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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2008

Where Food Comes From

Re: Hunting down our hypocrisy on food.

Dan is right again!

I remember life on my parent's farm in Tennessee. A lot of animals were killed every year so we could eat.

My father did not like to hunt, but when the meat ran out in the smokehouse, he went hunting and always came back with something. Sometimes rabbits, squirrels, opossums, raccoons. Opossums are good roasted with sweet potatoes. He would not kill deer - said they were too much work to dress out. By the time he had to hunt it wasn't long before the garden was producing at least a few greens and there were some canned goods left from last year's garden.

He did butcher hogs. My mother and grandmother killed chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese.

Our animals and poultry were treated well while they were alive. No small pens or cages. The chickens were free range. They had a house to roost in at night and went in when it started to get dark. After they were inside, someone closed the door so foxes and other predators could not get them. They were let out early in the morning. The hens went back in to nests built onto the walls of the house and laid eggs during the day. The hogs had nearly an acre to roam, a shelter in the cedar woods, a pond to roll in and plenty of food and fresh water.

We always had eggs and milk. Getting milk on a farm is quite complicated. I won't go into it here, but it is not as easy as going to the store and buying a gallon. Having eggs, too, is a story. I like to buy them now at Beasley's farm.

My cousin in Kentucky still hunts and usually kills whatever the limit is on deer. He also knows how to process and cook the meat. I am a hypocrite and won't eat anything at his house that even resembles deer, but I will eat ham there and greatly enjoy the fish he catches.

We moved to Detroit when I was 10 so I sort of put all that in the back of my mind, but it is true and real. I think it would be a good thing if we all knew more about where our food comes from.

Doris Taylor

Brooksville

Thanks For The Coverage

Re: Hernando Today reporter Tony Holt's article on the front page of the Sunday, Dec. 28, issue, "A Warm Gesture."

We just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing with the public our story about the ongoing blanket drive.

The article was wonderful. When I went down to check the office (we live on premise in the back of the property), I checked the answering machine and we had messages about the drive already.

The homeless community is blessed that you took such an interest in this important story. We are very appreciative for your coverage and kind words.

Jody Zaker and Charlie Daniels

Paul & Jerry's Self Storage

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