Never on the Homestead
This may be one of my most controversial posts because eating pork seems to have an almost cult following. Some people love their pork and there is nothing anyone can say to change their mind.
When I was a child I would help my uncle feed the pigs on his farm. I remember thinking that they were a disgusting animal. My father ate 2 strips of bacon for breakfast most of his life. My mom fixed a ham for Easter and at Christmas unless Jewish friends came over. After Joann and I got married, we used to have a honey baked ham during the holidays. I must confess that we have had our share of pork until about 14 years ago when we had a “come to Jesus moment” and realized the consumption of pork is really bad.
The consumption of pork has been connected to multiple sclerosis (MS). In countries like India and Israel, the rate of MS is 87% lower than in the USA.
Liver cancer and cirrhosis is also associated with eating pork. Studies show that there is an increased danger of acquiring Hepatitis E from eating pork.
Yersinia poisoning is a leading cause of death relating to pork consumption. One study estimates that there are 117,000 cases of pork-related food poisoning each year in the USA leading to 35 deaths. Other risks of Yersinia poisoning can lead to joint inflammation and arthritis caused by infection.
A pig digests its food in about four hours, leaving many of the toxins hiding in its layers of fat as well as H1N1 and H3N1 flu viruses. They also carry a number of other viruses and parasites which put us at risk every time we eat pork.
When you think about it, pigs are pretty disgusting animals. They are nature’s garbage disposals and will eat most everything. When we kill sheep, goat, or deer we take all the scraps to our neighbor’s pigs which do a fine job of cleaning up the mess so we don’t draw any coyotes to the homestead. Pigs serve a definite purpose, but are not a safe meat source.
For more information, here is an interesting article on eating pork https://draxe.com/why-you-should-avoid-pork/
Pigs are one animal that you will never find on our homestead because of the physical dangers. You will notice that I avoided the religious reasons for not eating pork, but there are many that are also important.
Have a great day! Every comment is up-voted and thanks for your up-vote, Tim and Joann
Isn’t it crazy that our heavenly Father knows what food is best for us to eat. Imagine that the creator of the universe knows what makes good food.
Right! It is funny that it is subjective. Would you consider Genesis 1:29 as a guide. More with Gods original 'plan', or the law of moses with plenty of rules or restrictions, or more Mark 7:18 as a way to consume anything.
From my study I would agree that the original plan with the garden of Eden but man mess that up. I personally believe that the law of God given to Moses is eternal and unchanging. Mark 7:19 is a very interesting passage would take too much time to dissect but I do not believe that the words in quotations that Jesus made off food clean are originally part of Scripture. They cannot be found in any older manuscripts. And if Jesus says multiple times that he and the father are one. He does nothing apart from the father. Why would he change God’s law or instruction. When later on he says that he has not changed it.Love the discussion. I think we need more discussions like this.
Ooohhh nice. That is amazing! So check this out. If what God said in Genesis is disregarded because of the fall, the the Law of Moses comes to show the need for salvation (cant see sin without knowing it is sin) and then Jesus comes to ultimately pay for our sins through His sacrifice.....we could say that because Gods plan was deviated (gen. 7) we are living a modified existance (LOM) and later Jesus gave the nod through an explanation of clean. So...if the words of Jesus that were is quotations are being questioned, as part of the bible, then if we were to question the legitimacy of Gods word particular Jesus's word.. then we could agree that the entire bible could be called into queation on originallity and being God breathed 🙃
All fair points. The Mark seven thing takes a lot of study. Any Bible over 100 years old does not have the quotes part in. For me it all goes back that’s my God is unchanging. I do not fully understand the Garden if Eden and what they were eating and why but I do know that My God have us instructions in His Law and then sent His Son as the Word made flesh to show us His ways and for Salvation. I do not think what we eat is a salvation issue but just like you are a Vegan because of health conscious reasons. I believe our Creator gave us eating instructions in His Word that will bless us if we follow. Love the conversation. What it boils down to is each of us have a choice of what we eat. I respect that you are vegan and have zero issue with it at all.
Nice. Yeah, I always look for the deeper idea. I don't think food is the focus. Maybe, it is more about Gods intention and Gods will. If we each are living in obediance according to what we feel the Holy Spirit is guiding us to, that would look like individual revelation. Meaning that God is moving us where we are outworking His will in our lives. That idea of individual revelation is a deep one. If we feel called to something...there is only the thing that may be biblical, but not necessarily the calling because we can't show someone else the thoughts that God gives us we can only show the direction and lead by example.
I actually agree that we probably should not be eating pigs but I don't agree that they are dirty creatures. I need to say something in support of pigs because they are amazing in many ways! Humans have created a horrific situation for pigs, It's a thing of nightmares. I get the feeling the article you shared was written with someone without any hands on experience with pigs ...
I've never seen a pig eat it's own feces. They don't even like to be around it and certainly do not choose to sleep near it unless forced to. Our pigs kept their shelter completely spotless never defecating in it. I would take pigs over chickens when it comes to cleanliness any day!
Bug and insects? Chickens eat them too. So do some humans! If you've ever butchered chickens you'll also know that they will smack their lips and attack that carcass happily if you let them.
We were very discerning about what they were fed. Organic feed, loads of veggies, no hormones or antibiotics etc. The had a completely vegetarian diet and I think that is important. They did a marvellous job of rooting, weeding and tilling for us and the manure has been phenomenal for the gardens.
My husband enjoys meat (I'm a life long vegetarian) but after raising and slaughtering some pigs, he can't eat pork any more. It was an extremely profound experience for him. These are intelligent creatures, smarter than dogs. They are trainable and fascinating to observe. They just need plenty of freedom and space.
Do you think perhaps the cruel mass housing/farming of animals, the shitty feed they are given and confined unsanitary conditions is where it all falls down?
I agree that the pig is not the problem.
First look at some well known Farmers like Joel Salatin. He has pics for the purpose of turning the soil after a crop and depositing manure for soil perpetration. His pigs are not feed corn or so products, not are they given deer or elk carcasses. They perform the work of a tiller and turn over the soil in seek of roots and Ford to eat. They get a diverse diet and produce top quality meat. Nothing a mass production site, like a modern day meat producer does.
Joel also looks at the pig from a religious perspective as good gave us all the plants and animals on Earth.
Agree, it’s not the pigs. It’s the Farmer and what the farmer feeds the pigs. The facory farms.
My dad was gross and would feed his pigs the cheapest dog food he could find. Mixed with rice and molasse.🤢
He never named them, he never scratched their itches.
We bought hog feed, gave Pumba table scraps( fruit and veggies ). He hated potatoes. But I have seen Canadian burkeshire pig farmers dump dump-tuck loads of potatoes for their pigs.
My pig, Pumba, was on a lead and would go to the very end and swing his ass out so it would be as far away from him house as possible. He was way cleaner then my chickens, so much cleaner! He ate grass. He helped with the straw for his bed by pulling the bale apart and shredding it. He also ran away into the wilderness of Alaska and came home.
Pigs are not the problem, people are.
Are these “facts” from factory farm or wild?
What about home grown?
This is so TRUE. Pigs are not dirty animals by nature, and I have NEVER in my life seen one eat its own feces. Whatever pigs did that must have been starving to death. There is a HUGE difference between a factory farmed animal and a home grown animal kept in healthy pasture. As far as animals go, chickens are, by far, more disgusting animals. They actually DO enjoy feces, not their own, but from other animals. When my dog goes outside, they follow her around like she is a snack dispenser! Gross!
We dont eat pork anymore either for a variety of reasons.
Good post.
Great post. I agree, but I had this moment regarding all meat. I think it is funny that pork is a debatable meat for those who eat meat, but nothing else is ever considered bad. I have found that beyond pork, there is no amount of information I could share with someone to show the negative aspects of meat that is ever seen as credible. Humans do and eat what makes them feel good, and it takes a 'come to Jesus moment' to change our minds.
20 plus years ago is when God led me to the path he wanted for me and it started with the sabbath and then the food laws, research showed me the health benefits of not consuming foods outside the Torah allowed.
That is a while ago. We have been on the path of Torah observance about 7 years.
How much conflict have you received from folks not understanding?
It does make me wonder when and why people started eating pork since it is so unhealthy for us.
Do you have any links on the statistics in your post? I rarely eat bacon, and haven't consumed any other pork in years. After reading your post, I think I will abstain from even eating bacon (there are turkey substitutes that would probably be satisfactory). When I discuss a dietary change with friends and family members, I like to have data available.
Thank you for a great post!
In the Bible God tells the Israelites not to eat pork so it can be assumed that the other nations were eating pork and that was prior to 1600 BCE. God told Noah to bring only two pigs into the ark so it can be assumed that He did not want Noah to eat them or we would not have pigs today and that was around 5000 BCE.
Well, I must say you have opened my eyes to eating pork. Though no one I know feeds other animals to their pigs. We have restricted our meat to growers we know or buy organic only. I almost always get the mental picture of Hannibal Lector when I thing of pigs eating anything. Lol. Thanks for the info. 🐓🐓
No pork on my fork! As far as an animal that God made, fine they have their purpose. But they are not, under any circumstances, food. @ironshield
Agreed! I find it ironic that I never liked pork growing up, only to find out later, that I shouldn’t be consuming it anyways.
When you say you had a “come to Jesus” moment 14 years ago, do you mean your faith changed or it was the health facts that made you quit pork?
I would like to say my following Torah had something to do with it, but it didn't. I read the book "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin which changed my mind. It was just part of our journey to know the truth of what our Heavenly Father showed us in the Torah.
Oh ok! I only asked because I knew that your daughter’s family started following Torah 5ish years ago? And so I just assumed you and Joann must have started around the same time frame. It’s amazing how He leads us down this journey to follow his ways!
Over the years, I think we have raised two hogs, but probably never will again. Now don't get me wrong - I really like to eat a pig. For us, it's neither a religious nor health issue. We're just set up better for smaller animals like chickens, turkeys, and rabbits. The raising and butchering of a hog is just more of a hassle than we want to deal with for our two-member household.