Keeper of the Home » Current events

“Food, Inc.” A Movie We All Need to See!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 07 May 2009 05:14:51 +0000

In theaters June 12 (I've already marked it in my calendar!)

It's about time a film made it to the theaters that will actually show some of the realities of the so-called "food" being offered to us these days. True confession of a nutrition geek: I was actually giddy when I saw the trailer for the first time.

Will you be there? Does this movie make anyone else as excited as it makes me?

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A change of plans

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:20:43 +0000

Yesterday morning started like any other day, but at 10 am, my husband asked me whether I would be okay with going to Seattle to stay with his family for a week or two. It was unexpected, but I understood the reasoning behind the request.

I'm not sure how many of you have heard the news from Vancouver, BC lately, but things have been a bit interesting of late. It seems there is a gang turf war underway, as we have had 17 shootings in the past 30 days, I believe. These shootings are generally targeted to either gang members or friends and family of members, but the more concerning aspect is how they are happening. The great majority have been in public places- in front of shopping malls, in parking lots, at gas stations, by coffee shops, and even drive by shooting as a car went through an intersection mere blocks from our old condo.

The gangs are brazen, and have no fear of the police or justice system. No one is being arrested, and no one seems to have any control over the situation. The violence has been escalating lately in the city where we live (a large suburb of Vancouver).

Despite all this, Ryan wouldn't have made a move to have the kids and I leave the city, until about 3 days ago, when a new tenant moved into the rental suite below our house (which we rent- we are not the landlords). We don't really know anything about the new tenant, and that is part of the concern. I haven't met her yet, but Ryan felt concerned when he met her (for various reasons- her appearance, her job, her demeanor, etc.). In light of all the violence, and the fact that the acts are not limited to gang members but also to acquaintances, he felt that it was best for us not to be in the house until either the violence simmered down a bit and/or he got more of a feel for this tenant and what she is like.

So, I rushed around and did laundry like a madwoman, packed up what we needed, and tried to leave behind a semi-tidy house and food for my husband, until we left around dinnertime. We're here, at my mother-in-law's for a week and a half, until the end of the month. We're continuing on with learning time (home school), cooking, my computer work, etc. but might try to add in a zoo trip, some visits, etc. while we're here.

Though we're not afraid of the circumstances going on right now and ultimately our trust is in our sovereign God and His good plans for us, I am happy to be here and thankful for such a loving, protective husband who felt it was better to be safe than sorry. Believe me, he's getting the bad end of this deal- no wife, no kids, no homecooked meals, no clean laundry!

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Who me? A parasite?

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:25:44 +0000

Well, I've been called many things in my lifetime, but this is the first time anyone has ever referred to me as a parasite.

Alright, so it wasn't direct, but I'm included in the group of parent's that Amanda Peet so lovingly referred to in a recent article in Cookie. Quite frankly, I barely know who Amanda Peet is, but her stance on childhood vaccinations caught my attention.

"Once we had spoken, I was shocked at the amount of misinformation
floating around, particularly in Hollywood," says Peet, who quickly
boned up on the hot-button controversies surrounding the topic,
including the unproven link between certain vaccines and autism; the
safety of preservatives like mercury-based thimerosal; and the fear
that the relatively high number of shots kids receive today can
overwhelm young immune systems. Her conclusion? Well, not only is
Frankie up-to-date on her vaccines (with no staggering), but her mom
will soon appear in public-service announcements for Every Child by
Two. "I buy 99 percent organic food for Frankie, and I don't like to
give her medicine or put sunscreen on her," says Peet. "But now that
I've done my research, vaccines do not concern me." What does concern
her is the growing number of unvaccinated children who are benefiting
from the "shield" created by the inoculated—we are protected from
viruses only if everyone, or most everyone, is immunized: "Frankly, I
feel that parents who don't vaccinate their children are parasites."

Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment.

If you'd prefer to read something of greater substance, I would highly recommend this Open Letter on Vaccinations by Dr. Jay Gordon, in response to the controversy created by Ms. Peet's words.

Additionally, I would also suggest this excellent article by Dr. Sears, Is Aluminum the New Thimerosal?

Quite truthfully, I'm not offended in the slightest and she is entirely welcome to her viewpoint. I think, however, that it's worth highlighting some more substantial information and research than simply the opinion of a Hollywood star, don't you?

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Go Canada Go?

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:49:08 +0000

I have two numbers for you today:

0 and 47

0 being the number of medals that Canada currently has in these summer Olympics as I write this post, and 47th being our ranking among the participating nations. Ouch!

I've heard that the reason we're doing so poorly is because so much money and effort are being poured into the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games (yay- my hometown!), and because of that, not a whole lot has gone into training athletes for these current summer games. Goodness- I sure hope so, because it's a mildly sad state of affairs!

In the meantime, guess I'll be cheering on my neighbors, the good ol' US of A, since they (and China) seem to be the only ones that CBC (a Canadian station, no less!) is interested in covering!

Nonetheless, it's been fun to watch so far. I am a mild summer olympics junkie, I confess. Gymnastics, swimming, diving, track and field- I love it all!

Do you prefer the summer or winter olympics, and which sports are your favorites to watch?

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A Lament for my Raw Milk

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:19:04 +0000

Written with a whole lot of help from my creative hubby, and much, much laughter (oh, the naughty things we joked about saying!)

(A poet I'm not, but I just sort of thought that a poem might be the way,
to share of my woes and wiggle my nose with disgust at this immoral fray.)

There once was a health conscious Mom,
whose heavenly raw milk came from
a farm, safe and clean,
as you've ever seen.
It was nourishing, pure and wholesome.

Until one unfortunate day,
when the government dropped by to say,
"You've broken the law,
By keeping it raw.
Desist or we'll lock you away."

Their mandate and mission is clear.
To fill all the people with fear,
of drugs and of thugs,
and raw milk in jugs,
so we'll vote for them year after year.

Ahhh, my poor little poem can't really convey the situation or the frustration that I and all the other shareholders feel as our raw milk (that is our rightful property!) is being withheld from us, due to a flawed Order to Cease and Desist.

The distribution of raw milk is illegal everywhere in Canada. Our cow share went out on a limb by finding a legal loophole (and checking it over very carefully before beginning), which allows us to purchase shares as cow owners, thus owning a portion of the milk that is produced. It is legal to drink raw milk from a cow that you own, as it is personal property that you may do with as you like.

Over a week ago, milk was seized and dumped down the toilet at one of the 5 drop points used by our cow share. This week the order to cease and desist was given to the farmers, and we are unable to pick up our milk (which we have paid for) and it will go to waste this week. The issue has been taken to the BC Court of Appeals, but we really have no idea what to expect next. If you're interested, here is a bit more info and the official letter of appeal for our case.

It is unbelievable to me that a group of regular people, purchasing cows together so they can drink fresh, unpasteurized milk, is an issue worthy of the government's time, money and energy! Can it possibly be for any reasons other than control over what individual citizens do, and to protect the interest's of the highly influential and affluent dairy industry? (I love the phrase "dairy cartel" used in the letter of appeals!)

So tell me- what is the raw milk status where you live? And just to open up a can of worms (keep it family friendly, everyone!) what do you think about government regulation of these kind of things anyways?

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Gas prices too high? Try water!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:48:52 +0000

I don't know what you're paying for gas right now, but yesterday I saw gas at a whopping $1.52 a litre! (For the Americans, that's $6.02 a gallon. Read it and weep.)

Which brings me to a fascinating thing that my husband and I learned about last night. Did you know that the technology has been developed to use water or a water-based fuel in a conventional vehicle engine?

When my husband told me this after learning about it during his men's caregroup meeting, I was completely skeptical. Even though we had promised each other we would go to bed extra early, we just couldn't resist looking it up online and watching a few YouTube videos to find out what this was all about.

We're not entirely sure what to think about it quite yet, but we have a friend who has bought a kit online and is trying to adapt his scooter to use the technology. I'll let you know what happens with it!

Here's one of the many sites that we found:
Run your car with water

Am I the only one who's heard of this? Do you know anybody that is doing this successfully?

On a slightly different note, I was hoping to post this up on Frugal Friday, but since that isn't happening this week, I'll shamelessly plug a carnival of my own!

Next week (on Friday, to be precise) is the first of a two part carnival, Nourishing Frugal Food. The carnival will be co-hosted by myself, and Kimi of The Nourishing Gourmet. Check out this post for all the details.

The first week, we'll kick it off with your most frugal and nourishing main dishes, July 11, over at Kimi's, followed by sides, desserts and salads back here on July 18.. See you there!

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I choose hope

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:28:19 +0000

There is a lot of bad news out there. Sometimes, being on the internet so much, I can tend to feel overwhelmed by all that I read and see.

One site in particular has really been getting to me lately, with what I feel is a particularly negative, hopeless and humanistic approach. If I were to listen only to that site, I might really be struggling to find any hope at all, in the midst of so many dangers and cautions and conspiracies and the like.

Perhaps you are like me, and feel that you are doing your very best, as you continually seek to improve aspects of your health and nutrition, avoid dangerous foods and products and toxins, and still find balance in your life. Yet we are daily being told that it is not enough!

I can't do it all. I know from your comments and emails that neither can you.

There is much fear mongering in the area of health information and education, and it is truly unfortunate. Much of it is used to manipulate us and/or convince us to part with more of our money. Some of it is well intentioned and I believe sincerely offered out of compassion and care. But yet, discerning between the two can be nearly impossible, can't it?

In general, there is a serious lack of hope in all of the hype and claims and new discoveries and all of the things that we must do in order to be "healthy".

But what good is it all anyways? So much of the information out there is self-help or self-actualization or even heal-thyself-because-god-is-within-you garbage.

There is a vast difference between careful and conscientious stewardship, and believing that you are capable of turning everything around and creating perfect health for you and your loved ones. One is God-focused, and the other is me-focused.

Let's face it. We live in a sin-burdened, broken-down mess of a world. No matter how healthy or green or natural we may become, we all share the same end, and that is physical death and an eternity either with God or without Him.

Pursuing health and natural living is not the ultimate goal. They are merely tools that can be used to enable us to live more in harmony with the creation God has so lovingly given us to have dominion over, to steward it and to preserve it for future generations, and to experience more energy and vitality in these incredible bodies that He has designed so that we may be more fully able to minister to others and seek His kingdom, and nothing more!

Where is our hope then, in the midst of so much brokenness, despair, sickness, and confusion?

It cannot be found in this diet or that supplement or in being healed of this ailment or avoiding that toxin.
Any and all hope that we could ever desire to find can be found in nothing but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is only in the real salvation and healing of our souls that Christ alone offers (as opposed to the counterfeits offered by the world) that we can and should place our ultimate trust.

I do not long for a day when I am able to cook perfectly of completely naturally produced food, and rid my home of any toxins, or when I have abounding energy and feel free of all sickness or disease. I do not long for cleaner skies and seas, a reduction in landfills, uncontaminated soil or pure drinking water.

No, I long for something far, far greater.

I long for the day when my Savior returns on the clouds, and with the resounding of a trumpet call, draws me home to be with Him forever. I long for an eternity where the truest healing awaits- no more sickness, no more death, no more tears, no more sorrow (Rev 21:3-5).

And so as I walk daily through this world in which I am merely a stranger and an alien, I choose hope. Not in what Dr. Mercola or Nourishing Traditions or Weston Price (and certainly not Keeper of the Home) have to say.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

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What’s next, lead in baby receiving blankets?

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:10:32 +0000

Can you believe this? A pair of pajamas has just been recalled due to a violation of lead standards in the screen print on the shirt!!! It's appalling!

This is the offending pair of pj's, made by Children's Place:

Honestly, sometimes I just don't know what I can do to protect my kids. I can't buy all organic cotton clothing, and would have never thought in a million years that a simple logo on a pajama shirt would contain lead. Call me naive, I guess (or maybe call me sane and call the manufacturers of children's clothing irresponsible, incompetent and negligent).

If you, like me, would like to be alerted as soon as items are recalled so that you can at least immediately remove the items from your home and make more educated choices about what you are purchasing, you may want to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and sign up to receive their email alerts whenever new items are recalled.

I've been getting these for about 4-5 months now (I receive all alerts for Child and Household), and though they usually don't apply to anything that I have bought, I am grateful to be kept up-to-date and be made more aware of the types of items that may be of concern.

Maybe I shouldn't be so shocked, but this just pushes on all of my parental protection buttons in a major way. I am thankful that ultimately they are in God's hands, and not my own, because I so often feel helpless in my efforts to shield them from harm.

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Canadians, please read!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000

I just received a phone call and an urgent email from my sister-in-law, regarding a bill called C-51 that is currently being pushed in Canadian parliament. Here is a brief explanation of what the bill is:

A new law being pushed in Canada by Big Pharma seeks to outlaw up to 60 percent of natural health products currently sold in Canada, even while criminalizing parents who give herbs or supplements to their children. The law, known as C-51, was introduced by the Canadian Minister of Health on April 8th, 2008, and it proposes sweeping changes to Canada’s Food and Drugs Act that could have devastating consequences on the health products industry.

Among the changes proposed by the bill are radical alterations to key terminology, including replacing the word “drug” with “therapeutic product” throughout the Act, thereby giving the Canadian government broad-reaching powers to regulate the sale of all herbs, vitamins, supplements and other items. With this single language change, anything that is “therapeutic” automatically falls under the Food and Drug Act. This would include bottled water, blueberries, dandelion greens and essentially all plant-derived substances.

The Act also changes the definition of the word “sell” to include anyone who gives such therapeutic products to someone else. So a mother giving an herb to her child, under the proposed new language, could be arrested for engaging in the sale of unregulated, unapproved “therapeutic substances.”

Read entire article here.

This bill is very concerning because it would virtually end our freedom to sell and purchase natural or therapeutic supplements, to teach about or promote them, and could even get parents in trouble for giving them to their children (no homeopathic teething tablets, Vitamin C or probiotics?). It would even prevent me from discussing this topic and freely giving my suggestions and recommendations to you in regards to vitamins, minerals, greens, herbs, fish oils, etc.

For more information, including links to the actual bill on the Parliament of Canada website, a legal review of the bill, and information about what you can do to speak out against this bill, please visit StopC51.com!

As well, if you know anything more about this bill, or know of information resources, etc. please leave a comment with the information. Thanks!

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Vaccinate or bust(ed)?

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:40:37 +0000

I just had to bring attention to this article on Dr. Mercola's site, and his response to it. The issue of immunizations is one that has long concerned me. It was during my years as a therapist for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder that I first became aware of the link between vaccinations and auto-immune and neurological disorders, and shortly after the birth of my first child, when I read a 3 inch stack of information from my midwife, that my husband and I made the decision never to vaccinate any of our children.

This morning I read a disturbing article that was highlighted in the Mercola newsletter. The article is about a recent situation in Maryland, where parents whose public school children where not immunized were threatened with fines and jail time if they did not promptly show up at a court hearing and immunize their children on the spot. Here are some of Dr. Mercola's thoughts:

If this kind of forced medical treatment does not bother you, then
you may have given up the very last shred of personal freedom you, and
your children, have.

If that is the case, make no mistake – it will not end with the
forceful poisoning of your children. There are lots of medications out
there that the pharmaceutical industry would love for everyone
to eat in lieu of breakfast… What medications, and how many, would you
like to be force-fed every day? Or do you truly believe industry,
together with your government, would never take it that far even if
they could? I believe public opposition is the only thing standing in
their way.

Where are We Heading?

To get a glimpse of your potential future without using a crystal
ball, just look at the current trends. For example, according to a BBC
news brief, aired over the Thanksgiving weekend, autism has skyrocketed
from 1 in 10,000 in 1993, to the current rate of 1 in 150. The
mandatory immunizations program and the MMR vaccine were introduced in
1998.

Coincidence?

Hardly. Although you will read reports, and hear through the
conventional media that this has been disproven, don’t you believe it,
as nothing could be further from the truth.

Are they involved in all cases of autism?

Probably not, but they are a major factor in many, especially in
conjunction with the absolute explosion in exposure to
information-carrying radio waves from cell phones, cell phone towers
and WiFi routers. These waves tend to disrupt intercellular
communication microtubules, which greatly increase these children’s
ability to tolerate heavy metal insults that can cause severe free
radical injury.

Read the entire article and Dr. Mercola's response here.

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Keeper of the Home » Current events

“Food, Inc.” A Movie We All Need to See!

More from Keeper of the Home

A change of plans

More from Keeper of the Home

Who me? A parasite?

More from Keeper of the Home

Go Canada Go?

More from Keeper of the Home

A Lament for my Raw Milk

More from Keeper of the Home

Gas prices too high? Try water!

More from Keeper of the Home

I choose hope

More from Keeper of the Home

What’s next, lead in baby receiving blankets?

More from Keeper of the Home

Canadians, please read!

More from Keeper of the Home

Vaccinate or bust(ed)?

More from Keeper of the Home