Though the inspiration for this post came, part of me was afraid to write it. Why? Because of my dear sweet vegetarian readers, that’s why. One day I’m posting adorable pictures of fluffy ducklings and the next talking about harvest day. It’s all a part of farm life here, but I found myself holding back from writing about it.
Even for those of us who do eat meat, we’re typically used to getting it at a point where our only responsibility in bringing it to the table, is to stick it in the oven or cook it on the stovetop first. Being so removed from our food has made many of us horrified about the process behind the scenes, that we don’t much like to think about.
When I felt a bit timid to write about all this, I asked myself why.
I thought about the years I struggled with eating meat and became vegetarian and then vegan. I thought of the constant pressure and guilt from a friend to be vegetarian again when I had started eating meat once more. I thought about the people I’d known who thought eating “flesh” was sinning and that those who did would certainly go to hell. I thought about the group I met, where you were only cool and trendy if you were vegan and played drums with plastic heads instead of leather. And the times they said being vegan was more spiritual and better for the environment. I thought about the woman who passionately advocated an all-raw fruit diet throughout pregnancy, believing it was the only pure food. I remembered when raw food vegans asked about Bracken’s first foods, and squirming as I mentioned bone broth and saw the look of horror cross their faces.
The majority of people are shocked when I reply with “bone broth, a touch of sauerkraut juice, chicken, a little liver powder from grass-fed cows…” When I say Bracken likes to eat “avocado with breastmilk, butternut squash, and blueberries” people tend to get a lot more comfortable and relaxed. But when they discover our love for lard (and that we eat it- gasp- regularly, well…) Many people think of Jeff and I as healthy eaters and most associate that with salads, sprouts, and carrots. Well, we do eat those things, but we also eat lots of lard, tallow, duck fat, grass-fed and pastured meats, eggs, and bone broths, which aren’t the sort of things that are encouraged in all the low-fat diets nowadays.
I thought about all those things and it made me hesitate for a moment.
Then I started writing.
The point is, in today’s world, with so many vegetarians and vegans (and high praise to everything low-fat), there are a lot of judgements about eating meat. I personally know people who believe they are superior to all meat eaters. So I’ve tended to tip-toe around them, as I’ve spent so much time in my life not wanting to offend anyone.
But here’s the thing. I eat meat.
I am who I am. Although I can still be respectful, it’s time to stop tip-toeing around. And this space is for being myself and sharing my truth.
My ancestors ate meat. I don’t believe it’s a sin. My brain thought it would be great to be a vegetarian and not have to rely on any animals for my food, but my body didn’t agree. My body needs meat and animal products to be healthy and thrive. So I eat meat. I strive to be a conscientious and respectful meat-eater, knowing where the animals come from and what kind of life they lived. Since I eat meat, I want to play a larger role in raising it and bringing it to the table because it makes me have a deeper appreciation for the life that was given to feed mine. (That’s where the next part comes in.)
What I’m saying is, it’s not about right and wrong. Each of us have our own path to walk in this life. And no one is superior to anyone else. We can enjoy each other so much more when we let go of our judgements and stop worrying about the judgements on us.
In that spirit,
About Harvesting Ducks:
When we got ducklings in the spring, it was cost prohibitive to buy all females. So we got males and females. We ordered twice as many as we wanted and knew we would harvest all the males when the time came. We had twenty ducks in all and guessed we would have about half and half, give or take a few. We planned on keeping the females for eggs.
But our free-ranging idea didn’t work out because they ate the garden. Plus we realized we didn’t like their messy poops all over the yard (especially with how much Jeff and Bracken like to roll around on the ground.) Without free-ranging, we had them in their yard, which was large, but was mostly dirt and hardly any greens to eat. Our options were to keep them in the yard and feed them grains (they eat a lot so that gets expensive real fast) or put up fencing (plus build a new house) and make a new yard that was filled with lush greens and then supplement with some grains. The fencing and building project was going to be big and we weren’t ready for it. We couldn’t have them outside the fences because they would be vulnerable to our neighbor’s dog. We only have so much space here for animals and we were starting to miss chickens. We thought we’d rather build a new coop and lush yard for a few chickens instead (who conveniently lay their eggs in the nesting boxes.) The ducks never warmed up to us, whereas our chickens used to follow us everywhere. I thought ducks would be our “dream animals” here because they eat slugs and snails, which we have such a problem with, being so close to the coast. I was the one who was idealistic and enthusiastic about ducks, but realistically Jeff was the one caring for them. He was the one hauling their water, closing the door to keep them safe at night, letting them out in the morning, and dealing with their messy stinky poops. Finally, we decided it wasn’t the right time for us to raise ducks, because we were feeling more stress than enjoyment about it all.
This last week was time to harvest ducks. We did something we rarely (if ever) do and asked for help. Our neighbors Teri and Peter had experience harvesting their chickens and came to help us for the day. Jeff used to raise chickens for meat every year so he also had experience. I didn’t. I’d grown vegetables, picked berries, and although I loved eating meat, I’d never been a part of the process of harvesting it before.
It wasn’t easy. It was a hard thing to do, which instilled in me a deeper appreciation for the meat I eat. It gave me a new connection to what I was actually eating in a way I had never experienced before. I helped with the plucking, since it was what I could do with Bracken in the pack. We harvested 13 ducks that day. It was a long day.
We were grateful for Teri and Peter’s help and the enjoyment of their company. We were grateful for the nourishment the ducks were providing for our family. To be filling our freezer up with ducks (one of our favorite meats) was a good feeling.
All the parts had a purpose. We ate the hearts and livers. We saved the feet for making gelatin-rich broth. The feathers, blood, and intestines etc. went into making compost that will fertilize our garden.
What about the last 7 ducks? They went to live at our friend Star’s house with more pasture for free-ranging than they could ever possibly eat. We might get a few ducks again someday, but having ducks here just wasn’t the right fit for us right now.
Although the time is not right for ducks, we are planning on getting a few chickens again in the fall. Our friends will have some full grown hens for sale then and that will give us some incentive to finish that new coop we are dreaming of and give us time to prepare.
I realize that when I harvest a vegetable, I am taking a life. When I harvest an animal, I am taking a life. For me to eat, to be alive, requires taking a life. It is the cycle. Everything transforms into new life. It is ever-changing, ever-flowing. It seems our world today celebrates birth and shuns death. Yet both are a sacred part of the wheel. Our experience last week helped me realize that.
Taryn, thank you for sharing your truth!
It is sad that in such an “enlightened” age, we still feel the need to be aplogetic for doing what is healthiest for our bodies. No one’s body is the same, every single one is unique and beautiful. It is our personal responsibility to care for our bodies in the best way possible. If that means eating only plant foods, then do it. If that means eating mostly plant foods and some animal byproducts, then do it. If that means eating a variety of plant foods and animal foods, then do it. By feeding our unique bodies, what each uniquely needs, we are creating healthier people which creates healthier communities which in turn creates a healthier world. It is so cool!
When we accept our differences with love, whether they are physical, religious, ideological, etc. we are making it possible for everyone to become the healthiest and most beautiful people they can be. And in a real way, I believe, we are helping to heal this earth.
This post brings up the same tired points against veganism, that lack principle or science to back them, I have heard many times. The human body does not need “meat and animal products to be healthy and thrive”, that’s just a lie, and nutrition science shows it to be so (see the documentary “Forks over Knives” for starters). Therefore it IS about right and wrong, because unnecessary murder and slavery is wrong. Animal domestication was an unprincipled mistake by humanity, it is based on a desire to control and exploit other life for selfish interest, there is nothing natural about it. But even killing wild animals is unjustifiable, humans have the physiology of herbivores and you don’t need to hunt for survival. You can tell yourself what you’re doing is fine because your ancestors did it, but that makes as much as sense as someone enslaving another person today because their ancestor did the same; you are missing the important point of PRINCIPLE (i.e. respecting another beings right to be left alone); again you don’t need to kill these animals to be healthy and thrive, so your actions are truly unjustifiable. Maybe one day you will accept this truth rather than resist it, stop ignoring the facts and the many substantial and comprehensive benefits to veganism, and go back to the ethical way of life you used to live.
Wow, I was surprised by all the comments this post got! I loved hearing from all of you. Thanks so much!
Taryn- I just wanted to say that I really appreciate your writing this post. I am vegan, and have been for a couple years, and my body responds really really well to this type of lifestyle. But I truly believe that every body needs different things, and most people I know need a diet with more animal products. It makes me happy to know what a good life these ducks had, and also that their deaths were honored and respected as a source of continuing life. I really think that’s the most important thing about the meat-eater vs vegan argument- it doesn’t matter what you eat, as long as you listen to your body and honor your food sources. I love reading your blog because I see such a conscious connection between your family and the food you eat, and that makes me happy.
I have been vegetarian for most of my life, my whole family is, and now we are faced with needing to eliminate some chickens who are no longer productive enough to justify the expense of feeding them. We have been talking about respectfully slaughtering and eating our birds. My husband is ready to do the job and I’m getting there… but it is SO HARD for me to even think of, I love my birds so much and each has her own wonderful personality. But it has to be done. And I’d rather that we eat the birds that we raised and fed and cared for, than selling them off to a stranger who will see them as nothing more than a meal.
Your honesty is always appreciated, Taryn. I am a vegetarian – nearing 20 years now (wow!), with variations within my meat free diet all along the way. It works really well for my body, but I have true respect for any kind of intentional diet, as I know that every body needs different things. There are different metabolisms, health conditions, life phases, so many factors to consider when nourishing oneself. It really is about making mindful choices, with respect for one’s own vibrant health and the health of the larger eco system.
I also really appreciate hearing your thoughts about ducks vs chickens (if you ever wanted to post more about that I would love it). I really want to get some chickens at some point, but we have also briefly entertained the idea of ducks and I have never heard much from someone who has experienced both. The fact that you look forward to having chickens again really says a lot.
Terrific post Taryn :)) I’m currently mostly what get’s called a ‘lacto-ovo vegetarian’, but, I also eat fish, and now, being pregnant, am occasionally eating meat – I’m just going with the flow, doing what feels right for my body, at the time 🙂 The thing is, all those terms (for people who do/don’t eat meat) are just labels, designed to box people in and make others feel comfortable – I think some people pay far too much attention to what other people eat, and can be so judgemental! – live and let live i reckon 🙂 so long as you’re eating consciously and doing what is right for YOU, then that’s all that matters : )))
My dear Taryn………..I loved your article about meat, ducks and so forth.
Please accept this hug and know you are certainly one of ‘Aunt Isla’s girls!
Smiles here…………..
A great post Taryn.
I have been vegetarian ( although I do eat fish now!) since I was thirteen years old ( that’s 25 years! ). I am not actually against eating meat, and if I lived near you I think I would buy one of your ducks from you! I also believe there is nothing wrong with lard.
You live your life so thoughtfully and that is truly wonderful.
Blessings to you.x
Taryn, love this post! I too was a vegetarian for about 8 years. When I met my husband, I slowly tried meat that he himself had butchered, that had a good life. I realized immediately how much better I felt once I started eating meat. We eat only ethically treated meat as well, which is the only reason I continue to eat it. One of the reasons I love living in Oregon now is how easy it is to find ethically treated meat …. it was so difficult in Michigan sometimes, especially with the intense winters.
Anyways thanks for posting this – I too struggle with guilt over eating meat sometimes, and this makes me feel not so alone. 🙂
Thank you for posting this. I have friends (not vegetarian, just squeamish) who still won’t speak to me because I harvest my own chickens. I eat meat, so there is going to be a life taken to feed me. The animals I raise enjoy the best care and attention I can give them. I feel good knowing they were free to lead happy lives while they were here. That said, I do still shed a tear when it’s time to send their spirits home. It is not easy to take a life, but if it ever does get easy I think I’ll have to stop doing it. I love reading your blog. Love to you and the family.
I’m a vegan and I just wanted to let you know I’m not in the least bit offended by your diet. Heck, my parents eat every part of any animal. Everybody eats in a way that makes them comfortable. Plus, unless these people are living under a rock they deal with omnivores (or carnivores like my dad) all the time.
amazing post. especially that closing paragraph- these are words i have said, thoughts i carry in my own heart. i too have a hard time with talking about it, especially with friends who choose not to eat meat. i think you handled this topic beautifully… though i don’t see dialogue back from any vegetarian readers, and that is sad, i think it would be great if everyone handled this topic as gently as you, and could all have a conversation about it. i think it is so true that the closer we are to the source of our food (plant OR animal), the more gratitude we feel and the less we take the taking-of-life for granted. thanks so much for this post.
What a beautiful job of speaking your truth, Taryn. I recently began eating meat again after over 17 years of being a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I feel like my body has suffered for many years because I was lacking essential nutrients provided by meat and other animal products that I did not eat for so long. It is a huge transition, and the biggest part of it, for me, has been learning to let go of identifying myself as a vegetarian. I still don’t eat meat every day, and I will only eat grass fed, free range meats, but it feels really good. I feel like the blessing that we say over our food (not a religious thing, just showing appreciation to all of the people and animals involved in the food’s journey to our table) means so much more when we know where our food comes from and what kind of lives the animals led. Thanks so much for sharing this inspirational post. I look forward to a time when my family is more involved in our food’s production.
Love and Light,
-Amanda-
Well said Taryn. I used to be vegetarian, and then vegan too – and I found a similar thing that you did, that my body was never satisfied. In fact I felt tired, and put on a huge amount of weight too. I now eat meat again, and it is so good to feel well, and it is possible to be respectful to animals too.
Thank you for sharing!
Great post – you are eating mindfully and I think that is the truly important part. I too eat meat and I too have felt so much pressure and judgement from people.
And part of me wants to defend it even now (I know exactly where it comes from, its local, etc.) but you are right, I truly believe its not about right or wrong, but what is right for our individual bodies. Taking care of our bodies is a sacred task and when we do it with love and mindfullness, its a beautiful thing!
Thank you so much for this post.
Mom and I are planning on chickens next year. I know she and Dad (who grew up on a tenant farm and has seen/done his share of chicken harvesting) want good yard bird for the table, but I have a hard time imagining myself participating in this. Rationally, I know that harvesting vegetables is taking a life, too, and that I just have to get past that “I just can’t do this” wall with meat. I know I can do it, because I do harvest mindfully and thankfully in the garden, and I don’t see how my mentality would change with chickens.
Have you seen the movie Temple Grandin? I think her take on raising and harvesting animals is quite spot on.
Taryn I’m so glad you wrote this post despite the hesitation. It is so well written, and it’s also really interesting and helpful to hear about the reality of raising ducks. But how wonderful to have your own homegrown duck meat, now, in your freezer! And of course, even though they ate your garden…that garden went into THEM, and they’re now going into YOU…so you’ll be ‘eating’ that garden anyway!
And I especially your last paragraph where you say that it seems like our world celebrates birth and shuns death, yet both are a sacred part of the wheel.
Much love to you, and THANK YOU for sharing this one,
Lindsey
Talking about ones diet can be a touchy subject can’t it? Almost worse than religion sometimes. I really enjoyed reading your post. Both in it’s honesty about how you choose to nourish yourselves and that duck rearing is harder than you thought. We thought maybe ducks might be a good choice for us to add to our chickens but maybe we should think a little bit longer about it too.
My youngest is the same age as Bracken, I should give her some bone broth and sauerkraut juice too!
Love reading your blog. I went to school in Eugene and miss it so much. Seeing your posts reminds me about all I loved in Oregon.
xoxo – kendra
I just want to tell you – I LOVE this post, and I resonate with it SO much! I suppose you could call me in ‘recovery from vegetarianism!’ 😉
We are also a family of meat eaters and consumers of large amounts of butter. I don’t require large amounts of meat per se, but my children thrive on it, and I feel the fats are absolutely key to my health and continuing recovery from chemical sensitivities. Hooray for bone broth! Say it proud! 🙂
I applaud your honesty and hope that it encourages more folks to open their minds and look holistically and reverently towards the whole life process – death being part of it.
Thank you so much for sharing, and much love to you!
Taryn, that is beautiful. I so agree with everything you wrote. I raise all our own meat here on our farm. And all our veggies and fruits too. I butcher our chickens. I thank each one when the time comes for their life and for giving us nourishment. They live a good life here. So I do not feel bad at all. And I have stopped worrying what other people think or feel. This is what we do. We are not all alike, thank goodness.
I love what you said about enjoying each other so much more when we stop judging each other. What a thought! Thank you so much for this post. You just keep on doing what you’re doing. Provide good things for your family. That’s all that matters anyway.
I so look forward to reading your posts Taryn, I miss them when they’re not there!
This one I really enjoyed and related to, yes, I eat meat too, and yes, there are certainly times when I feel I should be diplomatic and speak carefully. Just as you have said – this is who I am.
Have a lovely day with your beautiful family 🙂
you rock, taryn!
thank you for having the courage post this… it’s beautifully written… speaks your truth while remaining respectful of others who make different choices
this may be my favorite “wooly moss roots” post yet! (and not just because we were a part of it ::grin::)