Everything might be ok if we simply listen and love each other

The world can be a pretty scary place right now. People are divided, and the future is uncertain. Whether it’s because of pandemic mandates, inflation, food security, climate change, new technologies, whatever. In my opinion, a lot of the scariness comes down to politics. For example, let’s say a state has a “landslide” vote with 65% for and 35% against something, then the rules go in favor of the majority. But what about that 35%? That could be millions of people that feel shorted. Is the 65% considering the 35%? Typically not. That’s how politics in a democratic republic work.The even scarier part is with your family and community. The divides right now are so strong. I’ve heard too many stories of people breaking up with family and friends. It’s really not ok. Your friends and family should be there to support you, no matter what, right?All this aside, I have hope. So much hope. I truly believe everything will be ok if we can simply listen and love each other.The past year and a half has been rough (to say the least). It’s as if we need to re-learn how to listen to each other. We need to re-learn how to empathize with each other. We need to re-learn how to love each other.You see, when I have an opposing view to someone else, my beliefs and what I say may be harmful to them. I need to understand that. I need to listen and practice nonviolent communication over these really tough issues of today.For example (and I know this is a BIG and HEATED example right now), let’s say that I am pro vaccine mandates, and I’m speaking to someone who’s pro medical freedom. I say, “Everyone should get the vax. If you don’t, then you only care about yourself.”Even though I’m acting in what I think is the best interest for myself and everyone, that can be really harmful to them. Instead, I should step back and think.Maybe it’s against their religious beliefs. Maybe they or someone close to them had a severe vaccine reaction at some point, and the thought of being forced to do it again triggers an anxiety attack. Maybe they are doing lots of other things to protect the health of others. Maybe they got the vaccine personally but believe wholeheartedly in medical freedom. You could do the same exercise vice versa or on any topic. There could be so many reasons my views differ from someone else’s. But, unless we are able to have these hard conversations, we won’t get anywhere.With any problem, there are an abundance of solutions. There’s really never one right answer. Let’s take a breath. Let’s take a step back. Let’s analyze what’s important and move forward together.At Miller’s, we are here. We listen to customers. We love you, too. We believe your choice is the right choice. Let’s build the next generation of healthy children together.What do you think? Anything troubling you recently? Anything on your mind? I’d love to hear from you.Contact us or comment below (no account necessary - you can comment as a guest).

Exactly how does real bone broth help heal "leaky gut"?

Leaky gut is a condition where the intestinal lining becomes inflamed and damaged. This allows toxins and bacteria to leak through the walls of the intestines into the bloodstream. In your leaky gut research, you’ll likely find lots of discussion around bone broth. Why? The answer is collagen! Collagen comes from the Greek word “kólla,” which means glue. This is why the gelatin in bone broth is excellent for sealing and healing your gut.

A helpful guide for buying natural and healthy flour.

Flour. Oh flour. It always seems to be on the chopping block but never disappears. First, the trend was about cutting carbs. Now, it’s about being gluten-free. But, despite this, flour remains. Why? Well, it’s pretty awesome.Humans have been grinding grain into powdery flour for an estimated 10,000 years. This practice allowed them to move to colder climates and have food through the winter (and it’s also important to mention that it’s pretty darn tasty, too).Today, we have access to so many different foods and different types of each food and different labels on the food. In fact, Miller’s just released 7 new flour options this week! No labels, just all the nitty gritty details in the description. Because, well, we know the farmers :)Let me shed some light on flour. Hopefully, it will make your process of buying flour easier.Heritage Grains vs. Mass Market GrainsMass market grains are developed and grown for resistance to disease and for higher yield. The idea is to more easily feed the world - a noble cause that seems to never be realized (because, come on, the uber-wealthy prefer to build spaceships instead). For example, corn has been genetically modified to be grown with synthetic chemicals that eliminate weeds and pests and produce larger ears with fatter kernels. Wheat has not been genetically modified in a lab. Instead, it has been intensively selectively bred to maximize berry production and size. The wheat we now know as modern wheat is far removed from its natural origins.Heritage grains, on the other hand, are not modified in any way. They are ancient grains. They are non-hybridized. They have grown in popularity in the past decade because people seem to be able to digest them better, specifically those with a sensitivity to gluten.Some examples of heritage wheat include einkorn, spelt, and red winter or spring wheat. Stone Ground vs. Factory MilledLong long ago, humans ground grain in between two stones. Stone ground flour is the closest we can reasonably get to this ancient process. It grinds slowly and keeps the grain at a low temperature, therefore preserving a maximum of nutritional benefits. Factory milled flour happens at high speeds and temperatures. Whole Grain vs. Refined White FlourWhen it comes to wheat, there are three parts of the berry - the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. The bran and germ are super nutritious. However, they also reduce shelf life. Whole grain flour has the whole berry with all three parts. It’s the most nutritious with the least shelf life. Refined white flour is just the endosperm, with the bran and germ removed. So, refined white flour is the least nutritious but the most shelf stable. And then there’s flour like we offer at Miller’s that’s half and half - there’s some bran and germ removed and some remaining. A good balance. Unfortunately, there’s no official term for this option. It’s something you need to ask the farmer. Bleached vs. UnbleachedBleached flour is done with chlorine or benzoyl peroxide. It adds synthetic chemicals and damages the starch and protein content. Bleached flour became popular because it makes it softer, fluffier, and rises better. Unless you’re a pastry chef, unbleached flour should be delicious and work well in most home baked goods. Types of FlourWhole Grains: The seed of the plant. With wheat, we call it a berry. With corn, we call it a kernel. With oats, it’s simply whole oats. If you have a milling system at home, you can purchase whole grains and make them into flour yourself!All-purpose: This type of flour is a pantry staple and works well for basically all applications. It can be stone milled or factory milled or bleached or unbleached.Bread: Is made with hard wheat. It has a higher protein and therefore more gluten, which results in chewy and elastic bread.Pastry/Cake: Is made with soft wheat and is ground to a super-fine texture. It absorbs a lot of water, which results in great rising abilities. It is typically bleached, but some artisanal companies offer unbleached options.Self-rising: A combination of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. It’s typically bleached and factory milled. You may find this ingredient in pancake or biscuit recipes. But, hey, why not just add the baking powder and salt yourself?Enriched: This is flour with nutrients added in that were lost in the growing, milling, or bleaching process. When you source from local farms that take good care of their soil and offer natural flours, enriched flour is not necessary.I am stoked to announce that Miller’s launched 7 new flour options this week! They are all from Beiler’s Heritage Grains, about 11 miles from our farm. They grow their own non-GMO grains and stone grind it at low speeds on premises. Check out the new offerings below.Is grain a part of your diet? Which do you choose and why? Do you have any special ways of preparing grain in your home?

The ridiculousness of best by dates and why we use them anyway

The “sell by” date is a pretty new thing. It all started in the 1950s, when one little store started using it. By the 1970s, it was the norm. And today, I dare to say that perishable products without a date somewhere on the package won’t sell nearly as well as those with one. There’s a variety of different wordings for dates that go on food packages. As a consumer, it’s very important to understand the difference between them...

Introducing Sara, the new and awesome customer service team member!

The Miller’s team is growing, and it’s quite exciting. For the past 4.5 years, it has been me and me alone answering customer service emails. Alas, the time has come to add some new spirit to the team. This week, I am proud to announce that Sara is joining the customer service team!

What are cheese crystals and why would you want them in your cheese?

They say “A diamond lasts forever.” The same can’t be said about cheese crystals. But, they are a sign of quality and distinction. A true delicacy. Have you ever eaten aged cheese and found it to be a bit crunchy? Well, if you look closer, you would see small white dots in or on the cheese causing that crunch. Those are cheese crystals (NOT mold).

Why don't I want to eat breakfast in the morning?

When I wake up in the morning. I’m thirsty... but not hungry. What’s up with that? Does this happen to you, too? There’s a good chance it does, since nearly a quarter of Americans skip breakfast! I almost always follow the “listen to your body” rule. But, not being hungry and therefore not eating breakfast is a little different.