PICTURES!!

It's high time we posted some pictures.  As many of you know, we are now offer much more than pastured poultry (poultry raised on pasture for meat and eggs).  So, here are some photos of the animals 'home on the range.'

Actually, before you browse pictures, there is one thing to say.  Sometimes, it's hard to look at the pictures knowing this is something you will eventually eat.  Instead of feeling bad about that, we have learned to feel incredibly thankful to animals for providing us with food.  We try not to consume a lot of meat, and try to consume meat that has been raised in the healthiest, and most respectful way possible.  So keep that in mind as you look at these beautiful animals - and say a little thanks!

Chickens:  These are cornish cross chickens, raised for meat- they take about 8 weeks and are allowed to run around and free-range.  They usually wander a bit during the day, and then stick together like birds of a feather at night.   The shelter is moved daily so the chickens have a new clean salad bar pasture every day.  Our chicken is available every Wednesday at our house.

Egg laying hens:  These are the new pullets and will start laying soon!!  Are you ready to start eating pastured eggs?  

Turkeys:  These are the little turkey babies in the brooder.  If you look close, you can see the little bumps on the tops of their beaks.  These are out on pasture now.  Have you sent us $20 to reserve your Thanksgiving turkey?



Sheep:  Beautiful isn't it?  Many of you don't know that we now sell these lambs for meat and it is tasty.   Order a whole or half lamb from the farm.  Or we have individual cuts at our house on our weekly Wednesday pick ups. 

Cattle:  These grass fed and grass finished cows got through a fence and moved into the old farm house.  You can order them also in the whole or the half as well.  Individual cuts also available Wednesdays.  

Piggies:  And last but not least...the piggies.  This little piggy didn't like roast beef.

These little piggies are out on full pasture now and will be ready to harvest over the next few months.  Nothing is better than local, heritage breed pork that was raised on pasture.  Mmmmmmmmmmhh!!!!!  Hope you enjoyed!



Recap

We have been on this farming adventure now for 3 years.  The first two years we did the work of both farming and selling.  Since we don't have land of our own, in 2012 we decided to partner with our friends, Dale & Lynda Batty in Vernal, who wanted to do the farming while we do the selling/distribution.   This partnership has been great for both of us.  We love being able to have access to and offer meat that is raised in a way that we feel is humane, healthy, and appropriate.  Here are some of the reasons people buy:

Local: Knowing who grows/raises your food is so important. Buying local keeps your dollars in your community. It saves money in the resources used to transport food across the country and world.

Antibiotic/hormone free: The animals are not given any antibiotics or growth hormones.  We are not certified organic, but like to say we are "beyond organic".

Happier animals: The animals are given large space on pasture to run around and do what animals do. They have access to food and water at all times (chickens can only get up to 20% of their nutrition from eating grass and bugs, pigs also require feed, but cows and sheep are purely grass fed and finished). The poultry shelters are moved daily to allow the birds fresh, clean pastured areas in which to run around.

Taste:  Have you ever tasted a chicken that was raised on pasture?  Have you ever eaten purely grass fed beef?  Local pork raised on a small farm, outside in the pasture?  Just try it and you will be hooked!  The health benefits are huge as well (see our list of recommended reading).