During public radio station commute (my job) I was listening to Marketplace Money from American Public Media. The first interview on the show featured Jack Bogle – the legendary founder and retired CEO of The Vanguard Group, who has just published a book entitled: “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing.”
During the course of the interview I was reminded of a nice little saying: “Don’t consider just the probabilities that lie ahead…consider the consequences as well.” He was a strong advocate for planning long-term. Sounds about right to me.
I can relate the quote, planning for the consequences that lie ahead in terms of our farm’s decision to abandon certified organic poultry feed. In this context, it seems to make more sense. Let’s see…
If we decided to tough it out, and continue to pay upwards of $25 per 50 pound bag of organic feed, plus $20 each for both organic oats and organic corn (for scratch feed) — than we are feeding more than $65 dollars of feed per week for the birds alone. My business sense says that I should pass this cost on to the consumer in order to sustain our small farm business. I can’t. Short term, we absorbed the financial hit, and just did it. …But!
Long term, it could spell financial crisis for Wells Tavern Farm– and the consequence of that could ruin the farm — it could mean culling animals, the loss of used agricultural land, and the collapse for our family. Why? Because I think that this recession is long-term (two years) and not a little bubble.
Let’s move onto happier thoughts!
Omega-3
Some great and detailed benefits and scientific information about Omega-3’s can be found here.
What can high-omega-3 foods do for you?
- Reduce inflammation throughout your body
- Keep your blood from clotting excessively
- Maintain the fluidity of your cell membranes
- lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream
- decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood clotting
- inhibit thickening of the arteries by decreasing endothelial cells’ production of a platelet-derived growth factor (the lining of the arteries is composed of endothelial cells)
- increase the activity of another chemical derived from endothelial cells (endothelium-derived nitric oxide), which causes arteries to relax and dilate
- reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis
- reduce the risk of becoming obese and improve the body’s ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight and metabolism, and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells)
- help prevent cancer cell growth
What conditions or symptoms indicate a need for more high-omega-3 foods?
- Depression
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Fatigue
- Dry, itchy skin
- Brittle hair and nails
- Inability to concentrate
- Joint pain
SOLUTION:
Eat eggs that have been raised at Wells Tavern Farm– chickens eat little insects, worms and greens and a healthy diet that promotes higher Omega-3’s in our chickens pastured brown eggs!
