When Something Has to Change

#1 Industry Left--Food Processing

I do entirely too much research. 

It comes from the sense of empowerment this recovering control freak experiences when I learn the basics of the situation at hand, but it creates its own problems.

If I research it: now I know.  Now I am responsible for what I know.  Now I have to make a decision about what I know. If I know it, then something has to change.

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Feeding Pets Organically (& Deleting Corn from their Diet)

Feeding pets Organically

Although humans are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as a part of our organic diet plan, this should also include our four-legged friends. Especially in the shadow of growing concerns and recent reports of pet poisoning from imported animal foods and treats, we need to be more conscious and aware of what we’re putting into our pet’s dishes. This is why we should all be feeding pets more organically.

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Is the World Going Crazy (or do we just need to can it)?

Is the world going crazy or do we just need to can it?

Just so we’re clear before we get into the thick of this article, also so we can just know each other as humans, my name is Cory Thomas and I’m what some would call a “prepper”.

Kinda feels like I just stood up at an AA meeting after I wrote that.

But what I’d like to do in this article is not incite fear and government hatred/bashing, like so many of those who paint people who like to prepare for disaster. I am a simple man with a wife, kids on the way, and a miniature Australian Shepherd. And it’s because I love my family that I’ve taken on these concerns about preparedness.

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How to Know Your Food Freedom Rights

How to Know your Food Freedom Rights

Even if living in a food freedom state that permits raw milk sales, know your rights.  Sometimes this has less to do with the law, and more to do with the personalities or preferences of people with titles and badges.

Perhaps police officers, who likely deal more with real crime, simply did not know about the food freedom laws and trust the inspectors to know it.

What would you do if inspectors or police officers question you?  Who do you call?

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Growing an Herb Garden from Scratch

growing an herb garden

Growing an herb garden from scratch is an easy way to go about it.  Many herbs can be grown with little sunshine, and water drains off very well from their soil on the average. They also require some watering and fertilizer or compost on a regular basis and some regular garden care. Your biggest worry is if they become too prolific (as the case with mint, and a few others–just pot & gift to an unsuspecting friend).  Growing an herb garden is an awesome idea, when it comes to the true meaning of simple gardening.

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Easing Your Storm in a Teacup

Easing Your Storm in a Cup of Tea

Back in the day, if you were upset or anxious, the go-to remedy was a cuppa. Carrying out the slow, age-old ritual of boiling water and brewing a pot of tea, then pouring and doctoring it with cream and sugar was a sure-fire way to calm and fortify yourself. The ritual restored a sense of order and control to the world.

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Spring Cleaning Benefits: More than clutter & dust

spring cleaning benefits

Do people still do the proverbial “Spring Cleaning” anymore? Or do we just hit the weekly checklist and hope that by maintaining the daily-do, we’re alright?

Spring Cleaning is for more than just clutter, or dust.  We hit those with the daily list, do we not?  Spring Cleaning will alert you that a mouse took up residence under the couch (cuz, well, you moved it–and when did you do that last?).  It alerts you that there is mold under the kitchen sink (cuz, well, you pulled absolutely everything out of that cupboard–and when did you do that last?).

Spring Cleaning is like a reset button.

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Why Keeping Bees Might Be the Best Thing You Ever Did for Your Garden

Keeping Bees Best Thing for your garden

On Keeping Bees…

I was absolutely petrified of bees as a child — like, running away, screaming, and waving my arms petrified. It wasn’t until I attended a local lavender festival a few years ago that I changed my mind about our little striped friends. As I snipped branches of culinary lavender and placed it in my basket, I noticed the honey bees swarming the flowers had absolutely no interest in my activities. They didn’t dive bomb me, nor did they sting me.

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Delicious Wedding Ideas for Traditional Texas Food

Delicious Wedding Ideas for Traditional Texas Food

Meet our guest blogger at the end of this article!  Thanks Calvin, for sharing this delicious, traditional Texas food with us–for all of our special occasions!


Delicious Wedding Ideas for Traditional Texas Food
Delicious Wedding Ideas for Traditional Texas Food

Texas is a fantastic state with a great culture all of its own. Whether you yourself are from Texas and want to return there for a traditional Texan style wedding (complete with Texas food), or you live in the lone star state and are having your wedding locally, then you’ll find it is an amazing place to get married. Of course, you can have any style of wedding you like in Texas, especially in major cities like Dallas and Houston, and there are some wonderful places to check out like the award winning wedding venue in Houston, Chateau Polonez (plan your Houston wedding here). However, it can really make your day memorable if you incorporate at least some traditionally Texan elements into your day – allowing you to bring some of that famous Texas hospitality to your guests and make a real celebration.

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5 Things You Didn’t Know Before Reading This Blog

5 Things You Didn't Know Before Reading This Blog--Pantry Paratus

This blog is a shameless plug for my favorite winter pastime–snuggling up in fuzz gear with my favorite tea and a good read.  Now, I’m not much of a fiction reader, although I do enjoy a good classic now and again.  The truth is that my time is shredded in 10 different directions on any given day, and I have to make the most of my reading indulgence during the winter so that I am better equipped for summertime food production, preparation, and preservation.

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