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Photo Essay: Animal to Meat, a tribute
from 02 issue 2018
Photo Essay: Animal to Meat, a Tribute
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In April, Jon Jackson and Comfort Farms held an event that brought together a community of individuals to experience two days on the farm with demonstrations of humane slaughter, proper butchering techniques, good cooking, camaraderie and a celebration of life and the sacrifices it requires.
The following pages include my photographs from the event which I hope will not only convey the blood that is necessarily shed, but also the spirit of community and respect for life that was so much a part of this event. You will also have the opportunity to read Jon’s own recollections from the experience as well as the opening remarks and the butcher’s prayer offered by Bryan Kyzar.
At one point during the weekend when Bubba the hog was on the butcher’s table, it struck me that people had come together from all walks of life, different backgrounds, different ages and races and religions and genders and absolutely none of those differences held any significance. I witnessed a conversation between three individuals of different races, genders and generations who in that moment were all equals and it was something I wish I could see more often.
So, beyond the carcasses and the animals, I hope you can see the humanity and the life there as well.
“Today I reset my spirit and have a new understanding about purpose and what it means to live a fulfilling life. Friends from all over the country came out to share in an experience that connected us all together. Today I offered my friends and the community a hog that was near and dear to my heart. His name was Bubba. People say do not form an emotional attachment to your livestock. I have to disagree. The more we are attached the more we strive to make sure our livestock live the best life. I touched Bubba one last time as he gave his last breath and as we collected his blood for Boudin sausage.
I recruited the professional help of my dear friends who gave Bubba the reverence he deserves. His kill was swift and quick. I cried deeply. The whole crowd watched in a flurry of emotions as we treated Bubba with the utmost respect with the end of his life. While all of this was going on a gentle voice softened the air with Amazing Grace. It took 12 men and a Woman (my beautiful wife) to pick Bubba up and march him, being led by bagpipes to the butchering table. There we gathered together, veterans, chefs, butchers, farmers and the community to prepare Comfort Farms’ best hog for a feast to welcome our spring.
We were blessed with rain today to water our crops, to cleanse us and to carry the last presence of bubba from the surface of the Earth to enrich the soil. Today was a great day. Thank you to all who shared this experience with me this weekend.”
~ Jon Jackson’s reflections
Photo Essay: Animal to Meat Part 2 with “Butcher’s Prayer” by Bryan Kyzar
The purest forms of our existence are the entries and exits of our spirits into this world.
By witnessing these things we gain a deeper respect for ourselves and others.
Many of us here understand that in order for us to live the sacrifice of another life must be given.
It is this understanding that binds us together.
It is this understanding that we lead through example to those who are lost.
To return to our natural state by following the laws of nature.
Working with the earth and not against it.We do things with pride and honor.
We raise our gardens and animals with love and we harvest them in a spiritual manner.
It is my belief that many of the world’s problems root from a disconnection of how we were born to be.
It is our responsibility to teach others what we learn here today.
Through these events it is my goal to show people what they are missing in life.
To feel in their heart what they should feel; to join as a community, work hard, respectfully harvest what they have raised and waste nothing.
The boucherie is about all of this.
It brings us back to our basic primals: life, death, food, fire, teamwork.
It teaches us the importance of respecting life and supporting those that honor these ways.
Our local farmers who bring us a healthy product, raised and grown in a way that is good for our mother earth, keeping our revenue in our community, supporting your neighbor, your family, your friend.
It is a celebration of those who live and those we have lost.
Let us bow our heads in prayers.
We thank you Mother Earth for the gifts you have given us.
The people we love.
The air we breathe.
The water we drink and the food we eat.
We ask that you give us strength to keep these things sacred and teach others to do so.
We ask for a peaceful transition of those animal spirits and let it be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live.
We ask that you keep our warriors safe as they perform the ceremony of the harvest.
For these here in the physical and those in
spirit we pray.
Amen.