As a longtime veggie (but, not strictly vegan) for health, environmental and other reasons I have long celebrated keeping in touch with your local farmer. My hubbie's eating habits are about as far from mine as one could get and so we buy meat from local farmers who do the sustainable, grass-fed thing. This year I'm very excited to be joining a CSA and getting to know the people who grow our food.

Thanks for offering another perspective and keeping the dialogue going.

I'm with you on the choice, although I'm starting to do more things "natural" with the cage free eggs and organic where I can. My next step is to get in touch w/ my friend's farmer who does the cow portions (quarter, half, etc) and start getting my grass fed meat that way. We don't eat meat all the time (homemade pasta and tomato sauce tonight, for example), but when I do, I want to feel good about it.

That is what it is all about.

I have my personal preferences as well.

I don't do organic. For me, it isn't worth the price.

I occasionally buy my meat from my farmer friends and stock my freezer and have been known to pay a premium to get what I want at the time.

But, I also buy my meat on a budget from Walmart, Kroger and Aldis.

Growing up on a Beef farm, we raised our cattle on pasture and gave them grain when needed–like on days like today where ice is covering their pasture. So, naturally, I prefer the taste and texture of cornfed.

As for eggs, after visiting both a free-range and a caged farm, I wholeheartedly go for regular eggs. It is my personal opinion (after seeing it with my own eyes) that the chickens (and eggs produced) have a better life in the caged facilities. Others have different opinions, and that is cool. That is why I am for choice.

Thank you all for your comments.

As a longtime veggie (but, not strictly vegan) for health, environmental and other reasons I have long celebrated keeping in touch with your local farmer. My hubbie's eating habits are about as far from mine as one could get and so we buy meat from local farmers who do the sustainable, grass-fed thing. This year I'm very excited to be joining a CSA and getting to know the people who grow our food.

Thanks for offering another perspective and keeping the dialogue going.

I'm with you on the choice, although I'm starting to do more things "natural" with the cage free eggs and organic where I can. My next step is to get in touch w/ my friend's farmer who does the cow portions (quarter, half, etc) and start getting my grass fed meat that way. We don't eat meat all the time (homemade pasta and tomato sauce tonight, for example), but when I do, I want to feel good about it.