Farm to table experience in Michigan!
There’s nothing like a Midwestern farm to table. This trip was sponsored by National Pork Board as part of an initiative to connect consumers with farmers. As always, all thoughts and ideas found here are entirely my own.
We all have questions and concerns about where our food comes from. How farmers are treating the livestock, what they are being fed or what they are treating their fields with. As a home cook; I’m also intrigued by many of these concerns. At the end of the day I want to feed my family with the best. I’m sure you do too. Meeting the families behind the farms; those who work the fields, and tend the livestock. And learning about all the guidelines that most be met by the time it reaches our table, makes me a lot more comfortable with what I feed my family with.
My goal for this trip was simple, I wanted to see real food growing locally and I wanted to see first hand how livestock where cared for. Even though I test and photograph more recipes and dishes than the traditional home cook; I’m seldom not sure I really understand what it takes to get that food to my table. As a city girl living in Florida I don’t get to see or experience farming other than the seasonal U-Pick experience on local farms, (like blueberries and strawberries).
Note, I do grow a container garden at home and have been harvesting and sharing with my neighbors. The scale is not even comparable, but the journey has made me appreciate the work a farmer does. Nothing compared to the actual caring for a field that is hundreds of acres large and farms with hundreds or thousands of livestock in it.
These farmers not only work for a living, they care about their fields, livestock, family, staff and the entire community. A common denominator we all saw during our trip was that farmers we met all love their work, despite long hours and unpredictable markets. Piglets are born seven days a week, 365 days a year, and these farmers are there to make sure those piglets get off to their safest and healthiest start. A lot of work, time, care, dedication and experience goes into the food we eat. The food these farmers produce is what they feed their own family with too. That gives me peace of mind!
At the end of the day, if there is something I can say I took away with me was learning how sustainable and eco-friendly pig farming really is.
- Making sure the environment is well kept and the smell is properly ventilated.
- Collecting the manure and re-utilized as fertilizer in the fields.
- Using that same harvest as feed for the livestock.
Farmers in Michigan are taking some extra measures to make sure the entire community is happy.
Another take-away is how much farmers love working alongside their families. Most of them hope to grow enough to keep providing for future generations. Some have larger farms and provide jobs for many employees. It brings me much joy seeing younger generations coming back home after college to keep the farm going. This work is by no means easy or elegant. As a mom I can relate to the older generations. Seeing my daughter work by my side is of great joy.
Lastly, I hope that at some point; during or after reading this blog post you give some thought to where your food comes from. Plus, realize that farmers are family people just like you and me. They love their lands, their families, their community, and the their animals.
Many thanks to Dale Norton and Brady Reicks for having us over. To everyone that took time to spend a few days with us and be part of our farm to table experience. Real Pig Farming and National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council #realpigfarming for inviting us to get a glimpse into their farms and process. It takes great courage to bring in over a dozen of different set of minds into their space. Thanks for letting us be part of the “farm to table” conversation.
Hi there! I’m Wanda – the creator and author at My Sweet Zepol a healthy food, travel, and lifestyle blog. Passionate about food photography, food styling, entertaining and advocate about creating memories around the kitchen table. With a mission to create easy-to-make meals for the busy family.
Love, love, love your post Wanda. Three are so many myths and it’s very important to learn from first hand how much work and love is in the food we bring to the table,
I bet it was really interesting getting to know a little more about the process of farm to table! What a great post as well to help educate people.
I would love to have such an experience, it looks and sounds fun plus you get to learn so much along the way.
I would truly enjoy an experience of this kind.
What a great lesson! I have tried to grow my own produce and only then realised how much work is involved !
Oh wow, what an interesting read! It’s good to know that the farmers not only work for a living, but also care about their fields, livestock, family, staff and the entire community. Thank you for sharing this!
Garden Table is a hip, casual eatery and juices that serves up locally-sourced fare and drinks with a focus on clean eating. They also support other local business through partnerships with area farms, bakeries, and artisans
I have always wondered about the farm to table experience. It looks like you learned a lot and enjoyed the experience. Would love one myself.
I appreciate good good. We prefer to spend a little more for food quality meals. I love the idea of farm totable concept. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive and its still pretty exclusive too.
Raising animals is a difficult job.
They really deserve respect, especially if they raise organic meat …
I absolutely love farm to table! Local is always better and I have realized that even more after moving out into the country myself.
I spy bacon!! It’s so important to really understand where our food comes from and take responsibility to make sure the farms we source from are sustainable and ethical in their farming practices!
Thanks for sharing good idea It looks like you learned a lot and enjoyed the experience.
I never try such as i am vegetarian but i will tell my friends to look into this. Great post in detail.
Wow ! This is so impressive ! Such a good read !
I have never been to a farm table experience. Then again, I am also vegan. Looks like you had a great time. Good read.
I am a vegetarian so couldn’t exactly relate to the whole thing other than the fact that the farmers do care about the community and the livestock and work is done ethically right from their farm to your table.
What a fun experience to have had!! Something most people don’t get to experience and it seems like you learned a lot!!
What a fun experience and great post.
I am a vegetarian but this sounds totally new to me! Seems you had great experience!