainly promote this wonderful vegetarian lifestyle, not everybody is dying to join in.

So what now? Well, accepting the inevitable fact of animal farming for meat products I suppose.
Luckily, there are some farms that are working towards creating a more natural, humane environment for the animals, and farming in a more sustainable and organic manner. And hey, that's really something. 

If you're wondering what this ideal farm that I have in mind is, I'll tell you: it's Afton Field Farm.
Afton Field Farm is located in the same town as my school, Corvallis, Ore. and was founded by a young Oregonian couple, Tyler and Alicia Jones. Afton Field Farm uses a rotational grazing method in which the animals are pasture raised and live off of the products of each other, like what happens in a natural ecosystem. And, all the animals (other than the chicken who eat "feed") are grass-fed, so at least they are vegetarian!
But, I don't think they're reading this blog... Anyway...

This technique provides a more humane environment, and allows the Joneses to farm without the use of pesticides. While the farm is not certified organic by the USDA, the Joneses say that is largely due to the high costs of becoming certified and the politics behind it. They say that they would rather have the customer come out the the farm and see for themselves how organic they are.

The livestock they raise includes pigs (for pork), cows (for beef), chickens, lambs, turkeys, chickens to lay fresh eggs, and bees for honey. And while the only thing I would personally consume from their farm would be the honey, their customers also find comfort in the humane slaughtering technique that they use, which is slitting the animals throat (this is humane compared to other methods in my opinion).

Afton Field Farm is the brain child of Tyler Joneses college apprenticeship at another farm in Virginia that uses the same techniques. That farm is called Polyface Farms Inc., and was founded by the Salatin family.

Here's a clip of Joel Salatin talking about industrial, factory farms from the popular documentary Food Inc., in which Polyface Farms Inc. was featured:

Okay, so farming livestock is certainly not my favorite thing in the world, but since it is inevitable, it seems that this is the best way to do it.

Also, the farms are environmentally friendly, having little impact because they are not using industrial factories or shipping long distances with large trucks, ships, or planes. Many studies have also found the pasture raised, grazing method to be better for the environment as well.

These farms are certainly the "lesser of two evils", and as a vegetarian (living on planet earth), I can respect what they are doing for the omnivores of the world.

It is my hope now, that more people and farms will "keep up with the Joneses" and adopt this technique to help make livestock farming a little bit better for the animals that we use.
Even though I still don't think its quite as stupendous as being a veggie

*Alicia Jones also has a very nice blog called "High Heels in the Barnyard" about being a former city girl living on a farm, I suggest checking it out*