Learning about stress, happiness, and health at Farm Day

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September 20, 2019

This past weekend we hosted our annual Farm Day event. It was a day full of excellent food, good old fashioned fun, and some unexpected epiphanies.

In the farm’s packing room (where lunch was served), the farmer has signs posted. One sign says:

One minute of anger ~ weakens the immune system for 4-5 minutes!

One minute of laughing ~ boosts your immune system for 24 hours!

This really got me thinking about the correlation between stress, happiness, and health.

Last week, my 7-year-old son was stressed about reading in school. On Thursday, he had a 102F fever and was sent home by the nurse.

Judge me if you want, but we went to Farm Day anyway. I figured the worst case scenario is that he rested at our rental home with my husband.

We arrived on the farm on Friday, and my kids loved seeing the chickens, playing in the sandbox, and just being kids. They were free in nature. Free to roam, free to play, and free of stress. My son was feeling much better.

On Saturday, he had a blast at Farm Day. His face filled with pure joy while the farmer’s son John gave him a ride on a buggy pulled by a pony. Again, the face of joy when hand milking cows and reviewing milks from different cows. Again, the face of joy when giving hay to the horses. And so on and so on.

On Sunday morning, my son was 100% healthy.

Listen, it could be coincidence. But, my mama instincts tell me that it had something to do with the joy and laughter he experienced on the farm. His stress-free body was able to heal (and, I’m sure the amazing nutrient-dense food didn’t hurt, either).

A cow on the farm had a similar experience with stress at Farm Day, except it was the opposite.

I need to first note that cows do not like change. Anything out of the ordinary is stressful. So, Farm Day makes the herd a bit uneasy.

When the cows were in the barn to be milked, a customer (who’s a birth doula) noticed that a cow’s water may have broken.

The farmer came over and said it’s possible that the cow might give birth soon, but it’s hard to tell. After Farm Day ended, the cows were moved back up to pasture.

Low and behold, the cow gave birth around 10pm that night!

There’s no way to know 100%, but it seems to me that the cow was ready to give birth in the barn. However, due to the stress of strangers, she didn’t. Her body waited until she felt safe and calm at pasture.

I believe my son and that cow had something big in common on Farm Day. They needed to de-stress for their bodies to function their best.

Our bodies and our minds are so beautiful and complex. And, they are so completely affected by stress.

The farmer’s vision is to promote wellness. And a big part of this is reducing stress.

The farmer hopes that, by eating his nutrient-dense food, you are not stressed about the quality ingredients you feed your family. He hopes that you can be calm knowing exactly where and how your food is produced. He hopes that his pickup locations and mail shipping options are convenient and hassle free. And, he hopes that our excellent customer service reduces your stress, knowing you’ll always be taken care of.

How do you reduce stress in your life? Is it by the foods or lifestyle you choose? Do you have any regular practices for de-stressing? I’d love to hear from you!

Farm Updates

Eggnog's Medieval Magic

Well now, friends, let me tell you about eggnog - it's no yolk, this drink has been around forever! While history scholars are still whisking through different stories, most agree it sprouted from a Medieval drink called posset. Posset was hot milk curdled with wine or beer, served in a two-handled pot when folks caught the sniffles. Yup, that's right, I said sniffles. The warmth would settle your bones, the milk kept your strength up better than a day of plowing, and the alcohol and spices worked like nature's own medicine chest. Posset recipes were as varied as quilting patterns, every homestead had their own way to make it, and from this patchwork of kitchen wisdom grew a whole crop of milk based treasures, including... eggnog itself. Eggnog is a rich, chilled, sweet dairy drink that'll make you smile like you just finished morning milking. It's made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and spices, simple as that! Most folks only raise a glass during a short spell around Christmas. It was those fancy British folks in the 1700s who turned eggnog into a holiday tradition. They'd add expensive spirits and spices to milk to preserve it through winter (yep, aged eggnog, just like preserving pickles in the cellar). Eventually, eggnog crossed the ocean to the Thirteen Colonies. As times changed and food became easier to come by, common folk adopted it as a cherished holiday drink. Today, food is everywhere you look, but finding the right kind is harder than finding a needle in a haystack. Store-bought eggnog is stacked in every store, but I won't hitch my wagon to it. Store-bought eggnog is cooked up in factories to taste good and stay the same every time. But it's packed with additives, loaded with more sugar than a honey wagon, and has less than 2% egg yolks. Might as well call it milknog! And don't get me started on all that pasteurization business. If you've got the time, eggnog is easier than feeding chickens. Here's what you need: 4 egg yolks (fresh from the henhouse) ⅓ cup maple syrup (the real stuff, tapped honest) 2 cups raw milk (straight from Bessie, if you're blessed) 1 cup raw cream 1 tsp nutmeg (or whatever spices suit your fancy) 3 oz bourbon or rum (if you're of a mind to) You can mix these ingredients raw (like we do on the farm) or you can warm it up. Your barn, your rules. For a fuller eggnog, beat those yolks until they lighten like sunrise. Then fold in the rest. For a frothy eggnog that'll make you grin like a cat in the creamery, beat 4 egg whites until soft peaks form, then stir them into your finished batch. I highly recommend doing this whether you bought it from a farm stand or made it yourself. It's wonderful. So please, enjoy your eggnog this winter season. When you raise your glass, think on what you're celebrating. Toast to home remedies, good health, the wisdom of those who came before us, and honest food that comes from the land.

From Grass To Glow: Tallow Skin Care

Tallow might sound old-school, but this grass-fed goodness is pure skin food. Packed with vitamins A, D, E & K plus CLA, it mimics your skin’s natural fats for maximum absorption. The result? Happy, nourished, glowing skin, without the chemicals

What’s really in a grocery store turkey?

It’s that time of year again—the turkey takes center stage. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a Sunday family dinner, a golden-brown bird is often the star of the show. But if you’re grabbing a conventional turkey from the grocery store, you might be wondering: what’s actually in it besides turkey? Why not add weird stuff to our holiday dinner? Many conventional turkeys are “enhanced” before they even make it to the freezer aisle. That usually means they’ve been injected with a solution of water, salt, and sometimes sugar or broth. It’s meant to keep the meat "moist and flavorful", but it also means your turkey may contain up to 15% of stuff that isn’t turkey. Always check the fine print on the label—you might be paying turkey prices for salty water. I sure hope you like your turkey with a side of salt! Those injections can leave a grocery store turkey surprisingly high in sodium. And when you see “natural flavorings” or “seasonings” on the label, it isn’t always just herbs and spices—it can also mean more hidden salt and flavor enhancers. So what exactly are these “boosters”? Think modified food starch for texture, “natural flavorings,” caramel coloring, and sometimes even MSG for that extra hit of savory flavor.Here’s the kicker: take a look at this turkey below—it’s sold by a major brand and proudly labeled ALL NATURAL. But read closely, and you’ll see it actually contains about 4% “other ingredients” that aren’t clearly listed. Makes you wonder, right? Turns out the real stuffing happens long before Thanksgiving—it’s all corn, soy, and unnatural junk. Conventional turkeys are typically raised on large farms where antibiotics may be used to prevent illness in crowded conditions. The USDA regulates withdrawal periods before processing (meaning the birds shouldn’t have antibiotics in their system at slaughter). So does that mean the birds really aren't antibiotic free after all? How confusing for the consumer! As for what the conventional turkeys are fed: Grains:Corn, wheat, and barley aren’t just wholesome-sounding grains—they’re the cheapest way to pack calories into a turkey, fueling rapid growth. Efficiency, not nutrition, is the goal here.Seed Oils:Soy, canola, and flaxseed are tossed in, not out of kindness, but to boost fat content and keep growth on track. Soy especially dominates, since it’s cheap and plentiful—most of it genetically modified. So these turkeys are definitely not low PUFA.Protein sources:Turkeys grow fast, and that means they need protein—lots of it. Beyond soy, feed mills mix in other plant-based proteins to supercharge growth in young poults. The formula isn’t about balance or natural diets; it’s about pushing birds to market weight as quickly as possible. Seed oils, sugar and more, OH MY! Certain “self-basting” turkeys may also contain a touch of sugar or dextrose, oils, or even phosphates to help retain moisture during roasting. My gosh this list keeps going on and on... And the star of the show... Conventional turkeys are genetically bred to grow quickly and large, especially in the breast area—because that’s what most shoppers want. It’s something Big Ag has down to a science: decades of selective breeding for size and speed at the expense of health and flavor. The result? A bird designed for profit margins, not taste. Compared to wild or heritage turkeys, today’s supermarket turkeys are bland, bloated, and bred to fit industry demand, not the dinner table. These turkeys don’t look much like wild turkeys anymore. So what's in a Miller's turkey that makes them so darn special? ✔ Pasture Raised✔ Corn & Soy Free✔ Traditional "White" Breed - Has nice sized breasts✔ Washed in Water and Only Water✔ Nothing Added - No artificial flavors, no colors, no synthetic ingredients, no preservatives✔ Vaccine, Chemical, Antibiotic, Drug, and GMO FreeWondering what's in our turkey feed? Here you go! Soy & Corn Free Turkey Feed Shop our Pastured Turkey (P.S. whole turkeys are coming soon!) The next time you are in the grocery store and see those giant turkey breasts wrapped in plastic, remember: that bird didn’t get that way by accident. It got that way by design.

Learning about stress, happiness, and health at Farm Day

More from the blog

Eggnog's Medieval Magic

From Grass To Glow: Tallow Skin Care

What’s really in a grocery store turkey?

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