Page 6 - Summer2018

Letters

cancer and other problems. However, early and stayed asleep until morning. life we know how to provide for them.
neither group in the study using es- We all deal with things differently―he And in return for their good life, they
trogen alone, nor the many studies on needed rest to recover, and I needed to provide us with nourishment for us and
bioidentical hormones have found any organize my thoughts to recover. for our family.
increased health risks for women. We took eight lives yesterday: five No, I don’t enjoy killing animals.
The key to safe and sane use of guineas and three turkeys. Our birds, I’d rather watch them dig for worms
bioidentical hormones is to check levels our beloved birds. Four of those guineas and jump up in the branches of trees
before and during their use in order showed up at our place last week and and chase squirrels. But they have a
to keep them in a safe physiological decided to stick around. We had grown purpose to serve. And I have a purpose,
range. Is there a need for “Recovery to love them even in that short time. too. I have to feed my family, and I feel
from Bioidentical Hormones”? Not We enjoyed watching them carve out a called to do it in the most connected
in my experience. My patients tend to place for themselves among our flock. way possible. I also feel a strong calling
discontinue BHRT as soon as they no Those four were easier, but taking a life to share what that means with as many
longer need it. They simply stop taking is never easy. people as I can reach.
them without any problems. The fifth guinea and the three tur- Raising and processing animals
Marianne Rothschild, MD keys, though―those were our babies. for food is not normal these days, but
Mount Airy, Maryland That was tough. They have been here it used to be. It used to be necessary.
on the homestead since they were little It used to be that people could rely on
Response from Kim Schuette: Thank peeping fluff balls. We have taught themselves and the folks in their com-
you for your input. We certainly re- them to eat and drink. We have pro- munity. Nowadays, most everyone is
spect your training, observations and tected them from predators. We have out of touch. We don’t know where our
experience as a medical physician. As provided them shelter and provided food comes from. We don’t know whose
you rightly assert, many women are them freedom. We have watched them hands have touched it, what conditions
not properly monitored when placed learn and grow. Their plumage has it lived in, what it ate, or how it died.
on bioidentical and/or synthetic hor- changed from soft fuzz to mature, It’s just a slab of pink or red stuff in
mones, including thyroid hormones. It beautifully colored feathers. We have a package at the store, or more often,
is the experience of many practitioners learned each of their personalities and some brown stuff on a plate (or in a
that this occurs far too often. It is those fed them from our own hands. Styrofoam take-out box).
women, especially, who need recovery Killing them is not something But I’ll tell you what. I know where
options. that we wanted to do. It is what we feel my food comes from, and that’s what
we have to do. The longer we live this keeps me up at night. No, not the night-
SLEEPLESS NIGHT lifestyle―homesteading or traditional mare of the animal’s circumstance, but
My husband Dragoș and I own two living or farming or whatever you want the beauty of it all. I sit up remember-
and one-half acres in Wilders, North to call it—the more difficult we find it ing all the happy moments my animals
Carolina, where we raise as much of our to eat meat from the store. Those ani- have spent while under my care. And
own food as possible. We have several mals are tortured—packed into small I sit up wondering how I can make it
small gardens, and we raise turkeys, houses with no grass and no sunlight. even better for the animals that join my
ducks, chickens and guineas for meat They live in filth and eat who knows homestead in the future.
and eggs, hogs for pork, and goats for what—definitely not grass and seeds So now I ask you—what will you
raw milk. We process all of our meat and bugs like ours eat. do to grow the connection between
animals by ourselves on our property I can’t imagine letting any of my yourself and your food? What goals do
I didn’t sleep well last night. In animals live like that. That is no life you have for this year or this decade?
comparison, my husband fell asleep at all. Ours live the good life, the best What will you do to ensure your food

4 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2018