Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

Known as the “Father of Medicine,” Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” There’s no doubt that what we consume can be powerful medicine, both preventatively and curatively. When we talk about a food being nutrient-dense, we are referring to the ratio of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber) to its calorie content. Foods that are said to be more nutrient-dense provide a high amount of nutrients for a relatively low number of calories.

Some modern farmers (especially those in other countries) prioritize high yield, pest resistance, year-round availability and shelf stability which has led to the boom of ultra-processed foods and the absence of nutrition. Purchasing non-local foods leaves our bodies feeling depleted, and we have seen the rise of chronic diseases despite advances in technology and pharmaceuticals. What you consume and who you consume it from matters!

Fortunately, there are local farmers who care about the food that they provide for you and the land they leave behind for the next generation. You may meet them at your neighborhood farmers market, through organizations such as Sweet Grown Alabama, through a local CSA or perhaps they may even be a neighbor. Whether it’s meat, vegetables, fruit or another farm commodity, there are many factors that affect the nutrient density of a farm product, and the consumer has the ultimate choice to make.

At Indigo Ridge Farms, we believe health begins with food, and healthy food begins in the soil. My husband, Cale, and I (along with our 5 sons) make up the farm team that works diligently to bring regeneration to life. Our farming philosophy is that we are temporary stewards of the land and livestock, understanding that the decisions we make today will affect the generations to follow, either positively or negatively. Our livestock are raised in close connection with their natural environment and diet. We believe our meat to have higher levels of antioxidants and fatty acids with better environmental sustainability than if it were raised somewhere else. The next generation of farmers will be left with land that is both proliferative and profitable with resilient soil, fueling it all from underneath their feet.

As a certified producer by the American Grassfed Association, Indigo
Ridge Farms is committed to putting nutrient-dense food on your table and being good stewards of the land we’ve been blessed with. In our story, there’s been a lot of sacrifice to make this a reality, but the rewards continue to overshadow them all. From grass-finished beef to pasture-raised pork and chicken, our priority is to revive and regenerate our soils, so that it can do the same for us.

“Everything has a place and a purpose on the farm, and we are here to support it, not control it. It’s an investment of labor and love, but we feel we are farming in the right direction,” Cale said.

You can find regeneratively-raised meats from Indigo Ridge Farms on
select Saturdays at The Farmers Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham, The Downtown Market in Anniston and can buy directly off the farm in White Plains. Visit www.indigoridgefarms.com to learn more.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.