Our Natural Life » Sustainability http://ournaturallife.com/blog Provocative discussions about leading a holistic, sustainable, and healthy life Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:23:59 +0000 en hourly 1 Searching for accurate information and provocative discussions about living a holistic, sustainable, and healthy life? Join hosts Jon and Cathy Payne for informative interviews with local and national experts, authors, farmers, filmmakers, and chefs. A bimonthly podcast of varied length that focuses heavily on the principles of Weston A. Price Foundation, Slow Food, sustainable agriculture, and buying local food. Reported through the lens of the hosts lives in rural Georgia. Jon and Cathy Payne no Jon and Cathy Payne jppaynesr@gmail.com jppaynesr@gmail.com (Jon and Cathy Payne) © Alchemy New Media LLC - All Rights Reserved Provocative discussions about leading a holistic, sustainable, and healthy life Weston A. Price, sustainability, sustainable food, holistic health, farming, organic, nutrient dense food, slow food, biodiversity, locavore, pastured meat, raw milk Our Natural Life » Sustainability http://ournaturallife.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/itunes144x144.jpg http://ournaturallife.com/blog/category/sustainability/ TV-G Elberton, GA Monthly The Case Against Flouride with Dr. Paul Connett Podcast ONL076 http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/05/the-case-against-flouride-with-dr-paul-connett-podcast-onl076/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/05/the-case-against-flouride-with-dr-paul-connett-podcast-onl076/#comments Sun, 29 May 2011 18:46:55 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=587 Chemist Paul Connett, PhD, spoke with us compellingly last month about the case against mandatory flouridation of tapwater as practiced in most American municipalities. He is author of The Case Against Flouride: How Hazardous Wasted Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep it There with co-authors [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/05/the-case-against-flouride-with-dr-paul-connett-podcast-onl076/feed/ 2 Ecology,Expose,Heritage Rabbits,Homesteading Chemist Paul Connett, PhD, spoke with us compellingly last month about the case against mandatory flouridation of tapwater as practiced in most American municipalities. He is author of The Case Against Flouride: How Hazardous Wasted Ended Up in Our Dri... Chemist Paul Connett, PhD, spoke with us compellingly last month about the case against mandatory flouridation of tapwater as practiced in most American municipalities. He is author of The Case Against Flouride: How Hazardous Wasted Ended Up in Our Dri... Jon and Cathy Payne no 80:25 Living in the Land of Milk and Honey Podcast ONL075 http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/04/living-in-the-land-of-milk-and-honey-podcast-onl075/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/04/living-in-the-land-of-milk-and-honey-podcast-onl075/#comments Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:07:04 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=573 Rashel and Andrew Harris are a young homesteading couple in Texas expecting their first baby in June. Rashel discovered the Weston A. Price Foundation and nutrient-dense food after buying a copy of Nourishing Traditions. After a period of seeking out nutritious food from local farmers throughout Texas, they decided to start producing their own closer [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2011/04/living-in-the-land-of-milk-and-honey-podcast-onl075/feed/ 4 Homesteading,Lifestyle,Local Food,Price,raw milk,Real Milk,Weston Price Rashel and Andrew Harris are a young homesteading couple in Texas expecting their first baby in June. Rashel discovered the Weston A. Price Foundation and nutrient-dense food after buying a copy of Nourishing Traditions. Rashel and Andrew Harris are a young homesteading couple in Texas expecting their first baby in June. Rashel discovered the Weston A. Price Foundation and nutrient-dense food after buying a copy of Nourishing Traditions. After a period of seeking out nutritious food from local farmers throughout Texas, they decided to start producing their own closer to home on their 66 acres. They are eating great now, becoming self-sufficient, and loving their new lifestyle. Jon and I really enjoyed talking with them and hearing about their journey. It was so exciting to hear from Rashel and Andrew about how Sally Fallon's book literally changed their lives as they began to think about where their food came from and purchase directly from farmers. In their frustration in finding nutrient dense food, they realized that they could take charge of their food by producing it on their land. In a community where free ranging cows are the norm, growing vegetables, meat chickens, and keeping a milk cow is not. They have been inspired by Podcasts and learned to make their own soap and other needs on the farm. One thing I really admire about Rashel and Andrew is the way that they have embraced and applied their new found information and they way they are eager to share with and teach to others. Rashel followed a pre-pregnancy diet rich in vitamins A and D in order to achieve health prior to conception. For example, Sally Fallon states that pastured eggs contain 8x more Vitamin D than a grocery store egg. And vitamin K2 from the green grass Rashel's cow is eating puts K2 into the raw milk. This prevents calcification of arteries and improves brain function, Sally says. Real foods are those that you hunt, pick, fish, dig, or milk. Rashel is doing her share of these activities! Rashel attributes the easy pregnancy she is experiencing to eating real, nutrient dense food and tells her friends she will be hoeing the garden with baby in tow like a real farm woman soon! Nothing is going to slow her down. Rashel and Andrew recently started a website where you can track their journey. Be sure to book mark it so you can check back in the future. I encouraged Rashel to consider serving as a chapter leader for the Weston A. Price Foundation in her part of Texas. She would be a great resource for the community and such an articulate and passionate spokesperson. Jon and I have been very busy this spring. We're planting our first large garden - 1/10th of an acre - with organic vegetables. I'm replanting our raised bed gardens. We now have three breeds of heritage rabbits in a 16X24 foot lattice rabbit barn. They are reproducing nicely and selling quickly. We're excited at the prospect of helping other heritage farms get started with rabbits. We're learning about biodynamic methods and permaculture principles to apply to the farm. And we attended a vermiculture class to learn how to incorporate worm beds under our rabbit cages. Such fun! Our English Shepherd Cody and shelties Nicky and Sheila were recently treated to a special bath thanks to Natural Affinity Soap. Our groomers loved the way the soap lathered and it left their fur clean and soft. Even better, we have not seen any fleas or ticks on them in a month! This is a small company that makes quality products artisan style. You can follow them on facebook. The big struggle for me right now is record-keeping and book keeping. It is hard to find time to get into my office and get organized when there is so much to do outside in the fresh air and sunshine. By the time it is dark I am exhausted and ready for bed. We were fortunate to get an intern to move into our new barn apartment to help with the garden and chores so hopefully I'll apply some discipline to these tasks soon and get a handle on things. I was recently reflecting on how much my life has changed in the last 11 months. It is almost a year since I retired from my teaching career and began farming. I have learned so much, Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:15:52 Saving an American Heritage Breed http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/12/saving-an-american-heritage-breed/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/12/saving-an-american-heritage-breed/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:00:19 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/12/saving-an-american-heritage-breed/ It may seem counter intuitive, but the best way to save a heritage breed is to consume it. This week Broad River Pastures Rabbitry had its beginning with the purchase of Cassanova and Francesca, critically endangered Silver Fox rabbits.

I first got an itch to raise rabbits a couple years ago when I listened [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/12/saving-an-american-heritage-breed/feed/ 8 ONL070 Neal Foley, Rennaisance Man http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl070-neal-foley-rennaisance-man/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl070-neal-foley-rennaisance-man/#comments Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:57:09 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=495 Neal Foley is a master of many skills. Although he once dreamed of veterinary school, an apprenticeship at a raw milk dairy inspired him to look at agriculture. He is now an accomplished chef, entrepreneur, media host, blogger, videographer, educator, butcher, food photographer, homesteader, and “accidental agrarian”. He has influenced and inspired me through [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl070-neal-foley-rennaisance-man/feed/ 2 English Shepherds,Gift Ideas,Homesteading,Lifestyle,Local Food Neal Foley is a master of many skills. Although he once dreamed of veterinary school, an apprenticeship at a raw milk dairy inspired him to look at agriculture. He is now an accomplished chef, entrepreneur, media host, blogger, videographer, educator, Neal Foley is a master of many skills. Although he once dreamed of veterinary school, an apprenticeship at a raw milk dairy inspired him to look at agriculture. He is now an accomplished chef, entrepreneur, media host, blogger, videographer, educator, butcher, food photographer, homesteader, and "accidental agrarian". He has influenced and inspired me through his various social networks and is always ready to give a word of encouragement when needed. We recently had an extensive conversation about his journey, farming, raising Silver Fox Rabbits, and English Shepherds. I first connected with Neal on twitter, where he tweets as Podchef. This led me to his podcast, The Podchef's Gastrocast, available on iTunes. The first episode I listened to was about raising rabbits. I remember coming home to Jon and asking him if we could keep a few in the basement or back yard. The more I learned about Neal, the more impressed and fascinated I became. So I was thrilled when we finally sat down in October and connected for an early morning interview. It was great because we learned more about how his background and what brought him back to the East coast and to Claddagh Farms. Neal embraces the Farm to Table concept as a producer of heritage breeds, processor/butcher, and "nose to tail" gourmet chef. His farm includes Jersey cows, pastured pigs, Silver Fox rabbits, English Shepherd dogs, and Roen ducks. He is also an accomplished gardener. With twenty years of experience, he generously shares his expertise through videos and workshops. For example, this week and in December he is hosting a two day Porkshop that will include slaughtering and processing a pig and making blood sausage, head cheese, pate, bacon, ham, and lard. Next week he hosts Duckfest, a chance to learn how to turn ducks into confit de canard, terrine de foie naturale, and le grande cassoulet. Neal shared with us that the fuel keeping him going is the dire state of our food system and his motivation to teach others to live, farm, and eat more sustainably. Letters from appreciative fans let him know that he is making an impact in people's lives. I steered much of the discussion in this show selfishly to the raising of Silver Fox rabbits. I first learned about this breed from Neal and am excited about the opportunity to help preserve this critically endangered heritage American breed. Rabbit meat, or lapin in French, is very high in protein. With correct cooking it can be very delicious with a rich depth of flavor and texture. With only 1/4 acre of space, a doe can produce about 120 pounds of meat in a year. If her daughters are also bred, the meat produced in a year with the meat produced by a steer in two year's time. The rabbit manure can be used to side dress garden vegetables, assist in vermiculture, make compost tea, or benefit vermiculture. In addition, produce from the garden can feed your rabbits, resulting in a harmonious cycle. Rabbits are easily dressed out at home. Parts not consumed such as entrails, heads and feet make healthy food for canine and feline companions. The pelts can be cured and made into bags and garments. Absolutely nothing is wasted. In the 1940s both my father and Jon's uncle raised rabbits along with victory gardens during World War II. We also discussed English Shepherds. Our clear sable and white ES puppy is now 3 months old and already demonstrating early skills in herding, hunting, and guarding, the three hallmarks of this landrace breed. We hope that Cody's conformation and temperament will make him eligible to contribute to the continuation of this rare and important American breed. You can find out more about Neal by following him on facebook, or at his blogs including The Gastrocast, Claddagh Farms & The Kitchen Garden Company, and The Accidental Agrarian. If you're looking for a unique holiday gift, consider purchasing the Gastrocast Cookbook. More Holiday Shopping Ideas: Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:21:21 ONL069 Stop the Frankenfish Nightmare! http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl069-stop-the-frankenfish-nightmare/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl069-stop-the-frankenfish-nightmare/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:28:20 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl069-stop-the-frankenfish-nightmare/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/11/onl069-stop-the-frankenfish-nightmare/feed/ 5 Lifestyle Jeffrey M. Smith, expert on Genetically Modified Organisms and author of Genetic Roulette and Seeds of Deception spoke to us recently about his campaign to ban the release of genetically engineered fish into our food system. Jeffrey M. Smith, expert on Genetically Modified Organisms and author of Genetic Roulette and Seeds of Deception spoke to us recently about his campaign to ban the release of genetically engineered fish into our food system. Jon and Cathy Payne no 58:04 Birke Baehr Inspires his Family and a Movement http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/birke-baehr-inspires-his-family-and-a-movement/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/birke-baehr-inspires-his-family-and-a-movement/#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:22:03 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/birke-baehr-inspires-his-family-and-a-movement/ By now, many if not most of our readers will have viewed the TedX speech Birke Baehr made in Asheville August 28, 2010. The YouTube was just released last month. What you may not know is the remarkable story about how Birke influenced the shopping and eating habits of his close-knit family. I learned [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/birke-baehr-inspires-his-family-and-a-movement/feed/ 9 ONL065 Putting up Field Fence with Howard Athas http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/onl065-putting-up-field-fence-with-howard-athas/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/onl065-putting-up-field-fence-with-howard-athas/#comments Sun, 19 Sep 2010 20:47:17 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=417 In this episode we talk to Howard Athas, distributor sales manager of the Stay-Tuff Fence Company in New Braunfels, Texas. He spoke with us about how to properly install a quality field fence. In particular, he represents his company’s high tensile, fixed-knot fences. This is the kind we decided to erect on the perimeter of [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/onl065-putting-up-field-fence-with-howard-athas/feed/ 4 Homesteading,Lifestyle In this episode we talk to Howard Athas, distributor sales manager of the Stay-Tuff Fence Company in New Braunfels, Texas. He spoke with us about how to properly install a quality field fence. In particular, he represents his company's high tensile, In this episode we talk to Howard Athas, distributor sales manager of the Stay-Tuff Fence Company in New Braunfels, Texas. He spoke with us about how to properly install a quality field fence. In particular, he represents his company's high tensile, fixed-knot fences. This is the kind we decided to erect on the perimeter of our farm. Completing this fence was the first step toward adding livestock to our farm. Click on the link below to listen to the interview or download from iTunes, Zune, Stitcher, or Tivo. Who knew how important the topic of fencing was going to become to us? As a city dweller most of my life, my only experience with fencing was something to keep rabbits out of my garden and my dogs inside my yard. Those basic needs are the same on the farm - you need a fence around the perimeter that will keep predators out, and livestock in. How you achieve those goals is what makes it complicated. Every farmer we visited or asked had a different response. Many of them were not thrilled with the field fences they actually had on the farm and had experienced both losses from predators and the escape of animals. Since installing the fence was going to be a large expense of funds, labor, and time, I wanted to make sure that it was a good decision. However, since I had never done this and had varying advise, it was very difficult for me. We didn't even own any livestock to base a decision on. I was thinking about raising horned meat goats, though, and reasoned that any fence effective for that type of animal would be effective for any other livestock we may get. I joined a Yahoo Group for meat goats and asked about what kind of fences they used. I got a few responses, but more than one recommended the Stay-Tuff Goat-Tuff fence. When I checked out the website, I was intrigued with the heavy-duty look of the fence and reassured with charts that matched various fence models with their purpose on the farm. And they had local distributors. One was less than an hour's drive from us. When I contacted him, he offered to deliver our fence wire and posts at no charge! That was an offer too good to refuse. And the Stay-Tuff website included step by step instructions to assist in installation. Our UGA summer interns provided the manual labor to install our field fence. Once we knew what kind of fencing we would use, we needed to plan out our fence line and determine where to locate the gates and braces. It is always better to have more gates than less for easy access. We are actually using different kinds of fencing on the farm. The first, most essential in my opinion, is the perimeter fence. I have seen farms without a perimeter fence but they have problems with predators and must keep their animals in confined housing or portable fences only. The perimeter fence can be high tensile electric, barbed wire, woven wire hinged, or high tensile fixed knot. There are various spaces between the wires that keep animals from entering or escaping from your property. Cross-fencing is an interior fence within the perimeter or field fence that keeps animals within a designated part of your property. Its purpose is primarily to keep animals in. This can be a woven wire or portable electric wire or electric netting fence. Portable fencing wire with step in posts allows you to move animals frequently onto clean pasture to increase nutrition, prevent erosion, and minimize parasites. Creep fencing allows smaller animals to enter but keeps larger animals out. In the case of sheep, a creep feeder gate allows lambs to leave their mother and eat grass uncontaminated by their mother's parasites. In the case of chickens, it allows them to eat grower feed rather than a lower protein layer mash. We used portable poultry netting around the chicken coop when we first let our pullets on pasture so they could leave the pen to eat bugs but the big chickens could not enter and steal their food. Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:14:31 Local Food Goes Gourmet! Osso Buco with Fennel and Orange from Grass Fed “Meaty Bones” http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/local-food-goes-gourmet-osso-buco-with-fennel-and-orange-from-grass-fed-meaty-bones/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/local-food-goes-gourmet-osso-buco-with-fennel-and-orange-from-grass-fed-meaty-bones/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:37:52 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/local-food-goes-gourmet-osso-buco-with-fennel-and-orange-from-grass-fed-meaty-bones/ Cooking real food on a budget? Since retiring, setting up infrastructure on the farm, and still waiting for a sale on our house in the suburbs, we are, too. However, we are not willing to compromise on quality or nutrition. Jon finished building our pantry last week, and I quickly filled it up with my [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/09/local-food-goes-gourmet-osso-buco-with-fennel-and-orange-from-grass-fed-meaty-bones/feed/ 5 ONL064 Feeding your Family the Local, Humane, and Nutrient Dense Way http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl064-feeding-your-family-the-local-humane-and-nutrient-dense-way/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl064-feeding-your-family-the-local-humane-and-nutrient-dense-way/#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:44:37 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=397 http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl064-feeding-your-family-the-local-humane-and-nutrient-dense-way/feed/ 4 Price,raw milk,Real Milk,Weston,Weston Price Here is a podcast conversation with Kimberly Hartke, Publicist of Weston A. Price Foundation, on the health benefits of eating farm fresh foods. We also cover the controversy surrounding the USDA dietary guidelines. Here is a podcast conversation with Kimberly Hartke, Publicist of Weston A. Price Foundation, on the health benefits of eating farm fresh foods. We also cover the controversy surrounding the USDA dietary guidelines. Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:04:48 ONL063 GIVEAWAY Ann Marie Michaels cooks Surf and Turf. You can, too! http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl063-giveaway-ann-marie-michaels-cooks-surf-and-turf-you-can-too/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl063-giveaway-ann-marie-michaels-cooks-surf-and-turf-you-can-too/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:26:02 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=381

Ann Marie Michaels aka CHEESESLAVE spoke to us today about her exciting new online class, Surf and Turf: Cooking Wild Seafood and Grass-fed Meats. Have you ever wondered about the difference between farm-raised and wild caught fish? Are you afraid to prepare fish because you don’t know what to do with it? Did you [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/08/onl063-giveaway-ann-marie-michaels-cooks-surf-and-turf-you-can-too/feed/ 49 Ann Marie Michaels aka CHEESESLAVE spoke to us today about her exciting new online class, Surf and Turf: Cooking Wild Seafood and Grass-fed Meats. Have you ever wondered about the difference between farm-raised and wild caught fish? Ann Marie Michaels aka CHEESESLAVE spoke to us today about her exciting new online class, Surf and Turf: Cooking Wild Seafood and Grass-fed Meats. Have you ever wondered about the difference between farm-raised and wild caught fish? Are you afraid to p... Jon and Cathy Payne no 46:38 ONL062 Conversation with Jimmy Moore – Living the Low-Carb Life http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/onl062-conversation-with-jimmy-moore-living-the-low-carb-life/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/onl062-conversation-with-jimmy-moore-living-the-low-carb-life/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:18:39 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=373 Jimmy Moore is the energetic host of the wildly popular podcast show, Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. In this show we talk to him about his 180 pound weight loss, the lessons he has learned through personal experience and his interview guests, and his two books. We also discuss the USDA proposal for the 2010 dietary guidelines. Jimmy does not mince words, and I think you will enjoy the interview.

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/onl062-conversation-with-jimmy-moore-living-the-low-carb-life/feed/ 4 Jimmy Moore,Low-Carb Lifestyle,raw milk,Real Milk,Weston Price Jimmy Moore is the energetic host of the wildly popular podcast show, Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. In this show we talk to him about his 180 pound weight loss, the lessons he has learned through personal experience and his interview guests, Jimmy Moore is the energetic host of the wildly popular podcast show, Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. In this show we talk to him about his 180 pound weight loss, the lessons he has learned through personal experience and his interview guests, and his two books. We also discuss the USDA proposal for the 2010 dietary guidelines. Jimmy does not mince words, and I think you will enjoy the interview. Jon and Cathy Payne no 57:38 Everything is Ducky in Elberton! http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/everything-is-ducky-in-elberton/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/everything-is-ducky-in-elberton/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:21:31 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=363 Life on our new farm is busy and hot, but Jon and I consider ourselves "lucky ducks" because we have our first livestock on the farm. You guessed it - ducks! Sunday morning we picked up nine Khaki Campbell ducks that are six weeks old. Hens of this breed are notoriously good egg layers, excellent foragers on pasture, and hardy. Duck eggs are nutrient-dense and rich in protein, fat, cholesterol, and calcium. People who are allergic to chicken's eggs can often enjoy eggs of other layers such as ducks.

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/06/everything-is-ducky-in-elberton/feed/ 8 ONL060 – Why we Follow Nathan Winters http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/04/onl060-why-we-follow-nathan-winters/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/04/onl060-why-we-follow-nathan-winters/#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:12:10 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=330 Nathan winters traveled by bicycle coast to coast to listen to the voices of American farmers. Along the way he made many friends while growing in wisdom beyond his years. We will continue to follow Nathan's adventures, including his work on a Vermont farm and the community-supported publishing of his upcoming book. You will want to follow Nathan, too.

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/04/onl060-why-we-follow-nathan-winters/feed/ 0 Nathan winters traveled by bicycle coast to coast to listen to the voices of American farmers. Along the way he made many friends while growing in wisdom beyond his years. We will continue to follow Nathan's adventures, Nathan winters traveled by bicycle coast to coast to listen to the voices of American farmers. Along the way he made many friends while growing in wisdom beyond his years. We will continue to follow Nathan's adventures, including his work on a Vermont farm and the community-supported publishing of his upcoming book. You will want to follow Nathan, too. Jon and Cathy Payne no 57:29 De-Clutter to Prosper! http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/03/de-clutter-to-prosper/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/03/de-clutter-to-prosper/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:44:56 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=315 Did you know that you partner with your living space? When you create the space you want, it allows you to become your best self. And while you're de-cluttering, you can earn income from your unwanted items

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/03/de-clutter-to-prosper/feed/ 7 ONL059 Nature’s Harmony Farm Tour http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/02/onl059-natures-harmony-farm-tour/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/02/onl059-natures-harmony-farm-tour/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:09:46 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=294 http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/02/onl059-natures-harmony-farm-tour/feed/ 1 We're very excited about our latest Podcast! Last fall, on our farm tour to Nature's Harmony Farm with Tim and Liz Young, we were inspired to make the transition from suburb to country. Our new place, Broad River Pastures, We're very excited about our latest Podcast! Last fall, on our farm tour to Nature's Harmony Farm with Tim and Liz Young, we were inspired to make the transition from suburb to country. Our new place, Broad River Pastures, is about 7 miles from Nature's Harmony. We think you will be inspired as we were. You can listen to the Podcast on the link below. Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:19:34 ONL057 OMG, We Bought the Farm! http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/01/onl057-omg-we-bought-the-farm/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/01/onl057-omg-we-bought-the-farm/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:16:11 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/01/onl057-omg-we-bought-the-farm/ Once in a blue moon, something amazing happens that changes everything. Jon and I have been going through a lot of changes since our last recorded Podcast in November. As I write this on the eve of the last day of the first decade of the 21st Century, we are only hours away from a [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/01/onl057-omg-we-bought-the-farm/feed/ 6 413 Once in a blue moon, something amazing happens that changes everything. Jon and I have been going through a lot of changes since our last recorded Podcast in November. As I write this on the eve of the last day of the first decade of the 21st Century, Once in a blue moon, something amazing happens that changes everything. Jon and I have been going through a lot of changes since our last recorded Podcast in November. As I write this on the eve of the last day of the first decade of the 21st Century, we are only hours away from a blue moon and lunar eclipse. While New Year's Eve is always a time for celebration, this one is especially dear for Jon and me, even in addition to celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary on January 1. Here is the teaser (with apologies for the cliches): our goose is cooked, we bought the farm, and I'm going out to pasture in June! Keep reading to find out more! You can listen to our Podcast by downloading ONL057 from iTunes, Zune, Tivo, or Stitcher or by clicking on the embedded link below. On October 9, 2009, Jon and I took a weekend to spend some quality time together. We stayed at Fair Havens Plantation, an historic Bed and Breakfast in rural Arnoldsville. This was in order to be close to Elberton on October 10 to attend Tim and Liz Young's Local Food Camp Out at Natures Harmony Farm. Relaxing in the country settings away from our everyday responsibilities prompted one of us to comment, "Wouldn't it be great to live out here and raise some of our own food?" Wind forward 11 1/2 weeks to December 30, 2009. Just a few days after enjoying our Christmas Eve goose we are proud owners of an 11 acre farm and historic farmhouse near the Broad River just a few miles down the road from Natures Harmony Farm. I've decided to retire from teaching at the end of my 33 year career this May, and will spend my time with pastured livestock on our new homestead! Of course, it all happened with lightning speed, changing from a fleeting comment to reality once we applied our skills of expressing gratitude, setting intention, scripting to manifest abundance, and accessing our inner guidance systems. Looking back one year (or even 3 months) we can see how powerful these tools were when we applied them to our lives. These are all topics which we have covered in past podcasts. Even though we never really discussed farming as a career alternative, it seemed like a natural progression due to where we've focused our energies the last two years. Jon is fortunate to work from home most of the time, so we'll both be working on the homestead. Yesterday after our closing we took our first truckload of items to the new house (Jon traded in his hybrid SUV for a Ford F150). The first item off the truck and put into our new home was my copy of Julia Child's The Way to Cook. After unloading the truck, I looked out the living room window to the south pasture and was amazed to find a covey of Bobwhite Quail grazing on our lawn! I've heard the call of the male Bobwhites before, but have never seen one because they are so reclusive. Here were at least 30! We also have deer, turtles, owls, and wild turkeys on the property. We'll be sprucing up our lovely home in Johns Creek soon to sell to a new family in a few months. I will start my retirement June 1 in our Elberton home. Once we hit the ground running this summer, we'll be blogging about our progress, what we learn, and sharing videos with you. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and Podcast so you don't miss a thing! If we're successful with growing our own pastured rabbits, chickens, eggs, goats, and sheep, we'll open a farm store to supply friends and community. If you want to see more photos of Broad River Pastures, go to our facebook page at Our Natural Life Podcast and look at our album, "Introducing Broad River Pastures." Jon and Cathy Payne no 24:08 ONL054 Zachary Adam Cohen on Farm to Table and Social Media http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl054-zachary-adam-cohen-on-farm-to-table-and-social-media/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl054-zachary-adam-cohen-on-farm-to-table-and-social-media/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:34:17 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=77

This Podcast is a conversation with Zachary Adam Cohen, creator of the Farm to Table blog and television show and self-described “evangelist for the sustainable food movement”. Zachary talks with us about how his dream project started and addresses skeptics on the topic of social media. The link to our interview is found below.

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl054-zachary-adam-cohen-on-farm-to-table-and-social-media/feed/ 0 This Podcast is a conversation with Zachary Adam Cohen, creator of the Farm to Table blog and television show and self-described "evangelist for the sustainable food movement". Zachary talks with us about how his dream project started and addresses ske... This Podcast is a conversation with Zachary Adam Cohen, creator of the Farm to Table blog and television show and self-described "evangelist for the sustainable food movement". Zachary talks with us about how his dream project started and addresses skeptics on the topic of social media. The link to our interview is found below. I met Zachary on Twitter and found that we had several followers in common. After several tweets and a couple emails, we eventually had a telephone conversation that led to this interview. This is one of the beauties of twitter, which Zachary describes as "global thought talk." It is a place where one can have conversations 24 hours a day with like-minded individuals from around the world. In our interview and in a recent blog he discusses the use of social media as a medium for change. Zachary recommends Chris Brogan's book, Trust Agents as an aide to help individuals use the web to build influence, improve reputation, and earn trust. Cathy and Jon described their own goals to promote sustainable food and to lobby for the labeling of GMO foods. This is a topic Our Natural Life recently explored in interviews with both Jeffrey M. Smith and Robyn O'Brien. Zachary makes wide use of Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed, and Stumbleupon to connect with the movers and shakers in sustainable food. How do you use social media to promote your favorite causes? Updates from Our Natural Life Jon has been away for a couple weeks, and Cathy neglected to post this blog October 19th due to responsibilities of daily living in his absence. Our fall garden survived the first freeze alerts with the help of generous mulching and a burlap blanket. The screening of FRESH: The Movie fundraiser for Georgia Chapters of Weston A. Price was a big success. Yesterday Cathy attended another fundraiser and panel discussion. This time it was a Slow Food event for Wholesome Wave. She was so excited to learn about the opportunities in our community for helping low income families connect to fresh, sustainable, local food for half price! This is definitely a cause worthy of support. Speaking of Slow Food, Georgia Organics is featuring founder Carlos Petrini as the keynote speaker for this year's annual conference. Past keynote speakers included Joel Salatin and Michael Pollen. They keep raising the bar! Jon and Cathy Payne no 47:57 ONL053 Truth and Lies about our Food with Robyn O’Brien http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl053-truth-and-lies-about-our-food-with-robyn-obrien/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl053-truth-and-lies-about-our-food-with-robyn-obrien/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:36:43 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=78

This Podcast includes our recent conversation with the activist mother of four, Robyn O’Brien. Robyn is the author of The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food is Making us Sick and What we can do About It. In her book and this show, Robyn shares her story of how she came to be an unlikely [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/10/onl053-truth-and-lies-about-our-food-with-robyn-obrien/feed/ 0 This Podcast includes our recent conversation with the activist mother of four, Robyn O'Brien. Robyn is the author of The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food is Making us Sick and What we can do About It. In her book and this show, This Podcast includes our recent conversation with the activist mother of four, Robyn O'Brien. Robyn is the author of The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food is Making us Sick and What we can do About It. In her book and this show, Robyn shares her story of how she came to be an unlikely food crusader and began to educate others about food allergies, food additives, GM foods, and the dangers of soy. The interview can be downloaded from iTunes, Zune, or Stitcher. You can also listen from your computer using the embedded device below. Robyn has not always been an advocate for clean food. She founded Allergy Kids in 2006 to spread the word after her youngest child suffered a sudden allergy to eggs. In her book she traces her journey from conservative mother to researcher and advocate. She now works tirelessly to create awareness of children's issues regarding food safety. During the interview, we discussed GM foods. Robyn mentioned a recent ruling against genetically modified sugar beets. You can read more about this here. The USDA's approval of GM beets was found to be unlawful. This is not because food safety studies were not completed - food safety studies are not required of GM foods. However, environmental impact studies were not completed. It is encouraging that many companies have opposed the use of GM sugar, and I imagine that this is due to public pressure. It is my hope that parents like Robyn will continue to unite and lobby for clean, safe, and sustainable food. Robyn encourages our listeners to believe in their ability to affect change, to move forward with baby steps, and to try to do one thing to move in the right direction. Updates Thanks for all the support out there! We truly appreciate our 103 fans on Facebook and our 2,050 fans on Twitter. We'd like to encourage you to subscribe to our newsletters and Podcasts and to review us on iTunes. We now have CDs for sale so you can take your favorite show with you in the car or pass it on to a friend or relative. Atlanta fans, if you have not purchased your tickets for FRESH the movie, be sure to do that today! If you do not live in the Atlanta area, you can find a screening near you here. Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:01:40 ONL052 Preserving the Harvest Tips from Karen K. Brees http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl052-preserving-the-harvest-tips-from-karen-k-brees/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl052-preserving-the-harvest-tips-from-karen-k-brees/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:39:25 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=79 Karen K. Brees , Ph. D., author of The Complete Idiot’s Gude to Preserving Food is the subject of Cathy’s interview today. Her book is a great beginner’s reference on canning, freezing, pickling, and more. The Podcast interview can be played on the device below or downloaded from iTunes, Zune, or Stitcher.

Karen, a master [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl052-preserving-the-harvest-tips-from-karen-k-brees/feed/ 0 Karen K. Brees , Ph. D., author of The Complete Idiot's Gude to Preserving Food is the subject of Cathy's interview today. Her book is a great beginner's reference on canning, freezing, pickling, and more. The Podcast interview can be played on the dev... Karen K. Brees , Ph. D., author of The Complete Idiot's Gude to Preserving Food is the subject of Cathy's interview today. Her book is a great beginner's reference on canning, freezing, pickling, and more. The Podcast interview can be played on the device below or downloaded from iTunes, Zune, or Stitcher. Karen, a master food preserver, lives on a ranch in Idaho where she raises South African Boer goats (for meat) and vegetables. In spite of a small growing season, she manages to produce a large bounty of produce for her family. By preserving her harvest, she and her husband enjoy local, sustainable food year round. Food preservation techniques used to be handed down from mother to daughter, but many of these traditions have been lost over the last 40 years as modern, processed, convenient foods filled the supermarket shelves. With the recent interest in eating local foods, eating seasonally, and home gardening, there is an increased need to learn these skills once taught at home. Karen's book is a good beginner text that gives newbies the basics in a wide variety of skills including food safety, freezing, canning, pickling and fermenting, relishes, jams and jellies, drying, salting, smoking and root cellaring. Learning to preserve your sustainable, seasonal food can save you money, as well! I've used a couple of recipes from the book and they were easy to do from her clear directions. I put up 7 pints of Wilma's Bread and Butter Pickles using my own homegrown cucumbers. Karen describes these as "the best you will ever find," and I have to agree. They include 3 ingredients I haven't used in bread and butter pickles before. I've also put up a beef brisket from Natures Harmony Farm using her corned beef recipe. I've made this once before from a Julia Child recipe. I need to wait another three weeks to see how it stacks up, since the corning process takes 4 weeks. If I'm ever successful in growing more cabbage than our cabbage worms can eat, I'd like to try her sauerkraut recipe. One reason I've been hesitant to attempt this is insecurity about what might go wrong at each step. Karen includes a thorough troubleshooting section to address these concerns, detailing what to expect when things are going right and how to know when it has gone wrong. In the interview, Karen discusses some helpful tools and hints that are helpful to know. The supplies and gadgets she discusses can be found at our Amazon Store. Chapter 6 is devoted to the freezing of meat, poultry, seafood and game. This includes tips for wrapping, identifying cuts of meat, definitions, and more. We'd love to hear about your favorite techniques for preserving the harvest and your experiences with them. Leave comments below. Write in any questions you have for Karen. New Products Please check out our new products page to check out CDs from some of our popular interviews on sustainable food. We hope you will consider purchasing these for your self or as gifts to support our work for the sustainable food movement. Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund We recently issued a Call to Action to demand clean, sustainable real food sources in your products. Current laws and regulations to not reflect the growing respect for sustainable family farms, according to the Weston A. Price Foundation's Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. Check out their website to see all the hard work they are doing to help your local farmers. They need your support! Consider making a donation today. You'll be glad you did. Real Food Wednesday This blog is participating in Real Food Wednesday. Jon and Cathy Payne no 48:39 ONL051 Are you eating Franken-foods? GMOs are Everywhere http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl051-are-you-eating-franken-foods-gmos-are-everywhere/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl051-are-you-eating-franken-foods-gmos-are-everywhere/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:40:50 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=80 Jeffrey M. Smith did not set out to become the foremost expert on the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). However, since 1996 he has made telling others about the risks of GM foods his life’s work. What he has learned is that these unnatural foods put the health of people, animals, and the environment [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/09/onl051-are-you-eating-franken-foods-gmos-are-everywhere/feed/ 0 Jeffrey M. Smith did not set out to become the foremost expert on the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). However, since 1996 he has made telling others about the risks of GM foods his life's work. Jeffrey M. Smith did not set out to become the foremost expert on the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). However, since 1996 he has made telling others about the risks of GM foods his life's work. What he has learned is that these unnatur... Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:13:02 ONL050 In Defense of Omnivores http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl050-in-defense-of-omnivores/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl050-in-defense-of-omnivores/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:41:55 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=81 In this Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability. Lierre, a vegan for 20 years, makes compelling arguments for eating meat and counters challenges that shunning meat is healthier, more humane, or better for the planet. The interview can be downloaded below or from iTunes or [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl050-in-defense-of-omnivores/feed/ 0 365 In this Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability. Lierre, a vegan for 20 years, makes compelling arguments for eating meat and counters challenges that shunning meat is healthier, In this Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability. Lierre, a vegan for 20 years, makes compelling arguments for eating meat and counters challenges that shunning meat is healthier, more humane, or better for the planet. The interview can be downloaded below or from iTunes or Zune. Keith nearly destroyed her health while clinging fiercely to her vegan lifestyle. Now she assists others who are making the transition from vegan and vegetarian to omnivore. Even though the vegan or vegetarian reader is her targeted audience, the book resonates strongly with promoters of healthy, traditional and sustainable food, such as Sally Fallon Morrell, founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Lierre heavily researched issues of diet and nutrition, agriculture, our food system, and the destruction of the ecosystem. Parts of the book read like a screenplay for Food, Inc, even though Keith has yet to see the film. She covers the fallacy of feeding grain to ruminants, the benefits of polyculture, and how a vegan diet designed to do no harm leaves thousands of life forms destroyed in order to produce a single meal. She also outlines the grave damage that can be caused by eating large quantities of heavily processed soy made into fake foods. This topic has been widely explored by the Weston A. Price Foundation. Physician Michael Eades, whose work is cited in the book, recently featured a review on his blog. It was a pleasure to have Lierre on our show, and we hope that you enjoy the interview as much as we enjoyed speaking with her. Jon and Cathy Payne no 58:20 ONL049 Sustainable Farmer Lynn Pugh http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl049-sustainable-farmer-lynn-pugh/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl049-sustainable-farmer-lynn-pugh/#comments Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:43:54 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=82 In this Podcast we interview Lynn Pugh. She and her husband Chuck are proprietors of Cane Creek Farm in Forsyth County, Georgia. You can download the show on iTunes or Zune or listen from the website below.

We’ve been buying produce from Lynn and Chuck since we discovered their CSA through Local Harvest 3 [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/08/onl049-sustainable-farmer-lynn-pugh/feed/ 0 In this Podcast we interview Lynn Pugh. She and her husband Chuck are proprietors of Cane Creek Farm in Forsyth County, Georgia. You can download the show on iTunes or Zune or listen from the website below. - In this Podcast we interview Lynn Pugh. She and her husband Chuck are proprietors of Cane Creek Farm in Forsyth County, Georgia. You can download the show on iTunes or Zune or listen from the website below. We've been buying produce from Lynn and Chuck since we discovered their CSA through Local Harvest 3 seasons ago. When we first contacted them, we were put on a waiting list. However, one shareholder had toddler triplets. The trip to the farm along with three sets of car seats was just too much for the young family. We were able to buy out their share mid season, when produce was at its peak. It seems inconceivable now that we were uninformed about Community Supported Agriculture for so long, and we learned about it from a surprising source. My friend Tammy Billups told me about her favorite charity, Heifer International. It soon became our favorite charity, too. After donating to Heifer, we were subscribed to their wonderful journal, World Ark. World Ark is a wealth of information about sustainable food and how it can ease hunger world wide. It was one of their articles that informed me about CSAs and the Local Harvest website. World Ark also introduced us to Will Allen of Growing Power, the urban farmer in Milwaukee who raised our red wigglers. Lynn, a former science teacher, not only helps feed 75 families on 3 acres of her 17 acre farm, but is also the curriculum director for Georgia Organics, leads educational field trips of her farm, and teaches classes in organic farming methods. She strongly values the camaraderie of these activities, which involve sharing the work, sharing meals, and building community. I took one of Lynn's food preservation classes a couple summers ago and enjoyed the communal experience of working in the kitchen with several other women on July evening putting up tomato sauce using Barbara Kingolver's recipe from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. We are proud to feature sustainable farmers on our show because they are our heroes. We support them any way we can. Our favorite means of support, is of course, to enjoy their food on our plate three times a day! Lynn talks with us about how she became a farmer, her various activities, and the benefits of eating organically raised food. We hope you enjoy listening to it. Weston A. Price Membership Drive and 2009 Conference News Help Jon and me get to the Wise Traditions Conference November 13-15 and become a member today! We will earn one registration for each 15 people we recruit. Be sure to contact us and let us know that you listed us as your referral. We hope to meet many of you at the conference. Scholarships are also available. This year's conference them is "Honoring the Sacred Foods." To hear Sally Fallon Morrell, president talk about reasons for joining the foundation, go here. Become a Food Renegade. Vote with your dollars 3 times a day. Purchase your food from local farmers using sustainable methods. Prepare your food nutritiously at home. Eat real, nutritious food, not processed imitation substitutes. You will be rewarded with great taste, good nutrition, and radiant health. This post is an entry to Fight Back Friday on the Food Renegade website. Jon and Cathy Payne no 57:12 ONL047 FRESH: The Movie Interview with Producer/Director Ana Sofia Joanes http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/07/onl047-fresh-the-movie-interview-with-producerdirector-ana-sofia-joanes/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/07/onl047-fresh-the-movie-interview-with-producerdirector-ana-sofia-joanes/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:47:49 +0000 Cathy R. Payne, EdD http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=85 In this week’s Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Ana Sofia Joanes, producer and director of the recently released documentary FRESH: The Movie. FRESH is a call to action, intending to inspire viewers to positive change and portray a hopeful message about possibilities for sustainable food. Local screenings are followed by a panel discussion with local [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/07/onl047-fresh-the-movie-interview-with-producerdirector-ana-sofia-joanes/feed/ 0 In this week's Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Ana Sofia Joanes, producer and director of the recently released documentary FRESH: The Movie. FRESH is a call to action, intending to inspire viewers to positive change and portray a hopeful message abou... In this week's Podcast, Jon and Cathy interview Ana Sofia Joanes, producer and director of the recently released documentary FRESH: The Movie. FRESH is a call to action, intending to inspire viewers to positive change and portray a hopeful message about possibilities for sustainable food. Local screenings are followed by a panel discussion with local representatives from the sustainable food movement. Be sure to download the Podcast at the end of this blog to hear about the movie in Ana's own words. She exhibits great passion for the subject and dedication to the cause. You can also download Podcast ONL047 from iTunes. Fresh: The Movie Readers of our blog and listeners to our Podcast know that Jon and I are passionate about knowing where are food comes from, having personal relationships with our farmers, and assuring that the food we eat has been sustainably and healthily raised, preferably from heritage or heirloom stock. Joanes' documentary does a superb job of highlighting farmers throughout the country who are doing things right. Because of high interest, FRESH is getting lots of media attention from sources such as the Huffington Post, and bloggers Cheeseslave and FairFoodFight . Also receiving attention are featured farmers Will Allen of Growing Power and Joel Salatin of Polyface farms. Will Allen performs miracles on 3 acres in the middle of urban Milwaukee while changing the food system to provide everyone equal access to healthy food. Joel Salatin respects the design of nature to leave his Virginia acreage richer each year rather than depleted, as in conventionally farmed land. Michael Pollan's authoritative voice also lends credibility to the film. Many of you have read his landmark book The Omnivore's Dilemma. Pollan asserts in the film that "Cheap food is an illusiion" paid for with tax subsidies, environmental damage, and poor health. The story that impacted me most, however, was about Russ Kremer, the formerly conventional pig farmer from Franenstein, Missouri who exterminated his herd after an accident led to an antibiotic resistant strep infection that almost cost him his life. His revelation that what he learned in college went against nature's plan is similar to the story shared with us recently by Bill Hodge. Russ, however, required a life-threatening condition to make the transition. He is now a respected leader in sustainable pork. I also greatly admire the efforts made by small farmer Diane Endicott and her creation of Good Natured Family Farms, an alliance of 75 farms in the Kansas City area. This coop bands together to find purchasers for their products. Many of their fresh, local food is taken to Ball Grocery Stores. Some enlightening information in the film is that if farmers stopped feeding grains to herbivores that do better on grass, 70% of our farm land would be available for development. Andrew Kimball from the Center for Food Safety reported that current data shows medium sized organic farms to be more productive than larger, conventional ones. When asked what parts of the film could not be included in the final cut, Ana conceded that the "elephant in the room" was GMO food. As huge an issue as GMO is to sustainability, she was unable to do it justice in a 72 minute film. The leading authority on GMO is Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception and Genetic Roulette. Next month we will be interviewing Jeffrey for a future Podcast , focusing mainly on Genetic Roulette. Ana Sofia Joanes, soon to be a new mother, has dedicated several years and personal resources to making this documentary. She continues to tour and promote the sustainable food movement. We hope that our listeners support her project and take its message to heart. "Every decision you make at the supermarket is creating a different future for land, farmers, diversity of crops, health of bodies, and communities. Vote with your dollars. Change happens one person at a time." - FRESH, the Movie Jon and Cathy Payne no 43:38 ONL046 Producing Beef in Harmony with Mother Nature: An Interview with Bill Hodge of Hodge Ranch, LLC http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/06/onl046-producing-beef-in-harmony-with-mother-nature-an-interview-with-bill-hodge-of-hodge-ranch-llc/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/06/onl046-producing-beef-in-harmony-with-mother-nature-an-interview-with-bill-hodge-of-hodge-ranch-llc/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:12:57 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/06/onl046-producing-beef-in-harmony-with-mother-nature-an-interview-with-bill-hodge-of-hodge-ranch-llc/ This week Bill Hodge of Hodge Ranch spoke to us passionately about his personal “revelation” and transition from conventional agriculture to more natural methods of farming. By working with nature instead of against it, he produces a healthier product, improves the land, saves money, and has hardy, long-lived stock.

Our Natural Life Podcast ONL046

[...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/06/onl046-producing-beef-in-harmony-with-mother-nature-an-interview-with-bill-hodge-of-hodge-ranch-llc/feed/ 0 This week Bill Hodge of Hodge Ranch spoke to us passionately about his personal "revelation" and transition from conventional agriculture to more natural methods of farming. By working with nature instead of against it, he produces a healthier product, This week Bill Hodge of Hodge Ranch spoke to us passionately about his personal "revelation" and transition from conventional agriculture to more natural methods of farming. By working with nature instead of against it, he produces a healthier product, improves the land, saves money, and has hardy, long-lived stock. Our Natural Life Podcast ONL046 We hope you enjoy the Podcast of our interview. It can be found at the bottom of this blog or downloaded from iTunes, Zune, or Tivo. We'd love to hear your comments or have you review our show on iTunes. This blog is not meant to duplicate the information in the interview, but to be used as a vehicle to provide links with more information and to encourage you to give a listen! Grass Finished Beef We've been buying beef from Bill and Di Hodge for the past 7 years and have never been disappointed with their product. Bill is the first farmer we purchased from directly and developed a relationship with. We admire the work he is doing with rotational grazing . According to Hodge, a beef cow is kept for an average of 6 years before making a profit in regard to breeding. However, most cows in the industrial system do not live past the age of 5. Hodge's cows live 15-18 years and when Cathy visited his ranch she saw one who was 19. If you have seen recent films such as Food, Inc , FRESH: The Movie , or classics such as King Corn , you may be aware of problems with grain-finished beef. If not, Food Renegade has published some good articles here and here . Other good resources are Jo Robinson's book Pasture Perfect and the Eat Wild website. Supporting Sustainable Farmers On twitter, Cathy has noticed a movement that associates itself with sustainable food called "Meatless Monday." Michael Pollan recommends eating less meat. However, we concur with Lisa M. Hamilton: In order for pasture-based livestock to become a significant part of the meat industry, we need to eat more of its meat, not less. As it is, grass-fed beef accounts for less than one percent of American beef consumption, and numbers for chicken and pork hardly register. Even where the industry is growing, it is stunted by inadequate infrastructure. The greatest challenge is a lack of small-scale slaughterhouses ...but the industry also suffers from a dearth of research, outreach for new producers, and investment in breeding for pasture-based systems. And those things will change only as the market grows. So if you want to use your food choices to impact climate change, by all means follow Dr. Pachauri's suggestion for a meatless Monday. But on Tuesday, have a grass-fed burger-and feel good about it. You can read the rest of Hamilton's article and view her links here . We choose to eat pastured beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, and milk from pastured cows and goats on a daily basis. We also consume eggs from pastured chickens. Although we do have meatless meals, we rarely have a meatless day, as we are both "protein types ." We prefer to go one additional step and give preference to farmers raising heritage breeds on pasture, something that Nature's Harmony Farm has committed to. By "voting" with our food dollars three times a day in this manner, we are supporting our local sustainable farmers, saving heritage breeds from extinction, improving our local environment, supporting the humane treatment of animals, and eating the most nutritious and delicious meals. It is definitely a win-win situation! Resources You may be wondering where to buy pastured meats in your area. My first recommendation is to contact your local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation . The chapter leaders keep lists of local, sustainable food. We are continuing our membership drive and chance to win registration at the fall conference. If you want to join, use this membership application form and contact us so we can enter you in the drawing. Other resources include Eat Wild, Local Harvest , Jon and Cathy Payne no 1:06:28 Rainwater Harvesting Slide Show http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/rainwater-harvesting-slide-show/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/rainwater-harvesting-slide-show/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 01:53:28 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/rainwater-harvesting-slide-show/ This is the very short slide show Jon made of how he built our rainwater collection system.

You can view it on the website or download it to your PC using the links below. To play it on your PC you might need Apple Quicktime (free) for either a PC or a MAC.

The diverter [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/rainwater-harvesting-slide-show/feed/ 0 This is the very short slide show Jon made of how he built our rainwater collection system. - You can view it on the website or download it to your PC using the links below. To play it on your PC you might need Apple Quicktime (free) for either a PC o... This is the very short slide show Jon made of how he built our rainwater collection system. You can view it on the website or download it to your PC using the links below. To play it on your PC you might need Apple Quicktime (free) for either a PC or a MAC. The diverter came from RainReserve.com The barrels came from Gutter Water LLC in Georgia You can use this link to find rain barrels in your area. See the ONL043 bog post and podcast for more details. //Jon Jon and Cathy Payne no ONL043 Installing Rainbarrels to Harvest Rainwater http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/onl043-installing-rainbarrels-to-harvest-rainwater/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/onl043-installing-rainbarrels-to-harvest-rainwater/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 17:03:30 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=256

Rainwater harvesting has several benefits to the home gardener and to the environment. First, it conserves a valuable resource by avoiding the use of potable water for your landscape or garden. Second, it reduces storm water runoff pollution. Additionally, it helps consumers save money by reducing water bills. It may also be [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/05/onl043-installing-rainbarrels-to-harvest-rainwater/feed/ 0 Rainwater harvesting has several benefits to the home gardener and to the environment. First, it conserves a valuable resource by avoiding the use of potable water for your landscape or garden. Second, it reduces storm water runoff pollution. Rainwater harvesting has several benefits to the home gardener and to the environment. First, it conserves a valuable resource by avoiding the use of potable water for your landscape or garden. Second, it reduces storm water runoff pollution. Additionally, it helps consumers save money by reducing water bills. It may also be healthier for your plants. In podcast #43, Jon shares some tips he learned while setting up a rain barrel project in our back yard to supply water to our Square Foot Garden . Jon and Cathy discuss several websites related to rainwater harvesting. They also share some tips on how to get information from Our Natural Life from various social networking sites. While researching rainwater for collection for this show, we were surprised to find that collecting rainwater is illegal in Colorado and in Bolivia . This is because when you divert rainwater from collection by municipalities, you are "stealing" their rights to resell it to you as drinking water. When installing a rain barrel, you need to decide if you want an open system with rainwater entering an open, usually screened, lid, or a closed system that is sealed from outside contaminants. The closed system prevents breeding of mosquitoes. Jon bought our barrels from Gutter Water LLC , a company in Georgia that recycles barrels from the food industry. The 55 gallon barrels were only $20 apiece, and by grouping delivery with several friends we shared the $40 shipping cost. He painted the barrels a light tan to match our house and mounted them on cement blocks. He bought a diverter system to help us with our closed system from Rain Reserve . He was very happy with their quality and service. They also have a "Locate a Barrel" link on their site to help you find local sources. With all the rain we've had this week, we've already filled our barrels! Click here to view a slide show Jon made of how he built our system. You can also click here to view a video showing how Fine Gardening editor Danielle Sherry built a rain barrel similar to ours for under $50. Rain barrels can be very simple and functional, like ours, decorative and beautifu l, or quite extensive and costly. When you harvest the rain to water your plants, you become more aware of the need to conserve water at home. If you are planning on building a home, you may want to consider the inclusion of a graywater recycling system. Technical Updates: A Primer We love to stay in touch with our listeners and readers. We're making it easier for you to keep in touch with us at your preferred medium(s). Many of these are automatic if you subscribe. Subscribing is free! On the right side of our website you will see buttons to help you subscribe to the Our Natural Life podcast by iTunes, Zune, or Podcast Ready. You can click on the orange RSS icon to get it by RSS feed. You can fill in the "subscribe" information to get an email each time we post a new show or blog. Finally, you can click the facebook icon to "fan" us at Our Natural Life Podcast. Scroll down a bit further to our "What we're doing" section to view our twitter tweets. You can follow us on twitter as ONL2. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experiences and connecting with like-minded groups and individuals around the planet. We have invested many hours and dollars into our website and producing quality podcasts over the last 11 months. We greatly appreciate anything you can do to keep us going. If you shop by Amazon.com, please enter the store through our Go Shopping page icon to allow us an opportunity to earn credit from your purchases. We have several high quality affiliates that can also earn us a percentage from sales. You can also leave us a "tip" at our PayPal account. Thank you in advance for your support! Please contact us by leaving comments on the website, sending an email, leaving a voicemail, writing on our facebook fan page, or sending a direct tweet to ONL2. Personal Updates Jon and Cathy Payne no 39:41 ONL037 – Sustainable Food – Georgia Organics Conference http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/03/onl037-sustainable-food-georgia-organics-conference/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/03/onl037-sustainable-food-georgia-organics-conference/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:36:15 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2010/01/onl037-sustainable-food-georgia-organics-conference/ We talk about the 2009 Georgia Organics Conference held at Agnes Scott College in Decatur Georgia. We discuss what we learned at the various breakout sessions, the famous person who sat with us, our new ‘livestock herd’, the great meals we ate, and highlights from Michael Pollan’s keynote address.

Show Links Slow Food USA High [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/03/onl037-sustainable-food-georgia-organics-conference/feed/ 0 We talk about the 2009 Georgia Organics Conference held at Agnes Scott College in Decatur Georgia. We discuss what we learned at the various breakout sessions, the famous person who sat with us, our new 'livestock herd', the great meals we ate, We talk about the 2009 Georgia Organics Conference held at Agnes Scott College in Decatur Georgia. We discuss what we learned at the various breakout sessions, the famous person who sat with us, our new 'livestock herd', the great meals we ate, and highlights from Michael Pollan's keynote address. Show Links Slow Food USA High Mowing Organic Seeds Seed sales are booming Watershed Media: Dan Imhoff Vermont Feed Farm to School Program White Oak Pastures Grass Fed Beef is Better Nature's Harmony Farm Lasagna Gardening Square Foot Gardening Gutter Water LLC - Products Growing Power The White House Blog - Spring Gardening Michael Pollan All New Square Foot Gardening Lasagna Gardening: No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding! //Jon Jon and Cathy Payne no 51:04 ONL028 – Healthy Lifestyle Tips http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/01/onl028-healthy-lifestyle-tips/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/01/onl028-healthy-lifestyle-tips/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:11:04 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/?p=216 Healthy Lifestyle tips from Campbell Family Medicine. In today’s show we interview Dr. Ellie Campbell, board-certified family practice physician, and Natalie Patierno, lifestyle coach, both from Campbell Family Medicine. They discuss therapeutic lifestyle changes to promote maximum health and avoid using drugs, including natural ways to control diabetes and blood pressure. Links include more articles [...]]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2009/01/onl028-healthy-lifestyle-tips/feed/ 0 Healthy Lifestyle tips from Campbell Family Medicine. In today’s show we interview Dr. Ellie Campbell, board-certified family practice physician, and Natalie Patierno, lifestyle coach, both from Campbell Family Medicine. Healthy Lifestyle tips from Campbell Family Medicine. In today’s show we interview Dr. Ellie Campbell, board-certified family practice physician, and Natalie Patierno, lifestyle coach, both from Campbell Family Medicine. They discuss therapeutic lifestyle changes to promote maximum health and avoid using drugs, including natural ways to control diabetes and blood pressure. Links include more articles on therapeutic lifestyle changes, green living, and sustainable farming. Show Links: Campbell Family Medicine Lower Your Blood Pressure With Vitamin C Quick Study: Lobbying’s Long Arm CREE |U.S. Pentagon to Install Cree LR24 Recessed LED Luminaires Cree LED Lighting : Residential LED Lighting Dan Barber’s surprising foie gras parable | Video on TED.com //Jon Jon and Cathy Payne no 37:14 Skating on the Edge Video http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2008/08/skating-on-the-edge-video/ http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2008/08/skating-on-the-edge-video/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:42:00 +0000 Jon http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2008/08/skating-on-the-edge-video/ A friend of my brother’s is involved in a documentary project relating to sustainability. Check it out!

Thanks, Bevan, for subscribing!

Cathy

]]> http://ournaturallife.com/blog/2008/08/skating-on-the-edge-video/feed/ 0