Kathy Rafter stores quarter side of beef, lamb and chicken that she buys in bulk from a green livestock farm in her freezer. Rafter “cowpools,” or buys the beef from a cow with other people. (Lori Niedenfuer Cool | The Grand Rapids Press)
I couldn’t wait to share this article with you from our local Grand Rapids Press. Not because the information is all sparkly (one woman interviewed loves her grain-fed beef – too bad she doesn’t know how much better for you grass-fed beef is!), but because it features four of my real life/real food friends!
- We get our raw milk from Jeff & Karen Lubbers’ farm. (You can tell how cool they are by this postcard they sent out at Christmas. Check out the neat pics of their farm at the MLive link below.)
- Kathy was my first real food mentor, and the one who is responsible for my “food conversion”. (Picture above.)
- Anne was another of my first real food friends, and has taught me so much. She also wrote this wildly popular article, Eating Healthy Shouldn’t Cost You an Arm and a Leg.
Here’s the article from MLive, Cowpooling saves money. Be sure to read the comments, where of course I had to chime in on that grain-fed beef issue.
Tell me about YOUR real life/real food friends?! It would be very difficult to live the Real Food lifestyle without all of mine, that’s for sure.
(I’m not sure, but I don’t think these articles stay up on MLive forever, so if you’re reading this post a while from when it was written, I’m sorry if it’s no longer available.)
Jeanmarie says
You young’uns are lucky to have found WAPF early in life! I was in my 40s already (now 51, still feel young but for my aching back!) after studying nutrition (informally) my whole life. The problem with being young (or naturally slim etc) is it’s easier to “get away with” eating crap, or it seems so at the time, but believe me it will catch up with you (meaning them). Nia, you will someday be an inspiration to those around you that aren’t ready for it just yet. Just be confident in doing what’s right for you. At least that’s what I wish I’d been more of… I’m enjoying “meeting” you all here.
Cheers!
KitchenKop says
Michelle, Nia, and anyone else without friends & family who are “with you” in the Real Food quest:
We’ll be your support group! 🙂
Kelly
nia says
I feel the same as Michelle, pretty much all of the people in my WAPF chapter are older..Im 28. My husband just follows my rules for eating and eats what I make. My best friend eats fast food all the time and my family doesnt even know that conventional cows eat corn..even though ive told them. The best I have is a few curious friends on fbook that are interested in my raw milk drinking.
ON the plus side, i do have these sites to learn little things here and there and keep up with the movement. Oh and of course the recipes…
Betsy says
Michelle –
I’m from San Antonio, and I LOVE raw milk – and grass-fed beef and kombucha and water kefir and stuff (sorry, it’s 5 AM and I’m not too articulate). I shall check out your blog!!
KitchenKop says
I wasn’t insulted at all! I hope everyone can find something they like here. 🙂
I agree, the fellowship is awesome – I feel like I get to know all my regular readers pretty well and we all learn from each other!
Thanks Jeanmarie,
Kelly
Jeanmarie says
Kelly, thanks for another great post. I loved the photo of Mikki the cow. I want one!
You know, I don’t learn that much new from your posts. Before you get insulted, let me explain. I’ve been WAPF-ing for about 5 years now, and I’m not saying I know it all, far from it, but I am familiar with the basics. (I was lucky enough to have a local “WAP Foundations Class” to attend in San Francisco.) What is so great about your blog is that not only do you provide lots of information and encouragement for newbies, your content is still interesting for those who have been at this for awhile. And I’m tackling new things all the time, partly because of the inspiration from you and other like-minded bloggers out there like Cheeseslave. Next up: making butter and sprouting wheat and spelt for my own flour. Then making sourdough (if I can get to it all!).
Most of all, you provide a place for fellowship. I no longer feel so alone in my bone stock-simmering, crispy nut-drying, bean-soaking, grain-fermenting, kombucha-swilling lifestyle. Thanks, Jeanmarie
KitchenKop says
Michelle, give it time! And keep talking to your friends about your food now and then and they’ll come around. 🙂
Michelle says
Hey this is a great idea. I don’t have any like-minded food friends (in action) that I can go to the movies with like you do – yet. But I have a bunch of internet buddies! San Antonio is not a very popular place to like raw milk 😉