Something else I should say

Early this morning I realized something that I left out of my first post on meat and its significance. These days, much of the meat we consume is raised on factory farms. The animals may receive growth hormones, antibiotics, and bits of other animals as food. They are also not treated very kindly. That is enough to steer (no pun intended) people away from red meat and sometimes even poultry.

If you wish to avoid meat for ethical or health reasons, or for magical reasons, again that is fine. However, it is entirely possible to be an omnivore and practice magic effectively, as stated by Scott Cunningham and as opined by me. It's a personal decision, and only you can make that decision for yourselves.

The point of this follow-up is to discuss some health and environmental issues. For the first time in decades, people are becoming more aware of where their food comes from. People are more interested now. They do not want their children to grow up thinking meat comes from plastic-wrapped polystyrene trays in the grocery store. Unfortunately, where most of our food comes from tends to make some people uncomfortable, due to the somewhat shady practices of the factory farm and the uncleaniless of many slaughterhouses.

Moreover, many people are concerned about the hormones present in the meat we consume. Some say that the hormones in beef and cow's milk cause our girls to go into puberty at an earlier age. The truth is, girls are going through puberty because we are heavier these days. We have more body fat. We get estrogen from milk, more when the cow is pregnant.

Some people think organic is the answer for health and the environment. This isn't always so. It certainly isn't very cost-effective . I am not trying to urge people to spend their hard-earned money on organic foods. I am, however, trying to urge people into buying not only local produce, but also local meat. If you are fortunate enough to have a local butcher, visit him/her instead of going to the biggest superstore. If you can buy organic, free-range meats, by all means, do so. Buying Kosher meat is also another option, but it is always more expensive . It can also get wasteful, as the rabbi can reject many of the animals.

Just buy locally when you can. If you are lucky enough to know people who raise meat, buy from them. If you have the space, time and money to raise an animal or two, even better. You're assured of the quality of the feed and the animal's surroundings, and if you can't face butchering, you can always hire a professional. Eat locally, buy from places that treat their animals well, and remember to thank the spirit of the animal who has given its life so you may eat.