What web are you caught in?

As I drove to my town job, I couldn't pass this photo opportunity up that spurred some of these thoughts.

As I drove to work, I noticed these beatiful webs that were woven by the lions of the insect kingdom. I find it miraculous that these tiny creatures build these suspended traps that are several times bigger than themselves in hopes of catching prey that bring nourishment to survive. They build these webs within the world despite the changes that man has made to the terrain. Are we so bold as to do the same?

Things have been busy and we can't find any other posture other than tired, but also one that is full of thanksgiving. We hand processed 22 chickens last Thursday. Our day began at 4:30 am and ended at 8:30 pm. We appreciate the response of our members was eager support as we now only have 1 chicken left!!! We can't express our gratitude for each of you enough!

What started out as a journey to provide ourselves with a product that we could have confidence in consuming, which has led us to find others that desire the same products and we are happy to provide them. As I spoke with a member recently she said

"Until people make what they consume a higher priority than price and convenience of compromised products, we'll continue to get sick".

I couldn't agree more! For those of us that recognize this, we are honored to provide products. What our culture has created is a web of deceit, convenience and compromise. The large companies profit from us by being caught in this web and if we're honest we buy into the excuses that keep us there. We can completely justify that we are all busy, we've got ball games to get to, don't have time to cook so we grab something on the way, or we just look for the cheapest thing out there. I would argue that our food culture in America is broken and despite the illusion of having food "freedom", they feed us things that should cause us to vomit. There is a price that is paid. Many times we don't have to pay the price until much later in life after the pollution takes it's toll. I'm speaking of cancer. More and more I here of cancer and Elizabeth and I have personal experience with both of our mothers (Both still with us). Several co-workers have been impacted themselves or by family members. I've not met an oncologist yet that would suggest changing a patients diet has a tremendous effect on their ability to be rid of this monster. We buy into them being "specialists" which I mention that contradiction in another blog. We are caught in this web of deceit where we're so distracted by saving cents which give way to our choices not making sense.

Consider our mentality if we were to buy a Snickers bar. Yes it may be a compromise, but "it satisfies". We don't think too much about the price and it is convenient and as stated, it satisfies, but when we look at the comparison it's revolutionary.

A Snickers bar comes to $13.67/lb and yet we have a hard time paying $6.50 for a pasture raised, organically fed chicken that is far superior in taste, nutrition and dare I say??? "Satisfaction" Please understand that I indict myself in this example. We've been raised to know that cheap is good. It's a hard engrained mentality to break. I can even argue within myself who had a father that grew up in the Great Depression and ate the cheapest food possible most of his life and lived to be 90 years old. Does it really matter??? Hmmm...

Yes it most certainly does! Whether it gives me cancer or not is not the be all end all question, what am I supporting? what are their practices? how do they treat their employees and the environment? Our dollars are our voice in the realm of consumerism.

I know this may be a crude example and perhaps even an exageration, but there is some truth to it. We've got to wake up and identify if the web we are caught in is one of deceit. The web where I pay $4 for a pack of chicken nuggets and can't honestly find a "nugget" on a chicken.

On the other side of things, I have to identify that each of us have our own webs that we make and tend to attract others that make similar webs. This is our "pack" or "tribe". It's important for us because "it is not good for man to be alone". We personally want to weave webs of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control. That benefits everyone that gets caught in our webs. We are not looking to devour anyone, but we want to benefit them which goes back to why we do what we do and how we do it. We never want to take more than we give.

Again we feel nothing but gratitude for each of you that read this and support us (whether through encouragement, purchases, or prayers). The "stickiness" of the web can be hard to break free from, but what makes the web less "sticky" is knowledge.

I pray that we bless you with just a portion of the blessing that each of you bring us. We are ever so grateful for you and your support!

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/79fc23_54cbe2ebc6cf4874bd78b06cb9631146/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Above is our new White Rangers moments after being introduced to the pasture. It always brings us pleasure to put critters out on pasture and see their amazement. It's such a contrast to the brooder which is basically what most chicken houses are, just a scaled up version of it.

We estimate to have more chicken available mid Novemeber. Stay tuned for updates and always feel free to text, call or email me.

With hearts full of gratitude,

Gordon and Elizabeth