BODY MASSAGE
posted on
February 17, 2018
Concentrated groups of ruminants are uniquely effective at massaging the landscape.
Land needs to be massaged, just as do hard-working bodies. Herds of wild or domestic ruminants are the only effective means to release tension within landscapes and stimulate life. Mother Nature has been perfecting this interplay between land and animals over millions of years.
Ariel Greenwood's article in Civil Eats (1/26/18) presents valuable insight into the essential role ruminants play in benefiting the ecosystem. One statement that particularly resonates is: we memorize the land like a lover's body... That is so true. Each field has a different personality and peculiarity, which we, as managers, come to care about intimately. We see contours of the land with our eyes and feel them with our feet. Each field offers its own story, and the movement of ruminants across the field is integral to success of that story.
In the above picture, cows and calves are delivering 90,000 lbs of pressure per acre per day upon the land, followed by 60-90 days of rest. That is true deep-body massage, activating dormant microbes and minerals in the soil. If we were to remove ruminants from this equation, by "eating no meat", this ecosystem would go untended and would degrade.Vegetable production benefits soil, but functions on a much smaller scale. It kisses parts of the land, while concentrated ruminants massage the greater whole. We need both, but, as we all know, a kiss does not substitute for a massage!
Ms. Greenwood makes an eloquent case for how important well managed ruminants are to the environment. You will feel good about your decisions to purchase 100% grassfed meats, after reading her article.
https://civileats.com/2018/01/26/eat-less-meat-ignores-the-role-of-animals-in-the-ecosystem/
Smoked pork chops were a great success last week. We will do another round this weekend and include smoked chickens. If you would like either, let us know. Some of you have already tasted our newest product, at the market - Susan's Seoulful Pork Ragout, in tribute to the Olympics. It consists of ground pork, numerous spices and herbs, Korean bean paste, and a little soy sauce. It is rich in flavor, very becoming to the palate, and carries a gentle punch, with a light after-taste. It is usually served over rice, but is also great with pasta. It has been very well received.
May we partake in a body massage.
