Week 18 :: The Season is Over

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 17, 2011

The growing season is over at Cramer Organics. What an experience, one that I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in. I learned so much.

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE should get out on a farm and see where your food comes from. Have you ever been on a farm? Do you know the work that goes into growing food and raising livestock? Don’t take it for granted, people. Farmers work their a**es off to feed us and they deserve our utmost respect and admiration, which they often don’t get. Okay, don’t get me started … 

This Week's News Roundup

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 14, 2011

Here ‘tis, the good food word for this week. Actually, not all of it is related to food. Cuz, you know, being healthy is not all about what we put in our mouths.

“Our sense of self and our body image affects our health for a lifetime. If you are allowing the mainstream media to adversely manipulate your self-worth, you’re in for a rocky ride! Prepare to become media literate.” – Dr. Christiane Northrup

“Don’t just go to the doctor and make sure you’re ‘normal.’ ‘Normal’ is not optimal.” – Dr. Christiane Northrup

“Public policy for a low-fat diet is still on the books to this day, even though it was developed without a shred of scientific evidence.” – Dr. Mark Hyman

TSH = Thyroid Stimulating Hooey

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 11, 2011

I wish I had a dollar for every time one of my clients said, “My doctor tested my TSH and said that my thyroid is fine, but after reading your symptoms list, I’m thinking that I still have a thyroid problem.” Really, your doctor said that your thyroid is fine? Then why are you so exhausted, moody, and constipated? Why is your hair falling out and your estrogen high? Why are you putting on weight? Why are you having a hard time losing weight despite your best efforts? 

Week 17 :: Drawing to a Close (and Time for Some Bluegrass)

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 07, 2011

It’s almost over. This last week was the next to last week of the 2011 harvest season. I’m still amazed at all that is flourishing on the farm, and although we’re enveloped by the jewel tones of fall and the sweet and earthy aroma of fallen leaves, it’s still been warm enough to wear shorts. I may not be so lucky next week. 

This Week's News Roundup

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 07, 2011

Where oh where did the week go? Some work, some writin’, some farmin’, and poof, it’s Friday. Here are some juicy tidbits from this week, collected just for you.

“By letting it go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try the world is beyond the winning.” - Lao Tzu

“Uncertainty comes with territory of being a human. Can you hang with it?” - Marc David

Kicking the Can - The Dangers of BPA

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Oct 04, 2011

BPA — found in baby bottles and sippy cups, microwave ovenware, stain-resistant food storage containers, eating utensils, hard-plastic drinking bottles, five-gallon water jugs, and plastic wraps, to name just a few — easily leaches into food and liquids, and hundreds of studies have linked it to harmful endocrine-disrupting effects, causing reproductive, developmental, behavioral, and neurological harm.

This Week's News Roundup

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Sep 23, 2011

As promised, here is the inaugural “issue” of my News Roundup for the week. Each Friday, I’ll post what excited, moved, educated, and inspired me. And what I think will make us all healthier and happier. To paraphrase a statement from Experience Life Magazine, I’ll be sharing with you the antidote to all the fuss and nonsense that dominates the vast majority of health information out there today.

Week 14 :: What Frost?

Posted by Jill McLaughlin on Sep 16, 2011

Well, so much for the much-anticipated frost on Wednesday night. Yes, it was darned chilly on Thursday morning (hat, gloves, and scarf warranted), and there was a slight white glisten on the grass, but the crops survived - all but the basil.

Joey, her family, and some of their neighbors scrambled the day and night before, harvesting as much as they could. The shed and walk-in were full of produce; it will never cease to amaze me the volume of food that can be grown on a small farm.