November 23, 2010 Chef (and filmmaker) Daniel Klein recently visited LTD Farm where they were harvesting the turkeys they had raised for several Thanksgiving dinners. But they weren’t alone. Many of the eaters who had purchased one of the free range turkeys were invited to help in the process. As one participant said,

“To be able to make a conscious decision about eating meat, I think it’s important to understand the whole process, and I wanted to be able to engage in that discussion more than just a theoretical way.”

The Perennial Plate Episode 36: Giving Thanks (to turkeys) from Daniel Klein on Vimeo.

As you will see in the video, reverence was given to each turkey as it was selected, butchered, and plucked. It is graphic, but also very educational. As a meat eater, I believe it is important to remember that what you are eating on your plate was once a living thing and be grateful and mindful of the nourishment it is giving you. On this Thanksgiving, consider giving thanks to (your) turkey, too.