One of the more interesting changes in my business over the last year has been the opportunity to present stress management programs for farmers.  At first this didn’t seem to be a good match for me.  I’m a city-girl, very much removed from the world of agriculture. However, here’s the thing: people are people. We are all trying to live our lives, raise our kids, and keep our heads above water financially … and we all have stress.

It has been an honor to share my knowledge with farmers.  The knowledge they’ve shared with me has been incredible.  What I didn’t know about agriculture could fill one of those huge silos you drive by on the highway.

I’ve met hundreds of farmers this year in the stress management programs – even more on Twitter and Facebook, and had the opportunity to visit two farms. One thing I know for sure is that farmers are under amazing pressure and stress.

Which is why the video just released about animal cruelty on an Ohio dairy farm is so upsetting. I watched exactly 33 seconds of this video.  It is disgusting.

But, excuse me, are we to assume this abuse is common practice on dairy farms?

I cannot for a minute imagine any one of the farmers I’ve met kicking or smacking an animal in the head for what appears to be pure enjoyment.  That is just ridiculous.  Shame on anyone who believes the honest, hardworking farm families of this country would be so evil.

So, why does this rile me up so much?  I guess it is the Girl Scout in me. There are groups whose mission is to end animal agriculture in America.  Yes, they’d like us all to be vegetarians. It isn’t honest or fair (one of the lines in the Girl Scout law) to attack the people at the heart of our nation to further this mission.

Yes, as a country we are alienated from agriculture.  Most of us have no idea how our food is produced. We are not however alienated from people. Would you suspect your neighbor, co-worker, or the checker at the grocery store of animal cruelty? Why are we so easily lead to believe it of people who have committed their entire lives to the care of the land and their animals?

So this Girl Scout is standing up and saying, “Hey! Stop picking on my friends!”

If you see or read something alarming about what happens on farms, check it out before you believe it.  Even better ask a farmer on Agchat.

It isn’t fair to have good people attacked and I’d like you to help make it a litter better. Could you please – send a “Thank A Farmer” message out today on Facebook or Twitter.  Our farm friends need to know we are thinking of them!
Here’s mine:

Hey farmers, please know there are people out here who honor and value you and your hard work to put #food on our tables.  That’s why I ThankAFarmer!

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

In March I had the opportunity to visit a hog farm and then present at the Swine Summit hosted by Vita Plus. In my never-ending quest to make healthy choices and understand how food is produced, I knew this was a great opportunity to learn, and boy did I!

Before I started down this get-to-know-some-farmers journey, I had no interest in visiting a hog farm.  My sister married into a hog farm family nearly 20 years ago and I’d never once been on the farm. Now, I find that embarrassing.  While I’m not sure her in-laws really understood why I was so keen to visit now, they quite kindly showed me around.

I arrived with some preconceived notions – mostly formed by labeling and the media:

• I thought all non-organic pork was loaded with hormones.
• I thought all non-organic hogs were fed antibiotics in their food every day.
• I thought it would be dirty and smelly.

Okay, the third one is true.

The farm I visited isn’t the most modern.  In fact it hasn’t been updated much since the 1970’s.  But let’s face it, farming is a dirty, exhausting, unrelenting job most of us wouldn’t have the stamina to survive.  People who farm have a love for the land and a deep commitment to the animals in their care that doesn’t stop because the weather is bad, it’s your birthday, your kid’s wedding, or the prices are so low you are losing money.  They get up every day and do the work that puts food on our tables.

Farmers, especially those in animal agriculture, have come under fire a lot lately.  I suspect many of the people shouting about the treatment of animals on farms or haven’t taken the time to get to know a farmer well enough to be invited for a visit.  We are so removed from the people who produce our food we are willing to believe they are so different from us that they would be cruel or try to poison us. Farmers are the heart and soul of our country, to think anything less is degrading and simply wrong.

Yes, I worry about antibiotics and hormones in my food – because the media tells me it is a problem.  If you bother to ask a farmer, he or she will tell you that pork can’t go to market with antibiotics or hormones in it.  There are tests conducted to be sure.

Guess what?  Pigs get sick.  They are evidently very susceptible to respiratory infections.  If a pig gets an infection, it gets treated with an antibiotic and then monitored.  That pig cannot go to market until the antibiotics are completely out of it’s system.  When I was in the hog barn, my host pointed out a pig that was coughing indicating that pig was going to be treated.  He said, “Hog farming looks a lot different than it did when I was growing up on this farm.  Even more different on the modern farms, but if you can keep the pigs from getting sick, you can keep from giving them antibiotics.  We often have whole groups of pigs who stay healthy and never need any.”  Keeping the pigs warm in the winter and cool in the summer and protected from drafts seems to be the key – which is why most modern farmers keep their pigs in very well controlled environments.  My host shared they haven’t used hormones in decades because keeping the pigs healthy and monitoring their diet works better.  Even if some farmers do use hormones to help the pigs convert feed to lean meat more efficiently, those hormones must be out of the pig’s system before it goes to market.

I know most of you won’t get the chance to visit a hog farm – so I invite you to take a tour with Chris Chinn a farmer I met on Twitter through AgChat. See how she and her family cares for their animals:

We are all so scared about what is in our food.  It is a very good idea to ask questions of the people who are doing the job every day rather than listening to someone in the media or reading a book.

You should feel safe in picking up a package of pork at your local grocery store.  The farmers who produced it are doing their best for your family and theirs.  If you’d like to get to know some farmers and be more connected to the people who grow your food, please join the conversation at FoodChat and Twitter conversation hosted by AgChat the third Tuesday of each month. Follow @FoodChat on Twitter.

At this point, I know enough to know I don’t know enough and I’m delighted to have such a rich resource and will continue to visit farms, ask questions and learn. I invite you to leave a comment if you have information you think I should know or questions you’d like to have answered.

… and tonight, we’re having pork chops!

Read about my visit to a dairy farm.

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

Okay, it is Nutrition month, how excited are you?

Many of us would like to eat better, but it is confusing.  Is that item labeled “healthy” really healthy? Is there really a magic food which will solve all of your nutritional issues? Finding a simple way to think about the food you eat would help, wouldn’t it?

Here are some ideas:

Quit Looking For the Magic Food!

No one food item is going to be the key to a healthy diet – no matter what the ads or emails tell you!  Fill your plate and refrigerator with Grow Foods (items the sun shined upon, grew out of the dirt, and are as close to how they left the farm as possible). Add a salad and a smoothie to your day and load up on the fruits and veggies. Eat a variety of fresh or frozen items and put color into your diet!  The darker and brighter the fruit or veggie, the more nutrients it contains.

Don’t Demonize Food:

Just like no one food item is the key to a healthy diet, no one basic food item or category is the cause of all the trouble, unless, of course you have an allergy.  Dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, and yes, even carbohydrates are healthy choices in appropriate portions.  Again, choose to eat these items as close to how they came off the farm.  A grilled chicken breast is more healthy than a breaded and deep-fried one.

Sometimes it’s the box (or can) that is unhealthy!

Choose the least processed version of your favorite items. Often what started out as a grow food becomes much less healthy as it is  packaged for your convenience and for profit. Turn the package over and read the ingredients and avoid added salt, chemicals, and sugars.

Just because it says organic, diet, light, low fat, whole grain, all-natural or “healthy” doesn’t mean it is good for you!

Food packaging is all about getting you to buy – not telling you the facts.  Be a savvy shopper and look at the ingredients list.  It may say whole grain, but is whole grain listed first or second in the ingredients? If not, it may not be a good choice for you.  A product that advertises “0g Trans-fat” isn’t necessarily free of partially hydrogenated oils, it is just below what they have to report on the nutrition label (again, check the ingredients list).  Many “diet” foods are higher in calories and salt than many “regular” choices. Organic cookies are still cookies – not health food!

Shop fresh, shop often, and follow a farmer.

Choosing fresh fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy products rather than processed and more shelf-stable ones may require more trips to the store, but it is worth it to give your body the fuel it needs to feel great and live longer.  If you are curious about the food you eat and how it is produced – get right to the source, ask a farmer.  Find one here:

On Twitter: FollowFarmer, Agchat, FoodChat or this online database of farmers.

On Facebook: Farm2U #AgChat

Happy Nutrition Month!

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. More than any other day, it is focused on being grateful for the food on our table and the people around it. This year, I’m even more thankful for the food because I have a better understanding of where it came from.

In August, I had the great honor of touring a dairy farm and wrote an article about the experience. My curiosity about the origin of the food on my table grew and I looked for answers.

I found an amazing community of farmers on Twitter. Following their daily lives and the progress of the Autumn harvest has given me a clearer picture of how hard they work to provide us with the nutritious food we take for granted. This hasn’t been an easy year for most farmers. Yet everyday I read about their commitment to the land, their animals, and to providing our food.

So, this season I want to thank ALL farmers for putting food on my table (and clothes on my back)

Here is my message:

Dear Farm Families,

I know this year has been a hard one. Thank you for working so hard and caring so much. As my family sits down to Thanksgiving dinner this year and holds hands to express our gratitude, we will be thanking you as well.

I encourage you to do the same.

If you personally know a farmer – say thank you.

If you don’t sending out your gratitude can be easy.

1. On Twitter send out a message with “#ThankAFarmer” in it. Our farm friends are watching this hashtag and will get your message. Your gratitude would be especially appreciated between 10:00 am and noon (Central Time) on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving(November 25 – before all the holiday craziness begins) Here are some examples:
   1. As my family sits down to Thanksgiving dinner this year and holds hands to express our gratitude, we will #ThankAFarmer as well.
   2. I love turkey & stuffing so I #ThankAFarmer
   3. Thanksgiving is about #food and #family so I #ThankAFarmer
2. Add a Twibbon to your profile picture to show your support.  (You can also do this on Facebook)
3. On Facebook, join the Farm2U page which links consumers and farmers together. Leave your message of gratitude and then visit often to learn about your food.
4. Post on Facebook about joining and encourage others to join!
5. Not on Facebook or Twitter? Well here’s a good opportunity to sign up! Or – you can leave a message as a comment here and I’ll pass it along.

Warm Thanksgiving wishes to you all!

Get more valuable information in Eliz’s new book, The Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart, or in her Award Winning Blog.

Sign up for free e-mail tips!

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

In the midst of a Brazillian pop star, a rock band, a musician, a Hollywood star, stands a Twitter User most people wouldn’t recognize, @mpaynknoper. Who?

Mashable, The Social Media Guide, announced the nominees for the 2009 Open Web Awards today and Certified Speaking Professional Michele Payn-Knoper was one of the top five nominees for Twitter User of the Year.

Michele’s is not a household name, and she likes it that way, but she’s been thrust into the spotlight by her passion to connect farmers who grow our food to the people who eat it. Michele uses her considerable skills in social media to help farmers tell their stories to the world.

Michele moderates AgChat, a weekly moderated conversation on Twitter for people in the business of raising food, feed, fuel, fiber.  It is a virtual venue for participants on Twitter to discuss issues impacting agriculture, such as mainstream media coverage, sustainability, communications, agronomy, animal welfare, USDA programs and perceptions of farming.  Michele and the group also created the monthly FoodChat designed to provide farmers and consumers with a forum to discuss issues in which they connect.  In fact, supermarket guru Phil Lempert participated as a special guest in this week’s FoodChat.

It is pretty obvious why people in the agricultural world think she should be Twitter User of the Year. Why should anyone else care?

First, wouldn’t it be wonderful to celebrate someone who uses Twitter to further a cause? Michele would rather have had us nominate AgChat – but this isn’t the “Best Cause Use of Twitter” award! Her modesty and focus on connecting farm gate to consumer plate is a good reason to vote for her!

If you are a busy woman and/or mother, Michele is a shining example of balancing work, mission, and family. She shares great information about feeding your family and can even tweet while on the elliptical trainer (worth a vote right there in my book).

If you are a speaker, remember a rising tide lifts all boats. Shining a light on a speaker who uses her voice to further a worthy cause raises the esteem of our profession. Michele is incredibly giving within the National Speakers Association family and deserves our support.

If you eat – you should learn more about where your food. Joining the conversation on Twitter is a great way to learn. Help expand the conversation by exposing AgChat and FoodChat to a greater audience.

So, please vote – once per day through December 13th.  She deserves it!

Here is Michele’s reaction to her nomination:

AgChat is held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. eastern via a “streaming” Twitter feed.  A sister chat, known as “FoodChat,” takes place on the third Tuesday of each month, in lieu of AgChat, and is tailored more specifically to the interests of consumers, nutrition professionals, foodies and influencers of food choices. FoodChat gives its followers an opportunity to “meet a farmer” or ask questions of those in agriculture.

Chats begin with 15 minutes of networking, followed by 4-7 questions the community sends to the moderator in advance on the topic of the week. The chat is fast-paced, insightful and, often, colorful. The final 5 minutes is reserved for “pitching.”  Participants can plug their blog, site, product or ask for feedback on a business related idea.

Anyone with an interest in agriculture or food is invited to participate in AgChat and FoodChat. See the guidelines for assistance in how to get started or visit Michele’s Gate to Plate blog for tips on social media and agriculture.

Michele has my vote (every day) I hope you’ll join me. Thanks!

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

Ever wonder where you milk comes from? I got a chance to find out last week when I visited a dairy farm in Western Wisconsin and met 100 hard working dairy farming women.

Having only the media view of “factory” farming,  I was firmly on the organic/free range/family farm side of the argument. I have to say my view has changed – still need more info, but it isn’t as black and white as I thought. I visited a dairy farm with more than 800 cows — which is huge. It is run by a family (2 brothers and their wives) and some hired help (total of 12 people I think). They’d like to have more help, but can’t afford them with the low milk prices.

I had assumed “confined” cows would be unhappy cows, dirty cows, sad — but I was wrong. Over the hour-long tour, our host constantly talked about “cow comfort” from the different types of bedding to how the feed was presented. They invest in various types of fans and misters to keep them cool – they even had motion sensitive back scratching machines for the cows. It was a bit like uncomfortable to watch one cow use it — she seemed to be REALLY enjoying it.

As anyone who has breast fed knows, if the mom is stressed or uncomfortable, the milk doesn’t flow. I hadn’t considered this concept in regard to dairy cows, but it makes sense. From that perspective, it seems ridiculous that a business person would set up a situation where conditions would limit production. No, indeed this farm was all about making the cows happy.

Our host talked about his routine and it was obvious how hard they work – long hours – and they are struggling to make a profit.

With their cute little kids running around it is hard to believe this was what Time Magazine calls a “soulless” operation.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve learned:

• The farmers I met are VERY busy, care deeply, and deserve our respect.
• There’s more to this issue than I ever imagined.
• I don’t know enough yet — it is time to get more information and start really understanding where our food comes from.

I suspect there is more than one right answer and the people who are most qualified to help me understand are the people working hard to produce our food.

So, farmers out there, please help me out!

• What should I know that I don’t?
• What do I think I know, that is just plain wrong?
• What should I be reading?
• Who should I rely on for good, unbiased, information?

I talk all the time about “grow foods” and making healthy choices. It is time for me to really understand what that means. Please make a comment below and help me share the best information with the people I serve. Thanks!

To the busy women I serve, get yourself and your family out to a working farm and see where your food is produced. Become an informed consumer and support the people working hard to put food on your table.

Get more valuable information in Eliz’s new book, The Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart, or in her Award Winning Blog.

Sign up for free e-mail tips!

Eliz Greene survived a massive heart attack while seven-months pregnant with twins, struggled to lose the 80 pounds gained during her pregnancy, and searched for a way to hold on to the perspective and passion she found in her near-death experience. Drawing on her background as an adaptive movement specialist, Eliz developed simple strategies and tips to help other busy women be more active, eat better and manage your stress.

As the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, Eliz travels the country energizing and inspiring audiences in keynotes and workshops on women’s heart health. She writes one of the top 100 health and wellness blogs. Find more at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.