New baby and happiness

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posted on

August 14, 2020

Farmer Aaron and his wife Rebecca have a new baby! And she came at the perfect time.

Barbie Miller was born on July 18 weighing 7 lb 10 oz. Barbie is the 6th child in the Miller family. She is named after the three farm staff named Barbie who help prepare and pack your order each week. Baby Barbie brings so much happiness to the farm.

These days, it seems that happiness is lacking. Our world has become consumed with worry and fear and divisiveness. The future is ever changing and uncertain.

This can lead to increased stress and anxiety.

But, there is a remedy and a peaceful protest to this state of life. It’s happiness!

I chatted with farmer Aaron about what makes him happy, and there are many things - smiling babies, satisfied customers, everyone working together, seeing passionate people, and butterflies and birds.

All of Aaron’s kids get really happy when the turkeys gobble. They make weird sounds until the bigger toms get their feathers rustled and finally gobble.

Aaron’s boys are happy doing “big person things” like making hay and driving horses.

Aaron’s oldest daughter Martha finds joy in making bouquets for customers. And, she really loves getting thank yous for the bouquets.

Happiness is contagious. But, it’s still up to you to grab it. It’s not only a state of being, it’s a practice.

Butterflies fly by all the time. If you’re consumed with other thoughts and bogged down with the state of the world, you may not notice them. But, if you can let your guard down, you can notice the butterflies. If you notice the butterflies, you can allow them to bring you happiness. Let it flow through you.

Especially in a world lacking positivity, it’s extra important to make room in your mind for happiness.

It’s about enjoying the simple things in life. It’s a free gift. It's an inspiration. It’s a way to fight back in today’s crazy world.

It has been said that 60 seconds of anger is 1 minute of happiness lost.

What brings you happiness?

Opinion

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.

The drama and quick problem solving at the Wise Traditions Conference.

Miller's Bio Farm attended the Weston A. Price Foundation's annual Wise Traditions Conference in Orlando, FL last weekend. Overall, we had an awesome time. But... the trip didn't come without some food freedom drama. This time (for once), it had nothing to do with raw milk or the laws. It was the Marriot's policies that held us back.Here's the story...After a 15 hour drive, the farm team arrived on Thursday with a trailer filled with all of our amazing natural food. At every other event we've attended, we've been able to keep perishables in the venue's cooler and freezer. Not this time! We were told by the hotel that we cannot store it inside.We couldn't let the food go to waste! We scrambled and rented a refrigerated truck that evening.At this point, we knew there was going to be more trouble.The next morning, we were told the reason why.The Marriot does not allow any dairy, meat, or ferments to be sold, served, or given away that's not from one of their vendors (like Cisco). We couldn't even keep a sealed example product on the table to display. It was a liability thing (in other words, corporate greed).And this was despite the fact that all of our food is 100% certified and legal. And, we were required to have $5M worth of insurance to be there. It was just awful. They wouldn't allow a waiver (they said there wasn't enough time). They didn't care if the food went to waste (not their problem). They didn't sympathize with the fact that the people there simply won't or physically can't eat the hotel's conventional food (not sure what's happened to humanity).Our food was not allowed on premises. So we thought fast. On Friday morning, we quickly opened a pickup location outside the hotel. It was a 30 second walk away, about 2 feet off their property on the side of the road. So... people purchased at our booth inside and then walked outside to get their food.Kinda hilarious... but within the Marriot's rules.We even hosted a super fun milk and cookies party outside at the pickup location!At the same time, many conference attendees motivated and spoke with hotel management. I think even Congressman Massie (a keynote speaker) reached out. They explained why we were all gathered together, the importance of real food from small farms, and how the Marriot's policies are a major food freedom issue.The next day, the Marriot decided to "turn a blind eye". We closed our short-lived pickup location, and our booth was back to what we planned!! We even made a butter pyramid and had an ice cream party to celebrate 🥳 As a community of real food eaters, we affected change... albeit small and for one weekend. It gives me hope for the future of food. To anyone who spoke up, shared on social media, or helped scoop 500+ cups of ice cream... thank you!!!Has your food access been held back by laws or policies, either private or public? What food freedom issues are important to you? What would you like to see change?I'd love to hear you from. Comment below (no account required) or contact us.-----PS: We'd love to start pickup locations in Florida and make our food more affordable and accessible in the sunshine state. If you have a spot (or can connect us with a spot) with refrigeration, let me know!

New baby and happiness

More from the blog

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

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

The drama and quick problem solving at the Wise Traditions Conference.

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