Monday, May 7

The government must know I am too stupid.

Believe it or not, it really does take a lot to get on my nerves.


Except for the people that are too lazy to put the cart into the designated cart area, and instead, leave it in the middle of a parking space.  That instantly gets on my nerves.  I mean,  honestly, how lazy are you?!


Sorry.  Lazy cart people are not the point of this post.  But still.


No, my friends, this post is about something else that gets on my nerves.  And that "something else" is the government stepping in (once again) where it doesn't belong.  And where it doesn't belong is my milk supply.


Let me cut to the chase: I recently learned that raw milk is illegal to sell for human consumption in Alabama.  You know, that state I'll  be moving to in five weeks?


The horror!!!!!! The audacity!!!!


What's a raw milk drinking advocate to do?!?!?!




Never mind that government studies have proven raw milk to be safe (see more HERE).  Obviously, we wouldn't want to confuse the issue with facts.  Oh no, instead, the government would rather try and protect the people from themselves.  They would rather make their decisions for them.


Because, don't we all know, they know what is better for us then we do.


Please tell me you sense my sarcasm.


It just makes me so dang angry.


Never mind the fact that leafy greens kill more people than any other food, yet somehow, they are still very much legal.


Have you heard the story about the Amish raw milk farmer that the government recently targeted for selling his raw milk across state lines (read more about that HERE)?  Even though the consumers held private party shares in his dairy herd, the government still raided and shut down the farm.  As if the consumers of raw milk aren't smart enough to make their own decisions.


To quote the article, "Advocates of raw milk claim the milk is safe and say the government should butt out of individual food choices."


Yes, that's exactly what I think.


I think the government should get it's nose out of our individual food choices.




So in Alabama, consumers of raw milk have found a few loopholes.  They can either: 
1. Raise their own livestock for milk
2. Purchase a share in a dairy cow, or
3. Purchase raw dairy that is sold "for animal consumption only"


The irony that we feed our animals nutrient rich and live raw milk, all the while drinking ultra-pasteurized milk ourselves is quite saddening, don't you think?


I'm not sure if raw milk is legal in Florida (the closest bordering state), though it still would be quite a trek to drive over there to pick it up.  In Louisiana, raw milk isn't even allowed for pet consumption - there is no raw milk to be found.


It's funny, but one of my biggest concerns with moving is where I will source my food from.  Pasture eggs, raw milk, raw honey, local bee pollen, pastured chickens, and grass fed beef are just the beginning.  Though, let's face it, I do hope to be eating much more wild seafood than normal - seeing as we'll be living right on the bay.


Do any of my Alabama readers have a good source for raw milk they'd like to share?  I'm hoping for cows milk, but goats milk would be our next best option.  


I'd also like to offer a sincere thanks to the U.S. Government for making my choices for me, knowing I am too stupid to be a smart consumer...


...and for making me feel like a drug addict trying to score raw milk in the back alley of some shady parking lot.

18 comments:

  1. It is the same here in Michigan - but we drive 30 minutes to and 30 min from every saturday to an incredible farmer that has become like family for our raw milk :) The cow share thing is actually pretty cool - we have access to all of their grassfed beef/soup bones/organ meat/suet for tallow, pastured chickens, pastured eggs, raw cheese among other yummy things. In the spring we get FREE cow manure for gardens/composting. In the fall we have access to buy pastured pork or 1/2 or whole pigs, and 1/2 or whole cows for beef. I hope you can find a local farmer that will provide you! Here is where I found ours - maybe you could look at bama and florida. http://www.realmilk.com/where01.html#al
    It is worth the drive for us - the girls LOVE playing with all the animals and I love that they know where and how they get their food :)Good luck!

    Renee :)
    rkohley@gmail.com

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  2. "I was able to find raw milk in a matter of days from the local Pansacola health food store"

    I saw this quote among the comments when you announced your move! Hopefully, it works out, and you are able to feed and nourish your family once you move. I too, moved, to a brand new area, full of people I dont know. My only advice to you is to put yourself out there, and get to know people as soon as possible for your family. Its been years, now, and we are still trying to find our "nitch" here. Enjoy it, I do believe you will love it. We grow once away from our families, it is inevitable. At any age. I see amazing things for you, just keep blogging about them! Im sure many people are waiting to rejoice with you in this new venture.

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  3. We're from Canada and have a milk cow ourselves. We sell it to a few very chosen people for animal consumption only, if they're questioned. I hope you're able to find a place!

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  4. We live in Tennessee where raw milk is also illegal, ridiculous, I agree. We just buy it from the farmer's market for "pet consumption" along with tons of other people who obviously aren't paying $10/gallon just to give it to their pets, haha!

    This is how we found our source:
    http://realmilk.com/where01.html#al

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  5. We are fighting hard in Wisconsin to legalize raw milk! You would think in the "Dairy State" this would be a no-brainer, but the big dairy industry doesn't like anything that might undercut their profits.( as in small dairy farmers selling straight to the consumer and cutting the middle man- THEM) That said you can still get raw milk if you know the right people. ;) I have a couple goats so I don't have to go far to get mine. :D

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  6. Leafy greens kill more people than any food?? what leafy greens do you mean?

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    Replies
    1. bags of E.Coli contaminated spinach etc. it is very hard to prove the source of food poisoning, but raw milk is not a major cause. Deli meat and greens are far worse!

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  7. I also live in Alabama and have a jersey bull however I am having a hard time locating a Jersey Heifer as soon as I do I will be waiting to produce REAL milk for my family and anyone who wants to buy it for "pet consumption"...... I personally feel the govenment has overstepped one too many times.

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  8. Just call up the WAPF chaper leader in the area! They are a great source for info! Melissa

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  9. We just buy it in my state and don't say anything. I can't imagine anyone "higher up" even cares, but if asked, ours is for "pet consumption" as well.

    Stupid.

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  10. I'm really sorry. We are dairy farmers in New York, and while we are not organic, we do intensively graze our cows and try to do things naturally. I don't know what area you are moving to, but a nice country church might be in order...

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  11. In North Carolina, we too have to deal with this absurd law. When I lived three miles from the South Carolina border and could hop over the state line to a dairy farmer, it was no big deal. But we've relocated towards the Northeast of the state, and I was at a loss as to where to find raw milk. But, lo and behold, this season at my local farmer's market, there was a booth bearing the joyful sign: "Pet" Milk for Sale! They also sell "pet" yogurt, believe it or not ;). I'm just trying to picture my poor meat rabbits (the only "pets" we have) lapping up yogurt in summer sun. Not likely...

    But the long and short of it is, everyone around here knows that pet milk means real, raw, delicious, healthy milk, and I'm willing to shell out $8 for a gallon in exchange for knowing that hubby and I are getting the best of what's out there. Also, sticking it to the government in a non-destructive way :).

    Good luck in looking for all your new food sources! Have you looked into Bread Beckers for some of your co-op needs? They're all over the South, and they're super nice people, I've heard. They spoke at a homeschool conference I attended- worth looking up.

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  12. I am also in NC and have to do covert milk runs. I literally have to pick up my milk once a month behind an old abandoned grocery store. How ridiculous is that! The point it is possible, you just have to make more effort and pay a premium but it's better than going without!

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  13. I am so with you! I am blessed to live where raw milk is legal, but it is incredible that anywhere in the U.S. it could be illegal. I think that "unconstitutional" describes the law pretty well. We have been so far removed from our food sources in general, that people don't even realize that they have had their rights infringed upon. Good luck in finding a secure source.

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  14. I live in Louisiana where it is illegal to purchase raw milk. I drive to Texas to get my raw milk. In Texas it is legal to sell raw milk. Best of luck to you. I will be praying for you and your family.

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  15. I am almost positive you can buy raw milk in Mississippi. I'm also pretty sure Jackson has a nice farmers market with raw milk. Hope this helps. I'm in Louisiana and the best milk I can find is a local farm that does minimum pasteurization and non homogenized.

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  16. I absolutely agree! In Australia it is illegal to sell raw milk in all states. It is actually illegal to even give away raw milk (and eggs and homekilled meat), it is not supposed to leave your property (unclear whether we can take it to work for lunch). We have our own cow, and after calving we have so much milk we would love to just give it away to neighbours. Quite a few people sell it as "cosmetic bath milk", which I think is quite clever. I hate that the govt can control what we eat and I have a detailed conspiracy theory about it all on my blog :) nice to meet you and good luck with finding good food in your new state!

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  17. In FL, they can sell raw milk for "animal" consumption. Alot of FL people will offer the milk for pets on craigslist. Local eggs and honey you should be able to score easily. You may need to look a bit for the meat, but usually it can be found, I just don't know about where to find it where you are headed.

    Also, from your other post--figs and lemons you should be able to grow! I saw olives growing on the panhandle of FL, idk about artichokes.

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