Beef, Chicken, Eggs and Pork - All on raised on grass!
We have a small farm by U.S. standards, but a large farm for our standards which means we had to strongly consider what it means to be good stewards of 120 acres of land. For us keeping our land agriculturally productive and free of pesticides or intensive tillage is also important. Grazing beef cattle, chickens and pigs lets us take care of our land and feed our animals what they are built to eat – grass. It also lets us produce meat which is much healthier for us and our community to eat. For more information on grass fed meat, milk and eggs go to www.eatwild.com.
The Pasture
We have around 90 acres of land in permanent pasture which means hat we will not till this land anytime in the foreseeable future. The pastures have mixtures of grasses, clovers, and animal friendly weeds like dandelions and pigweed. We are also staging a long battle against our resident thistle and burdock populations. All of our animals have access to fresh, rotated pastures and the chickens and pigs also spend some time helping to “clean up” the vegetable fields at the end of the season and eat their fill on seasonal organic vegetables.
Pastured Organic Chicken and Eggs
This is our fourth season raising organic chickens on pasture. The chickens are all USDA Certified Organic. Unlike cows that can easily get all of their nutritional needs met in a pasture, chickens need grain or other seeds. In our pasture system our meat chickens live in moveable pens which we move twice a day into fresh grass. The Egg layers roam in the open protected by electric fencing and have a shelter in which they can seek shade, lay eggs, and get out of any weather. Chickens really like clover as well as any area with insects. They get about 20% of their food needs taken care of by harvesting their own food in the pasture; we feed them a mixture of organic grains to round out their diet. Our meat Chickens Cornish Crosses which are the conventional meat bird – they have larger breasts and more white meat; We have a mixed flock of egg layers and they chickens are kept with a rooster.
Eggs
We are offering a limited number of CSA egg shares for 2010. The cost of an egg share for the 20 week season is $80. This is a cost of $4/week. We provide eggs as a service to CSA members because we have been asked about them continually and because we are committed to diversity on the farm – this pricing reflects the costs of production, we benefit from the fertility they produce for the fields and in terms of our own egg consumption but they are a low/no profit venture. Organic feed costs three times as much as conventional feed and we feel supporting high nutrient feeds, good farming practices and non-GMO corn is important.
Organic Poultry
We will raising 200 chickens this season. We will have two pick-up dates:
Mid-July and Mid-August
Chickens are delivered whole, the day after slaughter frozen. If you would like them fresh you can pick them up on farm. You can reserve chickens in advance for the 2010 summer season by emailing or calling us. We plan to have all the chickens sold in advance. If you are interested in a large number of chickens (over 50) please call us as soon as you can so we can plan to meet your specific needs.
CSA members will be able to pick up chickens at your CSA pick-up site. All prices are by the pound, dressed weight.
Chickens may weigh between 3.5 and 6 lbs.
Pricing
- 10 or less Chickens 3.15/lb
- 11 or more 3.00/lb
Grass-fed Beef
We have a mixed herd of several types of beef cattle but are moving toward establishing a herd of Scottish Highland and Galloway cattle. They are adapted to cold weather, produce high quality beef on lower quality feeds, and are built for grazing (they have short legs). We currently have 50 cows, 25 calves, with more calves being born this summer. This number of cows allows us to manage our pasture while still producing all of the feed they need for the winter. Our cows are, as of now, 100% grass-fed and finished on grass.
Pricing
This year we will offer grass-fed beef in 25 & 50 lbs packages ($6/lb), Quarter steers ($5.50/lb), and Half steers ($5.00/lb). Frozen ground beef will be available as well for $4 per pound. Call to place an order and we will deliver to your house. Our Beef is from Galloway, and Scottish Highland cows and steers raised and finished on pasture. They are rotationally grazed, which is not only natural for the health of ruminant animals but also improves the quality and health benefits of the meat. Our heard is not yet certified organic but none of our animals receive antibiotics or hormones. Our beef is dry aged, processed, and packaged by Dayland Meats, a state inspected processor in Athens. Meat that is "dry-aged" is hung in a temperature and humidity-controlled room for 10-12 days to develop flavor and tenderness, yielding a flavorful piece of meat that is more tender. Most meat is "wet aged”. It is wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for a much shorter period of time. The 50 lb. package has approximately the following cuts (depending on the specific size of the animal when butchered. The 25 lb packed is the same mix but half the amount, the ¼ steer is two times, and the ½ steer is four times the amount):
- 4 T-Bone/Porter House Steaks
- 3-4 Boneless Ribeye Steaks
- 2 Sirloin Steaks
- 4 lb Cube Steaks
- 1 Boneless Rump Roast Approx 2 lbs
- 1 Sirloin Tip Roast Approx 2 lbs
- 2 Chuck Roast Approx 2 lbs
- 4 lb Soup Bones
- 10lb box Beef Patties
- 15 lb Ground Beef.
Pastured Pork
We will have a number of half and whole hogs for sale in the early fall of 2010. We will list prices once the cost of organic feed is established. All of the pigs are raised on pasture, are provided a movable shelter, and fed organic grains.