How to know if a farmer can be trusted

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August 30, 2019

In today’s world of misleading food labels, targeted marketing, stock photography, and conflicting views about what’s actually healthy, how can you tell if a farmer is really living up to what they boast?

You know how it goes. You visit a farm’s website. You see pictures of happy animals and happy workers. Of course they’re in a picturesque landscape. You read about how wonderful and healthy their products are. If the price is right and delivery/pickup is convenient, you’ll probably go for it. But… how do you really know if the farmer can be trusted?

Here are some ways to find out if a farmer can be trusted:

1-- Ask questions. Lots of questions. Pointed questions. A trusted farmer will answer, likely with more details than you requested.

2-- Read reviews. A trusted farmer will have lots of customers who love them. These customers have likely been eating his food for a long time, have spoken with the farmer personally, and have maybe even visited the farm. You can read our Google reviews here.

3-- Talk to the farmer. So much can be gleaned through a phone or in person conversation. Attitude, mood, and depth of knowledge are hard to really know through type but can easily be perceived through a one on one conversation. Say hi, give feedback about a product, or ask a question. You can call our farmer at 717.786.7895 ext 0. Although he’ll likely be out working in the field, he’s usually great about getting back to you quickly.

4-- Learn hands on about farming and food processing. Maybe you can visit a local farm or farm museum. Or maybe you sign up for a workshop about yogurt making. Or, if you’re really adventurous, work for a farm!

5-- Visit the farm. This is hands down the most important one. By visiting the farm, you can see if the farmer is actually doing what he says. You can see the animals in their true condition. You can see how clean the facilities are.

And lucky you. I do have a way for you to accomplish #1, #3, #4, and $5 all in one day!

Our annual Farm Day event is coming up on Saturday, September 14. It will be on the farm in Quarryville, PA. In my opinion, it’s worth the trip.

The farmer will provide a nutrient dense lunch, give wagon and pony rides, let you milk a cow, help you give a calf a bottle, give you feed for the chickens, and give you a farm tour. And, if you’re lucky, maybe a calf will even suck your fingers.

Farm Day is a fun day for the whole family. Kids are more than welcome. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Farm Updates

Opinion

Your gut. Is the perfect synergistic probiotic a pill or fermented food?

*Warning: I'm not a doctor and I don't have any degrees in nutrition. This is my opinion on the topic. Last weekend, Aaron and I went to the Documenting Hope's conference in Orlando. It was for both parents and doctors who are helping kids heal from chronic illnesses... in a holistic way. It's such an important cause that aligns perfectly with our tagline "Inspiring Health Generations". We had a table and loved feeding everyone yummy and pure snacks. I also had the pleasure of attending some of the talks. One of my favorite talks was from Star Edwards MS, RDN/LD titled "Where's Bifido? Missing Bifidobacterium, Impact on Child Health, and Restoration Strategies⁠". It was all about gut health and balance and its affects on the immune system, the brain, and overall wellbeing. One thing that really stuck with me were the warnings about probiotic pills. First off, probiotic pills are super potent. They can completely throw off the balance in your gut. Star advised people to get tested for what's actually in their gut first. This is so you can know which strains are too low or high. Then, you can determine the right probiotic pill to correct any issues. And then, you want to get tested again 6-8 weeks later to make sure those little pills had the desired effect. Second, probiotic pills need to be formulated properly. If they're not, then "probiotic" strains can compete with each other and cancel each other out. Then, they're not doing you any good at all. Wow! This got me thinking about balance in nature and in living things and therefore our gut and our food. It made me wonder -- Would fermented food naturally be in balance? Would eating fermented foods be better than taking probiotic pills? After all, they're living things and we're living things. So of course I did some research. And I mean there are A LOT of studies on probiotics and gut health. But, it seems that science is conflicted when it comes to probiotics. Here are a few reasons why: It's the same story as any FDA-approved product. The companies do the studies (and lots of them) that prove their product is superior. They set the parameters and goals to achieve the desired result. It's hard to determine which studies are unbiased.The limits for whether something is considered "probiotic" or not is set by the FDA. And the bar is set for probiotic pills that seek approval. The limits are so high that, by those standards, fermented foods don't meet the regulatory criteria to be considered "probiotic".Gut health is a holistic approach to health, which is hard to prove with modern science. Every body is different and will react differently. Every person has a different diet, sleep habits, exercise routine, etc. There are too many variables to conclude definitive health outcomes based on probiotics in the gut alone. Although science in conflicted on which kinds of probiotics are best and the precise benefits of each, there are a couple things there is scientific consensus on: Eating probiotics (whether in pill or food form) alters the microbiology of your gut.The balance of gut microbiology directly relates to your health and wellbeing. So... back to the main topic. Are fermented foods more synergistic than probiotic pills? Since science is kinda out on this one, I think we need to rely on our gut instinct (pun intended) to make the best choice for ourselves. So I'll tell you my perspective. I personally believe in a more ancestral way of eating. How about you? 200 years ago everyone ate pure food (without weird chemicals or additives). Everyone cooked. The soil was packed with nutrients and regenerated by nature. And... people fermented food. If not eaten immediately, many foods will ferment naturally. It's why we have cheese, kefir, yogurt, salami, sourdough bread, kombucha, etc. Humans found that they could still eat it... and it tasted pretty yummy too. And maybe most importantly it helped preserve food over winters and for travel. But... fermented foods were only considered edible if they tasted good. If the microbiology in a fermented food is out of whack, it just doesn't taste good. That's when bad molds and other weird stuff grows. That's when our body's response is to spit it out! In other words, fermented foods need to be in balance microscopically. And they need to align with our taste buds. So, in the most natural and ancestral way, I believe that fermented foods that you think are yummy must be the most synergistic way to boost and balance your gut microbiology. How is your gut health? Do you do anything in particular to help keep your gut in balance? Have you noticed any changes after working on your gut? I'd love to hear from you. Comment below ⬇️

Tips on how to thaw, prep, and cook your pastured Thanksgiving turkey.

So, you have a beautiful pasture-raised soy and corn free turkey in your freezer. Now what? Here are some tips to help you answer important pre-Thanksgiving questions: When do I need to thaw my turkey? To brine or not to brine? What will I season the turkey with? Should I stuff the turkey? Will I do a regular roast or slow roast? When does it need to go in the oven?

Shopping for butter? Wondering what makes "the best" natural butter?

It's that time of year when you want to stock up on butter. The large amounts of cookies and pies that fill my house with delicious flavors is impending and inevitable. When it comes to butter and baking, quality matters. A lot. It affects the color, the texture, and the flavor of your baked goods. And, if you're a natural food shopper, there are some extra things to look for in your butter. I want to make sure I'm making food with the best nutrition and least toxins possible.

How to know if a farmer can be trusted

More from the blog

Your gut. Is the perfect synergistic probiotic a pill or fermented food?

Tips on how to thaw, prep, and cook your pastured Thanksgiving turkey.

Shopping for butter? Wondering what makes "the best" natural butter?

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Miller's Bio Farm, 523 Valley Road, Quarryville, PA 17566