The issue of cheap meat/eggs is such a juicy one and I love getting on my box about it for many reasons.
To begin with, as a liberator of 10 ex-battery hens, I've seen firsthand the state the poor dear things end up in, after giving a year of hard labour in a tiny cage. De-beaked, claws that almost wrap over themselves, bear, bloodied and scabby backs from having them pecked by their understandably tetchy 'flatmates'.
They were the same size as my 3 month old chickies and possessed barely an inkling of instinct to scratch around in the dirt, looking for a 'natural' snack.
They had to be lifted into the chicken shed, because they hadn't seen the dark before and didn't know there was a safe and peaceful retreat for them to get a good nights rest in.
Can you imagine not having slept properly, 'ever', and having to stand in an ammonia stenched, cramped space, just to get a little respite? It's impossible isn't it? So for this humanitarian reason, I stand on my box.
Then there's an antibiotic and growth hormone laden one to consider. I love my children with all my heart and soul - why on earth would I want to put those chemicals down 'their' throats? For the love of my children and respect for their health, I stand on my box.
Also, I feel I must add, I am a very contented downshifter and mother of 3. I positively embrace living with less and have no exuberant budget to splash out on food. However, we 'do' eat good quality, free-range, organically reared meat. I prefer to buy it when it's in season (therefore a little cheaper) and I am happy for us all to eat less of it and for it to be a delicious treat! From a tasty and value-for-money viewpoint, I stand on my box and say, support your local farms and markets, where you can 'see or trace' the provenance of your meat and PAY that extra money when you can afford to do so!
The 'proper' price for rearing a life cannot surely be 2 for £2.00.....I stand on my box about that too.
And finally, on the rare occasion I go out to eat, if chicken is on the menu, I ask, "Is it free-range?", if not, I'm not interested.
If enough punters raised these questions in food outlets and food was turned down as a result, restauranteurs would change their menu to reflect the wants and needs of the informed consumers.
We 'all' have the power to change what's being offered to us by the retailers but we must speak our minds in the shops, write letters to the local papers, do whatever it takes to educate others and elevate the profile of good meat and the 'true and just' price for it....and perhaps more importantly, we must also learn to say 'NO'.
Tracey Smith
Writer/Broadcaster
Downshifting & Sustainable Living
Talk is Cheap...
What a fantastic debate to get cracking with!
The issue of cheap meat/eggs is such a juicy one and I love getting on my box about it for many reasons.
To begin with, as a liberator of 10 ex-battery hens, I've seen firsthand the state the poor dear things end up in, after giving a year of hard labour in a tiny cage. De-beaked, claws that almost wrap over themselves, bear, bloodied and scabby backs from having them pecked by their understandably tetchy 'flatmates'.
They were the same size as my 3 month old chickies and possessed barely an inkling of instinct to scratch around in the dirt, looking for a 'natural' snack.
They had to be lifted into the chicken shed, because they hadn't seen the dark before and didn't know there was a safe and peaceful retreat for them to get a good nights rest in.
Can you imagine not having slept properly, 'ever', and having to stand in an ammonia stenched, cramped space, just to get a little respite? It's impossible isn't it? So for this humanitarian reason, I stand on my box.
Then there's an antibiotic and growth hormone laden one to consider. I love my children with all my heart and soul - why on earth would I want to put those chemicals down 'their' throats? For the love of my children and respect for their health, I stand on my box.
Also, I feel I must add, I am a very contented downshifter and mother of 3. I positively embrace living with less and have no exuberant budget to splash out on food. However, we 'do' eat good quality, free-range, organically reared meat. I prefer to buy it when it's in season (therefore a little cheaper) and I am happy for us all to eat less of it and for it to be a delicious treat! From a tasty and value-for-money viewpoint, I stand on my box and say, support your local farms and markets, where you can 'see or trace' the provenance of your meat and PAY that extra money when you can afford to do so!
The 'proper' price for rearing a life cannot surely be 2 for £2.00.....I stand on my box about that too.
And finally, on the rare occasion I go out to eat, if chicken is on the menu, I ask, "Is it free-range?", if not, I'm not interested.
If enough punters raised these questions in food outlets and food was turned down as a result, restauranteurs would change their menu to reflect the wants and needs of the informed consumers.
We 'all' have the power to change what's being offered to us by the retailers but we must speak our minds in the shops, write letters to the local papers, do whatever it takes to educate others and elevate the profile of good meat and the 'true and just' price for it....and perhaps more importantly, we must also learn to say 'NO'.
Tracey Smith
Writer/Broadcaster
Downshifting & Sustainable Living
Green Family Blog
Sustained Magazine