Our Home-Grown Melamine Problem

[BethinIrving]

Folks, for those of you who eat a lot of rice, be sure and continue washing it before cooking. (Wash until the water runs clear).

I received a communication that there still may be rice on the market that has been contaminated with asbestos.

Asbestos was used to coat American rice. (And we wonder where all the stomach issues come from??). Supposedly asbestos is not being used now, however, rice that was in storage could still be some of the bad stuff.

 

[freemotion]

Wifezilla, oh yay!!! Another wacky woman who knows about traditional food preparation! Reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and listening to her lectures is what led me to get chickens in the first place.

I have two batches of pasta dough with whey soaking on the counter right now.....had some with chicken bone broth last night for an instant soup. Yummmmmmm.......

 

[Chicabee19]

The news today said that the FDA has found melamine in baby formulas in the U.S.

Right after that, the FDA said to just go ahead and continue feeding your children the formulas you have always used.

And of course they forgot to mention which name brands.

Who says the FDA is not owned by big-corp... eh?

 

[luckitri]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081126/ap_on_he_me/infant_formula

If it is in baby formula I feel confident believing that it is in my feed as well.

I also would like to be able to purchase feed, know more about what I can feed my babies particularly, and learn more about making manure "tea". I am hoping that being in central AZ the high heat will make the "tea" "brew" more quickly but have not seen any research to prove that and do not know how I could test it myself.

I am wondering if some of us could go in on a group order from that guy who makes and sells his own since a large order is neither financially feasible for me and storage would be a problem. How much extra would it cost to ship portions of orders to different addresses?

OMG Beth! Asbestos? How could they think that is in any way shape or form OK? I was not rinsing my rice but I sure am going to now! And yes, I agree with you that many of our health issues are most likely human caused with the mass making and marketing of foodstuffs.

 

[Village Farm]

Quote:
It is unbelievably unlikely that this is true. What is the source of your claim that asbestos has ever been used to coat rice? For that matter, what evidence do you have that ANYTHING has ever been used to coat rice other than rice powder and B vitamins?

The only possible reason to rinse rice until the water runs clear is if you have a burning need to remove any added vitamins.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
No they didn't forget to mention it - they WON"T fess up and say which brand.
I can not BELIEVE they can do that. Protecting their own pocket book.

 

[Sylvie]

Freemotion, those are superb recommendations!
When I walk in the areas that border woodlands I collect cranberry viburnum berries, wild crabapples, Hawthorn berries and wild rose hips off those nasty prickery canes. I just carry a plastic bag with me at all times and can fill it quickly. It's free and unsprayed. I do know the plants well and don't collect anything that I am unsure of. If I would eat it, they can have it. I can do this all winter for the chickens.

 

[freemotion]

Yup, Sylvie, I also carry a bag or small bucket often when I walk the dog. I have collected dandelions, elderberries, wild grapes by the gallon, even pumpkins and gourds that grew wild from someone dumping their old ones. I could pick even more, but they pick a lot of stuff themselves, so I just get what is not growing in their pasture. Nope, no dandelions, even though I have seeded them on purpose! Everyone loves them and seeks them out.

I am going to experiment with acorns, but this year we had no acorn crop. I had the trees I would pick from all scouted and my storage and feeding planned, too. I'll have to report on that next year, hopefully.

 

[Wifezilla]

I am making low carb pumpkin cheese cake for tomorrow...and I am baking a pumpkin to get the puree. It smells so good

I save the seeds and will slow roast those in butter with a bit of worcestershire sauce.

I learned how to make my own yogurt this year using a cooler and some bottles filled with hot water.

I gathered dandelion greens and other plants people consider weeds and have them brining in a vinegar solution to make tonic. The vinegar takes vitamins and minerals out of the greens. It ends up having more calcium than a glass of milk! I use my vinegar tonic to make salad dressing and add those yummy purple chive blossoms to the mix along with some cold-pressed virgin olive oil.

I have a fairly large herb garden and pots of those herbs I brought in when the cold hit growing right next to me

My mom never taught me this stuff. I had to figure it out by reading books and from other forums.

Sally Fallon is one of the people who is very inspirational and has given me so much information. I also love Barry Groves, Gary Taubes, Dr. Jay Wortman and Drs Mike & Mary Eades.

Whole natural foods, nutritious fats, the right amount of protein, leafy greens and berries....saved my life I tell ya.

 

[freemotion]

Awesome, Wifezilla, I can smell it from here. I bake pumkins every fall and puree and freeze it in one cup portions for use throughout the year. My FAVORITE use for pumpkin puree is to add a cup to every soup and stew I make. It is absolutely wonderful!!!

I haven't made yogurt yet, but I am thinking of breeding my pet goats....but I would have to train them to be milked. I used to train horses, and have the patience.....or do I? Haven't decided, so they are still not bred!

I made a batch of catfood today, and some noodle dough (with whey, of course) to use tomorrow, I used three eggs to two cups flour and a couple Tbsp of whey (from straining yogurt). By the end of this weekend, I hope to have canned several batches of soups, stews, spaghetti and pizza sauces, and chili. This is my "take-out" food for when DH and I both work late and no one feels like cooking.

Oops, I guess I'll need to grind some more flour to make some pizza dough, found a great soaked recipe online. I bake a few on a stone, lightly, and bag 'em and freeze them in a small box so they don't get broken in the freezer. Gotta have pizza now and then!!!

So how did you make your yogurt? I am thinking we should start a new thread, though.