Our Pigs first day at the farm: True Grazers
Enjoying their work
Apr 29, 2012
Apr 27, 2012
Start at the Very Beginning
At Full of Graze Farm, we are not just a business trying to make a start at pastured farming with the aim of being successful. While that may be one of our goals, our larger commitment is to the extended community, to promoting education regarding food topics, to raising animals in a humane and healthy way, and to preserving the land for future generations. Welcome!
Though we have just begun our small, family-owned, pasture-based farm, in speaking with customers we have come across many questions about our products and food in general. How are our products different? Are we "organic"? Why are your products more expensive than what I can buy at the grocery store? I simply can't afford all that healthy, "organic" food. Where do I even start?
First, "organic". What does that mean? Simply put, "organic" is a term that is now used to label foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, eggs) that are produced in ways whereby conventional chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, etc, are not used on the crops or in the feed for the animals. There are certain fees that must be paid to the government and standards that must be met and approved by government issued agencies, for a product to be labeled "organic". A simple, objective article that explains "organic" in greater detail is here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
We are not an "organic" farm, strictly speaking. At the same time, it is our belief that our products are produced in ways that exceed "organic" standards. Our pigs are not fed "organic" feed, but they are given access to the pasture and allowed to root for their food - food that comes from Mother Nature like grubs and bugs and other piggy goodies. That is not a requirement for pork labeled with a government issued "organic" sticker. Our chickens are given daily access to sunshine, grass, and bugs, and the richness of their exercise and diet is reflected in the beautiful eggs they produce. The same is true of our broilers (chickens raised for meat, not eggs), and will be true of our turkeys, as well. Meats offered at the grocery store with an "organic" label will likely have none of these benefits. They will simply not be inundated with the chemicals that conventional products have in them, which, of course, is a good thing, but it's not what's best.
Money, money, money. The price difference between our products and standard grocery food is reflected in the care with which the animals are raised and in the quality of the food your family will eat. You receive what you pay for. Nothing worthwhile can be had cheaply. If a can of vegetables costs 50 cents, you have to wonder how much nutrition can be had from that can. About 50 cents worth. And actually, even less, because the company has to make a profit off it! Better to save the 50 cents and put it towards a bunch of homegrown beans. The same is true of meat and eggs. If a chunk of meat costs $1/lb, where is the value? In the excessive fat that accompanies the meat and clogs your arteries? Our pork may cost a bit more up front, but it will give you far more for your dollar than any factory-produced, warehouse-raised pig ever could. Guaranteed.
"But my family has to eat! My budget will not allow all that fancy food." It is true that most of us live by a budget and the price of food is gradually creeping higher and higher. I have five (going on six!) children and next to my mortgage there is nothing I spend more money on each month than food. Crazy, I know. However, that was just as true when I bought standard grocery store food as when I switched to pastured meats, organic dairy, and only fresh produce. The untold secret is that, over time, healthy, seasonal, whole, unprocessed foods, will not cost much more than processed junk. The key is to rearrange where you spend your money on food.
The processed food available in stores may appear to be cheaper, but in the long run you simply buy more of it. It satisfies neither your hunger nor your nutritional needs. There may be a bit more work involved, but feeding your family a bowl of mashed potatoes is significantly cheaper than feeding them tater tots. A bag of apples will last longer and keep your children full and satisfied much more than a jar of applesauce. Drink water instead of juice, homemade whole-grain bread instead of white, oatmeal instead of sugary cereal. Start small, by removing waste foods - those foods that cost little, offer nothing in the way of nutrition, and yet are designed by the industry to induce you to eat more ...and more... and more. "Bet you can't eat just one!"
The money saved by casting out the junk can then be invested in the pastured meats and eggs we provide here at Full of Graze. Buying our meats in bulk will further reduce your expenses and give you the chance to plan meals wisely. And the health benefits of our pastured products will pay off in the way of long-term medical savings, for you and your children. I learned from my wise mother-in-law that it is better to invest in food than in medical bills. Good food comes from the hand of God and is designed to nourish your body in a way that will protect it from illness and wear and tear. That idea drives our farming philosophy at Full of Graze.
Above all, educate yourself! There is no virtue in ignorance, especially where the health of your family is involved. Read articles, books, and blogs dedicated to food topics. We have a list on the sidebar of recommended titles. Go at it and decide for yourself. Good luck!
Though we have just begun our small, family-owned, pasture-based farm, in speaking with customers we have come across many questions about our products and food in general. How are our products different? Are we "organic"? Why are your products more expensive than what I can buy at the grocery store? I simply can't afford all that healthy, "organic" food. Where do I even start?
First, "organic". What does that mean? Simply put, "organic" is a term that is now used to label foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, eggs) that are produced in ways whereby conventional chemicals, such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, etc, are not used on the crops or in the feed for the animals. There are certain fees that must be paid to the government and standards that must be met and approved by government issued agencies, for a product to be labeled "organic". A simple, objective article that explains "organic" in greater detail is here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
We are not an "organic" farm, strictly speaking. At the same time, it is our belief that our products are produced in ways that exceed "organic" standards. Our pigs are not fed "organic" feed, but they are given access to the pasture and allowed to root for their food - food that comes from Mother Nature like grubs and bugs and other piggy goodies. That is not a requirement for pork labeled with a government issued "organic" sticker. Our chickens are given daily access to sunshine, grass, and bugs, and the richness of their exercise and diet is reflected in the beautiful eggs they produce. The same is true of our broilers (chickens raised for meat, not eggs), and will be true of our turkeys, as well. Meats offered at the grocery store with an "organic" label will likely have none of these benefits. They will simply not be inundated with the chemicals that conventional products have in them, which, of course, is a good thing, but it's not what's best.
Money, money, money. The price difference between our products and standard grocery food is reflected in the care with which the animals are raised and in the quality of the food your family will eat. You receive what you pay for. Nothing worthwhile can be had cheaply. If a can of vegetables costs 50 cents, you have to wonder how much nutrition can be had from that can. About 50 cents worth. And actually, even less, because the company has to make a profit off it! Better to save the 50 cents and put it towards a bunch of homegrown beans. The same is true of meat and eggs. If a chunk of meat costs $1/lb, where is the value? In the excessive fat that accompanies the meat and clogs your arteries? Our pork may cost a bit more up front, but it will give you far more for your dollar than any factory-produced, warehouse-raised pig ever could. Guaranteed.
"But my family has to eat! My budget will not allow all that fancy food." It is true that most of us live by a budget and the price of food is gradually creeping higher and higher. I have five (going on six!) children and next to my mortgage there is nothing I spend more money on each month than food. Crazy, I know. However, that was just as true when I bought standard grocery store food as when I switched to pastured meats, organic dairy, and only fresh produce. The untold secret is that, over time, healthy, seasonal, whole, unprocessed foods, will not cost much more than processed junk. The key is to rearrange where you spend your money on food.
The processed food available in stores may appear to be cheaper, but in the long run you simply buy more of it. It satisfies neither your hunger nor your nutritional needs. There may be a bit more work involved, but feeding your family a bowl of mashed potatoes is significantly cheaper than feeding them tater tots. A bag of apples will last longer and keep your children full and satisfied much more than a jar of applesauce. Drink water instead of juice, homemade whole-grain bread instead of white, oatmeal instead of sugary cereal. Start small, by removing waste foods - those foods that cost little, offer nothing in the way of nutrition, and yet are designed by the industry to induce you to eat more ...and more... and more. "Bet you can't eat just one!"
The money saved by casting out the junk can then be invested in the pastured meats and eggs we provide here at Full of Graze. Buying our meats in bulk will further reduce your expenses and give you the chance to plan meals wisely. And the health benefits of our pastured products will pay off in the way of long-term medical savings, for you and your children. I learned from my wise mother-in-law that it is better to invest in food than in medical bills. Good food comes from the hand of God and is designed to nourish your body in a way that will protect it from illness and wear and tear. That idea drives our farming philosophy at Full of Graze.
Above all, educate yourself! There is no virtue in ignorance, especially where the health of your family is involved. Read articles, books, and blogs dedicated to food topics. We have a list on the sidebar of recommended titles. Go at it and decide for yourself. Good luck!
Apr 14, 2012
Home and Free on the Range
What is a free-range egg from a "pastured hen" and why should you switch from conventional, store-bought eggs to the kind your great-grandmother used to collect in her backyard? For oh so many reasons, but primarily because they are better for your health, produced in a more humane way, and their production helps rather than hurts the environment.
1) Do not confuse true free-range eggs from pastured hens with store-bought eggs labeled "cage free" or "free range".
Nearly any egg bought in your basic grocery store, regardless of whether or not it is labeled "organic" or "cage-free" and marked up significantly in price, is produced in a large-scale, industrial way...which means it is produced in a factory/warehouse setting with inhumane, unsanitary conditions that provide little to none of the natural elements needed to produce a truly healthy, wholesome egg. True free-range, pastured hens are those that are not only given so-called "access to the outside", but those that are regularly free to roam on a pasture and greatly benefit from the sunshine, fresh air, exercise and bugs, worms, and grass they eat. And the benefits these ladies receive from God's good earth pass along into her egg and into your belly!
2) Why are free-range eggs from my local farmer more expensive than what I can buy at the grocery store?
"A dozen eggs should not cost $4!!" Simply put, it is a fact of life that you get what you pay for. Cheaply made food with less nutritional value will be cheap. Food that is carefully raised to reach optimum nutritional benefit will cost a bit more. It is difficult (if not impossible) for true free-range laying hens to be raised on a massive scale of production. Much more time, care and attention is needed to produce a dozen eggs in the natural world than is needed in the industrial model. But the taste and nutritional benefit of a true free-range egg are worth its weight in gold!
3) Okay, then, what exactly are the health benefits of a true free-range egg?
Mother Earth News conducted an egg testing project in 2007, finding that eggs produced by free-range hens compare favourably with those produced by battery cage hens. Eggs from free range hens had up to:
- 1/3 less cholesterol
- 1/4 less saturated fat
- 2/3 more vitamin A
- 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
- 3 times more vitamin E
- 7 times more beta carotene
The study involved 14 flocks across the United States whose eggs were tested by an accredited Portland, Oregon, laboratory, and the results were similar to those obtained via a 2005 study of four flocks.
This is just a short list of health benefits and found in one study. If you need more convincing, do research on the web. Here are a few more sources to check out:
4) How can I be sure I'm getting the real deal?
Know your farmer!! Who is providing the food you eat? Knowing your food provider on a personal basis is much more reassuring than sticking your hand in a grocery store refrigerator and pulling out a carton of eggs/milk/meat from a unknown, unnamed source. Talk to the local farmer who is selling free-range eggs and inquire how they raise the hens, what food they feed them, and if you're interested, ask if you can see their farming operation up-close. Most small, family-owned farms are very happy to have visitors and pleased to show off how well they treat their animals.
5) What did you say about the environment?
Farming on a small-scale, with products distributed to local buyers is better for the environment. Period. We at Full of Graze Farm are not advocates of preserving the earth for the sake of the earth, but we are conservationists. It is our belief that it is our privilege and responsibility to be good stewards of the natural resources God has given us, to conserve and promote the health of the land for future generations of human beings and animals.
In a good farming model, a variety of animals are raised in a way that creates a symbiotic relationship between human, animals of different species, and the earth, where they all work together to reduce unnecessary waste and improve each other's living environment. Done well, small-scale farming is much more sustainable than the industrial method of producing cheap food for maximum profits. In a word from Sustainatable.org:
Environmental Benefits
Pasture-based systems can help the environment, especially through fertilizing the soil and by reducing the amount of grain produced as feed. And unlike industrial farms, which rely on large amounts of fossil fuels to truck feed and animal waste, pasture-based systems take advantage of the animal’s ability to feed itself and spread its own manure.
For a greater study into this topic, see Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma. It's one of our recommended, must-read books found on the sidebar of this blog. It's available at most libraries.
There is, I must admit, one disclaimer to this article. Once you try free-range eggs, you'll never want to go back to the store-bought, caged version!! They're just that good!
Which egg is not Free Range?
Apr 11, 2012
Apr 3, 2012
The finished Layer Wagon
We had a lot of help over the weekend from my daughters, and my niece, nephew that have been taking care of the chickens. They came out to paint the wagon and help me with some other projects in preparation for the hens to arrive.
Lucy is gonna be movin' broilers before we know it
The finished Layer Wagon
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