Would the Good Shepherd use a CAFO?

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 
Ezekiel 34:2-4,18-19

I stumbled upon these words recently and found it interesting that God used this analogy to relate to his people. In the context of this passage, God is telling the leaders to do better in caring for their sheep, his people. I assume that cruelty to animals as explained here was looked poorly upon, otherwise this imagery would not have been so effective.

Please don't dismiss this as an "animal rights" argument, because it is not. But God certainly makes it clear that we shouldn't go around wreaking havoc on everything in our path, simply to serve ourselves. And perhaps you are unaware of the way your food choices affect the "flock."

Nearly all commercial meat in the U.S. comes from factory farms, termed CAFO - concentrated animal feeding operations. You may not know what happens to animals in today's CAFOs, but perhaps it is time we take some responsibility.

Here are some CAFO quick facts:

• Animals in CAFOs (most commonly pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys) are kept in abnormally close quarters, often with very little, if any, outdoor exposure. Animals may not even have enough room to turn around, and they undergo mutilation like beak cutting and tail amputation to make it easier to confine them.
• Living literally in their own waste products, antibiotics are administered on a regular basis to prevent outbreaks of disease, but still disease outbreaks are common. To increase animal growth quickly, additional hormones and antibiotics are often used. Hormone use in poutry and pork is illegal in the U.S. but is commonly used in cattle feed lots.
• Producing an abnormal amount of waste products per square foot, CAFOs present a clear environmental problem. So much manure is present in such a small area that contaminents and bacteria can easily leach into groundwater or run off into surface waters, such as lakes, streams, and drains.

We think there are many reasons to avoid CAFO meat, but above all is the conviction that we have "ruled [the flock] harshly and brutally." As Christians we should consider how our decisions (including our purchase of food and other goods) affect others.  Are you trampling on the world around you?  God holds his people to higher standards, and instructs us to not just take care of ourselves, but to increase in our concern for others and for all creation.

At the end of Ezekiel 34, the same chapter, God says, "You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God."  What a relief that God doesn't treat his flock like we treat our own flocks and herds!  From him we learn how to care for others in love instead of cruelty, with tenderness instead of harshness.

If you are interested in affecting positive change away from the CAFO methodology, the best thing to do is limit your meat intake.  Secondly, find local, pasture-raised meat sources, or buy organic.  Eating locally sourced food is good for the environment, good for the economy, and good for you!

Learn more:
Time Magazine - The Problem with Factory Farms
U.S. EPA - How do CAFOs Impact the Environment?

A Seedling

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11

In accordance with our goal to buy local food, we are experimenting with a vegetable garden at home this year.  Since we don't have a lot of extra money to put into a garden, we are starting many of our plants from seed, which is significantly cheaper.  This takes more advanced planning, since seedlings have to be grown indoors until the final risk of frost has ended. 

We should preface this post with the disclaimer that we absolutely do not know the first thing about gardening, much less organic gardening.  But with a little help from our local library, we are learning as we go.  We found that one advantage to choosing your own seed is that you can choose a variety that works best for your region, soil type, and garden ecosystem.  You can also choose to avoid seeds that are genetically modified and experiment with some ancient varieties of plants, including heirloom vegetables that have been preserved and passed down over generations. 

About a week ago we planted our first tomato seeds, a french variety known as Carmello, which promises to grow large fruit with skin resistant to cracking.  How anxious a person must be waiting for seeds to sprout up from the soil, in particular when their very livelihood and survival depends on their success.  But yesterday we saw our first sprouts - a sweet little victory in our amateur gardening adventure!

Planting a seed takes trust.  Nothing we do will directly coax a seedling up from the ground.  We provide sunlight and water, and we hope to see the seedling suddenly spring up.  How often God surrounds us like soil, waiting patiently to see that we will trust him.  But if we are fervently devoted to his instructions, to prayer, to meditation on his word, we find that God will not leave us in the ground dormant and unfruitful.  He will spring up through us a full, righteous life and we will be vessels of his praise and glory.

Generosity on a Budget

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this. Deuteronomy 24:19-22

We have always been fairly good at setting aside a tithe (10%) of our income to the church. This is the standard amount commanded throughout scripture, and most Christian bodies agree that it is really the minimum we should devote to the God who in fact saved us from "slavery in Egypt." We have on occasion decided to give more than the 10%, usually in response to a pressing need in the world (natural disasters), an organization we hear about, or a fellow believer needing funding for a mission trip. Because we are not very intentional about giving above the minimum, it tends to not happen very often.

In the U.S., the holidays seem to invoke a spirit of giving in people. This happens with us too, although part of me wonders if the reality is that we are reminded how little we have given of ourselves in the past year, and we scramble to somehow "make up" for it before that new year comes around and the resolutions start all over again (or repeat, as the case may be).

So... here we are. It is November, and while we have tithed this year, we find ourselves wanting to create more of a habit out of this charity thing. The biggest thing in our way of course, is money (imagine that). We are on a strict budget, and barely making ends meet - I know we are not the only ones, and it seems we have cut a lot in order to make day-to-day life work. But I know that in the scripture passage above, these farmers, these winemakers - they were likely a little strapped for cash too. But God, remember, didn't decide to hoard for himself or spare any expense when it came to you. He gave it all. And although slavery in Egypt sounds pretty horrible, it is not even comparable with the havoc that the power of sin can have on a person's life, not just here on earth but for all eternity.

We have a budgeted amount of money set aside for food every month. So starting in November, we are going to take whatever is left over in our food budget (our sheaves overlooked, if you will) and give that money to someone who needs food. Sometimes it might be $5, or sometimes $20, maybe more. I'm sure we might have times where we will be lazy and eat out a few more times, look over our vine a second or even third time, and use it all, but I hope we can do better. Our prayer is that we continue to be creative about how we spend our money and conserve it in the direct interests of others. We want to eat out less, make more from scratch, waste less, and give more. We are no longer going to take the residual of our budget, and allow it to give us permission to spend more than we need. Instead, we can rejoice in spirit with those who will benefit from our overlooked sheaves.

This doesn't sound like too much for God to ask of us, and I think as we witness the poor and hungry coming into our vineyard to gather what is left over, our hearts will open to them and our desire will be to leave them with more and more of our abundance.

The Local Advantage

When we set out to eat more local food, we did so for a few good reasons. Namely, to cut down on our food's transporation footprint, support local businesses, and get away from the consumerism culture surrounding our demand for any type of food, any time you want it.

These are all still great reasons to buy locally, but as the growing season is nearing its end, we have some time to reflect on some of the extra benefits we discovered along the way!

Local food tastes better. We never really stopped to think about why the food we buy in the supermarket fails us so often. In order for most fruit to make it to the grocery store before going rotten, supermarket produce is picked way before it is ripe, and distributors count on it "ripening" on the way. When you buy it, then, it is either under-ripe, or, it is soft like ripened fruit but void of flavor. Fruit that is picked at its peaked ripeness is the sweetest kind. Thanks to some local farmers we will be enjoying some tree-ripened peaches from our freezer all year long, not to mention all of the other amazing fruit we've had this season. We also found out how much sweeter and juicier the tomatoes are when they come from your own garden.

Local food is more informed. Can you imagine going up to your grocery store butcher and asking him what he fed to the chickens? No one knows better than the farmer herself what the farm's practices are concerning pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Not to mention that it is just good to know what kind of business you are supporting with your food dollars.

Local food is more fun!! This season we learned how to cook with ground lamb, eggplant, and squash just to name a few. Our favorite meals were ones we had to invent with items from the farmer's market that week. We really enjoyed the culinary adventure!

You probably have a bit more time to visit a farmer's market or roadside stand and pick up some local produce. What do YOU love about eating locally?

Goal #3: Buy Local Food

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth. Psalm 104:14

God designed the world with provisions for us in mind. Plants that we can use as food, the water, soil and sunlight to cultivate them, and even weather seasons to provide for growth, harvest and renewal for the next year. Although all of these natural systems are so complicated that they encompass entire fields of study, really the concept for us is quite simple. God created the means, we work within his system, and we are given the privilege to partake in the goodness that comes forth.

We live in a culture that is demand-focused. We shop online and receive items on our doorstep days later - never seeing the raw materials, the laborers, the distributors, or even the delivery truck in some cases, and I think we have grown quite oblivious to the rest of the world. I am sad to say that we have done the same thing with our food. While our backs were turned, the food industry has globalized and at no fault of any one person, has become subject to our high demands and materialism.

God gave us food in our own backyards (sometimes literally), or close to it. And we wonder what God thinks when what he gives to us here and now is not quite good enough for our tastes. Instead we want ripe red strawberries in January. But it is possible to eat great tasting food from just around the block - and doing so has many benefits.

• Support farmers directly and help sustain your local economy
• Save the energy and pollution it takes to transport and refrigerate food products before they get to your local grocery store
• Enjoy foods that are fresher and minimally processed
• Get more for your money - pay for your food, not its travel costs

Buying locally is a huge challenge, and it takes a lot of work. Last year we found a website where we could look up "what's in season" for our area. We planned a meal around asparagus, only to find that the asparagus in the grocery store came from Peru. However, there are a lot of practical ways to get started in the local food movement.

• Shop at local farms and farmer's markets Find one here
• Sign up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) and receive regular deliveries of produce from your local farm. Find one here
• Join a food co-op, or just shop at one. Find one here
• Buy foods that are in-season, and preserve for use later by freezing or canning
• Grow your own food! Start a vegetable garden in your own backyard, or cooperatively with others in your community or church group
• Try new recipes designed for seasonal cooking. Subscribe for a weekly recipe

Goal #2: Eat Less Corn

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:7-10

This may seem like a strange goal. After all, corn is rich in many nutrients, including Vitamin B1 and B5, Vitamin C, folate, fiber, phosphorus, and manganese. But as we learn more about US agricultural practices, we can't help but feel a little angst about the topic of corn. After all, corn is the most heavily produced crop in this country, and the US is by far the world's top producer, but only about 10% of it makes its way into our food supply. And most likely by the time it gets there, it's not in its original nutrient-rich form. Of the 10%, about half of this becomes high fructose corn syrup, and the rest is mainly used to make alcohol, starches, sweeteners, and cereal products. So where else does corn go? Well, around 57% goes directly to animal feed (for more on this read Goal #1: Eat Less Meat), and 20% is used for ethanol.

With so much corn, you'd think that the United States must have really hit the jackpot with how to grow so much, so cheap. There has to be a good reason that we produce so much of this crop right? This is what we find so confusing.

• Corn is not exactly a profitable crop. Farmers need a subsidy if they even expect to break even on the cost of growing and harvesting corn. In other words, our taxes pay largely for our massive stores of corn.
• Corn is highly dependent on fossil fuels - corn is not really a "renewable" resource. In order to grow corn at the current massive yields per acre, corn requires large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides (both produced using fossil fuels).
• Corn is not environmentally friendly - harmful pesticides, runoff of nitrates into soil /water supplies, massive soil erosion and deforestation to name a few.

Most people would be surprised to find out that most of the corn that lines the plains of this nation is not actually edible as you would imagine. It is a "commodity crop" genetically modified so that it is easy to use as animal feed and easy to be processed into derivatives such as corn syrup and preservatives - specifically designed to be high in carbohydrates (from which we make sugar) and low in fiber and nutrients, which are discarded in processing. Soy is much of the same story.

A man reaps what he sows. We sow seeds that are largely useless as food, and we reap crops that are useless as food. As our hungry neighbors starve, we use most of our agricultural land to fuel our meat-heavy fast food diets, our 10-minute one box dinners, our soda and alcohol addictions. These problems are not exactly solved easily, but we'll do our small (and healthier) part by limiting the amount of food dollars we use to participate in such a system.

We'll still be eating good old-fashioned corn - organic and local if we can help it!

Hunger in Haiti

The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same. Luke 3:11

Haiti is one of the most hungry nations in the world today. Undernutrition occurs in over 30% of children and more than 2.4 million people in Haiti are considered to be food-insecure.*

Each year, the International Food Policy Research Institute develops a Global Hunger Index for each country that considers the percentage of people who are undernourished, the percentage of children underweight, and the mortality rate of children under the age of five. Using this index, in 2009 Haiti ranked 9th among the world's most hungry nations, termed by the IFPR as "alarming." This country is without a doubt considered the most hungry in the Americas.** Haiti is also considered a "food deficit" country, requiring about half of their food to be imported due to its inability to self-sustain.*

This was all before the earthquake.

After the earthquake, it was estimated that an additional 2 million people would need immediate food assistance.* This number does not include the more lasting effects of the earthquake, including loss of trade and agriculture infrastructures.

Haiti has been in the news a lot lately, and many organizations continue to offer much needed support to this devastated area. Whether you have already given to this cause or have yet to do so, we encourage you to offer support in whatever way possible. Some organizations are offering strictly food support, such as the World Food Programme of the UN.

* World Food Programme: Haiti
** International Food Policy Research Group - 2009 Global Hunger Index